The Surety of Christ’s Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 

We have more than sufficient evidence to believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, and believe it or not, we have only just scratched the surface.  There is more that happened in those 40 days post-resurrection/pre-ascension that we don’t know about.  I’m guessing there are more, (maybe many more) scriptures in the OT that we have yet to discover regarding the resurrection.  But again, the evidence we do have is more than sufficient.  From the words of Abraham spoken in Paradise to the Rich man burning in hell, “neither will they believe though One rose from the dead.”  Those unbelievers will not unbelieve because of a lack of evidence, but rather because of the hardness of their hearts.  Brethren, One has risen; and we respond, “God, we believe”.    

1 Corinthians 15:29  Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead (plural)? If the dead (P) are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their (P) behalf?

Here we find an unusual statement that has been a source of disagreement amongst many for a long time.  However, while most of evangelical Christianity has reached consensus regarding Paul’s takeaway point here, some “Christians” have developed their confusion into practices that lead away from Christ.  Before we dissect this a bit, let 2 things be clear; 1. Though once dead, Jesus has now risen and is never to die again; 2. You nor I can do anything to save a dead person. 

Here are a few of the interpretations:

1. First, remember, the main things are most often the plain things. In other words, Paul is combining similar/related topics (resurrection deals with dead people, baptism pictures a death etc), to point out that which should be obvious.    Acts 26:8  Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead?  If you think about this simply, you can arrive at a simple conclusion.  Simply, God’s promises don’t make sense apart from Christ and His resurrection. “Those baptized for the dead ‘had been baptized with the hope and expectation of a resurrection of the dead.” (Gotquestions.org)  They were being baptized today because they genuinely believe it will matter for tomorrow (eternity). 
2. Those baptized for the dead are physically taking the place of saints that had passed on; in essence, filling their shoes. (Gotquestions.org)
3. Paul is using common knowledge of a false pagan practice to assert the real truth of the resurrection.  Paul uses this tactic elsewhere; for instance, on Mars hill from the backdrop of “ignorant worship” Paul preached the “unknown God”.  In other words “even unbelievers believe in the resurrection”. 
4. (My Favorite) The main point of the entire passage is to point to Christ and to testify to the reality of Resurrection. So, in this sense, “the dead” is actually Christ; Acts 25:19. Rather, they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.  Why be baptized?  Very simply, “because Jesus was baptized”. 

Whatever the exact meaning of this difficult phrase, Paul’s point is unmistakable: practices connected to death only make sense if resurrection is real.  Not here in the context of 1 Corinthians 15, nor anywhere else in the Bible, are we instructed to baptize dead people (in hopes of saving them) or to baptize living people as proxy for some dead individual who was unbaptized.  This practice is clearly extrabiblical and is actually in contradiction to the Gospel.  Either of these routes takes us away from our all-sufficient Christ.  Listen, now is the day of Salvation, and each of us is accountable before God.  Your parents cannot save you, your pastor, brother or sister cannot save you.  Only Jesus can save you.  It is futile to look to any other man, or any other work, save the Man Jesus Christ and His finished work on the Cross. 

The Gospel teaches that we are saved by Grace through Faith, not by works, whether of baptism or any other.  Further, while the Bible is clear that we cannot save ourselves, it is also clear that we (in and of ourselves) cannot save anyone else.  It is given to man once to die and after this the judgment where he/she will receive the reward for the things they have done in the flesh, whether good or bad.  We are baptized because Jesus was baptized; baptism only means anything because Jesus died, was buried and rose again.  Baptism comes from Him, it is only meaningful through Him and it should always give Glory to Him. 

  

Sadducees were sad-you-see because they did not believe in resurrection or even spirits.  It is hard to imagine how any honest Bible reader might come to such a conclusion; however, such confusion still exists today.  Clear OT examples of Resurrection: Job 19:25-27; Psalm 16:9-11; 17:15; 49:15; 73:24-26; Isaiah 25:8; 26:19; Daniel 12:2-3; Hosea 6:1-2; 13:14; Ezekiel 37:1-14.

When Jesus was questioned about the Resurrection, I would have thought He would use one of these passages, but He did not.  Jesus plainly reveals heavenly secrets that were hidden right out in the open, though a passage I would never have guessed.  Jesus pointed them towards a scripture, yes.  But more so, He opened their eyes to the bigger picture of scripture and its eternal Author.  Matthew 22:31-32  And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God (Ex 3:6+):  (32)  ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.”  In this profound yet simple “aha” (lightbulb) moment, their eyes were opened not only to the resurrection but more importantly to the character of God.  He is a God of Life.  His creation brought life, His plans bring life and even His death, burial and resurrection bring life to His beloved.  One of the greatest testaments that we have to the reality of the resurrection is the very character of our Living and Loving God. 

