- God raised Him from the dead - In reality, the Lord Jesus voluntarily became sin; and, consequently, He was guilty of us violating the Laws of the entire Bible and had to endure the penalty of eternal Hell to obtain our eternal forgiveness, which is demanded by the Law of God – the Bible (2 Cor 5:21). Mat 12:40 portrays: “For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”. The phrase “heart of the earth” or the word “grave” is a reference to eternal Hell. In Heb 12:2 we find this important statement: “... for the joy that was set before him endured the cross ...”. One of the reasons that Christ was able to rejoice was the promise to Him by His Father that His soul would not be left in Hell. This fact is established in both the Old and New testaments. Psa 49:15 teaches, “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for he shall receive me. Selah”. We find in Acts 2:27 (which is quoting Psa 16:10), “Because thou wilt not leave my soul in Hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption”. The promise of the Resurrection was made by God the Father to God the Son. But when and where was this promise made? In principle it was accomplished before the foundation of the world (1 Pet 1:18-21). In actuality, this promise was fulfilled on the cross as Christ endured the unspeakable agony of eternal Hell for those He came to save. Let’s also consider Acts 13:29-30 for a New testament reference: “And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead”. Wonderfully, Christ was victorious in the Atonement – 100% successful in paying for the sins of His people, completing His mission as the “second Adam”. Which is why, Death cannot hold Him anymore (Acts 2:24), like Jonah was vomited out on the dry ground by the whale, He had to be spit out of the hell. The proof that He successfully paid the required penalty was His physical resurrection from the dead.
1 Pet 1:18-21 “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”
Acts 2:22-24 “Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: 24Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.”
Acts 13:33-37 “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. And as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise, I will give you the sure mercies of David. Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: But he [Lord Jesus], whom God raised again, saw no corruption.”
Eph 4:9-10 “(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)”
1 Cor 15:54-57 “... Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Rom 1:2-4 “(Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:”
- This is the LORD’s Doing; it is Marvellous in our Eyes - The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. Acts 17:32 paints this universal response not only to the Resurrection, but to the Bible as a whole: “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed”. Indeed, the Resurrection guarantees that all true Christians will be eternally saved, as we see in Rom 9:33, “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him [Christ] shall not be ashamed”. On the other hand, those who do not have a Savior will be “ashamed” – that is, eternally damned – as we also find in 1 Pet 2:8, “And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed”. Psa 118:22-23 (quoted in Mat 21:42-45), discloses how God’s salvation program was to shift from the Jewish synagogues – who rejected Jesus as a corner stone, to the New Testament Church – started with Jesus as a corner stone, with the pouring of Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. Matt 21:44 quoting Psa 118:23-24 declares “This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it”. Rom 10:3 also underscores this important fact, “For they [national Israel] being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God”. God’s righteousness is only imputed through Jesus Christ.
Psa 118:22-24 “The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 23This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 24This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Matt 21:42-44 “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone [Jesus Christ] which the builders rejected, the same is the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes? 43Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you [Nation of Israel], and given to a nation [New Testament Church] bringing forth the fruits thereof. 44And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.”
Acts 4:10-12 “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
- Salvation – Rest in Christ’s Atoning Work - In John 11:25 the Lord Jesus declares: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”. He is not only the embodiment of Eternal Life, but He is also the Resurrection – it’s one of His names! According to 1 Pet 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again [born-again] unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. It indicated that God’s righteous judgment was satisfied, or propitiated, by Christ’s sacrifice, as we read in Rom 3:23-25. Notice that one of the purposes of the “propitiation” was to declare – that is, to “demonstrate” or to “prove” – the righteousness of Christ for His glory and honor (Rom 3:25). In John 14:6 we read that Jesus is “the way, the truth and the life”. In fact, Heb 10:20 clarifies for us that Christ was the new, living way to enter the Kingdom of Heaven – the torn veil symbolic of His flesh – and that everything connected with the former temple and its contents were now rendered useless, though they had served as symbols of the Messiah Who would appear one day: “By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh” (Heb 10:20). A deep spiritual poverty existed in Jesus’ day “because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day” (Acts 13:27) – and the same is true today. In other words, the people did not recognize their Messiah, God Incarnate, and neither did they understand the Old Testament Scriptures and ceremonial laws that pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus emphasized this in John 5:39-40 where He affirmed, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life”. In Hebrews 4 God is using the word “rest” as synonymous with salvation in Christ. This was precisely what was in view in connection with the Old Testament sign of the seventh day Sabbath: “For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day” (Mat 12:8, Mark 2:27-28). Spiritually “rest” pointed to the fact that true believers are to rest in the salvation which God has provided through the Lord Jesus Christ and are not to depend on any human effort, or work, as Heb 4:10 reminds us: “For he that is entered into his rest [God’s rest], he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his”. Eph 2:8-9 underscores this vital principle and God’s greatest gift to man, salvation, or eternal life: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast”. Rom 11:6 further insists, “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work”. May it be that God will use us as His humble servants to proclaim His glorious Gospel that others might indeed find Eternal Rest in Him.
