ItIsFinished!Jesus’DeathandResurrection

MarkDriscoll&GerryBreshears

Contents

Preface

Chapter1.Cross:GodDies

•HOWCANJESUS’CRUCIFIXIONBEGOODNEWS?•HOWDOESGODSATISFYHIMSELFTHROUGHTHECROSS?•HOWDOESGODREDEEMUSTHROUGHTHECROSS?•FORWHOMDIDJESUSCHRISTDIE?•HOWDOESGODTRIUMPHTHROUGHTHECROSS?•HOWDOESGODINSPIREUSTHROUGHTHECROSS?•WHATDOESTHEDOCTRINEOFTHECROSSREVEALABOUTGOD’SLOVE?

Chapter2.Resurrection:GodSaves•WHATISRESURRECTION?•WHATWEREANCIENTNON-CHRISTIANVIEWSOFTHEAFTERLIFE?•WHATISTHEBIBLICALEVIDENCEFORJESUS’RESURRECTION?•WHATISTHECIRCUMSTANTIALEVIDENCEFORJESUS’RESURRECTION?•WHATISTHEHISTORICALEVIDENCEFORJESUS’RESURRECTION?•WHATARETHEPRIMARYANCIENTOBJECTIONSTOJESUS’RESURRECTION?•WHATHASTHERESURRECTIONACCOMPLISHEDFORCHRISTIANS?

Preface

The content for this e-book was originally published as chapters 8-9 in Doctrine: WhatChristiansShouldBelievewrittenbyMarkDriscollandGerryBreshears. If youwould like toobtain more Bible teaching and resources from Mark Driscoll, you can visitwww.MarkDriscoll.org.

Chapter1

Cross:GodDies

Godshowshisloveforusinthatwhilewewerestillsinners,Christdiedforus.

ROMANS5:8

TheBiblegivesfewdetailsaboutcrucifixion.Thisislikelybecausetheoriginalaudiencehadwitnessedthem. However, since few people in the modern era have personally witnessed a crucifixion, it isimportantforustoexamineitindetailsoastofullyappreciatethesufferingofJesusChrist.

Imaginea longwoodenstakebeingrun throughaperson’smidsection,and thatstake thenbeingdrivenintotheground,withtheimpaledpersonlefttodieslowlyoverthecourseofmanydays.Itisbelievedthatthiskindofbarbaroustorturemayinfactbetheearliestformofcrucifixion,occurringasearlyastheninthcenturyBC.1

In the sixth century BC the Persians commonly practiced crucifixion, especially King Darius I, whocrucified three thousandBabylonians in518BC. In332BCAlexander theGreatcrucified two thousandpeople whom he conquered in Tyre. The transition from impalement to crucifixion occurred underAlexander,ashewasamasterofterroranddread.In71BCtheformergladiatorSpartacusand120,000prisoners fell in battle to the Romans, which resulted in six thousand men being crucified along theshoulderofthehighwayfor120miles.

TheRomansperfectedcrucifixion; they reserved it as themostpainfulmodeof execution for themostdespised people, such as slaves, the poor, and Roman citizens guilty of the worst high treason. Thecrucifixion methods varied with the sadism of the soldiers. They tried to outdo one another andexperimentedwithvariousformsoftorture.Theygrewlearnedinwaystoprolongthepainandagony.

TheRomansarebelievedtobethefirsttocrucifyonanactualcross.TheTauwasacapitalTcrossandtheLatinwasalowercase tcross.Bothhadthestipe (theverticalpost)andpatibulum (thecrossbar).Thestipewasprobablypermanentwhileeachmancarriedhisownpatibulum.

As a young boy, Jesus may have viewed crucifixions in Judea, because there was a Jewish uprisingagainsttheRomansthatresultedinamasscrucifixionofabouttwothousandJewsinAD4atthetimeofthedeathofHerod.

Thepainofcrucifixion issohorrendous thatawordwas invented toexplain it—excruciating—whichliterallymeans“fromthecross.”Thevictimwasaffixedtothecrosswitheitherropesornails.Thepain

of crucifixion is due in part to the fact that it is a prolonged and agonizing death by asphyxiation.Crucifiedpeoplecouldhangon thecross foranywhere from three to fourhoursor foras longasninedays, passing in and out of consciousness as their lungs struggled to breathewhile laboring under theweightoftheirbody.

Inaneffort toend the torment, itwasnotuncommonfor thosebeingcrucified toslumpon thecross toemptytheirlungsofairandtherebyhastentheirdeath.Further,therearedebatedarchaeologicalreportsthat suggest sometimes seats were placed underneath the buttocks of those being crucified to preventslumping,therebyensuringalengthyandmostpainfuldeath.

Noneofthiswasdoneindignifiedprivacy,butratherinopen,publicplaces.Itwouldbelikenailingabloodied,nakedmanabovethefrontentrancetoyourlocalmall.Crowdswouldgatheraroundthevictimstomockthemastheysweatedinthesun,bled,andbecameincontinentfromthepain.Oncedead,somevictimswerenotgivenadecentburialbutratherleftonthecrossforvulturestopickapartfromabovewhiledogschewedonthebonesthatfelltotheground,evenoccasionallytakingahandorfoothomeasachewtoy,accordingtoancientreports.2Whateverremainedofthevictimwouldeventuallybethrowninthegarbageandtakentothedumpunlessthefamilyburiedit.Furthermore,thewoodencrossesandnailswere considered more valuable than the bodies of the deceased, and those resources were kept andreused.Asageneralrule,itwasmenwhowerecrucified.Occasionallyamanwascrucifiedateyelevelso that passersby could look him directly in the eye as he died and cuss him out and spit on him inmockery. In the rareeventof awoman’scrucifixion, shewasmade to face thecross.Noteven suchabarbarousculturewaswillingtowatchthefaceofawomaninsuchexcruciatingagony.

The ancient Jewish historian Josephus called crucifixion “themostwretched of deaths.”3 The ancientRomanphilosopherCiceroaskedthatdecentRomancitizensnotevenspeakofthecrossbecauseitwastoodisgracefulasubjectfor theearsofdecentpeople.4TheJewsalsoconsideredcrucifixion themosthorrificmodeofdeath,asDeuteronomy21:22–23says:“Ifamanhascommittedacrimepunishablebydeathandheisputtodeath,andyouhanghimonatree,hisbodyshallnotremainallnightonthetree,butyoushallburyhimthesameday,forahangedmaniscursedbyGod.”

TheRomanemperorNerowassocruel toChristiansthathehadsomeofthemcrucified.TheirnumberincludedPeter,who, it is said,was crucifiedupsidedownathisown requestbecausehedidnot feelworthyofdyingexactlyasJesusdid.RomancrucifixioncontinueduntilEmperorConstantinereportedlysawthevisionofacrossandthenextdaywonahistoricbattleandovertooktheWesternRomanEmpire.Followinghisvictory,Christianitywasnolongeroutlawedbutinsteadbecameastate-sponsoredreligion.Historians have debated whether he experienced a true conversion or simply practiced politicalexpediency.Eitherway,heabolishedcrucifixionaroundAD300.

Inlightofallthis,perhapsmostpeculiaristhefactthatthesymbolforJesus,whichhasbecomethemostfamoussymbol inallofhistory, is thecross.Thechurch fatherTertullian (AD155–230) tellsusof theearlypracticeofbelieversmaking thesignof thecrossover theirbodieswith theirhandandadorningtheirnecksandhomeswithcrossestocelebratethebrutaldeathofJesus.Insodoing,theearlyChristiansturnedasymbolofterrorandintimidationintoasymbolofsalvationandhope.

HOWCANJESUS’CRUCIFIXIONBEGOODNEWS?

AmongthescandalsofthecrossisthefactthatChristianshavecalledittheirgospel,orgoodnews,andcelebrate it every year on Good Friday. To understand the good news of Jesus’ death we must firstexaminehowhedied.Thenwecanexaminewhyhedied.

Inthedaysleadinguptohisdeath,Jesuswasayoungmaninhisearlythirties.Hewasingoodhealthdueto his job as a carpenter and his constantwalking ofmanymiles as an itinerantminister. Jesus beganspeakingopenlyofhisimpendingdeath,includingatthePassovermealheatewithhisfriendsastheLastSupper.There,hebrokewithfifteencenturiesofprotocol.Insodoing,heshowedthatthePassovermeal,which God’s people had been eating annually, found its ultimate fulfillment in him. The Passovermemorialized thenight inEgyptwhen in faithGod’speople covered thedoorposts of their homewithbloodsothatdeathwouldnotcometothefirstbornsonintheirhomebutwouldratherpassthemover.5

Jesus,thefirstbornSonofGod,likewisehadcometodieandcoveruswithhisbloodsothatGod’sjustwrathwouldliterallypassoverussinnersastheessenceofthenewcovenant.6

DuringtheLastSupper,SatanenteredoneofJesus’disciples,Judas,whohadbeenstealingmoneyfromJesus’ministry fund for some time andhad agreed to handhimover to the authorities to be crucified.AfterJudasleftthemealtoleadthesoldierstoJesus,JesuswenttothegardenofGethsemane,wherehespent a sleepless night in the agony of prayer.Meanwhile, his disciples failed to intercede for him inprayerandinsteadkeptfallingasleep.Atthispoint,Jesuswasfullyawareofhisimpendingcrucifixionand was so distressed that, as the Bible records, he sweat drops of blood, a physical condition thatdoctorsreportisrarebecauseitrequiresanelevatedlevelofstressthatfewpeopleeverexperience.

Afteranexhausting,sleeplessnightofdistress,JudasarrivedwiththesoldiersandbetrayedJesuswithakiss.Jesuswasthenarrested.Hewasforcedtowalkthroughaseriesoffalsetrialswherecontradictingfalse witnesses were brought forward to offer false testimony. Despite the absence of any evidencesupporting the falsecharges, Jesuswassentenced tobemurdered.Hewaseventuallyblindfoldedasamobofcowardlymenbeathimmercilessly.Hewasthenstrippedingreatshame,andtheBiblesimplysaysthattheyhadhimscourged.

Scourgingitselfwassuchapainfulevent thatmanypeoplediedfromitwithoutevenmakingit to theircross. Jesus’ hands would have been chained above his head to expose his back and legs to anexecutioner’s whip called a cat-o’-nine tails or a flagrum. Two men, one on each side, took turnswhippingthevictim.Thewhipwasaseriesoflongleatherstraps.Attheendofsomeofthestrapswereheavyballsofmetalintendedtotenderizethebodyofavictim,likeacheftenderizesasteakbybeatingit.Some of the straps had hooks made of glass, metal, or bone that would have sunk deeply into the

shoulders,back,buttocks,andlegsofthevictim.Oncethehookshadlodgedintothetenderizedflesh,theexecutionerwould rip the skin,muscle, tendons, and even bones off the victim.The victim’s skin andmuscleswouldhangoff thebody like ribbons as thehooksdissected the skin to thenerve layers.Thedamagecouldgosodeepthateventhelungswerebruised,whichmadebreathingdifficult.Somedoctorshavecomparedthedamageoffloggingtotheresultsofashotgunblast.7Thevictimwouldbleedprofuselyandwouldoftengointoshock,duetoseverebloodlossandinsufficientbloodflownearandthroughtheheart.

Jesus’barebackandshoulders,thoughbloodiedandtraumatized,werethenforcedtocarryhisroughlyhewnwoodencrosstohisplaceofcrucifixion.IfJesuscarriedtheentirecross,itwouldhaveweighedafewhundred pounds, andmany think it ismore likely he carried just the crossbar (patibulum), whichwouldhavebeenaboutonehundredpounds.

Despitehisyoungageandgoodhealth,Jesuswassophysicallydevastatedfromhissleeplessnight,milesofwalking,severebeating,andscourgingthathecollapsedundertheweightofthecross,unabletocarryit alone.Doctors have said that the trauma from the heavy crossbar crushing his chest into the groundcouldhavecausedabruisedheart,similartothechesttraumacausedbyacaraccidentwithoutaseatbeltwhere the driver is violently thrown against the steering wheel.8 Understandably unable to continuecarryinghiscrossontheroughlyone-milejourneytohisexecution,amannamedSimonofCyrenewasappointedtocarryJesus’cross.Uponarrivingathisplaceofcrucifixion,theypulledJesus’beardout—anactofultimatedisrespectinancientcultures—spatonhim,andmockedhiminfrontofhisfamilyandfriends.

Jesusthecarpenter,whohaddrivenmanynailsintowoodwithhisownhands,thenhadfivetoseven-inchroughmetalspikesdrivenintothemostsensitivenervecentersonthehumanbody,throughhishandsandfeet. Jesus was nailed to his wooden cross. His bodywould have twitched involuntarily, writhing inagony.

Infurthermockery,asignwaspostedaboveJesusthatsaid,“JesusofNazareth,theKingoftheJews.”9Apaintinglaterdiscoveredfromasecond-centuryRomangraffitofurthershowsthedisrespectofJesusathiscrucifixion.Thepaintingdepictstheheadofajackassbeingcrucified,withamanstandingalongsideitwithhisarmsraised.Thecaptionreads,“Alexamenosworshipshisgod.”

Atthispointduringacrucifixion,thevictimslaboredtobreathastheirbodieswentintoshock.Nakedandembarrassed, the victims would often use their remaining strength to seek revenge on the crowd ofmockerswhohadgatheredtojeerthem.Theywouldcurseattheirtormentorswhileurinatingandspittingonthem.Somevictimswouldbecomesooverwhelmedwithpainthattheywouldbecomeincontinentand

apoolofsweat,blood,urine,andfeceswouldgatheratthebaseoftheircross.

Jesus’crucifixionwasahideouslygrotesquescene.Hundredsofyearsinadvance,theprophetIsaiahsawitthisway:

Hewasdespisedandrejectedbymen;amanofsorrows,andacquaintedwithgrief;andasonefromwhommen hide their faces hewas despised, andwe esteemed himnot. Surely he has borne ourgriefsandcarriedoursorrows;yetweesteemedhimstricken,smittenbyGod,andafflicted.10

Crucifixion usually kills by asphyxiation in addition to other factors—the heart is deeply stressed, thebodyistraumatized,themusclesaredevastated,andthebloodlossissevere.DoctorshavethoughtthatJesuslikelyhadachestcontusionandpossiblyabruisedheartfromfallingwiththecrossontopofhim,whichcausedananeurysm.11Subsequently,Jesus’heartwouldhavebeenunabletopumpenoughbloodandhislungswouldhavefilledupwithcarbonmonoxide.Jesusnotonlylivedthroughallofthis,butheevenspokelucidlyandclearlywithenoughvolumetobeheardbythosepresent.Likelysensinghewashavingaheartattack,Jesususedhisfinalmomentstodeclarehisvictoryoversin.InanefforttosilenceJesus,thesoldierstookaspongesoakedinvinegar—possiblyusedinthepublicrestroomastheancientversionofbothtoiletpaperanddisinfectant—andputitonastickandtriedtoshoveitinhismouth.12

Atlast,with this foul tasteonhis lips,Jesussaid ina loudvoiceof triumph,“It is finished.”13At thismoment,theatonementforsinwasmadeandtheholiness,righteousness,justice,andwrathofGodweresatisfiedinthecrucifixionofJesusChrist.

