The Significance of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

[Robert Pate]

Paul wrote, "And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith is in vain. And if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain, and you are still in your sins" 1 Corinthians 15:14-17.

I would like to clarify what Paul is saying here. Paul is saying that if Jesus Christ was not resurrected from the dead then your religion is worthless, and we are all going to hell. This scripture is not about predestination, nor is it about becoming a member of the Catholic church. It is about spiritual life and spiritual death. It doesn't matter what you have become or what you believe, If Christ be not risen, we are all going to hell.

Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ there is no Christianity, unless you believe in a Christless Christianity, which some do. When Jesus walked out of Joseph's new tomb our new humanity walked out with him. "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation" 2 Corinthians 5:17. We are new creations because Jesus is God's new creation. God now sees us as new creations in Jesus Christ, Colossians 2:10. "Old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new" The Old Covenant of law, rules and religion is gone forever, Hebrews 8:13. The new and living way is by Christ and his Gospel.

If Jesus had failed to fill every jot and tittle of the law, Matthew 5:18, or if Jesus had failed to atone for the sins of the whole world 1 John 2:2, there would not have been a resurrection. The resurrection is God's stamp of approval on the life and death of Jesus. God was well pleased with what Jesus had accomplished and made him, "The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords" Revelation 19:16. When Jesus returns, he is not returning as the "suffering servant". Millions will be trying to hide from his appearance.

 

[Robert Pate]

No one will be saved that does not believe Jesus was raised from the dead, Romans 10:9.

It doesn't matter if you are a Calvinist, a Catholic, a whatever. To NOT believe that Jesus was raised from the dead is to believe that Jesus failed to atone for our sins and the sins of the whole world. If Jesus has atoned for our sins and the sins of the whole world, then why are you so concerned about sin? Can it be that you don't believe that your sins have been atoned for?

A preoccupation with sin is a preoccupation with unbelief in the Gospel. To be free from sin is to believe that sin has been atoned for by Jesus Christ, Romans 6:10-11. All holiness religions want you to join in the sin fight. This is where you try to defeat sin by your flesh. This will only result in more sin. The more that you try to be holy, the more that you will sin, Romans 7:7-8.

Religion is NOT the answer. The answer is to believe and have faith that sin has been dealt with by Jesus Christ. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a declaration by God that his Son Jesus Christ has victoriously defeated sin, death and the devil and now sits in heaven as "The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords" Revelation 19:16.

 

[justbyfaith]

It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.

Therefore, those who have a relationship with the Holy Spirit (those who walk in the light as He is in the light) are aware of those sins that God is attempting to deal with in their own lives.

As we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sanctification comes as the light prevails in pinpointing our sins in order that we might confess them; thus they will be cleansed from our lives and we will walk in greater holiness.

I think that it would be a mistake to rest on your laurels and not seek to live a holy life; believing that all your sins are forgiven and that therefore there is no need to grow in Christ.

All your sins are indeed forgiven.

God loves you as you are but He loves you enough not to leave you that way.

Having a relationship with the Holy Spirit means that you are being made more holy each day as He pinpoints your sins and you confess them to the Lord.

Holiness theology, as I have here purported it, is not, therefore, a bad thing. It is, in fact, biblical.

 

[Robert Pate]

It is the Holy Spirit's job to convict the world of sin and of righteousness and of judgment.

Therefore, those who have a relationship with the Holy Spirit (those who walk in the light as He is in the light) are aware of those sins that God is attempting to deal with in their own lives.

As we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Sanctification comes as the light prevails in pinpointing our sins in order that we might confess them; thus they will be cleansed from our lives and we will walk in greater holiness.

I think that it would be a mistake to rest on your laurels and not seek to live a holy life; believing that all your sins are forgiven and that therefore there is no need to grow in Christ.

All your sins are indeed forgiven.

God loves you as you are but He loves you enough not to leave you that way.

Having a relationship with the Holy Spirit means that you are being made more holy each day as He pinpoints your sins and you confess them to the Lord.

Holiness theology, as I have here purported it, is not, therefore, a bad thing. It is, in fact, biblical.

In the Gospel God has ALREADY dealt with the sins of humanity. We are ALREADY complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10. It appears to me that you are trying to do in your flesh what God has ALREADY done in Jesus Christ.

 

[justbyfaith]

In the Gospel God has ALREADY dealt with the sins of humanity. We are ALREADY complete "In Christ" Colossians 2:10. It appears to me that you are trying to do in your flesh what God has ALREADY done in Jesus Christ.

Justification is complete.

Sanctification is ongoing.

Sanctification does not occur because of the flesh. It is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.

 

[Robert Pate]

Justification is complete.

Sanctification is ongoing.

Sanctification does not occur because of the flesh. It is a result of the work of the Holy Spirit.

There are two different sanctifications. We are sanctified "In Christ" when we first believe. We are spiritually placed "In Christ" God only sees us "In Christ" Romans 16:15. And then there is the personal sanctification where we set ourselves aside for the preaching of the Gospel, 1 Peter 3:15.

 

[justbyfaith]

There are two different sanctifications. We are sanctified "In Christ" when we first believe. We are spiritually placed "In Christ" God only sees us "In Christ" Romans 16:15. And then there is the personal sanctification where we set ourselves aside for the preaching of the Gospel, 1 Peter 3:15.

"positional sanctification" is just another name for justification.

Sanctification always has a practical aspect to it. Those who deny that are stripping the word of its meaning and attempting to subvert the meaning of holy scripture.

 

[Robert Pate]

"positional sanctification" is just another name for justification.

Sanctification always has a practical aspect to it. Those who deny that are stripping the word of its meaning and attempting to subvert the meaning of holy scripture.

You are not correct. Sanctification is the results of justification, not the cause of it.

 

[justbyfaith]

You are not correct. Sanctification is the results of justification, not the cause of it.

I never said that sanctification is the cause of justification.

But since we are going there, what do you make of the following verses?

2Th 2:13, But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

Here, "salvation" comes "through" "sanctification of the Spirit" which indicates that sanctification comes before salvation.

Then there is this:

1Pe 1:2, Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Here, sanctification comes before obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. And are we not justified by His blood (Romans 5:9)?

There is also this:

1Co 6:11, And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

The case may not be as strong in this verse; but it seems to me that even here, being washed and sanctified comes before being justified; at least in the order that the things are mentioned in the verse.

 

[Robert Pate]

Happy "RESURRECTION DAY". This is not really Easter. Easter is a Pagan holiday. A Pagan is one that believes there is no God. Pagans celebrate Easter by believing that a rabbit has laid colorful eggs in their yard and that their children are required to find them. Satan believes that if he can convince you that rabbits lay colorful eggs, then he should not have much trouble getting you to believe that there is no God.

Christians commemorate "Resurrection Day" by celebrating that Jesus has victoriously defeated sin, death and the devil and now sits in heaven as "The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords" Revelation 19:16. Nothing about Rabbits, eggs or bonnets. I don't particularly enjoy celebrating "Resurrection Day" with Godless Pagan's. However, it is a good day to be a witness for Christ and his Gospel.