 

1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  Like it or not, we have our relation to Adam through flesh, blood, a natural human birth and a shared sinful nature.  Don’t want to be related to Adam, sorry it is too late.  Don’t want to be related to Jesus, fine, have it your way.  However, know that it is not too late to be related to Christ.  Through faith follow Him, pursue Him, cling to Him.  By Grace through faith in the Power of His Holy Spirit, trust Him for your salvation, follow Him into the waters of baptism, and be found in Him (in His Body) walking in newness of life. 

 

Romans 6:3-11 

The question is not whether Christ is risen. The question is, “Are you raised with Him?”  Having been convinced that Jesus’ sinless life and finished work on the Cross is enough to pay for your sins, have you called on the Name of the Lord and trusted Jesus as your Eternal Savior? 

Have you heard Jesus speaking about baptism when He said, “It is necessary to fulfill all righteousness?”  Can you hear the counsel of God on your own heart, “Repent and be baptized for the remission of sins”. 

Even now, can we hear the clear direction of God’s Holy Spirit saying, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. “  Colossians 3:2-4 

The question is not whether Christ rose from the dead, but rather: have you trusted Him as your Savior, and are you following Him as your Lord?

Behold the Lamb of God

At the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, John the Baptist rightly identifies and exalts Jesus, so should we.  Later on toward the end of Jesus’ public ministry, a very great multitude rightly identifies and exalts Jesus, so should we. 

John 1:19-34 

What an unusual thing to be asked…”Are you the one we are expecting?” or “should we be looking to you?”  Religious leaders had come with expectations, categories, and assumptions… and John’s answer comes quickly and clearly, “no”.  He then directs their minds to scripture. 

Isaiah 40:3-5  A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.  (4)  Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.  (5)  And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”  

John didn’t read himself into the prophecy but accurately identified prophecy, fulfillment, and how it related to Himself and more importantly to his LORD.  In the Apostle John’s account, John the Baptist references the OT prophesy, but in the other 3 Gospels, by inspiration, they identify John with Isaiah’s prophesy (Mat_3:3; Mar_1:3; Luk_3:4-6).  Many misread Scripture by inserting themselves as the focus but John references it rightly because he sees the LORD as central. 

 

V.25 As far as I know, there is no direct Old Testament statement that the Messiah or Elijah would come baptizing with water.  However, there is more than enough in the Scriptures to explain why they asked the question. The prophets repeatedly pointed forward to a coming day of cleansing and renewal: Ezekiel 36:25-27 speaks of God sprinkling clean water and giving a new heart, and Zechariah 13:1 declares that a fountain would be opened to cleanse from sin. These promises created an expectation that when God moved in fulfillment, cleansing would mark it.

By the time of John the Baptist, the Jews were already familiar with ceremonial washings, but John’s baptism was different.  It was not routine, not self-administered, not performed at the Temple and it was not merely outward.  He called for repentance and his ministry bore the marks of prophetic authority and without regard for respect of persons (or titles).  So when they saw it, they naturally connected it to the great figures promised in passages like Malachi 4:5 and Deuteronomy 18:15.

In essence, their question in John 1:25 is this: “If you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why are you doing something that looks like the beginning of God’s promised cleansing work?” They understood that such a sign did not belong to just anyone but it would belong to one sent from God.

Yet, John does what he consistently does, he refuses to let the focus rest on himself and instead points to Jesus Christ, the One who would not merely baptize with water, but, as seen in John 1:33 and anticipated in Joel 2:28 and Isaiah 44:3, would baptize with the Holy Spirit.

V. 27 John’s statement reflects a cultural reality where loosening sandals was the task of the lowest slave. By saying he is unworthy to do even that, he is declaring that Jesus Christ is infinitely above him, not just as a rabbi, but as Lord. His humility is not exaggerated, it is accurate theology expressed through cultural and Biblical language. John was not humble-bragging or taking the lower seat in hope and expectation of the higher; no He was just being a conduit of truth.   

“The higher a man is in grace, the lower he will be in his own esteem.”

“If any man thinks ill of you, do not be angry with him; for you are worse than he thinks you to be.”                                           (Charles Spurgeon)

In a striking contrast, It is our shoes that must be removed and it is Jesus who washes our feet.  He now commands, (13) “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am.  (14)  If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet” (John 13: -14).  Though Jesus is the Lord of Lords, yet He became a servant for our sake.  In so doing, He not only cleanses us, but He also leave us a beautiful example to follow. 