Jesusthensaid,“Father, intoyourhandsIcommitmyspirit!”14Jesusreservedhisfinalbreathfromthecross to shout his triumphant victory to theworld by confirming that he had been restored toGod theFatherafteratoningforhumansin.

TheBiblethensimplyrecordsthatJesusbreathedhislastanddied.

Jesushungon thecross forat leastsixhours—fromthe thirdhour to theninthhour,when thedarknessended.15Howlong thereafter thathebreathedhis lastanddied isnotclear inScripture.What ismoreclearisthefactthatifavictimremainedaliveonthecrossfortoolongsothatitinterferedwithanotherevent like a major holiday, it was customary to break the victim’s legs, disabling him from pushinghimselfuponhiscrosstofillhislungswithairandtherebyprolonghislife.However,inaccordancewiththepromiseofScripture,Jesusdiedquicklyenoughthathislegswerenotbroken.16

Furthermore, toensure Jesuswasdead, aprofessional executioner rana spear throughhis side,whichpuncturedhisheart sac, andwaterandblood flowed fromhis side.This is furtherevidence that Jesus

diedofaheartattack;thesacaroundtheheartfilledwithwateruntilthepressurecausedJesus’hearttostopbeating.Thus,Jesuspossiblydiedwithbothaliteralandmetaphoricalbrokenheart.

Formanyyears,themostsacredplaceonearthhadbeenthetemple,wherethepresenceofGoddwelledbehindathickcurtain.Onlyonepersoneachyear,thehighpriest,wasallowedtopassbythatcurtainandenterthepresenceofGodononeday,theDayofAtonement.AtthedeathofJesus,however,thetemplecurtainwastornfromtoptobottom,signifyingthatGodhadopenedhispresencetotheworldthroughthecrossofJesus.

ThemostsuccinctsummaryofthegospelinScriptureprovidesinsightintothistheologicalmeaning:“thatChristdiedforoursinsinaccordancewiththeScriptures,thathewasburied,thathewasraisedonthethird day in accordance with the Scriptures.”17 In this packed section of Scripture, Paul appoints thedeath,burial,andresurrectionofJesusasthemostimportanteventinallofhistoryandtheverificationofthe truthfulness of all Scripture.He then explainswhy this is good newswith the simpleword “for,”showingthatJesusdied“foroursins.”Theword“for”canmeaneither“forthebenefitof”or“becauseof.”Jesusdidnotdie“forthebenefitof”oursins.Hedidnothelpthematall!Rather,hedied“becauseof”oursins.Soitwasoursinsbuthisdeath.FromthebeginningofsacredScripture18totheend,19 thepenaltyforsinisdeath.Therefore,ifwesin,weshoulddie.ButitisJesus,thesinlessone,whodiesinourplace“foroursins.”ThegoodnewsofthegospelisthatJesusdiedtotaketohimselfthepenaltyforour sin. In theological terms, thismeans that Jesus’ deathwas substitutionary, or vicarious, and in ourplacesolelyforourbenefitandwithoutbenefitforhimself.Therefore,wefindthecrossofJesustobethecrux of good news because it was there that Jesus atoned for our sin according to the promises ofScripture.

Jesus’workforusonthecrossiscalledatonement(at-one-ment);JesusourGodbecameamantorestorearelationshipbetweenGodandhumanity.TheconceptofJesus’dyinginourplacetopayourpenaltyforour sins has been expressed in theological shorthand as penal substitution. Scripture repeatedly andclearlydeclaresthatJesusdiedasoursubstitutepayingourpenalty“for”oursins.20

OnetheologianhascalledthecrossthegreatjeweloftheChristianfaith,andlikeeverygreatjewelithasmanypreciousfacetsthatareeachworthyofexaminingfortheirbrillianceandbeauty.21

Therefore,youwillbewellservedtoseeeachsideofthisjewelshiningtogetherforthegloryofGodincomplementary, not contradictory, fashion. Most poor teaching about the cross results from someonedenying, ignoring, or overemphasizingoneof these facets at the expenseof the others, oftendue to anoverreactiontosomeoneelse’soverreaction.

ManyofthesefacetswereforeshadowedintheOldTestament,specificallybytheannualcelebrationof

theDayofAtonement (YomKippur)according to the regulationsof thebookofLeviticus.TheDayofAtonementwasthemostimportantdayoftheyearandwasoftenreferredtosimplyas“theday.”ItwasintendedtodealwiththesinproblembetweenhumanityandGod.Ofthemanypropheticelementsonthisspecial day, one stands out. On that day, two healthy goats without defect were chosen; they werethereforefittorepresentsinlessperfection.

Thefirstgoatwasapropitiatingsinoffering.Thehighpriestslaughteredthisinnocentgoat,whichactedasasubstituteforthesinnerswhorightlydeservedaviolentlybloodydeathfortheirmanysins.Hethensprinkledsomeof itsbloodon themercyseaton topof theArkof theCovenant inside theMostHolyPlace.Thegoatwasnolongerinnocentwhenittooktheguiltofsin;itwasasinofferingforthepeople.22

Subsequently, itsbloodrepresented lifegivenaspayment forsin.ThedwellingplaceofGodwas thuscleansedofthedefilementthatresultedfromallofthetransgressionsandsinsofthepeopleofIsrael,andGod’sjustandholywrathwassatisfied.

Thenthehighpriest,actingas therepresentativeandmediatorbetweenthesinfulpeopleandtheirholyGod,wouldtakethesecondgoatandlayhishandsontheanimalwhileconfessingthesinsofthepeople.Thisgoat,calledthescapegoat,wouldthenbesentawaytorunfreeintothewildernessawayfromthesinners,symbolicallyexpiatingoursinsbytakingthemaway.

These great images of the priest, slaughter, and scapegoat are all given byGod to help usmore fullycomprehendJesus’workforusonthecross,whichwewillnowexamineindepth.

HOWDOESGODSATISFYHIMSELFTHROUGHTHECROSS?

New-covenantSacrifice

Onescholarsaysthatbloodismentionedsome362timesintheOldTestamentandsomeninety-twotimesintheNewTestamentandevenmoreoftenthanthecrossordeathofJesus;thus,itisthemostcommonmeansbywhichtheScripturesrefertothedeathofJesus.

ThroughoutScripture,bloodisinextricablyconnectedwithsinfortwoprimaryreasons.First,shedbloodremindsusthatsinresultsindeath.Second,Godissickenedbysin,whichcausesdeath,aconnectionfirstmade in Genesis 2:17 and repeated throughout the Bible. So when God sees blood, it points to thesickening reality of sin anddeath.Leviticus 17:11 says it thisway: “For the life of the flesh is in theblood,andIhavegivenitforyouonthealtartomakeatonementforyoursouls,forit isthebloodthatmakes atonement by the life.” Blood is sacred, epitomizing the life of the sacrificial victim given assubstituteforthesinner’sdeath.Practicallyeverysacrificeincludedthesprinklingorsmearingofbloodonanaltar,thusteachingthatatonementinvolvesthesubstitutionoflifeforlife.

TheOldTestamentoftenusedthethemeofbloodtopreparepeopleforthecomingofJesustodieforoursins.Infact,itwasGodwhoshedthefirstbloodinhumanhistoryinresponsetosin.InGenesis3whenourfirstparents,AdamandEve,committedtheoriginalhumansin,itwasGodwhoslaughteredananimalto make clothes to cover their nakedness. From then on blood sacrifices were the standard way toworshipGod.23

OneofthebloodiestbooksoftheBibleisExodus.Thepeopleweregiventwochoices.(1)Theycouldrepent of sin and place their faith in God, demonstrated by slaughtering an animal and covering thedoorpostsof theirhome inblood. If thiswasdone, thenGodpromised topassover (hence the relatedfeastofPassover)theirhouseandnotkillthefirstbornsoninthehomebutratheracceptthesubstitutionofthelifeofthesacrificialanimal.(2)TheycouldfailtorepentoftheirsinandnotplacetheirfaithinGodandseedeathcometotheirhome.OnthatnightinEgypt,muchbloodwasshedanddeathcametoeveryhomeaseitherthebloodofasubstituteanimalwasshedforthesinners,orthefirstbornsonineachhomewasputtodeathbyGod.

OneofthemajorfunctionsoftheOldTestamenttemplewastheslaughteringofanimals,asseenbythestreamofblood that often flowedoutof the temple.Blood is in fact amajor aspect ofOldTestamentreligion.Thereweresomeelevendifferentsacrificesthatfitintooneoffourgroupings(burnt,peace,sin,orguilt)andsacrificesweremadebothinthemorningandevening,allofwhichinvolvedblood.

Despite all of this bloodshed, theOld Testament sacrificial systemwas nevermeant to be something

sufficient in itself.When Israel misunderstood the purpose of the sacrifices, putting their faith in thesacrifices themselves, there were major problems. The first problem was that the bloodshed of asubstitutedanimaldidnotforgivehumansin.24Thesecondproblemwasthatitenabledhypocrisy;peoplecouldundergoexternalritualssuchasofferingasacrificewithouthavingtrulyrepentedofsinandtrustedinGodinternally.25ThethirdproblemwasthatitwasonlypreparatoryandthereforeincompleteuntilthecomingofJesus,whomadethebetternewcovenantpossible.26

Thisthemeofblood,likeeverythemeofScripture,findsitsfulfillmentinthecomingofJesusChristintohumanhistory.EarlyinJesus’life,hiscousinJohnsawJesuscominganddeclared,“Behold,theLambofGod,whotakesawaythesinoftheworld!”27This,ofcourse,wouldbeaccomplishedwhenJesuswasslaughteredonthecrosswherehisbloodflowedfreely.

The results of Jesus’ shed blood are staggering. Hebrews 9:22 says, “Indeed, under the law almosteverythingispurifiedwithblood,andwithoutthesheddingofbloodthereisnoforgivenessofsins.”Also1Peter1:18–19says,“Youwereransomedfromthefutilewaysinheritedfromyourforefathers,notwithperishablethingssuchassilverorgold,butwiththepreciousbloodofChrist,likethatofalambwithoutblemishorspot.”

IntheBiblethewordcovenantappearsmorethanthreehundredtimesandis thereforeessential toourrightly understanding how God relates to us. Both the Old and New Testaments speak of the newcovenant.28TheBibletellsusthatanewepochinhumanhistoryhasarrivedwiththecomingofGodintohuman history as the man Jesus Christ. In the new covenant, all of the prophecies, promises,foreshadowing,andlongingoftheoldcovenantarefulfilled.InthenewcovenantitisJesusChristwhoservesasourcovenanthead.29Jesuswenttothecrosstoshedhisbloodinourplaceforoursinssothatwecanhaveanewcovenantrelationshipwithhim.

Today,inthenewcovenant,wenolongerneedapriestbecausewehaveJesus,whoisourGreatHighPriest.30WenolongerneedtoofferbloodsacrificesbecauseJesusisoursacrificeforsin.31WenolongerneedtovisitthetempletobeneartoGodbecauseJesusisourtemple.32WenolongerneedtocelebratethePassoverbecauseJesusisourpassover.33Finally,wenolongerneedtoliveinhabitualsinbecausethroughJesuswehavebeenmadeholyandhavebeengivennewlife.34

Propitiation

TheBibleisfilledwithexamplesofGodgettingangryatsinnersandofhisangerashostile,burning,andfurious.35BecauseGodisholy,good,andjust,henotonlyfeelsangryaboutsinbutalsodealswithitinways thatareholy,good,and just.BecauseGod isperfect,hisanger isperfectandassuch isarousedslowly,36sometimesturnedaway,37oftendelayed,38andfrequentlyheldback.39

God’s anger is not limited to the Old Testament. Even Jesus got angry, furious, and enraged.40 Also,Revelation19revealsJesuscomingagainasawarriorridingonawhitehorsetoslaughterevildoersuntiltheirbloodrunsthroughthestreetslikeariver.

Furthermore,GodfeelsangrybecauseGodhatessin.41Sadly,itiscommonlysaidamongChristiansthat“Godhatesthesinbutlovesthesinner.”ThiscomesnotfromdivinelyinspiredScripturebutinsteadfromtheHinduGandhiwhocoinedthephrase“Lovethesinnerbuthatethesin”inhis1929autobiography.

TheBibleclearlysaysthatGodbothlovesandhatessomesinners.42PeoplecommonlyprotestthatGodcannothateanyonebecauseheislove.ButtheBiblespeaksofGod’sanger,wrath,andfurymorethanhislove,grace,andmercy.Furthermore, it ispreciselybecauseGod is love thathemusthateevilandallwhodoevil;itisanassaultonwhoandwhatheloves.

Additionally,God’sangerat sinandhatredof sinnerscauseshim topourouthiswrathonunrepentantsinners.ThisdoctrineisnotaspopularamongprofessingChristiansinourdayasitwasinpasttimes,butthefactremainsthatintheOldTestamentalonenearlytwentywordsareusedforGod’swrath,whichisspokenofroughlysixhundredtimes.ThewrathofGodalsoappearsroughlytwenty-fivetimesintheNewTestament.43NotonlydoesGod theFatherpouroutwrathuponunrepentant sinners,but sodoes JesusChrist.44

God’swrathisbothactiveandpassive.WhenpeoplethinkofGod’swrath,theygenerallythinkofGod’sactivewrath,wherepeopleareswiftlypunished for their sinwithsomething likea lightningbolt fromheaven.Godcananddoesenacthisactivewrathuponoccasion.45Still,heseemstoalsofrequentlyworkthrough his subtler passive wrath. Passive wrath occurs when God simply hands us over to our evildesiresandallowsustodowhateverwewant.46

ThetruthisthateveryonebutthesinlessJesusmeritstheactivewrathofGod.Noneofusdeserveslove,grace,ormercyfromGod.DemonsandsinfulpeoplewhofailtorepentwillhaveGod’swrathburningagainstthemforever.47TheplaceofGod’sunendingactivewrathishell.

However,God’sactivewrathisdivertedfromsomepeoplebecauseofthemercyofGod.ThisismadepossiblebecauseonthecrossJesussubstitutedhimselfinourplaceforoursinsandtookGod’swrathforus.TwosectionsofScriptureinparticularspeaktothismatterpointedly:

1)Since,therefore,wehavenowbeenjustifiedbyhisblood,muchmoreshallwebesavedbyhim[Jesus]fromthewrathofGod.48

2)You turned toGod from idols to serve the living and trueGod, and towait for his Son from

heaven,whomheraisedfromthedead,Jesuswhodeliversusfromthewrathtocome.49

ScripturealsohasasinglewordtodesignatehowJesusdivertstheactivewrathofourrightfullyangryGodfromussothatwearelovedandnothated.Thatwordispropitiation,whichsummarizesmorethansix hundred related words and events that explain it. The American Heritage Dictionary definespropitiationassomethingthatappeasesorconciliatesanoffendedpower,especiallyasacrificialofferingtoagod.PropitiateistheonlyEnglishwordthatcarriestheideaofpacifyingwrathbytakingcareofthepenaltyfortheoffensethatcausedthewrath.

