Every Rain Drop: A Rational and Scriptural Study of Absolute Predestination

Chapter 1:  The Way You Think

Chapter 2:  The Way You Talk in Prayer

Chapter 3:  The Way to Live it Out

Chapter 4:  The Way to Speak

Chapter 5:  The Way to Train

Chapter 6:  A Short Meditation on Hell

Chapter 1:  The Way You Think

            The Christian suffers in this life against spiritual darkness.  We are not promised a limitation to our sufferings.  We are promised that He will bring us through our sufferings.  He brings us through our sufferings, because He is Faithful and True. 

            If trouble be ours against us, the Christian knows that God ordains all for our good.  “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).  We know that all things come from the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11, “In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will”).  As the Puritans wrote, nothing can be excluded out of “all things.”  This does not mean that God is the author of sin; rather, it means God grants His creation purpose in all that comes to pass.  Nothing is meaningless, because God decided beforehand what it would be: He does this because purposelessness is the essence of despair.  However, we will not always know the specifics of why something comes to pass, because God does not always reveal it.  All things have purpose in His sight.  Therefore, no matter what we suffer, we have no reason or just grounds to despair.   

            I refer to believers in Christ, because to them it is given the promise.  It is not given the promise to damned sinners; because only “in Christ” does a person have this promise given unto them. 

            We may suffer through the greatest waves of tribulation, but we have the biblical assurance of the predestination or foreordination of all things.  All things have a purpose, because God ordained it.  However, this is not a reason for sinners to sin, but reason to do good works (Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them”).

            God repays all our pain and suffering when we behold Christ face to face in the beatific vision, because in it we are healed of all suffering.  If we think about it we are able to endure suffering if we remember that in a mere instant our sufferings will be repaid when beholding Christ the King.  This is no less ordained then good works, because God ordains the good of beholding Christ for our spiritual and overall benefit. 

            Therefore we must think of these truths of the Bible, because it is a comforting thought to remember them in order that we get through the tribulations that come into our lives. 

Everything is from His Almighty hand, because He orders all things, and it never fails to contemplate in our minds that it comes from a God who is all-wise.  If it comes from a God who is all-wise there is no just complaint.  If it comes from a God who sinless there is no just accusation.  Instead of a rebellious why there are songs of praise and thanksgiving.  Instead of complaining there is rejoicing at the sight of what God has brought His people through.  If you think on these things you will be blessed; however, it is not easy to think on biblically wonderful things in suffering, because our mind is fixed on the suffering.  If you think on the riches of His Word, and that nothing befalls any by randomness or chance or blind fate, but by His awesome Hand you will be able to move on a little further by His upholding grace. 

 Chapter 2:  The Way You Talk in Prayer

            Prayer is what is known by Christians as the thing Satan fears the most.  Prayer must be used by the Christians as a means to communicate to a God who thinks.  It is an instrument of worship, because He uses it in His providence to work things out according to His all-wisdom in blessed sinlessness. 

            How do you speak in prayer?  Do you realize you are speaking to a God who is holy and just?  Do you understand that He is altogether righteous and just?  Do you comprehend that He is altogether sinless and One in whom no darkness resides? 

            Christians suffer because Satan hates us, because we are being conformed to the image of Christ.  (Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren”).  The image of Christ is totally contrary to the image of Satan: they are both opposites of one another.  Satan hates us because we have the Spirit in us who is working in us.  (Hebrews 13:21, “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen”). 

            It is good for Christians to mediate in prayer about the Bible verses that speak to our need of how we speak in prayer unto goodness and mercy.  (Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever”). 

            I have learned that in prayer there is no basis for despair, because God uses prayer to accomplish His divine purposes.  Christians may find themselves struggling on, because prayer has yet to be granted.  A good remedy is that we recite the verses that are relevant to our spiritual need.  Christians should be using the Bible to pray, because it is well-pleasing to God for those whom are in Christ to pray His God-breathed truth back to Him.  Prayer is an instrument of mediation, because it is a way to express to God our hearts intentions.  Christians should mediate on predestination, because it is the essence of the outpouring of our hearts.  God’s immensity is present, and all we need to do is speak: let us do so in reverence and respect to His holy name. 

