Privileges of Christ's Resurrection in Christian Life
The resurrection of Christ is a foundational doctrine of Christianity, central to the gospel message and offering numerous privileges to believers [10, 5]. Paul emphasizes that if Christ has not been raised, then Christian faith is futile and believers remain in their sins [11]. However, because Christ has been raised, believers receive significant benefits and assurances.
One primary privilege is the assurance of a future resurrection for believers. Paul argues that Christ's resurrection confirms the reality of a future resurrection for all who believe [7]. This future resurrection will involve a transformed body, spiritual in nature and adapted for a glorified state, yet maintaining identity with the body laid in the grave [4, 8]. This hope for future resurrection is known by faith, with Christ's own resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit serving as evidence of what is to come [9].
Beyond the future resurrection, believers are granted immediate spiritual privileges. Through Christ, they have access to God [1, 12]. This access is described as "boldness to enter into the holiest," signifying a direct and confident approach to God's presence [12]. Believers are considered part of God's household and members of the "Church of the first-born" [1]. They partake in the divine nature and are heirs to God's promises [1]. Furthermore, Christ acts as their Shepherd and Intercessor, advocating for them before God [1].
The resurrection also signifies Christ's triumph and ascension to supreme power and dignity [6]. As a result, believers are promised that "all things work together for their good" [1]. Those who participate in the "first resurrection" are declared blessed and holy, with the assurance that "the second death has no power" over them. They are destined to be "priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him" [2, 3]. This underscores a profound shift in status and destiny for those united with Christ in his resurrection.
Sources
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Privileges of Saints — Abiding in Christ -- Joh 15:4,5. Partaking of the divine nature -- 2Pe 1:4. Access to God by Christ -- Eph 3:12. Being of the household of God -- Eph 2:19. Membership with the Church of the first-born -- Heb 12:23. Having Christ for their Shepherd. -- Isa 40:11; Joh 10:14,16. Christ for their intercessor. -- Ro 8:34; Heb 7:25; 1Jo 2:1. The promises of God. -- 2Co 7:1; 2Pe 1:4. The possession of all things -- 1Co 3:21,22. All things working together for their good -- Ro 8:28; 2Co 4:15-17. Their names written in the book life -- Re 13:8; 20:15. H”
- Revelation “Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection. Over these, the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and will reign with him one thousand years. -- Revelation 20:6”
- Revelation of John “Revelation of John 20:6 (Geneva1599) — Blessed and holy is hee, that hath part in the first resurrection: for on such the second death hath no power: but they shalbe the Priests of God and of Christ, and shall reigne with him a thousand yeere.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Resurrection of the dead — Will be simultaneous both of the just and the unjust (Dan. 12:2; John 5:28, 29; Rom. 2:6-16; 2 Thess. 1:6-10). The qualities of the resurrection body will be different from those of the body laid in the grave (1 Cor. 15:53, 54; Phil. 3:21); but its identity will nevertheless be preserved. It will still be the same body (1 Cor. 15:42-44) which rises again. As to the nature of the resurrection body, (1) it will be spiritual (1 Cor. 15:44), i.e., a body adapted to the use of the soul in its glorified state, and to all the conditions of the hea”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Resurrection, The — A doctrine of the Old Testament -- Job 19:26; Ps 16:10; 49:15; Isa 26:19; Da 12:2; Ho 13:14. A first principle of the gospel -- 1Co 15:13,14; Heb 6:1,2. Expected by the Jews -- Joh 11:24; Heb 11:35. Denied by the Sadducees -- Mt 22:23; Lu 20:27; Ac 23:8. Explained away by false teachers -- 2Ti 2:18. Called in question by some in the church -- 1Co 15:12. Is not incredible -- Mr 12:24; Ac 26:8. Is not contrary to reason -- Joh 12:24; 1Co 15:35-49. Assumed and proved by our Lord -- Mt 22:29-32; Lu 14:14; Joh 5:28,29. Preached by the Apostles -- Ac 4:”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Ascension of Christ, The — Prophecies respecting -- Ps 24:7; 68:18; Eph 4:7,8. Foretold by himself -- Joh 6:62; 7:33; 14:28; 16:5; 20:17. Forty days after his resurrection -- Ac 1:3. Described -- Ac 1:9. From Mount Olivet -- Lu 24:50; Mr 11:1; Ac 1:12. While blessing his disciples -- Lu 24:50. When he had atoned for sin -- Heb 9:12; 10:12. Was triumphant -- Ps 68:18. Was to supreme power and dignity -- Lu 24:26; Eph 1:20,21; 1Pe 3:22. As the forerunner of his people -- Heb 6:20. To intercede -- Ro 8:34; Heb 9:24. To send the Holy Spirit -- Joh 16:7; Ac 2:33. To recei”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:12: 15:12-34 Paul now makes the case for a future resurrection. 15:12-20 Christ’s resurrection confirms the reality of the future resurrection. 15:12 Some believers in Corinth apparently had a difficult time accepting the Jewish notion of a bodily resurrection of the dead, preferring instead the Greek notion of the immortality of the soul (cp. Acts 17:18, 32).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:49: 15:49 Like the earthly man, Adam, we have physical bodies in this life. But we will someday be like Christ, the heavenly man, experiencing the Kingdom of God in resurrection bodies (cp. Rom 6:4-14).”
- 2 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 Corinthians 5:7: 5:7 Our hope for future resurrection can only be known by faith (see Heb 11:1, 3, 27), yet we do have Jesus’ own resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit as evidence of what is to come (1 Cor 15:1-9; Eph 1:14).”
- 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 15:1: 15:1-58 Some people in the church had doubts about a future resurrection of the dead. Paul reassures them and, perhaps in response to their skeptical questions, discusses the nature of a resurrection body. 15:1-11 Paul summarizes the Good News that he preached. 15:1 At the heart of the Good News stands the message of the atoning death and resurrection of Christ (see 15:3-4; Rom 5:8-10; 6:5-11).”
- 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 15:17: vain--Ye are, by the very fact (supposing the case to be as the skeptics maintained), frustrated of all which "your faith" appropriates: Ye are still under the everlasting condemnation of your sins (even in the disembodied state which is here referred to), from which Christ's resurrection is our justification (Rom 4:25): "saved by his life" (Rom 5:10).”
- Hebrews (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Hebrews 10:19: I. Here the apostle sets forth the dignities of the gospel state. It is fit that believers should know the honours and privileges that Christ has procured for them, that, while they take the comfort, they may give him the glory of all. The privileges are, 1. Boldness to enter into the holiest. They have access to God, light to direct them, liberty of spirit and of speech to conform to the direction; they have a right to the privilege and a readiness for it, assistance to use and improve it and assurance of acceptance and advantage. They may enter into the gracio”