God’s Power to Raise Jesus From the Grave: The Only Explanation for Salvation

Galatians 1:1

Paul says there is really only one explanation for salvation—the resurrection of Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:1), the same way that Peter said there is only one explanation for Pentecost—the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 2:14–36). Look at v.24; 32-33. We might put it this way today, the only explanation for Easter is the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Why would the dejected disciples go from hopeless to hope in Luke 24? It is only because of the power of God to raise Jesus from the grave.

The very basis of salvation is found in the words of Paul in confessing Jesus is Lord and believing “in your heart that God raised him from the dead.” That is exactly what Paul says in Romans 10:9,

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Salvation is only explained by God’s power to raise Jesus from the grave.

The Judaizers were placing man-made regulations on Gentile Christians in order to share the status as God’s people. But to be God’s people, all had to be God’s children. A child of God is made not by human hands, but by God’s power. The only explanation for salvation is truly the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thus, the power of God to raise Jesus is combative to legalism. Unlike legalism that explains Christianity in terms of what man does in whole or part, the resurrection explains Christianity in terms of what only God could do and did completely—born to raise the sons of earth.

That the resurrection of Jesus Christ would be the only explanation of salvation has a purpose and general and particular. In general, the resurrection of Jesus is the only explanation for salvation for the purpose of restoring the hope of genuine disciples. In particular the resurrection of Jesus is the only explanation for salvation for the purpose of destroying self-confidence and bearing fruit for God.

In General: In order to restore our hope in God

So, I want to show the great value of this truth today in respect to how God uses it to lift the downcast. Look at Luke 24 from verses 13 to the end. You see here how the resurrection restored lost hope.

We may observe in particular how God does this—How our hope may be restored in God who raises the dead.

[our hope may be restored in God who raises the dead by destroying esteem in self]

In Particular: In order to destroy self-reliance

Another more concise place is found in 2 Cor. 1:9 where it is written,

“Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves, but on God who raises the dead.”

The same kind of things is said in 1 Peter 1:21,

1 Peter 1:21 ESV “who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

One has said that:

self-esteem has become the new doctrine of the church and is not much different than self-flattery.  And paradoxically humility even can become a fashionable way to exaggerate one’s own insignificance and uselessness to gain approval of others. Such flattery may be likened to the false spirituality of hypocrites who “disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen of others” (Matthew 6:16).

Flattery can come from others and it can come from ourselves, but no matter it is as Proverbs 29:5 says is a way to spread a net for your feet. When we are putting ourselves down in false humility or when we are falsely building others up in pretense, we are not trusting in the God who raises the dead; we are not trusting in God’s power; we are rather relying on ourselves.

The resurrection explains a salvation that makes a person put no confidence in the flesh, but in God who raises the dead. The resurrection is responsible for changing people from a self-satisfying love to a self-giving love. As Martin Bobgan writes,

“Until the advent of humanistic psychology and its influence on the church, Christians generally thought of self-esteem as as sinful attitude.”

Paul writes in the service that flows from gospel believing,

For by the grace given to me I say everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us [humbly] use them…” (Romans 12:3ff)

So, here is what I take from that: the reason for lack of service in the church is not lack of self-esteem but the presence of it! self reliance makes us busy with ourselves. The reason that many professing Christians are not eager to serve in the church is because they think too much of themselves and too little of God. And they have often done this by flattering themselves and/or by inviting and enjoying the flattery of others.

So, particularly speaking, the resurrection comes to make us aware that without God we are dead. He raised Jesus from the dead, and raises us to serve the Lord. Legalism destroys service because it flatters the flesh, the resurrection empowers service because it biblically reminds us that we died and our life is hidden with Christ in God.

Oh love that will not let me go

I rest my weary soul in thee

I give thee back the life I owe

That in thine ocean depths its flow

May richer, fuller be

Oh light that followest all my way

I yield my flickering torch to thee! (a hymn)

[Our hope may be restored in God who raises the dead by raising our esteem for God]

In Particular: In order to bear fruit for God (I.e. to raise esteem for God; in order to learn to give yourself. Jesus gave himself!)