Moreover, do not be afraid to use arguments in prayer, but not to change His mind or will.  Christians should prayer according to His will not in opposition to His will.  God’s will is the perfect direction for your life, because (Matthew 26:42 says, “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done”).  Christ suffered but He said thy will be done.  The key is to be dedicated to His will but not to make the deliverance of suffering your allegiance.  The Christians allegiance is the will of God: where is your allegiance this day? 

Chapter 3:  The Way to Live it Out

            We are called to live out our faith, because God wants a heart and life of utter blessedness in holy piety and living.  Christ must determine all our lives and the whole scope of our being.  (James 2:24, “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only”).  Do we have a heart of darkness and coldness?  Do we have a mouth that is untamed?  Do we have a life that is in reckless sin?  (1 Samuel 16:7, “But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart”). 

            Christians should live in light of what is right.  (Philippians 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things”).  Christians have Christ enthroned in their hearts, because of the application of God the Spirit in regeneration (Titus 3:5, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost”).  By the Spirit’s work we have embraced Christ, but a heart devoid of a life of walking with Him is a heartless Christianity (Colossians 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him”). 

            Do we repent of particular sins (Mark 1:15)?  Do you live it out?   Today we hear of preachers that speak of belief, but they speak nothing of repentance.  The Bible commands that a true faith have a true repentance, and a true repentance have a true faith.  Do you have a repentance born of the Spirit of God and the Word of God?  Do we obey His commands (John 14:15, “If ye love me, keep my commandments”)?  Do you live it out? 

            Christians must live out their faith: is faith all of life to you?  Do you think that kind of talk is only meant for elders and deacons?  Do you live it out in a consistent way?

            God ordains faith in His people, because it seemed right in His sight.  The ordering of things by His mighty hand is evidence of His goodness, because only a good God would ordain faith.   

If God is everywhere and knows all things, He knows if you are right before Him.   Think much on this.

Chapter 4:  The Way to Speak

            God is everywhere.  God’s presence is before us.  His immensity is what we behold when we look up.  Christians must have spiritual eyes to see His presence in all things. 

            Christians ought to speak uprightly and in a right way before Him, because God is superlatively holy.  The angels proclaim His thrice holiness, because God is good.  We ought to speak with a voice that is sprinkled with holiness, because He hears and records all we say.  That is, God knows all things because He ordained all things.     

            Christians can go over their times of speaking, because we can judge ourselves in light of God’s perfect standard of holiness.  If we have failed because of sin, we can repent and continue on.  The damned do not have this redemptive grace, because it is did not seem right in God’s sight (Matthew 11:26, “Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight”). 

Chapter 5:  The Way to Train

            Christians should train themselves up in the things of God, because parents are to train up their children in the holy ways of God. 

            We can train ourselves by a day of devotions, because God is worthy of a life of devoted praise.  This praise can come by our thoughts, words, but also our deeds.  (2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”). 

            Christians can train themselves by prayer, Bible reading, general devotions, and a consistent routine of hearing Bible presentations. 

            I love the learned sweetness of praying on my knees, because I behold God through a darkened appearance (i.e., sin). 

            Are you filled with a love overflowing to the Lord Jesus?  Christians may have suffering overflow their lives, but it is the love of Christ that makes us take another step toward heaven.

            God ordained good works (Ephesians 2:10), because He is a good God.  God also ordains His children to be instruments that are well-pleasing in His sight.  If good works are ordained so to is a life sold-out for Christ in upright training to bring Him glory in all its rich fullness.  

Chapter 6:  A Short Meditation on Hell

            If God ordains all things He even ordains all that goes on in hell.  Hell is a place of true unspeakable torment, because it is where God’s wrath is on unjust sinners. 

            If we mediate on hell we will see that it compares nothing with the suffering God has ordained for us in this life.  He has ordained it for our good but the suffering in hell is torment on wrongdoers. 

            If we think on hell we would be grateful for what God has given us in this life, because He is gracious in this life; however, God is not gracious to sinners in hell.  Hell for the Christian is meant to teach us of His benevolence in this life, and how we are greatly blessed in Christ for taking our sins upon Himself. 

            Think much on Hell, because it will train your mind to be thankful for knowing Christ and to get through trails of sufferings in this life.  Thank much on hell, because we can rejoice at every circumstance; because He ordains it all for our good.  Sufferings, then, seem inconsequential but not meaningless. 