 

The imagery invites us to reflect on 1 more aspect to this loosening of the sandal: It is unlikely that John the Baptist was referencing the Sandal Ceremony of Ruth 4:7 (Deut 25:7-10) but let us consider it.  Jesus’ shoe would remain on and He would be able therewith to crush the head of the serpent.  He is the only One who possesses the power and authority needed to redeem Adam’s race.  Ask Moses and Joshua (Ex 3; Joshua :15) who knew that they must take off their own sandals in the presence of their Holy God.  Peter found this out as well when his Great Redeemer came to him clothed with Love, Humility and a towel and said, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.” 

 

In the words of our Lord, “John was the greatest born among women”, but how did he use this greatness?  He said “He must increase but I must decrease”.  He did not use this momentary spotlight to point out any of his own unremarkable features, but to point people's eyes towards their Savior.  Remember, even the width of a sandal strap is to much honor for us in the presence of the Holy One (Ex 3).   For, “…we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake” (2 Corinthians 4:5). 

 

 

Matthew 21:6-11 

Palm branches may cause the Kansan to think of Southern California or Florida, but for the Burean, they might think of OT Temple imagery (1 Kings 6, Eze 40-41) and certainly of the Feast of Tabernacles (Lev 23:40).  These OT pictures point to the ministry of Emmanuel (God with us).  It is unlikely that these Jewish worshippers were having deep thoughts of Bible imagery and purposely trying to fulfill prophecy in this moment; however, we can.  How much of our current worship is performed in relative ignorance of His Sovereign Holiness?  No doubt much to all because of our finiteness and His Infinite Nature.  Certainly, we aim for informed worship but by all means, let us worship. 

“Left to ourselves, we tend immediately to reduce God to manageable terms.” A.W. Tozer

“The perfect church service would be one we were almost unaware of; our attention would have been on God.” C.S. Lewis

 V. 9: G5614 ὡσαννά hōsanna “oh save!”, an exclamation of adoration.

They sang “Hosanna!”  and their petition, which was grounded in scripture, became praise that history states filled Christian worship from then till now.  Their praise rightly identified Jesus as Messiah, the promised Seed and coming Savior.  From the context of Psalm 118:24-26, their praise was actually a request for salvation.  Lastly, their worship acknowledged that His Praise and Worth extend far beyond anything that earth could fulfill; “Hosanna in the highest!”.  Heaven has joined in, or rather, we have joined Heaven in singing “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain”. 

 

By many, today is called Palm Sunday and a specific occasion to remember Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem.  Interestingly, we see a striking similarity to what occurs in John 1.  God’s Word is used to correctly identify Jesus (Zech 9:9) and then the crowds follow Him.  In the presence of their Creator King, they became Voices Crying in the Wilderness.  Caught up in the excitement of His Kingdom, they laid down, as it were, their very lives.   It did not matter if their coat was new, rather even better if it was new; for He is Worthy. 

We ourselves would do well to be a Voice in the Wilderness crying out for Jesus.  Hopefully our excitement in the presence of Jesus lasts longer than theirs did.  Where were these joyous worshippers just 4 days later when Jesus took His lowly place on the Old Rugged Cross.  Where are we?  Where are our voices?  Where is our best coat?  There is no greater place than His presence.  There is no greater cause to raise the voice of your lisping tongue than for Him who is enthroned in the praises of Israel.  No matter how dark or cold the night, our covering is best found at His feet.  May we gladly and humbly echo that beautiful request of the matriarch Ruth, “Spread Your skirt over me, for you are my Kinsman Redeemer.”

Full of Grace and Truth

John 1:10-18  He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.  (11)  He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.  (12)  But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,  (13)  who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.  (14)  And the Word became flesh and dwelt (σκηνόω) among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.  (15)  (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”)  (16)  For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  (17)  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  (18)  No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.

V. 10-11 Humanity’s Rejection of Christ

His own did not receive Him, refers to the Jews, His native countryman both of Israel and Nazareth and even his physical half brothers.  His own did not receive Him refers to Humanity His Creation, made in His image.  His own did not receive Him refers to each one of us in our fallen state who truly apart from His Grace could only and would only reject Him.  Yet here we stand and knee before Him, recipients of His Grace. 

• Matthew 23:37  “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often would I have gathered your children together… and you were not willing.”
• Mark 6:4  And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.” John 7:5  For not even his brothers believed in him.
• Isaiah 53:3  “He was despised and rejected by men.”
• Romans 3:10–11 - “There is none righteous, no, not one; there is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God.”