Heb 4:1-11 “Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them [Nation of Israel]: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. 5And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest. 6Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief: 7Again, he limiteth a certain day, saying in David, To day, after so long a time; as it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. 8For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. 9There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 10For he that is entered into his rest [into Christ’s atoning work], he also hath ceased from his own works [the works of the law], as God did from his. 11Let us labour [diligent] therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.”
Rom 4:4-5 “Now to him that worketh [with the works of the law] is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.”
Matt 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden [with the works of the law], and I will give you rest [by fulfilling the demands of the law on the Cross for us]. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
1 Pet 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again [born again] unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
- Seventh Day Sabbath – Ceremonial Law fulfilled in Christ - Lord Jesus Christ was intimately identified with all the ceremonial offerings and sacrifices in the Old Testament, which all pointed to Him. Although God used various animal sacrifices as figures of atonement in the Old Testament, ultimately God has only one real atonement in mind – the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of God’s Old Testament physical ceremonial laws also pointed to and were fulfilled by the spiritual atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ at the Cross. In Deu 5:14 God spells out the essence of the seventh-day Sabbath: “But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work ...”. Sadly, in this same chapter we read about the eternal consequences of disobeying the Bible in the historical parable of the man who picked up sticks on the Sabbath – an illustration of working for one’s salvation – for which God commanded him to be stoned to death (Num 15:32-36). The Book of Hebrews, more than any other New Testament book, shows that the Old Testament ceremonial laws were types and figures pointing to Christ and salvation in Him. Incidentally, the essence of the Old Testament Sabbath on the seventh day of the week pointed to the fact that God rested on the seventh day from His labors after Creation (Exo 20:11). Also it pointed to the fact that God led His people out of Egypt into the promised land (Deu 5:15) shadowing the deliverance of His Elect “from the power of darkness” and translation “into the kingdom of his dear Son”. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ on that first Sunday ushered in a new era of worship, which God instituted by abolishing the previous era of Old Testament (Saturday) worship on the seventh day of the week. Is there a Biblical basis for this? the answer is Yes! In Matt 28:1 the Greek shows that the verse really says, “In the end of Sabbaths [plural sabbaton], at the dawning on toward the first of the Sabbaths [not “week” sabbaton], came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre”. The second word “Sabbaths” in this verse is identical to the first word “Sabbaths”. So it should be read as: “In the end of the sabbaths [OT], as it began to dawn toward the first of the sabbaths [NT] …”. The Sabbath during which Christ rested in the tomb was the last Sabbath of the Old Testament era. Jesus Who was typified by those Sabbaths had finished His work and was now resting from His labors. The last seventh day Sabbath like all the previous seventh day Sabbaths pointed directly to the cross where Christ alone did all the work that was necessary to save those who believe on Him. Christ rose from the grave on a Sunday morning and the era of the New Testament Sabbaths began. The burnt offerings, the blood sacrifices, the Passover, and all the other ceremonial laws were no longer to be observed because they were completed in Christ, and the seventh day Sabbath also had been completed in Christ. This is why we read in Col 2:16: “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days”. The ending of the sign of the seventh day Sabbath is parallel to the disposition of other signs that were completed in Christ. For example, another important shadow of the Old Testament that pointed to the Lord Jesus Christ and the atonement is the Passover. Contrary to the day of rest on seventh day Sabbath, one who has been born from above is to regard the Sunday Sabbath as a day that is to be characterized by intense spiritual activity (Isa 58:13-14) so that the Gospel might be promoted in the highest degree possible. The pouring out of the Holy Spirit is entirely related to God's program of evangelizing the world. On the first Sunday, Jesus was resurrected. On the eighth Sunday after the cross, day of Pentecost, God began His work of resurrecting (saving) the peoples of the world (Acts 2:1-4) by pouring out of the Holy Spirit.
Exo 20:11 “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
Deu 5:15 “And remember that thou wast a servant in the land of Egypt [bondage of Sin], and that the LORD thy God brought thee out [translated into kingdom of his dear son] thence through a mighty hand and by a stretched out arm: therefore the LORD thy God commanded thee to keep the sabbath day.”
Exo 31:14-15 “Ye shall keep the sabbath therefore; for it is holy unto you: every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death: for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people. 15Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work [count on your own works for salvation] in the sabbath day, he shall surely be put to death [eternally damned].”
Col 2:16-17 “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holy day, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: 17Which are a shadow of things to come [Sabbath day is shadow of the “Rest” God provided through Christ’s atoning work]; but the body is of Christ.”
Isa 58:13-14 “If thou turn away thy foot [your Will] from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath [day of proclaiming Gospel, Worshiping God and spiritual activity] a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words [but by speaking God’s Words]: 14Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth [new earth], and feed thee with the heritage [eternal inheritance] of Jacob thy father [typifying elect of God]: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.”