Scientology “scriptures” by L. Ron Hubbard

Scientology places the writings of L. Ron Hubbard as their “scriptures” for their church.  The Church of Scientology adheres to the writings of L. Ron Hubbard.  The “scriptures” of Scientology reveal what their belief system is.  It comprises of beliefs of Eastern Religion, and makes up their understanding of what Scientology is.  When we approach this, we must understand that the basis for their beliefs comes from their “scriptures.”  Their book is called a “Holy Book” that comprises a collection of Great Teachers.[1] 

            But there is a fundamental flaw on the basis of belief for Scientologists.  This essential flaw is the adherence to the writings of Hubbard instead of divine revelation in the Old and New Testament.  There is a fundamental departure in Scientology from what supernatural revelation says.  Christians find real supernatural revelation in the Divine Scriptures of biblical Christianity.  If the basis for belief is fundamentally flawed, then belief will necessarily be flawed.  The basis of belief will determine the reason for that belief.  If the Divine Scriptures in the Old and New Testament do not form the foundation of belief, eternal consequences will emerge.  The eternal consequences are fundamental errors about divine truth that keeps the soul in real bondage to sin.  Bondage to sin (if left unchanged) will lead each unregenerate person to eternal damnation.  Sin blinds a person’s mind into embracing false beliefs.  It takes nothing less then the Holy Spirit of God and the Word of God to open the hearts of men, and illumine the minds of the sons of men.  The Bible’s message is clear: Repent and believe in the gospel (Mark 1:15).  Mankind has the responsibility to repent of all their sins because God is superlatively holy. God is also just, good, perfect.  The Lord cannot tolerate the sins of the sons and daughters of men.  But Scientology does not embrace repentance of sins, but a non-biblical way of dealing with the sins, evil, depravity of men.[2]

            Ii must be asked: upon what basis do we accept their “scripture” of authority?  Upon what basis, do we accept the writings of Hubbard as a “Holy Book?”  Are the writings of Hubbard compliable with authentic Christianity?  As it has been already seen in a brief manner, the beliefs of Scientology run contrary to Biblical Revelation.  That is, they do not actually represent what the Bible teaches.  But Scientology believes that it does not conflict with other religions or what they practice, but clarifies them and brings spiritual understanding about mankind’s nature.[3]  We have seen that genuine Scientology is not compatible with authentic Christianity.  To suggest that reincarnation, for example, is compatible with biblical Christianity is to purposefully overlook the Christian teaching of resurrection.  The teaching of reincarnation (or rebirth as Scientologist prefer to call it)[4] is wholly absent from the teaching of biblical Christianity.  The Lord Jesus Christ and the totality of Divine Scripture teach resurrection not reincarnation.  Even the enemies of Christ understood His claim of resurrection but chose to reject it (Matthew 27:63).  Both resurrection and reincarnation are not compatible with each other.  For a discussion on this see my book on the resurrection That Very Foundation on Chapter 8: Is Reincarnation True? 

            In ancient times there was a group called the Sadducees.  These individuals did not believe in the resurrection.  They came to the Lord Jesus asking Him a question (Matthew 22:23-34).  What was the response from Christ?  What did He respond with?  He responded with a basis of belief from the Divine Scriptures (Matthew 22:29-32).  His response was:  “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29 NASB).  The Sadducees were held accountable for what Divine Scripture says.  Jesus understood that they neither knew Scripture nor the power of God.  In Divine Scripture we find the power of God in the Word of the gospel.  But upon what basis do we accept the Old and New Testament?  Shouldn’t we accept what Divine Scripture says because it demonstrates itself to be God-breathed?  That is, God speaking to the sons and daughters of men.  It shall be demonstrated from Scripture about its self-attestation, and self-authenticity.

---

[1] Martin, p. 361. 

[2] Martin, p. 367. 

[3] L. Ron Hubbard, Volunteer Minister’s Handbook (Los Angeles: Church of Scientology, 1976), xiv.  As noted by Martin, p. 362. 

[4] Martin, p. 367.  But reincarnation is mentioned in their writings (Martin, p. 367).