ManyChristiansarenotfamiliarwiththisword,though,becausevariousBibletranslationsusedifferentwords in an effort to capture its meaning. For example, the New International and New Revisedtranslationsuse“sacrificeofatonement,”andtheNewLivingTranslationuses“sacrificeforsin”insuchplaces asRomans3:23–25,Hebrews2:17, 1 John2:2, and1 John4:10where theoriginalwordwas“propitiate.”

WorsestillaretheRevisedStandardVersionandTheNewEnglishBible,whichuse“expiation”insteadof “propitiation.” These latter two translations change the entire meaning of the verse, becausepropitiation deals with the penalty for sin whereas expiation deals with the cleansing from sin. TheEnglishStandardVersionhasthankfullyretainedtheoriginalword“propitiation”fromtheGreektextoftheNewTestament.TherearefourprimaryoccurrencesofthewordpropitiationintheNewTestament:

1)ForallhavesinnedandfallshortofthegloryofGod,andarejustifiedbyhisgraceasagift,throughthe redemption that is inChrist Jesus,whomGodput forward as a propitiationbyhis blood, to bereceivedbyfaith.ThiswastoshowGod’srighteousness.50

2)Thereforehe[Jesus]hadtobemadelikehisbrothersineveryrespect,sothathemightbecomeamercifulandfaithfulhighpriestintheserviceofGod,tomakepropitiationforthesinsofthepeople.51

3)Heisthepropitiationforoursins,andnotforoursonlybutalsoforthesinsofthewholeworld.52

4)Inthisislove,notthatwehavelovedGodbutthathelovedusandsenthisSontobethepropitiationforoursins.53

Atthecross, justiceandmercykiss;Jesussubstitutedhimselfforsinnersandsufferedanddiedintheirplacetoforgivethem,lovethem,andembracethem,notinspiteoftheirsins,butbecausetheirsinswerepropitiated and diverted from them to Jesus. Jesus did this not by demanding our blood but rather bygivinghisown.

Justification

Goddeservesjustice.Becauseofoursinfulconditionandensuingsinfulactions,though,ourimpendingdayinGod’sproverbialcourtroomseemsutterlyhopelessforanythingotherthanaguiltyverdictandasentencetoeternityinthetormentsofhell.Inlightofourobviousguilt,ifGodweretodeclareusanythingbut guilty, he would cease to be a just and good God. God himself says that he “will not acquit thewicked.”54

Guilty sinners would likely prefer that God simply overlook their offenses against him. To do so,however,wouldbydefinitionrenderGodunjust,unholy,andunrighteous,whichisimpossiblebecauseheisalwaysjust,holy,andrighteous.

Clearly,Goddoesnotoweusanything.Ifweweretospendforeverinthetormentsofhellasguiltyandcondemnedsinners,wewouldhavesimplygottenwhatwedeserved.Ponderingthissamepoint,Jobasks,“ButhowcanamanbeintherightbeforeGod?”55

Thankfully,Godismerciful,gracious,slowtoanger,loving,faithful,andwillingtoforgive.56Thus, thedilemmaisthis:howcouldGodjustifyusandremainjust?

Theansweristhedoctrineofjustification:guiltysinnerscanbedeclaredrighteousbeforeGodbygracealonethroughfaithalonebecauseofthepersonandworkofJesusChristalone.JustificationismentionedmorethantwohundredtimesinvariouswaysthroughouttheNewTestamentalone.

Thepenaltyofsinisdeath.GodwarnedAdaminthegardenthat“inthedaythatyoueatofityoushallsurelydie.”57Paulconfirmsthis:“theyknowGod’sdecreethatthosewhopracticesuchthingsdeservetodie.”58TheamazingtruthisthatGodhimself,thesecondpersonoftheTrinity,paidourdebtofdeathinourplace.

Additionally,notonlydidJesustakealloursins(past,present,andfuture)onthecross,buthealsogavetoushisperfectrighteousnessasafaultlessandsinlessperson.59ThisiswhyPaulsaysthatJesusaloneisourrighteousness.60Therefore,justificationthroughtheworkofJesusChristinourplaceforoursinsonthecrossisonlypossiblebygracefromJesusChristalone,throughfaithinJesusChristalone,becauseofJesusChristalone.

Thereisabsolutelynothingwecandotocontributetoourjustification.WhenJesussaid,“Itisfinished”onthecross,hewasdeclaringthatallthatneededtobedoneforourjustificationwascompletedinhim.Forthisreason,Titus3:7speaksof“beingjustifiedbyhisgrace.”Furthermore,Romans5:16–17says:

Thefreegift isnot like theresultof thatoneman’s [Adam’s]sin.For the judgment followingonetrespassbroughtcondemnation,butthefreegiftfollowingmanytrespassesbroughtjustification.For

if,becauseofoneman’s trespass,death reigned through thatoneman,muchmorewill thosewhoreceivetheabundanceofgraceandthe freegiftofrighteousnessreignin life throughtheonemanJesusChrist.

Tobe justifiedmeans to trustonly in thepersonandworkofJesusandnooneandnothingelseas theobjectofourfaith,righteousness,andjustificationbeforeGod.61

GiftRighteousness

Becausewewere created for righteousness, people continue to yearn for righteousness.However,wesinfullypursueit throughself-righteousness.62Self-righteousnessexists inboth irreligiousandreligiousforms.

Irreligiousself-righteousnessincludestheattemptstojustifyone’sdecencythrougheverythingfromsocialcausestopoliticalinvolvementandbeingagoodstewardoftheplanet.Religiousself-righteousnessisthepursuitofpersonalrighteousnessthroughourownattemptstolivebyGod’slawsinadditiontoourownrules.

Regardingsuchvainattemptsatself-righteousness,Jesussaid,“Unlessyourrighteousnessexceedsthatofthe scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”63 No one has been morereligiouslydevotedthanthePhariseeswho,forexample,actuallytithedoutoftheirspicerackinanefforttobecertainthattheygaveGodatenthofliterallyalltheyhad.Still,ourattemptsatself-righteousnessaresimplyrepugnanttoGod.64

OnthecrosswhatMartinLutherlikedtocallthe“greatexchange”occurred.Jesustookoursinandgaveushisrighteousness.SecondCorinthians5:21says,“Foroursakehe[God]madehim[Jesus]tobesinwhoknewnosin,sothatinhimwemightbecometherighteousnessofGod.”Unliketheself-righteousnessofreligion,giftrighteousnessispassive;itisnotsomethingwedo,butrathersomethingthatJesusdoesandwereceiveasagiftbypersonalfaithinhimalone.

ThegiftedrighteousnessofJesusisimpartedtousatthetimeoffaith,simultaneouswithourjustification.NotonlydoesGodgiveus family status,buthealsogivesusnewpowerandanewheart through theindwellingHolySpirit.Thisiswhattheologianscallregeneration.Therefore,wenotonlyhaveanewstatusbyvirtueofbeingjustified,butwealsohaveanewheartfromwhichnewdesiresforholinessflowandanewpowerthroughGodtheHolySpirittolivelike,for,andwithJesus.

Finally,insayingthatrighteousnesscomesfromJesusaloneandbyvirtueofnoneofourgoodworks,weare not advocating a kind of lawless Christianity where we are permitted to live in unrepentant and

ongoing sin, unconcerned aboutwhetherwe are living righteously. Rather,we are saying that only byunderstandingtherighteousnessofJesusChristinuscanweliveholylivesoutofhisrighteousnessasournewstatusasChristians.

Ransom

Godmade us to love, honor, and obey him in thought,word, and deed. Every timewe fail to do thatperfectly,weaccrueadebttoGod.EverypersonhassinnedagainstGod,andhellistheeternalprisonforspiritualdebtorswhohavestolenfromGodbylivingsinfullives.

First,weneedamediator tostandbetweenusandGod toestablishour totaldebtandcomeupwitharesolution that God the Father, to whomwe are indebted, will find acceptable. The Bible repeatedlyspeaksofJesusasouronlymediator:“ForthereisoneGod,andthereisonemediatorbetweenGodandmen, the man Christ Jesus.”65 Our spiritual debt is to God, and there is only one possible mediatorbetweenGodandustoworkoutthedangerousmesswearein.

Second,weneedaredeemerwillingtointercedeforusandpayourdebttoGodtheFather.Aredeemerisapersonwhopaysthedebtofsomeoneelse.Paulspeaksof“ourgreatGodandSaviorJesusChrist,whogave himself for us to redeemus fromall lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his ownpossessionwhoarezealousforgoodworks.”66Healsosaysthat“Christredeemedusfromthecurseofthelawbybecomingacurseforus—foritiswritten,‘Cursediseveryonewhoishangedonatree[Deut.21:23].’”67BecauseoursinsareagainstGod,onlyGodcanforgiveourdebtofsin.Jesus isGodwhopaidourdebtonthecrossinordertoforgiveoursin.68

Third,weneedaransom,whichisarepaymentsufficientenoughtoeraseourdebttoGodtheFather.Theproblem, though, is thatoursinsareagainstacompletelyholyandperfectGodand thereforerequireaperfectpayment.Sinceallhumanbeingsaresinful,wecannotbearansomforanother.Thereisnowaythat any other sinful human can ever repayGod for our spiritual debt. Psalm49:7–8 says it thisway:“Trulynomancanransomanother,orgivetoGodthepriceofhislife,fortheransomoftheirlifeiscostlyandcanneversuffice.”ReferringtohimselfinMark10:45,Jesussaid,“ForeventheSonofMancamenot tobeservedbut toserve,andtogivehis lifeasaransomformany.”Paulalsospeaksof“themanChristJesus,whogavehimselfasaransom.”69

HOWDOESGODREDEEMUSTHROUGHTHECROSS?

Redemption

Touseaverybiblicalword,sinnersareslaves.SecondPeter2:19bexplainsitthisway:“Forwhateverovercomes a person, to that he is enslaved.” Like a prisoner locked in a cell who cannot escape, sosinnerstooarelockedinaprisonofsinandcannotgetfree.Thisincludesself-selectedslavery,suchasaddictionsandsinpatternsthatarehabitual.

In thebookofExodus,God’speoplewereenslaved toakingnamedPharaohwhoruledover themostpowerfulnationontheearth,Egypt.Hewasworshipedasagodandbrutallymistreatedthepeoplewhomheenslaved.GodraisedupamannamedMosestospeakonhisbehalftothepharaoh,demandingthattheslaves be set free in order to live new lives in worship to the real God. God graciously, butauthoritatively,calledhimtorighteousness.PharaohbecamehardheartedunderGod’sprovocation,justasGodsaidhewould,andherefusedtoreleasethepeoplefromtheirbrutalslavery.Asaresult,Godsentasuccessionofplaguesasjudgmentsandwarningsuponthepharaoh,kindlygivinghimmanyopportunitiestorepentanddowhatGoddemanded.

Thepharaohrepeatedlyrefusedtorepentofhiswaysandreleasethepeople,soGodsentaterribleseriesofjudgmentsupontheentirenation.ThewrathofGodwaseventuallypouredoutonthefirstbornsonofeveryhousehold,eachkilledinonenight.Aswehavenoted, theonlyhouseholdssparedfromdeathtotheirfirstbornsonwerethosefamilieswho,infaith,tookayoung,healthylambwithoutblemishordefectandslaughtered itasasubstituteandthentookitsbloodandcoveredthedoorpostsaroundtheentry totheirhomewithit.Asaresult,thewrathofGodpassedoverthemandwasdivertedbecauseofthelamb.

Like the people inMoses’ day, we sinners are completely unable to free ourselves from slavery. Asslavesweneedtoberedeemedfromourslavery.Redemptionissynonymouswithbeingliberated,freed,orrescuedfrombondageandslaverytoapersonorthing.Thewordanditsderivatives(e.g.,redeemer,redeem)appearroughly150timesintheEnglishBible,withonlyroughlytwentyoccurrencesintheNewTestament.

Sadly,ithasbeencommonlytaughtbysomeChristiantheologianssincetheearlydaysofthechurch(e.g.,Origen)thattheconceptofredemptionwasadoptedfromthepaganslavemarketwhereapricewaspaidto free a slave. This led to wild speculation that Jesus died to pay off Satan, which is preposterousbecauseJesusowesSatannothing.

Theprototypeforredemptionisnotthepaganslavemarketbutrathertheexodus.There,Godliberatedhispeoplebutinnowaypaidoffthesatanicpharaoh.Godsimplycrushedhim.Exodus6:6isoneofmany

Bibleversesthatpresenttheexodusastheprototypeofredemption:“SaythereforetothepeopleofIsrael,‘IamtheLORD,andIwillbringyououtfromundertheburdensoftheEgyptians,andIwilldeliveryoufromslaverytothem,andIwillredeemyouwithanoutstretchedarmandwithgreatactsofjudgment.”70

ThethemeofGodtheRedeemerechoesthroughouttheOldTestament.71EvenbeforeJesus’birthitwasprophesiedthathewasGodcomingintohumanhistorytoredeemsinnersfromslavery.72AtthebirthofJesus,itwasprophesiedthatheisGodtheRedeemer.73PauloftenspokeofJesusasourredeemer:“JesusChrist . . . gave himself for us to redeemus” and “Redemption . . . is inChrist Jesus.”74ManymoreexamplesofJesusbeingofferedastheredeemerofslavesarescatteredthroughouttheNewTestament.75

WhenJesuswascrucifiedandhisbloodwasshed,hesufferedanddiedinourplaceforoursinssothatwecouldberedeemed.76Jesushasredeemedusfromandtomanythings.Jesushasredeemedusfromthecurseofthelaw,77Satananddemons,78oursinfulflesh,79andsin.80Furthermore,JesushasredeemedustoeternallifewithGod,81thereturnofJesus,82andaglorifiedresurrectionbody.83

FORWHOMDIDJESUSCHRISTDIE?

UnlimitedLimitedAtonement

Thequestion,forwhomdidJesusChristdie?hasgeneratedsomeofthemostheatedandvariedanswersinchurchhistory.Tohelpyouunderstandthedifferentanswerstothisquestion,weofferthischart:

Heresyof

“Christian”Universalism

HeresyofContemporaryPelagianism

UnlimitedAtonement

LimitedAtonement UnlimitedLimitedAtonement

ViewofSin Wearebornsinfulbutguiltyforoursins,notAdam’s.

WearebornsinlesslikeAdambutfollowhisbadexample.

Wearebornsinfulbutguiltyforoursins,notAdam’s.

WearebornsinnersguiltyinAdam.

WearebornsinnersguiltyinAdam.

WhoJesusDiedFor

Jesustookallthesinandpainoftheworldontohimself.

Jesuslivedanddiedonlyasanexample

forsinners.

Jesusdiedtoprovidepaymentforthesinofallpeople.

Jesusdiedtoachievefull

atonementfortheelect.

Jesusdiedtoprovidepaymentforall,butonlyina

savingwayfortheelect.

HowAtonementIsApplied

God’spowerfulloveinJesuswill

overcomeallsin.

AnyonecanfollowtheexampleofJesusbylivinga

goodlife.

Godwillapplythepaymenttothosewhobelievein

Christ.

Goddesignedtheatonementprecisely

fortheelect.

