What Christadelphians believe about ...

Why Jesus Rose

The chief feature of the Apostles' teaching is that Christ came bodily forth alive from the grave in which he was placed after his crucifixion. If necessary, consult the following passages: Acts 2:32; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:40: 13:30, and many others.

Popular theology is a bit shaky on the resurrection of Christ. The reason is that popular views of the death of Christ do not require his resurrection, though they recognise it as a fact. Those views make the death of Christ the saving part of the work of Christ. It is said that Christ died in our place, and thus paid the debt that we owed, and that consequently we go free. If this is true, our freedom results from the death of Christ, and not from his resurrection.

But apostolic teaching requires his resurrection, without the sacrifice is of no effect. As Paul says, " If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, ye are yet in your sins " (1 Corinthians 15:17).

How is it that human salvation depends on the resurrection of Christ? Because without a risen, living Christ see there would have been no forgiveness of sins (see also Why Did Christ Die?) and no attainment of immortality following upon his death. God does not save sinners direct, but only through Christ. He cannot look upon sin: Adam's expulsion from Eden, at the beginning, indicates God's attitude to sin.

1 God saves, but it is by Christ, whom He makes the Saviour, first bestowing salvation upon him for his obedience, and then giving him power over all flesh, to save as many as he pleases.

2 Forgiveness of sins unto eternal life is only obtained through the request of a living Christ, whose approach to God as an intercessor is the means of reconciliation between God and man.

3 Judgment is given into the hands of Christ. He has been made the judge before whom, at his coming, all must appear to give account of their lives, and to receive from him according to their deeds, acceptance, and immortality if approved; rejection, shame, and the second death if he refuse them.

In view of all this, the need for the resurrection of Christ is clearly seen. If Christ had not risen, his death would have been of no value. It would have been a righteous fulfilment of the law; but what was wanted, was an escape from this. This was effected in Christ's resurrection, after submission to death. He became a living Mediator, through whom God's forgiveness could be obtained, and a dispenser of immortality in the day of judgment.

The practical application is that it is not enough to look to the death of Christ; you must look to his living judgeship, and remember that unless you please him in the doing of his commandments, there is no hope of salvation. If you doubt it, read the following: Matthew 7:21-22; John 15:14; Romans 8:13; 1 Corinthians 6:9; Galatians 6:8; 1 John 3:7-8.