Internal New Testament Evidence of Resurrection

The Resurrection of the Messiah

                The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not simply a revival of Jesus’ physical body.  The Lord Jesus is called “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20 NKJV) and “the firstborn from the dead” (Rev. 1:5 NKJV).  He was the first to rise from the dead (Acts 26:23).  Indeed, Jesus Himself is our Incarnate Representative.  The bodily resurrection of Christ Jesus made us to be spiritually alive (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 2:6).  Jesus’ resurrection assures His people of their bodily resurrection at the last day.   Jesus’ resurrected body is glorious and deathless (Phil. 3:21; Heb. 7:16, 24).  Jesus Christ lives in and through His glorified body.  He will do this for all eternality.  Christians who are alive when Jesus Christ comes back at His Second Coming will undergo an equivalent transformation (1 Cor. 15:50-54).  Christians who have died will be transformed.  At and after the last resurrection, Christians will never die again.  The ground of Christianity is the actual Resurrected Christ.  The resurrection of Jesus is indisputable proof.  Jesus Himself accomplished victory over death.  After He bore the sins of His people that were applied to Him, He lives and has ascended on high and seats on the right hand of God the Father.  He is the sinless, risen, ascended and enthroned One.  He is the eternal Son of God with divine power from the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4).  After the resurrection of Jesus, He gloriously ascended; He reigns.  The New Testament gives information concerning the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

John in John 10:17-18 states:

Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father. (NKJV).

The Father loves the Son.  The Son loves the Father.  The Son voluntarily lays down His life and takes His life back up again.  The Son demonstrates His distinctive judgment of willingly giving His life for His sheep.  The Son demonstrates His own certain prediction of His resurrection (v. 17, “…I lay down My life that I may take it again”).  He alone lays down His life (v. 18, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself”).  The Son has power to give His life for His chosen. Jesus Himself died to save.  The Son has power to take it up again, that is, His resurrection.  The Son received this commend from His Holy Father (the only Holy Father) in heaven.

                Jesus spoke of Himself as divine.  His adversaries understood His meaning (John 10:33).  Solely the divine Jesus could freely die and freely rise.  Jesus explicitly shows He is divine.  He alone is the Author and Giver of life as Jesus said of Himself. 

The Triune Work in the Resurrection of Christ

Let us consider the Triune work of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were involved in the action of the resurrection of Jesus.  The Father had power, the Son had power and the Holy Spirit had power to rise up Jesus Christ to accomplish the Father’s will in Jesus by His Glorious Spirit.

God’s power accomplishes resurrection: “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?  For they all had her.”  Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:28-29 NKJV).

The resurrection of Christ is distinctive from others because He rose by His own power.  He is the very author of resurrection.  But this does not deny the Trinitarian work of Christ’s resurrection.  Christ accomplished His resurrection:  “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:18 NKJV).

The Spirit of Christ accomplished resurrection: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11 cf. 1 Cor. 6:14 NKJV).

                The Holy Trinity was active in the very resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The resurrection of Jesus is in essence a Trinitarian accomplishment.  The work of redemption and creation is a Trinitarian achievement.   It demonstrates the unity of the Sacred Trinity in their essential being.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in their unity and being.  There are three distinct persons Who accomplished the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Trinitarian work of Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates the distinction of the three persons.  It shows the personality and work of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The Son accomplishes the will of His Blessed Father by His Holy Spirit.  The Son verifies His death as genuinely acceptable to His Father.  The atonement is authentic for the payment for the penalty of sin.  The resurrection is accomplished for His elect’s justification. 

The Word of Life

John in 1 John 1:1-4 states:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us--that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (NKJV).

The crux of the message of Christianity is the very proclamation of the gospel of the Risen Christ for eternal life in the Incarnate Word of life.  The opening of this verse echoes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 NKJV).  Jesus Christ is the Word of life.  He was heard, seen and handled.  John defends the actuality of the humanity of Jesus.  Jesus was and always will remain the Incarnate Logos (John 1:14).  The self-existence of Jesus Himself speaks to the reality of His blessed divinity.  The Son’s fellowship and friendship with His Father is provided to His chosen people.  The believer in Christ has joy because of the Word of life.  He died but He rose again. 

The Bodily Risen Son

Luke in Luke 24:36-43 declares:

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.  And He said to them, “Why are you troubled?  And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Behold My hands and My feet, that is it I Myself.  Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.  But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”  So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.  And He too it and ate in their presence.  (NKJV).

