Topical Bible: The Resurrection of Christ: Effected by His own Power

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Topical Encyclopedia

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as a cornerstone of Christian faith, signifying His victory over death and His divine nature. The New Testament provides ample evidence that Christ's resurrection was accomplished by His own power, affirming His deity and authority.

Scriptural Basis

The Gospel of John records Jesus' own words regarding His power over life and death. In John 10:17-18 , Jesus declares, "The reason the Father loves Me is that I lay down My life in order to take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of My own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father." Here, Jesus explicitly states His authority to both lay down His life and to take it up again, indicating His active role in His resurrection.

In John 2:19-21 , Jesus further prophesies His resurrection, saying, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." The Jews misunderstand Him, thinking He refers to the physical temple, but John clarifies, "But Jesus was speaking about the temple of His body." This passage underscores Jesus' foreknowledge and power to resurrect Himself.

Theological Implications

The resurrection of Christ by His own power is a testament to His divine nature. It affirms His identity as the Son of God, as Paul writes in Romans 1:4 , "and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord." The resurrection serves as a divine validation of Jesus' claims and teachings, confirming His authority over life and death.

Furthermore, the self-resurrection of Christ is integral to the Christian understanding of salvation. In 1 Corinthians 15:17 , Paul emphasizes, "And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins." The resurrection is not merely a miraculous event but a pivotal act in the redemption narrative, ensuring the believer's justification and hope for eternal life.

Christ's Power and the Trinity

The resurrection also highlights the harmonious work of the Trinity. While Christ exercised His own power in rising from the dead, the New Testament also attributes His resurrection to the Father and the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:4 states, "We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life." Additionally, Romans 8:11 notes, "And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit, who dwells within you."

This cooperative action within the Godhead does not diminish Christ's power but rather illustrates the unity and distinct roles within the Trinity, each person working in concert to accomplish the resurrection.

Conclusion

The resurrection of Christ, effected by His own power, is a profound demonstration of His divine authority and a foundational truth of the Christian faith. It assures believers of their salvation and future resurrection, anchoring their hope in the risen Lord.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 2:19
Jesus answered and said to them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

John 10:18
No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

The Resurrection of Christ; his Last Interview with his Disciples ...
... if there be satisfactory proof that Christ did appear to ... This change could not have
been effected by their ... he spent upon earth after his resurrection, he spoke ...
/.../dick/lectures on the acts of the apostles/lecture i the resurrection of.htm

Whether Christ's Resurrection is the Cause of the Resurrection of ...
... But this was effected by Christ's Passion ... Passion even more than His Resurrection
is the ... Consequently, Christ's Resurrection has instrumentally an effective ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether christs resurrection is the 2.htm

The Holy Spirit in the Glorified Christ.
... regards the fact, but also as regards the working whereby it was effected. ... And this
harmonizes with Christ's own words, that in the resurrection He would ...
/.../kuyper/the work of the holy spirit/xxiii the holy spirit in.htm

The Power of the Holy Ghost
... The resurrection of Christ, then, was effected by the agency of the Spirit!
And here we have a noble illustration of his omnipotence. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 1 1855/the power of the holy.htm

The Work of Christ.
... his books also denies the physical resurrection of Christ ... an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the Righteous ... from our side and the restoration is effected. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the work of christ/ii the work of christ.htm

Confession of the Free-Will Baptists. AD 1834, 1868.
... Through the redemption effected by Christ, salvation is actually enjoyed in this ...
day of the week, in commemoration of the resurrection of Christ, and by ...
/.../confession of the free-will baptists.htm

(On the Lord's Resurrection, ii. )
... of our nature should not be effected apart from ... is the heritage of condemnation,
is in Christ "the mystery ... even up to His (speedy) [1113] resurrection, to this ...
/.../leo/writings of leo the great/sermon lxxii on the lords.htm

Homilies on Galatians and Ephesians.
... Reproof, is charitable, and to be given at any hazard, [509]136. Resurrection
of Christ, effected by His own power, [510]3. Resurrection ...
/.../homilies on galatians and ephesians.htm

Easter Tuesday
... How and from what was creation effected when there was nothing to start with ... of
everlasting grace, they point out this article of the resurrection of Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/luther/epistle sermons vol ii/easter tuesday 2.htm

The Measure of Immeasurable Power
... Christian life, the fact of the resurrection from the ... is perverted, almost as soon
as effected, into another ... of the might which He wrought in Christ.' 'We see ...
/.../the measure of immeasurable power.htm