Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is God's seal of approval, signifying that His death was sufficient, and it is a witness to God's power and a testimony to the life of Christ.
John Follette emphasizes that the resurrection of Jesus was God's seal of approval, signifying the sufficiency of His death. God raised Jesus from the dead, showing His satisfaction with Jesus' victorious life and death. The resurrection testifies to the satisfactory completion of God's plan. Paul in I Corinthians 15 reveals the mystery of the resurrection, highlighting the diverse glories and ranks in the resurrection of the dead. Hebrews 11:35b speaks of a better resurrection for those who endure suffering faithfully.
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The resurrection of Jesus was God's seal and act of approval signifying that His death was sufficient. Jesus never resurrected Himself -- God raised Him from the dead. God the Father was pleased, and satisfied with His victorious life and death. In raising Him from the dead, God gave testimony that all was satisfactory.
In I Corinthians 15, Paul, in speaking of the resurrection, says, "I will show you a mystery." He didn't say, "I will define it, or explain it." As there are so many different glories of stars, SO is the resurrection of the dead! Everyone will be raised according to his own rank and glory. There is classification and order.
Concerning resurrection, we read in Hebrews 11:35b: "... others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection." Those who have suffered correctly are waiting for a better resurrection.
In Acts 1:8, the Lord is not using the word "witness" about someone who gets up and gives a testimony; He is saying that a person coming up from the power of the Spirit, is willing to let his life be slain in order that the life of the Christ may be lived through him. He becomes a witness, a testimony of the power of God. That is when the individual life becomes a witness; a testimony. The word "witness" here means "martyr"; one who is willing to let his very life go for the sake of the Truth.
The power of His resurrection possessed the disciples, and the power of the resurrection is always a witnessing power. The resurrection was a witness. The power that God used in raising Jesus from the dead was resurrection power unto a witness. When does He say, "I will pour the Holy Spirit upon you"? After the resurrection, for now there is resurrection quality in the power that is to come upon them. They are now ministering in resurrection power. The LIFE is the witness.
The bread and wine sacrament is a type of regeneration and resurrection. These emblems decompose, ferment, speaking of death. Then comes a higher form of life both in the bread and wine. The process is the same in both. In the bread we have the yeast, the leaven, which speaks of sin. This is no longer active as it decomposes, and is changed. In the wine there is also fermentation -- death. It has no longer form as before.
On the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, the ark rested on Ararat. This is the anniversary of the resurrection!
Sermon Outline
- I. The Resurrection as God's Seal of Approval
- A. Jesus' death was sufficient
- B. God raised Him from the dead
- C. God's testimony that all was satisfactory
- II. The Classification and Order of Resurrection
- A. According to one's own rank and glory
- B. Classification and order in the resurrection
- III. The Power of Resurrection
- A. Possessed the disciples
- B. A witnessing power
- C. Resurrection power unto a witness
- IV. The Sacrament of Resurrection
- A. Type of regeneration and resurrection
- B. Process of decomposition and transformation
Key Quotes
“As there are so many different glories of stars, SO is the resurrection of the dead!” — John Follette
“The power that God used in raising Jesus from the dead was resurrection power unto a witness.” — John Follette
“The LIFE is the witness.” — John Follette
Application Points
- We should strive to live a life that is a witness to the power of God, just like the disciples who were possessed by the power of the resurrection.
- The resurrection power is always a witnessing power, and we should seek to be filled with this power to minister to others.
- The sacrament of bread and wine reminds us of the process of regeneration and resurrection, and we should seek to be transformed by this process.