WhileGoddesiresthesalvationofall,heappliesthepaymenttothe

elect,thosewhomhechoseforsalvation.

Heaven&Hell Everyonewillbesavedandwillgotoheaven.Thereisno

eternalhell.

ThosewholiveaChristlikelifewillbesavedandgoto

heaven.Thosewhorejectgoodnesswill

gotohell.

Allwhoacceptthegiftgotoheaven.Everyoneelsegetstofollowtheirfreewillandchooseto

gotohell.

Goddoesnotneedtosaveanyonefromhell,butchoosesto

savesome.

Goddoesnotneedtosaveanyonefromhell,butchoosesto

savesome.

The first two answers (universalism and Pelagianism) are unbiblical and therefore unacceptable.Universalism erroneously contradicts the clear teachings of Scripture on human sinfulness and hell.84

Pelagiusdeniedhumansinfulnessandtaught thatpeoplebegintheir lifemorallygood(likeAdam),andthroughthedecisionoftheirownwillcanliveaholylifethatwouldobligateGodtotakethemtoheavenupondeath.PelagiuswascondemnedasahereticattheCouncilofCarthageinAD418.

We are left with three options for Christians regarding the question of who Jesus died for. All threepositionsarewithintheboundsofevangelicalorthodoxy.

First, some Christians believe that Jesus died for the sins of all people. This position is commonlyreferred to as Arminianism (after James Arminius), Wesleyanism (after John Wesley), or unlimited

atonement.Arminians appeal to those Scriptures that speak of Jesus dying for all people,85 thewholeworld,86everyone,87andnotwantinganyonetoperish.88Arminiansthenteachthattobesaved,onemustmakethedecisiontoacceptJesus’atoningdeathandbecomeafollowerofJesus.Furthermore,itissaidthatanyonecanmakethatchoiceeitherbyinherentfreewill(Arminians)orbyGod’suniversalenabling,so-calledprevenient,orfirst,grace(Wesleyans).Subsequently,electionisunderstoodasGodchoosingthose he foreknew would choose him, and since people choose to be saved they can also lose theirsalvation.

Second,someChristiansbelievethatJesusdiedonlyforthesinsoftheelect.Electionmeansthatbeforethefoundationof theworld,Godchosecertain individuals toberecipientsofeternal lifesolelyonthebasis of his gracious purpose apart from any humanmerit or action. He calls them effectually, doingwhateverisnecessarytobringthemtorepentanceandfaith.89Thispositioniscommonlyreferredtoasfive-point Calvinism (after John Calvin), Reformed theology, or limited atonement, which is alsosometimescalledparticularredemption.TheseCalvinistscommonlyappealtothoseScripturesthatspeakof Jesus’ dying only for some people but not all people,90 his sheep,91 his church,92 the elect,93 hispeople,94hisfriends,95andallChristians.96Theydisagreewithunlimitedatonement,pointingoutthatifJesusdiedforeveryone,theneveryonewouldbesaved,whichistheheresyofuniversalism.TheyalsoteachthatpeoplearesosinfulthattheycannotchooseGod,andsoGodregeneratespeoplebeforetheirconversionandensurestheywillbepreserveduntiltheendbecausesalvationcannotbelost.

Onevitalpointofdebate is the intentofJesuswhenhediedon thecross.DidJesus intend toprovidepayment for all sins of all people, opening thedoorway to salvation for all?Thatwouldbeunlimitedatonement,orwhat theWesleyansandtheArminiansbelieve.Doweaccept itat facevaluewhenPaulsaidthatChristJesus“gavehimselfasaransomforall”in1Timothy2:6?OrdidJesusdietocompletethepurchaseofourpardononthecross?Thatislimitedatonement,orwhatfive-pointCalvinistsbelieve.DoweacceptitatfacevaluewhenJesussaid,“Itisfinished”inJohn19:30?

Atfirstglance,unlimitedandlimitedatonementappeartobeinopposition.Butthatdilemmaisresolvedbynotingtwothings.First,thetwocategoriesarenotmutuallyexclusive;sinceJesusdiedforthesinsofeveryone,thismeansthathealsodiedforthesinsoftheelect.Second,Jesus’deathforallpeopledoesnotaccomplishthesamethingashisdeathfortheelect.Thispointiscomplicated,butisinfacttaughtinScripture. For example, 1Timothy 4:10makes a distinction between Jesus’ dying as the savior of allpeopleinageneralwayandtheChristianelectinaparticularway,saying,“Fortothisendwetoilandstrive,becausewehaveourhopeseton the livingGod,whois theSaviorofallpeople,especiallyofthosewhobelieve.”Additionally,2Peter2:1speaksofpeopleforwhomJesusdiedasnotbeingsavedfromheresyanddamnationbyJesus:“Falseprophetsalsoaroseamongthepeople,justastherewillbefalseteachersamongyou,whowillsecretlybringindestructiveheresies,evendenyingtheMasterwho

boughtthem,bringinguponthemselvesswiftdestruction.”

Simply, by dying for everyone, Jesus purchased everyone as his possession, and he then applies hisforgiveness to theelect—those inChrist—bygrace,andapplieshiswrath to thenon-elect—thosewhorejectChrist.Objectively,Jesus’deathwassufficienttosaveanyone,and,subjectively,onlyefficienttosavethosewhorepentoftheirsinandtrustinhim.Thispositioniscalledunlimitedlimitedatonement,ormodified Calvinism, and arguably is the position that John Calvin himself held as a very able Bibleteacher.97

Christdied for thepurposeof securing thesureandcertainsalvationofhisown,hiselect.This is theintentionalitythefive-pointCalvinistsrightlystress.Christdiedforallpeople.ThisistheuniversalitytheArminians rightlystress. If the five-pointCalvinist is rightandnopaymenthasbeenmadefor thenon-elect, then how canGod genuinely love theworld and desire the salvation of all people? There is agenuineopendoorforsalvationforanyonewhobelievesinJesus,andthismakestherejectionofJesuscompletelyinexcusable.Jesus’deathreconciles“all things”toGod.98GodwillovercomeallrebellionthroughJesus’blood.Inthissense,allthoseinhellwillstandreconciledtoGodbutnotinasavingway,astheuniversalistsfalselyteach.Inhellunrepentantandunforgivensinnersarenolongerrebels,andtheirsinfuldisregardforGodhasbeencrushedandended.99

HOWDOESGODTRIUMPHTHROUGHTHECROSS?

ChristusVictor

Scripture clearly says that there is a very real war between Jesus and the angels and Satan and thedemons;sinnershavebeentakenascaptivesinwar.100Jesushimselfconfirmedthisfactatthebeginningofhisearthlyministrywhenhesaidhehadcometosetcaptivesfree.101Jesussaidthisbecausethereisnoway that Satan would release us from his captivity and no way that we could liberate ourselves.Therefore,Jesuscameasourtriumphantwarriorandliberator.

The first promise of Jesus as our victor over Satan came to our first parents. In Genesis 3:15, Godpreachedthefirstgoodnews(orgospel)ofJesustooursinfulfirstmother,Eve.GodpromisedthatJesuswouldbebornofawomanandwouldgrowtobeamanwhowouldbattlewithSatanandstomphishead,defeathim,andliberatepeoplefromtheircaptivitytoSatan,sin,death,andhell.

Leadinguptothecross,SatanenteredoneofJesus’owndisciples,JudasIscariot,andconspiredwithhimtobetrayJesusandhandhimovertobecrucified.Throughthecross,SatanandhisdemonsthoughtthattheyhadfinallydefeatedJesus.However,crucifyingJesuswasthebiggestmistaketheDevilevermade.Hadheunderstoodwhatwashappening,hewouldneverhavekilledJesus.102

AnessentialportionofScriptureonthevictoryofJesusoverSatan,sin,anddeathisColossians2:13–15:

You, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alivetogetherwithhim,havingforgivenusallourtrespasses,bycancelingtherecordofdebtthatstoodagainstuswithitslegaldemands.Thishesetaside,nailingit tothecross.Hedisarmedtherulersandauthoritiesandputthemtoopenshame,bytriumphingovertheminhim.

Thus,theauthorityoftheDevilandhisdemonshasalreadyended.Matthew28:18makesitveryclearthatJesushasallauthoritynow,whichmeansthatSatanhasnoauthorityoverChristians.Asaresult,wecannow live in accordance with Colossians 1:10–14 and “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fullypleasingtohim,bearingfruit ineverygoodworkandincreasingin theknowledgeofGod. . . .HehasdeliveredusfromthedomainofdarknessandtransferredustothekingdomofhisbelovedSon,inwhomwehaveredemption,theforgivenessofsins.”TheBibleusesthewordgracetoexplainthevictoryJesusachievedforuson thecrossbecause there isno logical reason thatGodwould loveusanddie inourplacetoliberateusfromcaptivitytoSatan,sin,anddeath,otherthanhiswonderfulnature.

Expiation

ThetypicalgospelpresentationisthatweareallsinnersandthatifweconfessoursinstoJesushewill

forgiveoursinsthroughhissinlesslife,substitutionarydeath,andbodilyresurrection.Thisisclearlytrueaccording to Scripture. However, this gospel only addresses the sins that you have committed (as asinner)andneglectstodealwiththesinsthathavebeencommittedagainstyou(asavictim).

ThroughouttheBible,somedozenwordsareusedfrequentlytospeakofsinintermsofstainingoursoul,defilingus,andcausingustobefilthyorunclean.103Theeffectofsin,particularlysinscommittedagainstus,isthatwefeeldirty.TheBiblementionsanumberofcausesforourdefilement,suchasanysinatall,aswellasinvolvementwithfalsereligionsand/ortheoccult,104violence,105andsexualsin.106

Thus,soulsarestainedanddefiledbythefilthofsinsthatpeoplecommitandthatarecommittedagainstthem. In Scripture, places,107 objects (such as the marriage bed),108 and people are defiled by sin.Subsequently,theOldTestamentandtheGospelsarefilledwithpeoplewhowererituallyuncleanandnottobetouchedorassociatedwith.ThecommandmentsforceremonialwashingsandsuchforeshadowthecleansingpowerofthedeathofJesus.

Thepredictableresultofdefilementisshame,includingthefearofbeingfoundoutandknown,andourdeep, dark secret getting revealed. This pattern was firmly established with our first parents, whocovered themselves inshameandhid fromGodandoneanotherafter theysinned.Shameexistswherethereissin,andsofeelingashamed,particularlywhenwesin,isnaturalandhealthy.Therefore,shameisnotbad,butunlesstheunderlyingsinthatcausestheshameisproperlydealtwiththroughthegospel,thentheshamewillremain,withdevastatingimplications.

Jesusforgaveoursinsat thecrossandcleansesus fromallsins thatwehavecommittedand thathavebeen committed against us. Through the cross, Jesus Christ has taken our sin away forever, as wasforeshadowedby thescapegoaton theDayofAtonement.Thisgoatwassentaway to run free into thewilderness, symbolically taking the people’s sins with it. Theologically, we call this the doctrine ofexpiation,wherebyoursinisexpiatedortakenawaysothatwearemadecleanthroughJesus,whoisourscapegoat.

The Bible uses words such as atonement, cleansing, and purifying fountain that washes away ourdefilementandshametoexplainthatouridentitymustbemarkedonlybywhatJesusChristhasdoneforusandnolongerbywhathasbeendonebyortous.TheBibleclearlyteachesthatdirtysinnerscanbecleansed.

“Foronthisdayshallatonementbemadeforyoutocleanseyou.YoushallbecleanbeforetheLORDfromallyoursins.”109

“Iwillcleansethemfromalltheguiltoftheirsinagainstme,andIwillforgivealltheguiltoftheir

sinandrebellionagainstme.”110

“Onthatdaythereshallbeafountainopened...tocleansethemfromsinanduncleanness.”111

Jesusnotonlywenttothecrosstodieforoursin,butalsotoscornourshame.AsHebrews12:1–2says,“Letusrunwithendurancetheracethatissetbeforeus,lookingtoJesus,thefounderandperfecterofourfaith,whoforthejoythatwassetbeforehimenduredthecross,despisingtheshame,andisseatedattherighthandofthethroneofGod.”

Asaresult,wecanwalkinthelightwithotherswholoveusinauthenticcommunity.Onthispoint,1John1:7–9says:

Ifwewalkinthelight,asheisinthelight,wehavefellowshipwithoneanother,andthebloodofJesushisSoncleansesusfromallsin.Ifwesaywehavenosin,wedeceiveourselves,andthetruthisnotinus.Ifweconfessoursins,heisfaithfulandjusttoforgiveusoursinsandtocleanseusfromallunrighteousness.

Jesus does “cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Thismeans that because of Jesus’ crosswe can becleansedandmadepure.ThebeautyofthistruthoftheexpiatingorcleansingworkofJesusispoeticallyshown in symbolic acts throughout Scripture, including ceremonial washings,112 baptism,113 and thewearingofwhiteineternityasacontinualreminderoftheexpiatingworkofJesus.114

HOWDOESGODINSPIREUSTHROUGHTHECROSS?

ChristusExemplar

Jesusdiedforoursins,therebyenablingustoexperiencenewlife.Jesuslivedasourexampleshowinguswhatitmeanstoliveatrulyholyhumanlife.

Throughout Jesus’ lifehe repeatedly stated that thepurposeofhis lifeonearthwas toglorifyGod theFather,ortomaketheFather’scharactervisible.Jesus’glorifyingGodtheFatherincludeddyingonthecross.115 Practically, thismeans that there is joy not only in our comfort and success, but also in oursufferingandhardship,justastherewasforJesus.116

AtthecrossofJesus,welearnthattobelikeJesusmeansthatwepickupourcrossandfollowhimashecommanded.117Practically,thismeansthatweglorifyGodbyallowinghardship,pain,andlosstomakeusmore andmore like Jesus and give us amore crediblewitness for Jesus.AsChristianswe shouldneitherruntosufferingastheearlyChristianasceticsdid,norrunfromitassomemodernChristiansdo.Instead,wereceivesufferingwhen itcomesasanopportunityforGodtodosomethinggood inusandthroughus.WerejoicenotinthepainbutratherinwhatitcanaccomplishforthegospelsothatsomethingascostlyassufferingisnotwastedbutusedforGod’sglory,ourjoy,andothers’good.

Inorder to sufferwell—that is, in away that is purposeful for theprogress of thegospel both in andthroughus—wemustcontinuallyrememberJesus’cross.Petersays:

Whatcredit is it if,whenyousinandarebeatenfor it,youendure?But ifwhenyoudogoodandsufferforityouendure,thisisagraciousthinginthesightofGod.Fortothisyouhavebeencalled,becauseChristalsosufferedforyou,leavingyouanexample,sothatyoumightfollowinhissteps.Hecommittednosin,neitherwasdeceitfoundinhismouth.Whenhewasreviled,hedidnotrevileinreturn;whenhesuffered,hedidnotthreaten,butcontinuedentrustinghimselftohimwhojudgesjustly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live torighteousness.Byhiswoundsyouhavebeenhealed.118

WHATDOESTHEDOCTRINEOFTHECROSSREVEALABOUTGOD’SLOVE?