He did not rise from the dead as a spirit.  Jesus asks why His followers are troubled.  He rebukes their unbelief.  Christ told His followers to touch Him and see He is not a spirit.  His hands and feet had nail marks.  His feet bore the wounds of the crucifixion on the cross.  He asks for food and ate in the presence of His followers.  Thus, Jesus made it a necessity that He had a glorified body.  Jesus refutes the presumption that He is a spirit. He is flesh of very flesh and bone of very bone.  Jesus Himself tells His disciples what body He possesses: (v. 39 “…Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bone as you see I have”).  Jesus explicitly references, observation of His true resurrected self.  Jesus showed His disciples His wounded hands and His wounded feet.  He demonstrated His injuries from the cross at Calvary. He has a glorious and triumphant resurrected body. Jesus asked, (v. 41 “…Have you any food here?”).  The disciples gave Him broiled fish and honeycomb; He had the capacity to eat food.  Jesus ate in the presence of His disciples.  These were the very witnesses of the Word of life.  Jesus spoke to His disciples about the fulfillment of Scripture (Luke 24:44-45).  Jesus speaks about all things that needed to be fulfilled.

My Lord and My God

                John in John 20:24-29 records:

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”  So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Thomas. Because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (NKJV).

When Jesus came amongst the disciples, Thomas was not with them.  The disciples of the Risen Christ told Thomas (v. 25, “…We have seen the Lord.”). 

Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”  Jesus spoke and said to them, “Peace to you!”  Jesus appeared in the locked room of His disciples.  Jesus is omnipresent; He is everywhere; He appeared where His friends were.  Jesus is omnipotent; He had infinite power to appear.  Jesus is omniscient; He had infinite knowledge to know Thomas’ request.  Thus, Jesus is Almighty God in human flesh (the Second Person of the Trinity).

Thomas needed to see, and place his finger into the nail prints, and His pierced side.  After Jesus showed Himself, Thomas believed.  Thomas would not believe unless He saw and examined the Risen Incarnate Lord.

                Thomas referred to Jesus as his Lord and his God.  This means Jesus is divine.  This plainly and entirely excludes teachings from traditions of men and doctrines of demons.  For anyone to say Jesus is not the God-man, the very Incarnate King, distinct from the Father and the Spirit, flies in the face of the actuality of scriptural precedence.  The person who denies this really denies the divine integrity of Scripture, for it clearly teaches the reality of the divine Son of Man.  Jesus is not the spirit-brother of Lucifer.  He is not a highly exalted angel.  He is not a god.  He is not merely a man who was a great prophet.  Rather, He was and is, and always shall be the Eternal Incarnate Self-Existent One.  Will you be like Thomas who proclaimed Jesus as his Lord and God?  Thomas believed Jesus rose from the dead based upon his sight of Him.  Because of belief in Jesus of those who have not seen Him; this blessing is upon God’s people.  The purpose of the Gospel of John is belief (John 20:31).  The belief of Thomas is the desired result.

He believed the Risen Christ.  The faith of Thomas was based on his eyes (he saw Christ), his ears (he heard Christ) and he touched Jesus (he felt Christ).  Thomas shows, Jesus is fully Lord and fully God.  Jesus accepts the proclamation of Thomas.  He does not rebuke Thomas. Rather, He acknowledges the statement of Thomas regarding His divinity. 

Raised Up on the Third Day

Luke in Acts 10:40-41 states:

Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.  And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.  To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. (NKJV).

The Father raised up the Son on the third day.  The Father displayed Jesus openly.  The Father chose the people Who Jesus was seen by.  It pleased His Blessed Father to reveal Jesus to His chosen.  The disciples ate and drank with Jesus “after He arose from the dead.”  Jesus Himself commanded His disciples to preach.  His followers would testify of Jesus.  Jesus is ordained the Incarnate Judge.  Jesus is the Supreme Judge because human beings are moral creatures.  When He judges He will judge justly and righteously.  God the Father ordained His Son to be Judge.  No human creature will have their own made-man argument to place against Him to enter into His kingdom.  Made-man traditions seek to enter His kingdom in a way His Word has not prescribed or supported.  The mouths of His enemies will be shut, merely by His divine presence.  Jesus is the Judge of all mankind, and He is the Divine Defense Attorney for His beloved people.  He will acquit His redeemed people because they will be found to be in Him.  He will damn His enemies because they will not be found in Him.  For His people, it will be a joyous day, but for His enemies it will be a day of horror and dread.  Scripture supports salvation exclusively through Jesus (Acts 4:12); forgiveness of sin is guaranteed by His acceptable propitiation; confirmed by His glorious resurrection and restoration of His glory established His ascendancy, accessible of those who invoke His blessed name and His heavenly ministry as intercessor for His chosen people.

