Brothers in God :

The Holy Spirit and Jesus

Next | Index | Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4 | Chapter 5 | Chapter 6 | Contact Ron | Tellout

1D. Jesus' Death and Resurrection

Jesus affirms Resurrection for all His Disciples. Again Paul argues for the reality of the resurrection for all born again believers, "But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised."(1)

Christ the first Fruits of Death

"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all." (2)

He identified himself fully with God

To know him was to know God. "Then they asked him, "Where is your father?" "You do not know me or my Father," Jesus replied. "If you knew me, you would know my Father also."" (3) "If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." (4)To see him was to see God "When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me." (5) "Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'" (6) To believe him was to believe God. Then Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me." (7) "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." (8)

To receive Jesus was to receive God

To receive him was to receive God "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me." (9) To hate him was to hate God "He who hates me hates my Father as well." (10) To honour him was to honour God "that all may honour the Son just as they honour the Father. He who does not honour the Son does not honour the Father, who sent him." (11)

He is the Source of Eternal Life

St John the evangelist speaks about the person of Jesus whom he had known for many years and served until his death at a great old age as Saviour. "In him was life, and that life was the light of men. " (12)

"And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us - whatever we ask - we know that we have what we asked of him.

If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, he should pray and God will give him life. I refer to those whose sin does not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death. I am not saying that he should pray about that. All wrongdoing is sin, and there is sin that does not lead to death. We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him. We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true - even in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life." (13)

He is the Creator of the World

"Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." (14)

Jesus has a Human Body.

Jesus showed the same emotions and physical needs as any other human being. He ate with his friends. "Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples saying "Take, eat, this is my body." ... this is my blood." (15) The physical body and blood of Jesus were to have spiritual values when sacrificed - as the sacrificial lamb in the Old Covenant. The bread and wine were to become the physical reminders of the spiritual consequences of His sacrifice. (16)

The first Epistle of John contains the disciples' confession that they knew Jesus as a man with a physical body that they touched and looked upon.

Meditation

Do you really believe in the Resurrection?

Notes

(1) 1 Corinthians 15.12-15 (2) 1 Corinthians 15.20-28 (3) John 8:19 (4) John 14.7 (5) John 12:45 (6) John 14.9 (7) John 12:44 (8) John 14:1 (9)Mark 9.37 (10) John 15.23. (11) John 5.23 (12) John 1.4 (13) 1 John 5.11-20 (14) John 1.3 (15) Matthew 26.26,28 (16) c.f. John 19.34 blood and water from his side.

"The Relationship of the Holy Spirit and Jesus."

^ top of page | next | previous