Another is found in Romans 7:4,

Romans 7:4 ESV “Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God.”

It is also reinforced in Colossians 2:12, 3:1,

Colossians 2:12 ESV “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

Colossians 3:1 ESV “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

Galatians ends with a treatment on the “fruit” of the Spirit. This is the idea. The resurrection of Jesus Christ explains a changed life. A life that is increasingly pursuing God and the things of God. There is no other explanation for salvation than God raises the dead, and salvation includes sanctification. It is done “for God” (Romans 7:4) by having first died in respect to the law, and been made alive in Christ. The idea is that a Christian is one who is living for God  because he loves God from the heart, and has died to his love for self.

Again, Romans 10:9–10 says,

“because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Salvation is only explained by God’s power to raise Jesus from the grave.

Lloyd-Jones rightly comments,

“The great New Testament argument for sanctification is that it is not an experience to be received but is the outworking of the fact that we believe that Jesus is the Lord, and that God has raised Him from the dead.”

It is a belief in the reigning Christ and the raising God that makes people serve in the power of the Spirit. They who are subject to this authority to be saved have such power to serve. Those who reject such power God has to raise the dead are powerless to give themselves to the things of God.

Are you powerless? May God raise you. Downcast? May God lift you. Are you self-consumed? Crucify the self to this world, and become alive in the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and God who raised him from the dead!

Conclusion

We may say that the only explanation for salvation is God’s power to raise Jesus from the dead. In general such belief lifts the downcast, and in particular such belief in the resurrection destroys self-reliance in order to raise God-esteem and and bear fruit for God’s glory in sanctification and service.

An Addendum: An Defense of the Doctrine of God’s Omnipotence

This is an additional note to consider that one may question if God is so powerful then why didn’t he prevent Jesus from dying in the first place? Why didn’t he prevent Adam from sinning to bring death into the world?

It is important to recognize that God’s attributes exist all at the same time and not in parts. He is at the same time all powerful and wills everything in according with all of his holy nature.

When approached by those to take him to the death and his disciples began to want to fight he said:

Matthew 26:53 ESV “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?”

This magnifies his willing sacrifice and also God’s divine plan, his sovereign control, and true power. God can do all things, yes, he can do all his holy will (catechism answer). Christ showed himself in his dying and being raised to be “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor 1:24). He continues to show this power in raising “the hearts of those whom the Father irresistibly draws to Himself” and in whom he will complete his saving work when he raises his people in “imperishable glory.” And finally when He judges the world and re-creates the cosmos all will praise him for his infinite and holy power.

God’s power is not one that exists isolated from his other attributes, but operates together and at the same time with those attributes to defeat any human boasting and to raise our esteem for God and service to God with glory and joy in the Holy Spirit. a

All that God does is to reveal something about Himself—This includes sending His Only Son to die for our sins and raising Jesus from the dead. Amen. Thanks be to God for Jesus Christ!

A Helpful Quote

“One area the church can shine (and grow in) is Godly, happy celebrations--big and small. Not worldly, self-centered, entertainment-style parties, but happy, holy, joyful feasts and gatherings--where hearts & mouths truly enjoy God, his provision, and his people. Celebrating this way means we need Christians willing to make and serve the food with happy hearts! We need women who don't view it all as "too much trouble" but who find deep, Christ-honoring joy in taking lots of trouble for the sake of others' and their own joy. This means we need generous hearts--generous with our money, our time, our labor. We need to learn the ropes of serving--menus, table set-ups, collaborating with others, taking thought for the children, the young adults, the senior saints. We need to cultivate beauty. There was a time when my mindset was 'what's the easiest thing I can do to get thru this event?' rather than 'what would most bless the people entrusted to me and lift their hearts to God?' What a diff between those 2 Qs. My joy (& work!) has exploded when I've pursued the 2nd Q. With Easter approaching, now is the time to plan to celebrate. Plan really good food. Plan for God-honoring conversations. Plan to laugh and sing. Plan to share all you have, including your very self. Plan for your celebration to be *fitting* in remembering Christ's resurrection.”

—Abigail Dodds