The Lord’s Day

                Some people dispute that Sunday is the day of worship for Christians.  Historic Christianity always has taught that Sunday as the Sabbath.  The New Testament speaks of the Lord ’s Day.  The Lord’s day is the day of Jesus’ resurrection.  Therefore this principle of Sabbath is established because of the Creation and the apostles.  We rejoice in the resurrection of Christ on this day and hope of rest in heaven.  Heaven is the Sabbath rest.[i]

Christ Died For Our Sins

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 states:

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.  After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.  Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born of due time. (NKJV).

               

The Incarnate Messiah “died for our sins.”  Jesus died for a particular people (i.e., our).  In accordance with the Scripture Jesus died for their sins.  In accordance with Scripture Jesus was buried and rose again.  Cephas and the twelve saw the Risen Christ.  He was “seen by over five hundred at once.”  The people of the five hundred witnesses still remained alive, but “some have fallen asleep.”  After His appearance to Peter, the twelve disciples and the five hundred people, Jesus was “seen” by James and by Paul.  This passage by Paul is early in origin and proves the credibility, reliability and trustworthy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Church Fathers On 1 Corinthians 15:4

Chrysostom wrote concerning 1 Corinthians 15:4:

This serves to confirm that Christ died a genuine human death and points us once more to the Scriptures for proof.  Nowhere does Scripture mean the death of sin, when it makes mention of our Lord’s death, but only the death of the body, and a burial and resurrection of that same body. [ii]

Ambrosiaster wrote concerning the five hundred witnesses:

This is not recorded in the Gospels, but Paul knew it independently of them.[iii]

Cyril of Jerusalem wrote concerning the witnesses of the resurrection:

He appeared to Cephas; and after that to the twelve.”  So if you disbelieve one witness, you have twelve witnesses.  “Then he was seen by more than five hundred people at once”—if they disbelieve the twelve, then listen to five hundred.  “After that he was seen by James,” his own brother and the first overseer of this [Jerusalem] diocese.  Since so noteworthy a bishop was privileged to see the risen Christ, along with other disciples, do not disbelieve.  But you may say that his brother was a biased witness.  So then he continues:    “He was seen by me.”  But who am I?  I am Paul, his enemy!  “I was formerly a persecutor” but now preach the good news of the resurrection.[iv]

Chrysostom wrote concerning Jesus’ appearance to James:

This must be James, the Lord’s brother, whom he ordained as the first bishop of Jerusalem.  The apostle mentioned here would include the seventy and others besides the Twelve.[v]

Acts and the Resurrection

                After the resurrection the disciples of Jesus Christ began teaching, preaching and proclaiming the extraordinary fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This occurred shortly after the resurrection event took place.  Peter preached the resurrection of Christ at Pentecost without hesitation (Acts 2:32).  He started to gain great courage and strength since the resurrection of Christ.  It was the formation of the Christian Church.  Peter gave a sermon to the crowd of different languages.  Peter himself spoke fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus.  The message was clear despite the numerous languages represented (Acts 2:11).  The proclamation of the gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is apparent.  It indicates His followers boldly proclaimed the Risen Christ as the tomb of Jesus Christ was vacant.  The Christian fellowship demonstrates the substantiation of the resurrection of Jesus.  The ground of the Christian faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Christian fellowship thrived in the same place where the murder of Jesus occurred.

                His followers sought nothing to gain of this world.  They were men of whom the world was not worthy.  The followers of Jesus abided by the commandments of God.  They did not seek to create another religion purely for popularity sake.  The disciples of Christ encountered much suffering.  With the exception of John, the apostles endured deaths of martyrdom.  The eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ truthfully proclaimed the gospel of the resurrection.  Such was no lie but motivated from pure grace and truth.  The apostles had unmovable determination, unwavering faithfulness and commitment to Christ the Risen King!  The apostles knew and believed the truth because of God’s work alone.  God opened their eyes to seek to preach His truth, He opened their ears to listen for His voice in His Word, and He opened their mouths to testify of His truth! God used His people as a means to accomplish His will.  They stood unwavering for truth, unqualified diligence, unconditional commitment and unashamed service for their Risen Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Mary Magdalene