Onthecross,Jesusrevealedtous the loveofGod.ThefollowingversesstatehowtheloveofGodismostclearlyrevealedatthecrossofJesus:

“ForGodso loved theworld, thathegavehisonlySon, thatwhoeverbelieves inhimshouldnotperishbuthaveeternallife.”119

“Greaterlovehasnoonethanthis,thatsomeonelaysdownhislifeforhisfriends.”120

ButGodshowshisloveforusinthatwhilewewerestillsinners,Christdiedforus.121

InthistheloveofGodwasmademanifestamongus,thatGodsenthisonlySonintotheworld,sothatwemightlivethroughhim.Inthisislove,notthatwehavelovedGodbutthathelovedusandsenthisSontobethepropitiationforoursins.122

At the crosswe see that the love ofGod is notmerely sentimental but also efficacious.Whenpeoplespeakoflove,theyusuallymeananemotionallovethatfeelsaffectionatebutmaynotdoanythingtohelpthebeloved.Thankfully,Goddoesnotmerelyfeellovingtowardus;hisloveactuallycompelshimtoactonourbehalfsothatwecanbechangedbyhislove.

Godhaslovinglyworkedoutawayforourfriendshipwithhimtobereconciled.Throughthecross,JesustookawayoursinsothatwecouldbereconciledtoGod.123Thankfully,Godnotonlygraciously takesawayoursin,butmercifullyextendshimselftous,knowingthatwedesperatelyneedhim.124

Thecrossissomethingdonebyyou.YoumurderedGodincarnate.

Thecrossissomethingdoneforyou.Godlovesyouanddiedtoforgiveyou.

Chapter2

Resurrection:GodSaves

Jesussaid...“Iamtheresurrectionandthelife.Whoeverbelievesinme,thoughhedie,yetshallhelive,andeveryonewholivesandbelievesinmeshallneverdie.”

JOHN11:25–26

If Jesus is dead, then Christianity is dead. If Jesus is alive, then Christianity is alive. Paul himselfdeclaredasmuchin1Corinthians15:17:“IfChristhasnotbeenraised,yourfaithisfutileandyouarestillinyoursins.”

ApartfromtheresurrectionofJesusChrist,thereisnosavior,nosalvation,noforgivenessofsin,andnohopeofresurrectedeternallife.Apartfromtheresurrection,Jesusisreducedtoyetanothergoodbutdeadmanand therefore isofnoconsiderablehelp tous in this lifeor at its end.Plainly stated,without theresurrectionofJesus,thefewbillionpeopletodaywhoworshipJesusasGodaregullible;theirhopefora resurrection life after this life is the hope of silly foolswho trust in a deadman to give them life.Subsequently,thedoctrineofJesus’resurrectionis,withoutquestion,profoundlysignificantandworthyofthemostcarefulconsiderationandexamination.

WHATISRESURRECTION?

Definingwhatresurrectiondoesanddoesnotmeanisincrediblyimportant.Resurrectiondoesnotmeanrevivification. Revivification occurs when someone who dies comes back to life only to die again;revivification happens throughout Scripture.1 Unlike revivification, resurrection teaches that someonediesandreturnstophysicallifeforever,orwhattheBiblecallseternallife,2patternedafterJesus’deathandresurrection.3

Resurrectiondoesnotmeanthereisasecondchanceforsalvationafterdeath,asbothreincarnationandpurgatorywronglypurport.Reincarnationisthebeliefthatthehumansoulindividuallymigratesfromonebodytoanotherthroughasuccessionoflivesinpursuitofcompletepurificationwherethesoulisfinallyjoined to theultimate realityof thedivine.Purgatorywrongly teaches that followingdeath there is anextendedperiodofpotentialmaturationandpurificationthatallowssomeonetothenenjoyheavenasanunbeliever.Hebrews9:27refutesbotherrors:“Itisappointedformantodieonce,andafterthatcomesjudgment.”

Resurrectiondoesnotmeanthateveryone,believersandunbelieversalike,avoidhellishpunishment inthe end. Universalism wrongly teaches that everyone is eventually saved and goes to heaven.Annihilationismwrongly teaches that at some point following death unbelievers simply cease to existratherthangoingtoaneternalhell.Instead,Daniel12:2declaresthatbothbelieversandunbelieverswillrise, and somewill go to everlasting heaven andothers to everlasting hell,which refutes both errors:“Manyofthosewhosleepinthedustoftheearthshallawake,sometoeverlastinglife,andsometoshameandeverlastingcontempt.”

Resurrectiondoesnotmeanwhatiscalled“soulsleep,”whereboththebodyandthespiritlieatrestuntilthe resurrection, as is taught by some Seventh-Day Adventists. When the New Testament speaks ofbelievers as “asleep,” it does so as ametaphor todistinguish thedeathofbelievers from thedeathofunbelievers.TheDictionaryofBiblicalImagerysays:

TheBible also uses sleep as ametaphor for the death of the righteous. “Christ has indeed beenraisedfromthedead,thefirstfruitsofthosewhohavefallenasleep”(1Cor15:20).InChrist,deathisnothingmorethananapfromwhichtherighteouswillawakentoendlessday.4

ThisiswhyPaulspeaksofhisdeathasgain,becauseitmeanshissoulgoestobewithJesus:“FortometoliveisChrist,andtodieisgain.”5

Neitherdoesresurrectionsimplymeanlifeafterdeath.Thisisbecauselifeafterdeathdoesnotinitiallyincludethephysicalbody;rather,thebodyliesinthegroundwhilethespiritualsoulgoestobewithGod.

Paulspeaksofbelieversbeing“awayfromthebodyandathomewiththeLord.”6

TheBibleteachesthatwearebothamaterialbodyandanimmaterialsoul.Upondeaththesetwopartsare separated. Our body goes into the ground, and as believers our soul goes to be with God. Forunbelievers, theirsoulgoes toaplacecalledbysuchnamesin theBibleasa“prison”7and“Hades.”8

ThatplaceisaplaceofjustsufferingforunbelieversuntiltheystandbeforeJesusandaresentencedtotheconsciouseternaltormentsofhell.9

Resurrectionreferstotheeventualreunitingofourbodyandsoul.Inhisimpressiveseven-hundred-pagetomeTheResurrectionoftheSonofGod,notableNewTestamentscholarN.T.Wrightprovidesamosthelpfuldefinitionofresurrection,whichherepeatsthroughoutthebookasoneofhismainpoints.Wrightproposesthatinthefirstcentury,resurrectiondidnotmean“lifeafterdeath”inthesenseof“thelifethatfollowsimmediatelyafterbodilydeath.”10AccordingtoWright:

Here there is no difference between pagans, Jews andChristians. They all understood theGreekwordanastasisand itscognates,and theother related termsweshallmeet, tomean . . .newlifeafteraperiodofbeingdead.Pagansdenied thispossibility;someJewsaffirmeditasa long-termfuturehope;virtuallyallChristiansclaimedthatithadhappenedtoJesusandwouldhappentotheminthefuture.11

Inotherwords,resurrectionwasawayof“speakingofanewlifeafter‘lifeafterdeath’inthepopularsense,afreshlivingembodimentfollowingaperiodofdeath-as-a-state.”12

According to Wright, the meaning of resurrection as “life after ‘life after death’” cannot beoveremphasized. This is due in large part to the fact that much modern writing continues to use“resurrection” as a synonym for “life after death.” In contrast, belief in “resurrection” for the ancientsmeantbeliefinwhatWrightcallsa“two-stepstory”:13

Resurrectionitselfwouldbepreceded...byaninterimperiodofdeath-as-a-state.Wherewefindasingle-step story—death-as-event being followed at once by a final state, for instance ofdisembodied bliss—the texts are not talking about resurrection. Resurrection involves a definitecontent(somesortofre-embodiment)andadefinitenarrativeshape(atwo-stepstory,notasingle-stepone).Thismeaningisconstantthroughouttheancientworld.14

Wrightreiterateswhatresurrectionisandwhatitisnot:

“Resurrection”denotedanewembodiedlifewhichwouldfollowwhatever“lifeafterdeath”theremightbe.“Resurrection”was,bydefinition,not theexistenceintowhichsomeonemight(ormight

not)goimmediatelyupondeath;itwasnotadisembodied“heavenly”life;itwasafurtherstage,outbeyondallthat.Itwasnotaredescriptionorredefinitionofdeath.Itwasdeath’sreversal.15

WHATWEREANCIENTNON-CHRISTIANVIEWSOFTHEAFTERLIFE?

Itiscommonlypurportedbysomethattheentireideaofabodilyresurrectionwasinfactnotanovelideabut one borrowed from other ancient philosophies and spiritualities.Wright has done a painstakinglyexhaustive and revolutionary study of ancient beliefs regarding resurrection that is incredibly helpful.MostbooksontheresurrectionofJesusbeginbystudyingtheGospelnarrativesandthenworkoutwardlyfrom this vantage point to an analysis of the appropriate pagan and Jewish sources found in antiquity.Wright takes the exact opposite approach.He beginswith a study on resurrection (or, better, the lackthereof)inancientpaganismandthennarrowsthescopeofhisinvestigationtighterandtighter,concludingwithastudyoftheresurrectionasrecordedbythewritersofthecanonicalGospels.Wrightconcludes,“Insofarastheancientnon-JewishworldhadaBible,itsOldTestamentwasHomer.AndinsofarasHomerhasanythingtosayaboutresurrection,heisquiteblunt:itdoesn’thappen.”16

TheideaofresurrectionisdeniedinancientpaganismfromHomerallthewaytotheAtheniandramatistAeschylus, who wrote, “Once a man has died, and the dust has soaked up his blood, there is noresurrection.”17Wrightprovidesahelpfulsummary:“Christianitywasbornintoaworldwhereitscentralclaimwasknowntobefalse.Manybelieved that thedeadwerenon-existent;outsideJudaism,nobodybelievedinresurrection.”18

OneofthemostinfluentialwritersinantiquitywasPlato.WrightsummarizesPlato’sviewsonthesoulandbodyasfollows:

Thesoulisthenon-materialaspectofahumanbeing,andistheaspectthatreallymatters.Bodilylifeisfullofdelusionanddanger; thesoul is tobecultivatedinthepresentbothfor itsownsakeandbecause its futurehappinesswill dependupon suchcultivation.The soul, being immortal, existedbeforethebody,andwillcontinuetoexistafterthebodyisgone.19

Thisdualisticviewpromotedatendencytoseethebodyasaprisonofthesoulthatmadedeathsomethingtobedesired.AccordingtoWright,“inGreekphilosophy,careforandcureofthesoulbecameacentralpreoccupation.”20 Furthermore, “neither in Plato nor in the major alternatives just mentioned [e.g.,Aristotle]dowefindanysuggestion that resurrection, thereturn tobodily lifeof thedeadperson,waseitherdesirableorpossible.”21

ThisviewisalsoevidentinthewritingsofCicero:

Ciceroisquiteclear,andcompletelyinthemainstreamofgreco-romanthought:thebodyisaprison-house.Anecessaryoneforthemoment;butnobodyintheirrightmind,havinggotridof it,would

wantitorsomethinglikeitbackagain.Atnopointinthespectrumofoptionsaboutlifeafterdeathdid theancientpaganworldenvisage that thedenialsofHomer,Aeschylusand the restwouldbeoverthrown.Resurrectionwasnotanoption.Thosewho followedPlatoorCicerodidnotwantabodyagain;thosewhofollowedHomerknewtheywouldnotgetone.22

Aftersurveyingseveralotherancientpaganwritersandphilosophers,Wrightconcludes:“NobodyinthepaganworldofJesus’dayandthereafteractuallyclaimedthatsomebodyhadbeentrulydeadandhadthencometobetruly,andbodily,aliveoncemore.”23

Death,inancientpaganism,wasaone-waystreet.AccordingtoWright:

The road to the underworld ran only oneway. Throughout the ancientworld, from its ‘bible’ ofHomer and Plato, through its practices (funerals, memorial feasts), its stories (plays, novels,legends),itssymbols(graves,amulets,grave-goods)anditsgrandtheories,wecantraceagooddealofvarietyabouttheroadtoHades,andaboutwhatonemightfinduponarrival.Aswithallone-waystreets,thereisboundtobesomeonewhoattemptstodriveintheoppositedirection.OnehearsofaProtesilaus,anAlcestisoraNeroredivivus,onceor twice ina thousandyears.But theroadwaswell policed. Would-be traffic violators (Sisyphus, Eurydice and the like) were turned back orpunished.Andeventheyoccurredinwhateverybodyknewtobemyth.24

Wrightnotes:

WecannotstresstoostronglythatfromHomeronwardsthelanguageof‘resurrection’wasnotusedtodenote‘lifeafterdeath’ingeneral,oranyofthephenomenasupposedtooccurwithinsuchalife.Thegreatmajorityoftheancientsbelievedinlifeafterdeath;manyofthemdeveloped...complexand fascinating beliefs about it and practices in relation to it; but, other thanwithin Judaism andChristianity,theydidnotbelieveinresurrection.25

Furthermore,notevenJudaismbelievedintheresurrectionofanindividualfromdeathinthemiddleofhistory.Rather,theirunderstandingwasthattheirentirenationalonewouldrisefromdeathtogetherattheendofhistory.WilliamLaneCraig’slengthystudiesoftheresurrectionofJesusChristculminatedinthepublishingoftwoscholarlybooksontheissue.26Craigasserts:

Jewishbeliefalwaysconcernedaresurrectionattheendoftheworld,notaresurrectioninthemiddleofhistory. . . .TheresurrectiontogloryandimmortalitydidnotoccuruntilafterGodhadterminatedworldhistory.This traditionalJewishconceptionwas theprepossessionofJesus’owndisciples(Mark9:9–13;John11:24).ThenotionofagenuineresurrectionoccurringpriortoGod’sbringing about the world’s end would have been foreign to them. . . . Jewish belief always

concernedageneralresurrectionofthepeople,nottheresurrectionofanisolatedindividual.27

Finally,notedhistorianandprofessorEdwinYamauchihasspokentothismatterwithgreatclaritybaseduponhislifetimeofscholarlyresearch.28Yamauchihassaidthatthereisnopossibilitythattheideaofaresurrectionwasborrowedbecausethereisnodefinitiveevidencefortheteachingofadeityresurrectionin any of themystery religions prior to the second century.29 In fact, it seems that other religions andspiritualitiesstoletheideaofaresurrectionfromChristians!Forexample,theresurrectionofAdonisisnotspokenofuntil thesecond to fourthcenturies.30Attis, theconsortofCybele, isnot referred toasaresurrectedgoduntilafterAD150.31

SomehavepostulatedthatthetauroboliumritualofAttisandMithra,thePersiangod,isthesourceofthebiblicaldoctrineoftheresurrection.Inthisritual,theinitiatewasputinapit,andabullwasslaughteredonagratingoverhim,drenchinghimwithblood.However,theearliestthisritualismentionedisAD160,and the belief that it led to rebirth is notmentioned until the fourth century. In fact, Princeton scholarBruceMetzgerhas argued that the tauroboliumwas said tohave thepower to confer eternal lifeonlyafteritencounteredChristianity.32

Themythsofpagansareadmittedlyfictitiouseventscenteredontheannualdeathandrebirthofvegetationandharvestcycles.Conversely,theresurrectionofJesusChristisputforthasahistoricalfactinaplace,at a time,witheyewitnesses andnumerable linesof compellingevidence.Furthermore,notonly is thetheory thatChristianity borrowed the concept of resurrectionuntrue, but it also completely ignores thehistoricalfactsoftheemptytombandpost-resurrectionappearancesofJesusChrist.

