God the Son, Student Workbook, SW10

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G O D T H E S O N

Let us begin by reciting the relevant portion of the Creed for Lesson four:

Video Segment 1 Outline

“ The third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father . He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his Kingdom will have no end.”

I. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

God has made the Lord Jesus Christ the firstfruits by raising Him from the dead. ~ Clement of Rome (c. 96, W), 1.11. David W. Bercot, ed. A Dictionary of Early Christian Beliefs . Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers, 1998. p. 558.

A. The centrality of Jesus’ resurrection in Christian faith and mission

1. It is the central doctrine in all of Christian faith: (cf. 1 Cor. 15.1-20, “If Christ has not been raised”).

a. The Apostles’ proclamation is worthless and our faith in that preaching is worthless, v. 14.

b. The Apostles misrepresented God, since they lied about God raising Christ from the dead, which in fact he did not do, v. 15.

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c. Our faith is utterly futile, and we are still in our sins, v. 17.

d. Those who have died as believers in Christ (Greek, “ fallen asleep ”) have actually perished.

e. We are the most pathetic and most pitied of all people because of the deception and error of our hope, v. 19.

I give you thanks . . . that I can have a part . . . in the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and body. ~ Martyrdom of Polycarp (c. 135, E), 1.42. Ibid. p. 96.

2. It was the central historical fact in the preaching of the Apostles.