                The first witness of Christ was a woman (John20:1-18).  Her name was Mary Magdalene. Women’s testimonies were practically meaningless especially if their beliefs superseded the chief priests and Pharisees.  The beliefs of Christianity were in violation of the present governing religion.  If they were going to fake the bodily resurrection of Jesus, they choose the wrong initial witness; for the first witness was a woman.  Why would they design their first witness to be a woman? Women were generally not promoted by law to speak in public.  It was considered an embarrassment concerning the presence of women.  Paul’s choice to exclude Mary Magdalene magnifies her witness in favor of the resurrection of Jesus.  Chrysostom speaks of the Gospel accounts of Jesus appearing first to Mary (Mark 16:9).  He notes Paul mentioning solely the men who Jesus appeared to.[vi] Combining Paul’s description of who Jesus appeared to, and the witness of a woman further confirms the reality of God’s Word and the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.  Paul focused upon a truthful evangelistic proclamation of the exposure of men who saw Jesus Christ Risen.  The exclusion of Mary Magdalene does not support any sort of demeaning of women from Holy Writ.  The eyewitness testimony of Jesus Christ establishes the actuality of Christian doctrine, namely the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

                The appearances to Mary and the other appearances of Christ remain a consistent truth.  It is unlikely the apostles would agree to the testimony of Mary unless they saw the empty tomb.  They themselves didn’t understand fully that Christ would rise from the dead.  Only after they saw for themselves the same tomb Christ’s body was laid in, was, indeed, empty, they believed.  Does a lie support truth?  Does God’s truth divine need amendment?  Of course not!  They themselves did not understand Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.  It was only until after Mary came to them that Peter and John traveled to the tomb.  They saw it and entered it.  John arrived first.  He looked in and hesitated.  He was the younger of the apostles.  Peter went forward and entered the empty tomb.  John followed and believed.

                The seal of Rome on the tomb was established as a sign or symbol of the presence of the Romans.  The purpose of this sign was to protect the tomb. It was under Roman authority.  The huge rock covered the tomb of Jesus.   It was great in size.  It would have taken more than fishermen to move among the presence of Roman soldiers.  If the sign were disturbed it would constitute an immediate crime against Rome.  If a person broke the seal, they were responsible and answerable to the governor.  The apostles were not equally capable to face Roman guards in combat. 

                Rather, there was a great earthquake.  The angel of the Lord came from heaven.  He rolled back the huge stone from the door of the tomb.  His countenance was like lightning.  He garments were white as show.  The angel sparked fear in the Roman soldiers, and became like dead men.  The soldiers went to the chief priests and explained what happened.  The chief priests made a story out of deceit (Matt. 28:2-4; 11-15).  The job of the Roman guards who watched the tomb of Jesus was performed in duty.  They were soldiers of Rome who they owed their loyalty.  If a Roman guard experienced any threat he surely would have noted this.  It would have undoubtedly appeared in the Roman record.  But no such record does exist that confirms the apostles overtaking the Roman guards.  The Roman guards said they fell asleep.  They knew the ultimate penalty was death.  They entrusted themselves to the help of the chief priests with no other choice. 

The God of The Old and New

Interestingly the New Testament speaks of the raising of many saints, “and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matt. 27:52-53 NKJV).  Certainly the saints of old had the same benefits of Jesus’ atonement and the resurrection applied to them as it is to us.  The saints of the Old Testament look toward the atoning death of Christ, whereas the saints of the New Testament look back at His victorious death.  The God of the Old is the God of the New.  The saints of old were saved as the saints are now saved.

Conclusion

At the surface of this presentation it has been established that internal evidence of the New Testament supports the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ “…who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Rom. 4:25).  Insofar we ought to consider other internal evidence of the New Testament.  To this we now turn. 

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[i] RC Sproul.  Essentials Truths of the Christian Faith (Wheaton, Illinois:  Tyndale House Publishing, Inc, 1992), 239.

[ii] Gerald Bray, ed., Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture New Testament VII, 1-2 Corinthians (Downers Grove, Illinois:  InterVarsity Press, 1999), 149-150.

[iii] Bray, 150.

[iv] Bray, 150.

[v] Bray, 150. 

[vi] Bray, 150.