The Covenant and the Resurrection

MEMORY VERSE: “We declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again.” —Acts 13:32,33

ACTS 13:16-23, 26-31

THE Apostle Paul never had any doubt about the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. We quote from his masterful presentation on this subject: “I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures; and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remained unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”—I Cor. 15:3-9

Paul then presented the vital importance of the resurrection of Jesus in the outworking of the divine plan of salvation. Again we quote: “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”

Paul then explains further concerning the importance of the resurrection of Christ. He affirms, “But now is Christ risen from the dead.” But this is not the end of the divine plan. Paul explains that Christ, in the resurrection, became “the firstfruits of them that slept.” To this he added, “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive”—I Cor. 15:20-22

This coincides with Paul’s explanation in Ephesians 4:8. Here he is referring to an Old Testament promise of the resurrection, and according to the marginal translation, tells us that when Jesus was raised he was the Leader of a multitude of captives.

The Bible represents the entire dead world of mankind as being held captive in death, and these are the captives who are to be released by Jesus. But this aspect of the divine plan depended upon the resurrection of Jesus himself. In a sermon on Mars’ hill Paul explains that in the resurrection of Jesus God has given assurance unto all men that they shall be raised unto a righteous day of judgment.

When we rightly divide the Word of truth we find that it was not God’s purpose to release all the captives in death immediately following the resurrection of Jesus. Describing the sequence of the resurrection, Paul says “Every man in his own order.” (I Cor. 15:23) First to be raised from the dead are those who will be associated with Christ in the future work of his kingdom. These are described as the firstfruits of the resurrection; and then, during the thousand-year kingdom, mankind in general will be awakened from the sleep of death.

This work of resurrection and reconciliation will continue until the very end of the kingdom, for Christ will reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is Death. What a glorious outcome there is eventually to be from the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead! How much, indeed, in the divine plan of salvation would have gone unfulfilled had Jesus not have been raised from the dead!

In Paul’s presentation cited for today’s lesson he takes us back to God’s dealings with ancient Israel, and reminds us of his promises to that chosen people. He shows us that these promises depend for their complete fulfillment on the resurrection of Jesus. God permitted the enemies of Jesus to put him to death, for it was essential that he die as the Redeemer and Savior of the world. But in order for him to bring about the deliverance of the world of mankind from death, it was necessary that he be raised from the dead.

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