WHATISTHEBIBLICALEVIDENCEFORJESUS’RESURRECTION?

ThebiblicalevidenceforJesus’resurrectioniscompellingandcanbebrieflysummarizedintenpoints.Eachofthesepointsisconsistent,andtogethertheyrevealthattheBibleisemphaticallyandrepeatedlyclearonthefactofJesus’resurrection.

1)Jesus’resurrectionwasprophesiedinadvance.RoughlysevenhundredyearsbeforethebirthofJesus,theprophetIsaiahpromisedthatJesuswouldbebornintohumblecircumstancestoliveasimplelife,dieabrutaldeath,andthenrisetotakeawayoursin.33

2)Jesuspredictedhisresurrection.OnnumerousoccasionsJesusplainlypromisedthathewoulddieandrisethreedayslater.34

3) Jesus died. Before Jesus died, he underwent a sleepless night of trials and beatings that left himexhausted.Hewasthenscourged—apunishmentsohorrendousthatmanymendiedfromitbeforeevenmakingittotheircrucifixion.Jesuswascrucified,andaprofessionalexecutionerdeclaredhimdead.ToensureJesuswasdead,aspearwasthrustthroughhissideandamixtureofbloodandwaterpouredoutofhis side because the spear burst his heart sac.35 Jesus’ dead body was wrapped in upwards of onehundred pounds of linens and spices, which, even if he was able to somehow survive the beatings,floggings,crucifixion,andapiercedheart,wouldhavekilledhimbyasphyxiation.EvenifthroughallofthisJesussomehowsurvived(whichwouldinitselfbeamiracle),hecouldnothaveenduredthreedayswithoutfood,water,ormedicalattentioninacoldtombcarvedoutofrock.Insummary,Jesusdied.

4)Jesuswasburiedina tombthatwaseasytofind.SomesevenhundredyearsbeforeJesuswasevenborn,GodpromisedthroughIsaiahthatJesuswouldbeassignedagrave“witharichmaninhisdeath.”36

This was incredibly unlikely, because Jesus was a very poor man who could not have afforded anexpensiveburialplot.FollowingJesus’death, though,awealthyandwell-knownmannamedJosephofArimatheagiftedhisexpensivetombfortheburialofJesus.37Asaresult,theplaceofJesus’burialwaseasytoconfirm.Josephwhoownedthetomb,governmentalleadersandtheirsoldierswhowereassignedtoguardthetomb,andthedisciplesandwomenwhovisitedthetombandfounditemptyallknewexactlywhereJesus’deadbodywaslaidtorest.HadJesustrulynotrisenfromdeath,itwouldhavebeenveryeasytoproveitbyopeningthetombandpresentingJesus’deadbodyasevidence.

5) Jesus appeared physically, not just spiritually, alive three days after his death. Following Jesus’resurrection, many people touched his physical body: his disciples clung to his feet,38Mary clung tohim,39andThomasthedoubterputhishandintotheopenspearholeinJesus’side.40Jesusalsoappeared

tohisdisciplesafterhisresurrection,buttheywereuncertainifhehadtrulyphysicallyrisenfromdeath.Still,Jesuswasemphaticabouthisbodilyresurrectionandwentoutofhiswaytoproveit:

Astheyweretalkingaboutthesethings,Jesushimselfstoodamongthem,andsaidtothem,“Peacetoyou!”Buttheywerestartledandfrightenedandthoughttheysawaspirit.Andhesaidtothem,“Whyare you troubled, andwhy do doubts arise in your hearts? Seemyhands andmy feet, that it is Imyself.Touchme,andsee.ForaspiritdoesnothavefleshandbonesasyouseethatIhave.”Andwhenhehadsaidthis,heshowedthemhishandsandhisfeet.Andwhiletheystilldisbelievedforjoyandweremarveling,hesaidtothem,“Haveyouanythingheretoeat?”Theygavehimapieceofbroiledfish,andhetookitandatebeforethem.41

Furthermore,Jesusappearedphysicallyaliveoverthecourseoffortydays42 tocrowdsaslargeasfivehundredpeople at a time.43 It is also significant to note that no credible historical evidence from thatperiodexists tovalidateanyalternativeexplanationforJesus’ resurrectionother thanhis literalbodilyresurrection.44

6)Jesus’resurrectedbodywasthesameashispre-resurrectionbody.Hisdisciplesrecognizedhimasthesamepersonwhohadbeencrucified,45andMaryMagdalenerecognizedhimbythesoundofhisvoice.46

While Jesus’ resurrection body was the same, it was transformed. This explains why Jesus was notalways immediately recognized after his resurrection,47 and seemed to appear and reappearmysteriously.48AsJamesOrrnoted,“[In]thenarratives...itisimpliedthattherewassomethingstrange—somethingunfamiliarormysterious—inHis aspect,whichpreventedHis immediate recognition . . .whichheldtheminawe.”49Paulexplains thisphenomenonin the lengthiest treatmentof thenatureofaresurrectionbodyinallofScripture(1Corinthians15):“Itissownanaturalbody;itisraisedaspiritualbody. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”50 This “spiritual body” refers to aresurrectedbodythathasbeenperfectedtoitsgloriousstatebythepoweroftheHolySpirit.

7)Jesus’resurrectionwasrecordedasScriptureshortlyafteritoccurred.Mark’sGospelaccountofthedays leadingup toJesus’crucifixionmentions thehighpriestwithoutnaminghim.51 It can logicallybeinferredthatMarkdidnotmentionthehighpriestbynamebecauseheexpectedhisreaderstoknowwhohe was speaking of. Since Caiaphas was high priest from AD 18–37, the latest possible date for thetraditionisAD37.52ThisdateissoclosetothedeathofJesusthattherewouldnothavebeensufficienttimefora“legend”ofhisresurrectiontohavedeveloped.ThisprovesthatthebiblicalrecordofJesus’resurrectionwaspennedwhiletheeyewitnesseswerestillalivetoverifythefacts.Thus,hisresurrectionisnotamythicallegendthatdevelopedlongafterthetimeofJesus.Infact,JohnRodgers,formerdeanofTrinityEpiscopal School forMinistry, says, “This is the sort of data that historians of antiquity droolover.”53

8)Jesus’resurrectionwascelebrated in theearliestchurchcreeds. In1Corinthians15:3–4,Paulsays,“ChristdiedforoursinsinaccordancewiththeScriptures,thathewasburied,thathewasraisedonthethird day in accordancewith theScriptures.”This statement iswidely accepted as the earliest churchcreed,whichbegancirculatingasearlyasAD 30–36, shortlyafter Jesus’ resurrection.Considering theearlyageofthiscreed,therewasnotsufficienttimebetweenthecrucifixionandthecreedforanylegendaboutJesus’resurrectiontoaccrue.Inaddition,thewitnessesmentionedwerestillaliveandavailabletobequestionedaboutthefactssurroundingtheresurrection.TheearlydateofthiscreedalsoprovesthatthechurchdidnotcorruptthetruthaboutJesuswithfablesandfolklores.Rather,theearlychurchsimplyclungtotheplainandincontrovertiblefactsofJesus’death,burial,andresurrection.

9) Jesus’ resurrection convinced his family to worship him as God. James, Jesus’ half-brother, wasoriginallyopposed to theclaimsofdeitybyhisbrother.54A transformationoccurred in James, though,afterhesawhisbrotherresurrectedfromdeath.55Jameswenton topastor thechurchinJerusalemandauthored theNewTestament epistle bearing his name.56Hewas also actively involved in shaping theearly church,which suffered and died to proclaim to everyone that Jesus is the one trueGod.57 Also,Jesus’motherMarywaspartoftheearlychurchthatprayedtoandworshipedhersonasGod,58aswasJesus’otherbrotherJude,whowroteabookof theNewTestamentbearinghisname.59While it isnotimpossibletoimagineJesusconvincingsomepeoplethathewasGodifhewerenot,itisimpossibletoconceiveofJesusconvincinghisownmotherandbrotherstosufferpersecutioninthis lifeandriskthetormentsofhellineternallifeforworshipinghimastheonetrueGodunlesshetrulywas.

10)Jesus’resurrectionwasconfirmedbyhismostbitterenemies,suchasPaul.PaulwasadevoutJewishPhariseewhoroutinelypersecutedandkilledChristians.60AfteranencounterwiththerisenChrist,Paulwasconvertedandbecamethemostdynamicdefenderandexpanderofthechurch.61HadJesusnottrulyrisenfromdeath, it isabsurdtoassumethatPaulwouldeverhaveworshipedhimasGod,particularlywhenPaul rightlybelieved thatworshipinga falsegodwouldsendone into theeternal flamesofhell.Simply,PaulhatedJesusandwouldneverhavechangedhisreligiouspracticeunlessJesushadrisenfromdeathtoprovehimwrong.Furthermore,PaulinsistedthatJesushadriseninalmostallofhislettersthataresavedforusintheNewTestament.

WHATISTHECIRCUMSTANTIALEVIDENCEFORJESUS’RESURRECTION?

Effects have causes. Jesus’ resurrection is no exception, as is evident by eight effects caused by it.Together,theyarecompellingcircumstantialevidenceforJesus’resurrection.Further,forthosewantingtodenyJesus’resurrection,theburdenofproofremainsonthemtoaccountforthesemultipleeffectswitha reasonable cause. Craig explains, “Anyone who denies this explanation is rationally obligated toproduceamoreplausiblecauseofJesus’resurrectionandtoexplainhowithappened.”62Hegoesontoassert, “The conclusion that God raised Him up is virtually inescapable. Only a sterile, academicskepticismresiststhisinevitableinference.”63

1)Jesus’disciplesweretransformed.Priortotheresurrection,hisdisciplesweretimidandfearful,evenhidingwhenJesusappeared to them.64Following the resurrection,however, theywereall transformedintoboldwitnessestowhattheyhadseenandheard,eventothepointofdyinginshameandpovertyfortheirconvictions,includingPeter.

Regardingtheapostles’eyewitnesstestimonytoJesus’resurrection,SimonGreenleaf,professoroflawatHarvard University and a world-renowned scholar on the rules of legal evidence, said that it was“impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesusactuallyrisenfromthedead,andhadtheynotknownthisfactascertainlyastheyknewanyotherfact.”65

2)Jesus’disciplesremainedloyaltoJesusastheirvictoriousMessiah.Modern-day“messiahs”include,for example, politicians who propose to save and deliver us from a terrible fate such as terrorism,poverty,orunreasonabletaxation.Supportersflockaroundtheirmessiahinhopesthathewilldeliveronhispromisetomaketheirdreamscometrue.However,whenamessiahfailstodeliveraspromised,hisfollowerseitherabandonboththecauseandthemessiah,ortheyretainthecauseandabandonthemessiahtoinsteadpursueanothermessiah.Eitherway,afailedmessiahisaforgottenmessiah.

However,Jesus’disciplesdidnotabandontheircauseofforgivensinandlifewithGodortheirdevotiontoJesusastheirvictoriousMessiah.Furthermore,theirdevotiontoboththeircauseandMessiahgrewinnumbers and passionate devotion. They endured widespread persecution and even martyrdom, whichwouldhavebeenunthinkablehadJesusmerelydiedandfailedtoriseashepromisedhewould.Onthispoint,thehistorianKennethScottLatourettehassaid:

ItwastheconvictionoftheresurrectionofJesuswhichliftedhisfollowersoutofthedespairintowhichhisdeathhadcastthemandwhichledtotheperpetuationofthemovementbegunbyhim.Butfor theirprofoundbelief that thecrucifiedhadrisenfromthedeadand that theyhadseenhimand

talked with him, the death of Jesus and even Jesus himself would probably have been all butforgotten.66

3)Thediscipleshadexemplarycharacter.Toclaimthatthedisciplespreachedobviousliesanddeludedpeople into dying for the world’s greatest farce, one would have to first find credible evidence tochallenge the character of the disciples. Also, these men were devout Jews who knew that if theyworshipedafalsegodandencouragedotherstodothesame,theywouldbesentencedbyGodtothefiresof eternalhell forviolating the first twocommandments.Lastly,doesnot suchegregious lyingconflictwith thecharacterofmenandwomenwhogave their lives tofeeding thepoor,caringforwidowsandorphans,andhelpingthehurtingandneedy?

4)Worship changed. The early church stoppedworshiping on Saturday, as Jews had for thousands ofyears,andsuddenlybeganworshipingonSundayinmemoryofJesus’Sundayresurrection.67TheSabbathwassosacredtotheJewsthattheywouldnothaveceasedtoobeyoneoftheTenCommandmentsunlessJesushadresurrectedinfulfillmentoftheirOldTestamentScriptures.Yet,bytheendofthefirstcentury,Sundaywascalled“theLord’sDay.”68

NotonlydidthedayofworshipchangeaftertheresurrectionofJesus,butsodidtheobjectofworship.ConsideringthatoneoftheTenCommandmentsalsoforbidstheworshipoffalsegods,itisimpossibletoconceive of devout Jews simply worshiping Jesus as the one true God without the proof of Jesus’resurrection.

Accordingtoevennon-Christianhistorians,multitudesbeganworshipingJesusastheonetrueGodafterhis resurrection. For example, Lucian of Samosatawas a non-ChristianAssyrian-Roman satirist who,aroundAD170,wrote:

TheChristians,youknow,worshipamantothisday—thedistinguishedpersonagewhointroducedtheirnovelrites,andwascrucifiedonthataccount....Yousee,thesemisguidedcreaturesstartwiththegeneralconvictionthattheyareimmortalforalltime,whichexplainstheircontemptofdeathandvoluntaryself-devotionwhichare socommonamong them;and then itwas impressedon thembytheiroriginallawgiverthattheyareallbrothers,fromthemomentthattheyareconverted,anddenythegodsofGreece,andworshipthecrucifiedsage,andliveafterhislaws.69

Additionally, the early church rejected theobservancesof the lawbecause they saw it ashavingbeenfulfilledinJesus;thus,thelawwasnolongerbindingupontheminthesamewayasithadbeenforoverathousandyears.ThiswasacataclysmicshiftinbeliefthatwasonlyconsideredpossiblebecauseanewepochhadbeenusheredinbytheresurrectionofJesus.

Lastly,God’speoplewelcomedthesacramentsofCommunionandbaptismintotheirworshipofJesusasGod.InCommuniontheearlyChristiansrememberedJesus’deathintheirplacefortheirsins.InbaptismtheyrememberedJesus’resurrectionintheirplacefortheirsalvationandanticipatedtheirpersonalfutureresurrection.

