That He Died Was Buried and Rose Again
In 1 of the most famous chapters in Paul'due south outset letter of the alphabet to the Corinthians, he asserts, "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3). This statement occurs with a serial of assertions about the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, as a precipitous confessional summary of matters of first importance regarding the gospel. In his own words, Paul asserted that he was making known to the Corinthians the gospel that they received, by which they were saved, and in which they stood. In 1 Cor. 15:3, Paul continues asserting the cross and the resurrection of Jesus are gospel matters of the offset gild.
As I've argued in item elsewhere,[i] gospel vocabulary and gospel concepts in the bible must be carefully analyzed in order to offer an accurate biblical understanding of the gospel. My own analysis reveals that the category of gospel is much bigger than many Christians have traditionally understood, including both entry language (how ane becomes a Christian [e.g. Rom. iii:21-26]) and maintenance language (Spirit-empowered living [e.yard. Gal. 5:16-26]).
In 1 Cor. 15:3-iv, however, Paul overtly confirms that the gospel'southward well-nigh of import elements are the cantankerous and resurrection. As a issue, he emphasizes the virtually key elements of the gospel that make information technology possible for sinners to be saved from their sins by faith in the gospel. Only what kind of death does Paul advise that Jesus died in 1 Cor. 15:3, and why does his resurrection make this kind of death efficacious for those for whom the death was offered?
Substitution
For centuries, Christians have debated the nature of Jesus' death. In my view, Jesus' decease in Paul'southward theology has many features to it. However, he especially teaches in 1 Cor. 15:3 that Jesus died as a substitute for sinners. A substitutionary death in one Cor. 15:three would suggest that Jesus took upon himself judgment for sins so that the sinners for whom he died would experience the reward of salvation if they apologize and believe.
The above interpretation seems supported past Paul's remarks in vv. one-2. In that location he states that the gospel "saved" the Corinthians when they "received" it (1 Cor. 15:ane). By "received," Paul means that the Corinthians believed the gospel. He confirms this interpretation in ane Cor. 15:2 when he warns them by saying "unless you believed in vain." Those who respond in genuine faith and repentance to the gospel are the only ones who experience the saving benefits of the gospel. Merely if they believed in vain, which means they never believed, the gospel will condemn them in their sin.
In 1 Cor. fifteen:3, Paul's commencement summary statement most the beginning principles of the gospel land why the Corinthians could in fact feel the saving benefits of the gospel by receiving/believing the gospel: namely, because "Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures." Jesus' decease "for sins" dealt with the effects of sins and the penalization that God requires because of sins; Jesus' death provided salvation for those for whom he died, evident by the fact that the Corinthians personally experienced salvation when they received/believed the gospel. Thus, their participation in the gospel by receiving/believing provided for them the saving benefits of the gospel considering Jesus died for their sins to transfer saving benefits to the sinners for whose sins he died.
Resurrection
But how does the payment offered by the substitutionary expiry of some other transfer a saving benefit to those who believe the gospel? I think Paul'due south answer occurs in 1 Cor. 15:four: namely, the resurrection.
Paul's remarks in one Cor. fifteen:iv affirm that Jesus was raised from the expressionless. Both in v. 3 and in v. 4, Paul announces the decease and resurrection of Jesus happened in history "according to the scriptures." These scriptures could at least refer to Old Testament texts like Psalm 22, which emphasizes the suffering of the Lord's servant, and Isaiah 53, which emphasizes both the suffering of the Lord's servant and his resurrection (Isa. 53:five, 8, 10).
Without the resurrection, Jesus' death would be a tragedy regardless of the substitutionary nature of it. Merely because of the resurrection, his death was triumphant. Paul drives dwelling house this betoken throughout 1 Cor. 15:12-57 when he emphasizes the various saving benefits that come to those who receive/believe the gospel considering of Jesus' physical and historic resurrection from the dead.
Conclusion
This Maundy Th and this resurrection season, we Christians should remind ourselves afresh of the absolute necessity of both Jesus' substitutionary decease for our sins and his own concrete resurrection from the dead to achieve the saving benefits for us who receive/believe the gospel. The resurrection flavour is non nearly bunnies, processed, pretty dresses, and handsome suits. The resurrection season is nigh God satisfying his wrath on the cross of Jesus for the sins of sinners and God raising Jesus up from the dead to prove that Jesus' death has accomplished salvation for all who receive/believe in the gospel.
May Christians live in the power of the cross and the resurrection this Maundy Thursday, this resurrection Sunday, and every waking moment of our lives.
[1]Jarvis J. Williams, For Whom Did Christ Die? The Extent of the Atonement in Paul's Theology. Paternoster Biblical Monograph Series. (Milton Keynes, United kingdom of great britain and northern ireland: Paternoster, 2012).
Jarvis J. Williams is an associate professor of New Testament Interpretation at the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky. He's is the author of numerous books, including a Galatians commentary (Cascade, 2020). He also serves as a teaching pastor at Sojourn Community Church Midtown in Louisville. Y'all tin can follow him on Twitter @drjjwilliams.
Source: https://thewitnessbcc.com/according-to-the-scriptures/
0 Response to "That He Died Was Buried and Rose Again"
Post a Comment