We can blame sin on Adam, we can blame evil on the Devil and we can even blame the Jews for everything from the Cross to our current woes, but that does not make it so.  At some point in our human history, we are each going to have to accept responsibility for our own contribution to the mess that sits in front of us.  Apart from grace, every one of us would reject Him.  The good news is, once we accept our own guilt we are then ready to accept His forgiveness and righteousness.  Jesus is full of Grace and Truth.

V. 12-13 Receiving = Believing = Authority

ἐξουσία ex-oo-see'-ah (in the sense of ability); privilege, capacity, competency, freedom,

To believe in His name means to trust who He is and what He has done.

John now presents the great dividing line of humanity: there are those who reject Christ and there are those who receive Him.

• Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
• Galatians 3:26 “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.”
• Titus 3:5 – “He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy.”

Matthew 16:17  And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

John is careful to say that salvation is not the result of human ancestry, human effort, or human decision alone, but it is a supernatural birth from God.  In a sense, the new birth that we have in Christ is similar to Christ’s birth into humanity, done miraculously (without man’s works). 

V. 14 àσκηνόω skay-no'-o: to tent or encamp. Language like this reveals the beautiful OT picture of the Tabernacle and Mercy Seat that has led us to Christ. On the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah, spoke with Jesus about His Exodus.  Jesus said, “destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up”.  In the NT we are reminded of the shadows and get a clearer picture of the One that they faintly, yet beautifully revealed.

This language intentionally echoes the Old Testament tabernacle, where God’s presence dwelt among Israel. Exodus 25:8 “Let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.”  The tabernacle contained the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat, where atonement was made.   Those structures were shadows pointing forward to Christ; “They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things.” Hebrews 8:5; 10:1.

When Jesus came, God no longer dwelt in a tent or temple made with hands but took on flesh.

At the Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah spoke with Jesus about His coming “exodus.”  This language draws our minds back to the wilderness experience and back to the Feast of Tabernacles.

• Luke 9:30-31 They “spoke of his departure (exodus), which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.”

Just as the first Exodus delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, Jesus would accomplish the greater Exodus, delivering sinners from sin and death.

1. 14-17 Grace and Truth are Revealed in Christ

• Exodus 34:6 “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious… abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.”  Jesus possesses the very character of God and abounds with Grace and Truth.

Grace …is God’s undeserved (unmerited) favor (toward sinners).

• Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
• Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  
• 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.”
• “Mercy there was great and grace was free, pardon there was multiplied to me.  There my burdened soul finds liberty, at Calvary. 

“Grace upon Grace” (v.17):  God has been abundantly gracious.  Grace on top of Grace like putting ketchup on your ketchup.  God was gracious to give us the law.  Then He was very gracious by giving us Jesus. 

Truth: How can we best define Truth?

Truth reveals:  who God is, what sin is, what righteousness is, and what Justice requires.

John 18:37-38  Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”  (38)  Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him.

Truth is the reality of God as He has revealed it.

• John 17:17 “Your word is truth.”
• Psalm 119:160 “The sum of your word is truth.”
• John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

As far as mankind is concerned, Truth shows us our problem, while grace provides the solution.  Truth without grace would condemn.  Grace without truth would ignore sin and would be unjust.   These are perfectly united in Christ; Jesus was not 50% grace and 50% truth.  He was 100% grace and 100% truth.   This is humanly impossible, but with God all things are possible.

He tells the truth about sin, and He offers grace to save sinners.

We see this repeatedly in the Gospels:

1. The Woman Caught in Adultery: John 8:1–11 Truth:  According to the Law, adultery deserved death.  Grace: “Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.” 
2. The Samaritan Woman at the Well: John 4:1–26

Jesus does not stop at grace alone, He confronts the truth about her life: 

“You have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband.” (John 4:18)

Jesus reveals her sin, yet not to shame her but to bring her to salvation.  He then reveals Messiah.

3. Zacchaeus the Tax Collector: Luke 19:1-10

“Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5)

Jesus declares:  “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10)  

Such truth, such Grace.

4. Peter After the Resurrection: John 21:15-17.

Jesus lovingly confronts the truth of Peter’s failure, yet He restores him with grace.

A distinction must be made: this Grace and Truth is not ours, it is His.  Lets be honest, we are neither graceful or truthful apart from Christ.  Our grace would leave out Justice.  Our justice would steal from Grace.  This is why we must speak where He speaks and be silent where He is silent. 

This union of grace and truth was foretold long before Christ came:

Psalms 85:10-13  Steadfast love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. … (13)  Righteousness will go before him and make his footsteps a way.

At the cross Truth declared that sin must be judged and Grace provided a Savior to bear that judgment.   There, or rather in Him, mercy and truth are met together.  Now, through Jesus Christ, God now sets us in the way of His steps, the Way of Grace and Truth.