5)Womendiscoveredtheemptytomb.Thewomenwhodiscoveredthetombwerementionedbyname,werewellknownintheearlychurch,andcouldhaveeasilybeenquestionedtoconfirmtheirfindingsiftheywereuntrue.70Moreover,sincethetestimonyofwomenwasnotrespectedinthatculture, itwouldhavebeenmorelikelyformentoreportdiscoveringtheemptytombiftheaccountwasfictitiousandanattempt were being made to concoct a credible lie about Jesus’ resurrection. Therefore, the fact thatwomenaresaidtohavebeenthefirsttoarriveatJesus’emptytombisconfirmationthattheaccountofScriptureisfactual,notcontrived.

6)TheentiretyofearlychurchpreachingwascenteredonthehistoricalfactofJesus’resurrection.Iftheemptytombwerenotawidelyacceptedfact,thediscipleswouldhavereasonedwiththeskepticsoftheirdaytodefendthecentralissueoftheirfaith.Instead,weseethedebateoccurringnotaboutwhetherthetombwas empty, butwhy itwas empty.71Also, nowhere in the preaching of the early churchwas theemptytombexplicitlydefended,forthesimplereasonthatitwaswidelyknownasanagreed-uponfact.Furthermore, a reading of the book ofActs shows that on virtually every occasion that preaching andteachingoccurred,theresurrectionofJesusfromdeathwasthecentraltruthbeingcommunicatedbecauseit had changed human history and could not be ignored. Jesus’ resurrection appears in twelve of thetwenty-eightchaptersinActs,whichrecordsthehistoryoftheearlychurch.

7)Jesus’tombwasnotenshrined.Craigsays,“ItwascustomaryinJudaismforthetombofaprophetorholymantobepreservedorveneratedasashrine.Thiswassobecausethebonesoftheprophetlayinthetombandimpartedtothesiteitsreligiousvalues.Iftheremainswerenotthere,thenthegravewouldloseitssignificanceasashrine.”72

Ofthefourmajorworldreligionsbaseduponafounderasopposedtoasystemofideas,onlyChristianityclaims that the tomb of its founder is empty. Judaism looks back to Abraham, who died almost fourthousandyearsago,andstillcaresforhisgraveasaholysiteatHebron.ThousandsvisitBuddha’stombinIndiaeveryyear.IslamfounderMohammeddiedonJune8,632,andhistombinMedinaisvisitedbymillionsofpeopleeveryyear.

Additionally,YamauchihasdiscoveredevidencethatthetombsofatleastfiftyprophetsorotherreligiousfigureswereenshrinedasplacesofworshipandvenerationinPalestinearoundthesametimeasJesus’death.73Yet,according toJamesD.G.Dunn, there is“absolutelyno trace”ofanyvenerationat Jesus’

tomb. 74 The obvious reason for this lack of veneration is that Jesus was not buried but insteadresurrected.

8)ChristianityexplodedontheearthandafewbillionpeopletodayclaimtobeChristians.Onthesameday,inthesameplace,andinthesameway,twoothermendied,oneonJesus’leftandoneonhisright.Despitethesimilarities,wedonotknowthenamesofthesemen,andbillionsofpeopledonotworshipthem as God.Why? Because they remained dead and Jesus alone rose from death and ascended intoheaven,leavingtheChristianchurchinhiswake.Onthispoint,C.F.D.MouleofCambridgeUniversitysays,“ThebirthandrapidriseoftheChristianChurch...remainanunsolvedenigmaforanyhistorianwhorefusestotakeseriouslytheonlyexplanationofferedbytheChurchitself.”75

WHATISTHEHISTORICALEVIDENCEFORJESUS’RESURRECTION?

BecauseJesus’deathisahistoricalfact,thecorroboratingevidenceofnon-ChristiansourcesinadditiontotheBiblehelpstoconfirmtheresurrectionofJesusChrist.ThefollowingtestimonyofRomans,Greeks,andJewsishelpfulbecausethesemenaresimplytellingthefactswithoutanyreligiousdevotiontothem.

Josephus(AD37–100)

Josephuswas a Jewish historian born just a fewyears after Jesus died.Hismost celebrated passage,calledthe“TestimoniumFlavianum,”says:

NowtherewasaboutthistimeJesus,awiseman,ifitbelawfultocallhimaman;forhewasadoerofwonderfulworks,ateacherofsuchmenasreceivethetruthwithpleasure.Hedrewovertohimboth many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at thesuggestionoftheprincipalmenamongus,hadcondemnedhimtothecross,thosethatlovedhimatthe first did not forsake him; for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divineprophetshadforetoldtheseandtenthousandotherwonderfulthingsconcerninghim.AndthetribeofChristians,sonamedfromhim,arenotextinctatthisday.76

Suetonius(AD70–160)

Suetoniuswas aRoman historian and annalist of the ImperialHouse. In his biography ofNero (Neroruled AD 54–68), Suetonius mentions the persecution of Christians by indirectly referring to theresurrection:“PunishmentwasinflictedontheChristians,aclassofmengiventoanewandmischievoussuperstition[theresurrection].”77

PlinytheYounger(AD61or62–113)

PlinytheYoungerwrotealettertotheemperorTrajanaroundAD111describingearlyChristianworshipgatheringsthatmetearlyonSundaymorningsinmemoryofJesus’resurrectionday:

IhaveneverbeenpresentatanexaminationofChristians.Consequently,Idonotknowthenatureoftheextentofthepunishmentsusuallymetedouttothem,northegroundsforstartinganinvestigationandhowfar it shouldbepressed. . . .Theyalsodeclared that thesumtotalof theirguiltorerroramounted to no more than this: they had met regularly before dawn on a fixed day [Sunday inremembrance of Jesus’ resurrection] to chant verses alternately amongst themselves in honor ofChristasiftoagod.78

TheJewishExplanation

TheearliestattempttoprovideanalternativeexplanationfortheresurrectionofJesusdidnotdenythatthetombwasempty.79Instead,Jewishopponentsclaimedthatthebodyhadbeenstolen,thusadmittingthefact of the empty tomb.But this explanation is untenable for the following reasons. (1)The tombwasclosedwithanenormousrockandsealedbythegovernment,andthereisnoexplanationforhowtherockwas moved while being guarded by armed Roman soldiers. (2) If the body had been stolen, a largeransomcouldhavebeenofferedtothethieves,andtheycouldhavebeencoercedtoproducethebody.Orifithadbeentakenbythedisciples,thenthetortureanddeaththeysufferedshouldhavebeensufficienttoreturnthebody.(3)Evenifthebodywasstolen,howarewetoaccountforthefactthatJesusappearedtomultiplecrowdsofpeople,provingthathewasalive?Inconclusion,thetheftofthebodyisunlikelyandstillfailstoaccountforitreturningbacktolife.

Summarily,thehistoricaltestimonyofthosewhowerenotChristiansstandsinagreementwithScripturethatJesusdiedandrosebecausethosearethehistoricalfacts.

WHATARETHEPRIMARYANCIENTOBJECTIONSTOJESUS’RESURRECTION?

Jesusdidnotdieonthecrossbutmerelyswooned.SomehavearguedthatJesusdidnotinfactdieonthecross but rather swooned or basically passed out and therefore appeared dead. This is alsowhat theMuslimKoranteachesasfact.Regardingthisclaim,theologianJohnStotthasaskedifwearetobelieve

thataftertherigoursandpainsoftrial,mockery,floggingandcrucifixionhecouldsurvivethirty-sixhoursinastonesepulchrewithneitherwarmthnorfoodnormedicalcare?Thathecouldthenrallysufficiently toperform the superhuman featof shifting theboulderwhich secured themouthof thetomb,andthiswithoutdisturbingtheRomanguard?Thatthen,weakandsicklyandhungry,hecouldappeartothedisciplesinsuchawayastogivethemtheimpressionthathehadvanquisheddeath?That he could go on to claim that he had died and risen, could send them into all theworld andpromisetobewiththemuntotheendoftime?Thathecouldlivesomewhereinhidingforfortydays,making occasional surprise appearances, and then finally disappear without explanations? SuchcredulityismoreincrediblethanThomas’unbelief.80

Also, aswe’venoted, crucifixion is essentiallydeathbyasphyxiation,because theprisonergrows tootired to lift himself up and fill his lungswith air.This explainswhy theRomanswould often break aprisoner’s legs, thus preventing him from continuing to fill his lungs with air. Since the professionalexecutionersdidnotbreakJesus’legs,theseprofessionalexecutionersmusthavebeenconvincedofhisdeath. The only way Jesus could have deceived the executioners would have been to stop breathing,whichinitselfwouldhavekilledhim.

Lastly,John19:34–35tellsusthattheRomansoldierthrustaspearintoJesus’hearttoconfirmhisdeath.Thewater that pouredoutwasprobably from the sac surroundinghisheart, and thebloodmost likelycamefromtherightsideofhisheart.Evenifhehadbeenalive,thiswouldhavekilledhim.81

Jesusdidnotriseandhisbodywasstolen.TheoriginalexplanationgivenfortheemptytombbythoseJewswhodidnotchoosetoworshipJesusasGodwasthatthetombwasindeedempty,butnotbecauseof a resurrection but because of a theft of Jesus’ dead body.82 For this to be true, a number ofimpossibilitieswouldhavehadtooccur.(1)Despitethefactthatitwouldhavecostthemtheirlives,alltheguardspositionedatthetombwouldhavehadtofallasleepatthesametime.(2)EachoftheguardswouldhavehadtonotonlyfallasleepbutalsoremainasleepandnotbeawakenedbythebreakingoftheRoman seal on the tomb, the rolling away of the enormous stone which blocked the entrance, or thecarrying off of the dead body. (3) Even if Jesus’ bodywas stolen, there is noway to account for itsreturningtovibrantandtriumphantlife.

Theissueofmotiveisalsoakeyfactorinrefutingthishypothesis.Whatbenefitwouldtherebeforthedisciplestorisktheirlivestostealacorpseanddieforalieasaresult?WhatmotivewouldtherebefortheJews,Romans,oranyoneelsetostealthebody?And,ifthebodyweretrulystolen,couldnotabountyhavebeenofferedandsomeoneenticedtoprovidethebodyinexchangeforahandsomecashreward?

A twinbrother, ora look-alike, died in Jesus’ place. It has been suggestedby someMuslim scholarsalongwithvariousotherpeoplethatJesuswasnottheonecrucifiedbutratherabrotherorothermanwholookedlikehim.However,thereisnotashredofevidencetoprovethatsomeonewholookedlikeJesusexisted at that time. Additionally, Jesus’ mother was present at his crucifixion, and the likelihood offoolinghismotherisminimal.Also,thephysicalwoundshesufferedduringthecrucifixionwerevisibleonJesus’resurrectionbodyandcarefullyinspectedbythediscipleThomas,whowasverydoubtfulthatJesushadrisenuntilhetouchedscarsfromthecrucifixionevidentonJesus’body.83Inaddition,thetombwasemptyandtheburialclothswereleftbehind.

Jesus’ followershallucinatedhis resurrection. Somepeople have suggested that the disciples did notactuallyseeJesusrisenfromdeathbutratherhallucinated,orprojected,theirdesiresforhisresurrectionintoahallucination.Oneexample is JohnDominicCrossan, cochairmanof the JesusSeminar.He toldTime magazine that after the crucifixion, Jesus’ corpse was probably laid in a shallow grave, barelycoveredwith dirt, and eaten bywild dogs. The subsequent story of Jesus’ resurrection, he says, wasmerelytheresultof“wishfulthinking.”84

Similarly,fellowJesusSeminarmemberJohnShelbySpong,anEpiscopalbishop,deniestheresurrectionand believes Jesus’ body was thrown in a common grave along with other crucifixion victims.Subsequently,hesaysthe“Eastermoment”happenedtoPeter,nottoJesus.PetersawJesusalivein“theheartofGod”andbegantoopentheeyesoftheotherdisciplestothisreality.85Spongwrites,“ThatwasthedawnofEasterinhumanhistory.ItwouldbefairtosaythatinthatmomentSimonfeltresurrected.”86

Thisthesisisunbelievableforfivereasons.(1)Ahallucinationisaprivate,notpublic,experience.YetPaulclearlystatesthatJesusappearedtomorethanfivehundredpeopleatonetime.87(2)Jesusappearedinavarietyoftimesatavarietyoflocations,whereashallucinationsaregenerallyrestrictedtoindividualtimesandplaces.(3)Certaintypesofpeopletendtobemorepronetohallucinationthanothers.YetJesusappearedtoagreatvarietyofpersonalities,includinghisbrothersandmother.(4)AfterfortydaysJesus’appearancessuddenlystoppedforeveryonesimultaneously.Hallucinationstendtocontinueover longerperiodsoftimeanddonotstopabruptly.(5)Ahallucinationisaprojectionofathoughtthatpreexistsinthemind.However,theJewshadaconceptionofresurrectionthatappliedtotheraisingofallpeopleattheendofhistory,88nottheraisingofanyparticularindividualinthemiddleofhistory.89Therefore,itisinconceivablethatthewitnessestotheresurrectioncouldhavehallucinatedJesus’resurrection.

InconsideringtheobjectionstotheresurrectionofJesusChrist,C.S.Lewis’schargeof“chronologicalsnobbery”beginstomakesense.90EachoftheobjectionsispredicatedupontheassumptionthatpeopleinJesus’ day were less intelligent and more gullible than we are today. However, it can be arguedpersuasivelythatintheirworldwithfewerhospitals,medicines,andhospicestocarefordyingpeople,theyweremorepersonallyawareofthefinalityofdeaththanwemodernsare.Additionally,aswehavealreadysurveyed,theydidnotevenbelieveinresurrection,andbecauseoftheinfluenceofGreekdualismuponthem,whichconsideredthebodyanunwantedhusktobediscardedsothesoulcouldtrulylive,theentire idea of resurrection was undesirable. Taken together, it is apparent that such chronologicalsnobberyrevealsmoreaboutthecharacterofthosemodernswhoappealtoitthanthoseancientswhoaredismissedbyit.

WHATHASTHERESURRECTIONACCOMPLISHEDFORCHRISTIANS?

Jesus’resurrectionrevealshimasourmessiahking.IntheDavidiccovenant,91GodtheFatherpromisedthathisSon,JesusChrist,wouldberaisedupfromDavid’slineagetoruleoveraneverlastingkingdom.PaulrevealsthatthiswasfulfilledattheresurrectionofJesus:“ConcerninghisSon,whowasdescendedfromDavidaccordingtothefleshandwasdeclaredtobetheSonofGodinpoweraccordingtotheSpiritofholinessbyhisresurrectionfromthedead,JesusChristourLord.”92NowthattherisenChristhasbeeninstalledasourmessiahking,wecanrestassuredthatonedayJesuswillreturntoestablishhisthroneontheearthandruleoverhiskingdom,whichextendstoallofcreation.

Furthermore, following Jesus’ resurrection, an angel declared, “He is not here, for hehas risen, as hesaid.”93 Therefore, the resurrection is proof that Jesus’ teaching was and is truth that we can trust.Practically, Jesus’ resurrection gives us confidence in his other promises that we are waiting to seefulfilled,suchashisreturningonedaytojudgesinners94andrewardsaints.95

TheBibleoftenspeaksofourbeingunitedwithChristbyhisresurrection,96beingraisedwithChrist,97

andenjoying the samepowerfulHolySpirit that raisedChrist.98 In sodoing, theBible is stressing theinnumerableblessingsandbenefitsconferredonbelieversbecauseofJesus’resurrection.

PaulstressesthefactthatthroughJesus’deathandresurrectionwehaveforgivenessofsins.99BecauseofJesus,thosewithfaithinhimcanlivewiththegreatjoyofknowingthatalltheirsins—past,present,andfuture—have been forgiven once and for all by Jesus Christ. Furthermore, as the power of Jesus’resurrectionworksitselfout inoursanctification,wegrowinholiness, learningtoliveinvictoryoversin,until onedayuponourown resurrectionwewill live forever, free from thepresence,power, andpracticeofallsin.Elsewhere,Jesus’resurrectionisspokenofasthesourceofourjustification,therebyenablingus,thoughsinners,tobedeclaredrighteousinthesightofGod.PaulexplicitlystatesthatJesuswas“raisedforourjustification.”100

Regardingourfuture,Jesus’resurrectionistheprecedentandpatternofourown:“Christhasbeenraisedfromthedead,thefirstfruitsofthosewhohavefallenasleep.”101Ashisbodywasresurrectedincompletehealth,sotoowillweriseandneverexperiencepain,injury,ordeatheveragain.Thisisbecausethroughtheresurrection,Jesushasputdeathtodeath.

Additionally,Wrightmakes the insightful observation that “themessage of the resurrection is that thispresentworldmatters.”102Because Jesus rose fromdeathphysically,we learn thatGod throughChristintendstoreclaimandrestoreallthathemadeincreationandsawcorruptedthroughthefall.Oureternity

willbespentinaworldmuchliketheoneenjoyedbyourfirstparentsinEden,becausetheearthhasbeenreclaimedandrestoredbyGodthroughJesus’resurrection.

The full effectsof Jesus’ resurrectionwillbe seenoneday, followingJesus’ return.The timebetweenJesus’ resurrection and our resurrection is a lengthy season of love, grace, andmercy as news of thegospel goes forth, inviting sinners to repent of sin and enjoy the present and future salvation of JesusChrist.Paulpreachedjustthisfactandtheurgentneedforsinnerstorepent:“ThetimesofignoranceGodoverlooked,butnowhecommandsallpeopleeverywheretorepent,becausehehasfixedadayonwhichhewill judge the world in righteousness by amanwhom he has appointed; and of this he has givenassurancetoallbyraisinghimfromthedead.”103

Inclosing,noonecanremainneutralregardingJesus’resurrection.Theclaimistoostaggering,theeventistooearthshaking,theimplicationsaretoosignificant,andthematteristooserious.Wemusteacheitherreceiveorrejectitastruthforus,andtoremainindifferentorundecidedistorejectit.

Notes

Chapter1Cross:GodDies

1MuchofthefollowinghistoricaloverviewofcrucifixionisfromA&ETelevisionandTheHistoryChannel’stwo-hourspecialcalledCrucifixion(March23,2008).2Suetonius,TheLivesoftheCaesars,Vesp.5.4.3Josephus,J.W.7.203.4Cicero,ProRabirioPerduellionisReo5.16.5Exodus6–12.6Luke22:19–21.7Crucifixion,A&ETelevisionandTheHistoryChannel.8Ibid.9John19:19.10Isa.53:3–4.11Crucifixion,A&ETelevisionandTheHistoryChannel.12Matt.27:48;Mark15:36;John19:29.13John19:30.14Luke23:46.15Mark15:25,33.16Ps.34:20;John19:36.171Cor.15:3b–4.18Gen.2:17.19Rev.21:8.20Isa.53:5,12;Rom.4:25;5:8;Gal.3:13;1Pet.3:18;1John2:2.21Tolearnmoreabouteachfacetofthecross,seeourbookDeathbyLove:LettersfromtheCross(Wheaton,IL:Crossway,2008).22Lev.16:15.23Gen.8:20;12:7–8;13:4,8;Job1:5;42:7–9.24Ps.51:16;Mic.6:6–8;Heb.10:4.251Sam.15:22;Prov.15:8;Hos.6:6.26Heb.7:22;8:5–7,13.27John1:29.28E.g.,Jer.31:31–34;Matt.26:28;Luke22:20;Rom.11:27;1Cor.11:25;2Cor.3:6;Heb.7:22;8:8–13;9:15;12:24.29Eph.1:10,22;4:15;5:23;Col.1:18;2:10,19.30Heb.2:17;4:14–15.31John1:29.32Rev.21:22.331Cor.5:7.34Heb.9:26;10:10.35Lev.26:27–30;Num.11:1;Deut.29:24.36Ex.34:6–8.37Deut.13:17.

38Isa.48:9.39Ps.78:38.40Mark3:5.41Prov.6:16–19;Zech.8:17.42Ps.5:5;11:4–5;Hos.9:15;Rom.9:13cf.Mal.1:2–3.43John3:36;Eph.5:6;Col.3:6;1Thess.1:9–10.44Rev.6:16–17.45Genesis38;1Cor.11:28–29.46Rom.1:18,24,26.47Deut.32:21–22;John3:36;Eph.5:6;2Pet.2:4;Rev.14:9–11.48Rom.5:9.491Thess.1:9–10.50Rom.3:23–25.51Heb.2:17.521John2:2.531John4:10.54Ex.23:7.55Job9:2.56Ex.34:6–7.57Gen.2:17.58Rom.1:32.592Cor.5:21.601Cor.1:30.61Acts13:38;Rom.4:3–5;5:1.62Rom.10:3.63Matt.5:20.64Isa.64:6.651Tim.2:5;seealsoHeb.9:15;12:24.66Titus2:13–14.67Gal.3:13.68Matt.26:63–65;Mark2:5;John6:41–58;8:46,58–59;10:30–33;11:25;14:6,8–9;16:28.691Tim.2:5–6.70SeealsoEx.15:1–18;Deut.7:8;15:15;2Sam.7:23;1Chron.17:21;Isa.51:10;Mic.6:4.71Ps.78:35;Isa.44:24;47:4;48:17;63:16;Jer.50:34;Hos.7:13;13:14.72Luke1:68;2:38.73Ibid.74Rom.3:24;Titus2:13–14;seealso1Cor.1:30;Gal.3:13–14;4:4–5;Eph.1:7.751Cor.1:30;Gal.3:13–14;4:4–5;Eph.1:7.761Pet.1:18–19.77Gal.3:13.78Col.1:13–14.79Rom.6:6–12.80Gal.6:14–15.

81Ps.49:15.82Job19:25.83Rom.8:23.84E.g.,Dan.12:2;Matt.5:29–30;10:28;18:9;23:23;25:46.852Cor.5:14–15;1Tim.2:1–6;4:10;Titus2:11.86John1:29;3:16–17;1John2:2;4:14;Rev.5:9.87Isa.53:6;Heb.2:9.881Tim.2:4;2Pet.3:9.89Isa.55:11;John6:44;Rom.8:30;11:29;1Cor.1:23–29;2Tim.1:9.90Matt.1:21;20:28;26:28;Rom.5:12–19.91John10:11,15,26–27.92Acts20:28;Eph.5:25.93Rom.8:32–35.94Matt.1:21.95John15:3.962Cor.5:15;Titus2:14.97E.g.,seehiscommentariesonRomans5,Galatians5,Colossians1,andHebrews.98Col.1:18–20.99Onthispoint,afriendnamedBruceWarehasbeenveryhelpfultobothGerryandmeaswestudiedthisdoctrinetogether.100Col.1:13;2Tim.2:25–26.101Luke4:18.1021Cor.2:6–9.103E.g.,Ps.106:39;Prov.30:11–12;Mark7:20.104Lev.19:31;Ezek.14:11.105E.g.,Lam.4:14.106Gen.34:5;Lev.21:14;Num.5:27;1Chron.5:1.107Lev.18:24–30;Num.35:34.108Heb.13:4.109Lev.16:30.110Jer.33:8.111Zech.13:1.112Ex.19:10.113Acts22:16.114Rev.19:7–8.115John12:23,27–28;13:30–32;17:1.116Heb.12:1–6.117Matt.16:24.1181Pet.2:20–24.119John3:16.120John15:13.121Rom.5:8.1221John4:9–10.123Isa.59:2;Hos.5:6.

1241Tim.1:15–16;Titus3:4–5.

Chapter2Resurrection:GodSaves

1E.g.,2Kings4:18–37;Matt.9:18–26;27:52–53;Mark5:22–43;Luke8:40–56;John11:1–44;Acts9:36–42;20:9–12.2E.g.,John5:24.31Corinthians15.4”Sleep,”inLelandRyken,JimWilhoit,etal.,DictionaryofBiblicalImagery(DownersGrove,IL:InterVarsity,2000),799.5Phil.1:21.62Cor.5:8.71Pet.3:19.8Luke16:19–31.9Rev.20:13–14.10SeeN.T.Wright,TheResurrectionoftheSonofGod(Minneapolis:FortressPress,2003),30–31.11Ibid.,31.12Ibid.13Ibid.14Ibid.15Ibid.,83.16Ibid.,32.17Aeschylus,Eumenides647–48,quotedinWright,Resurrection,32.18Wright,Resurrection,35.19Ibid.,49.20Ibid.,53.21Ibid.22Ibid.,60.23Ibid.,76.24Ibid.,81–82.25Ibid.,82–83.26CraigspenttwoyearsasafellowoftheHumboldtFoundationstudyingtheresurrectionofJesusChristattheUniversityofMunich.SeeWilliamLaneCraig,TheHistoricalArgumentfortheResurrectionofJesusDuringtheDeistControversy(Lewiston,ID:EdwinMellen,1985),andAssessingtheNewTestamentEvidencefortheHistoricityoftheResurrectionofJesus(Lewiston,ID:EdwinMellen,1989).27WilliamLaneCraig,“DidJesusRisefromtheDead?”inJesusUnderFire:ModernScholarshipReinventstheHistoricalJesus,ed.MichaelJ.WilkinsandJ.P.Moreland(GrandRapids,MI:Zondervan,1996),160,emphasesinoriginal.28Yamauchihasimmersedhimselfinnolessthantwenty-twolanguagesandisanexpertinancienthistory,includingOldTestamenthistoryandbiblicalarchaeology,withanemphasisontheinterrelationshipbetweenancientnearEasternculturesandtheBible.Heiswidelyregardedasanexpertinancienthistory,earlychurchhistory,andGnosticism.Hehaspublishedovereightyarticlesinmorethanthreedozenscholarlyjournalsandhasbeenawardedeightfellowships.HiswritingincludescontributingchapterstomultiplebooksaswellasbooksonGreece,Babylon,Persia,andancientAfrica.29EdwinYamauchi,“Easter:Myth,Hallucination,orHistory?”ChristianityToday,March15,1974andMarch29,1974,4–7,12–16.30Ibid.31Ibid.32SeeLeeStrobel,TheCasefortheRealJesus(GrandRapids,MI:Zondervan,2007),174–75;andBruceM.Metzger,Historicaland

LiteraryStudies:Pagan,Jewish,andChristian(GrandRapids,Eerdmans,1968),11.33Isa.53:8–12.34Matt.12:38–40;Mark8:31;9:31;10:33–34;John2:18–22.35John19:34–35.36Isa.53:9.37Matt.27:57–60.38Matt.28:9.39John20:17.40John20:20–28.41Luke24:36–43.42Acts1:3.431Cor.15:6.44SeeCraig,“DidJesusRisefromtheDead?”45Luke24:31;cf.John21:7,12;46John20:16.47John20:14,15;21:4;Luke24:15-16.48John20:19;Luke24:31,36.49JamesOrr,TheResurrectionofJesus(London:Hodder&Stoughton,1908),198.501Cor.15:44.51Mark14:53,54,60,61,63.52J.P.Moreland,ScalingtheSecularCity(GrandRapids,MI:Baker,1987),172.53QuotedinRichardN.Ostling,“WhoWasJesus?”Time,August15,1988,41.54John7:5.551Cor.15:7.56James1:1.57Acts12:17;15:12–21;21:18;Gal.2:9.58Acts1:14.59Acts1:14;Jude1.60Phil.3:4–6;Acts7:54–60.61Acts9.62WilliamLaneCraig,TheSonRises:TheHistoricalEvidencefortheResurrectionofJesus(Eugene,OR:Wipf&Stock,2001),134.63Ibid.64John20:19.65SimonGreenleaf,TheTestimonyoftheEvangelists:TheGospelsExaminedbytheRulesofEvidenceAdministeredinCourtsofJustice(GrandRapids,MI:Kregel,1995),32.66KennethScottLatourette,AHistoryoftheExpansionofChristianity,7vols.,TheFirstFiveCenturies(NewYork:Harper,1937),1:59.67Acts20:7;1Cor.16:1–2.68Rev.1:10.69Lucian,“TheDeathofPeregrine,”inTheWorksofLucianofSamosata,trans.H.W.FowlerandF.G.Fowler,vol.4(Oxford:Clarendon,1949),11–13.AlsoseePliny,Letters,trans.WilliamMelmoth,vol.2(Cambridge:HarvardUniversityPress,1935),10.96.70Mark15:40,47;16:1.71MurrayJ.Harris,RaisedImmortal:ResurrectionandImmortalityintheNewTestament(GrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans,1985),40.72Craig,“DidJesusRisefromtheDead?”152.

73Yamauchi,“Easter:Myth,Hallucination,orHistory?”4–7.74JamesD.G.Dunn,TheChristandtheSpirit(GrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans,1998),67–68.75C.F.D.Moule,ThePhenomenonoftheNewTestament(London:SCMPress,1967),13,emphasisinoriginal.76FlaviusJosephus,“JewishAntiquities,”inTheNewCompleteWorksofJosephus,trans.WilliamWhiston(GrandRapids,MI:Kregel,1999),18.63–64,emphasisadded.77Suetonius,VitaNero16.11–13.78PlinytheYounger,Letters10.96.1–7.79Matt.28:13–15.80JohnR.W.Stott,BasicChristianity(GrandRapids,MI:InterVarsity,1971),49.81C.TrumanDavis,“TheCrucifixionofJesus:ThePassionofChristfromaMedicalPointofView,”ArizonaMedicine(March1965):183–87.82Matt.28:11–15.83John20:24–28.84RichardN.Ostling,“JesusChrist,PlainandSimple,”Time,January10,1994,32–33.85JohnShelbySpong,Resurrection:MythorReality?(NewYork:HarperCollins,1994),143.86Ibid.,255,emphasisadded.871Cor.15:1–6.88E.g.,Dan.12:2.89SeeCraig,“DidJesusRisefromtheDead?”159–60.90C.S.Lewis,SurprisedbyJoy:TheShapeofMyEarlyLife(Orlando:HarcourtBrace,1955),201.912Sam.7:7–16.92Rom.1:3–4.93Matt.28:6.94John3:16,18,36;5:25–29.95John14:3.96Rom.6:5.97Col.2:12;3:1.981Cor.6:14;2Cor.5:15.991Cor.15:3–58.100Rom.4:25.1011Cor.15:20.102N.T.Wright,ForAllGod’sWorth:TrueWorshipandtheCallingoftheChurch(GrandRapids,MI:Eerdmans,1997),65.103Acts17:30–31.