The Resurrection of Jesus — and How All Were Included “In” It In Him

The Apostle Paul makes some astounding claims about the inclusion of creation and specifically–humanity–in the being of Jesus Christ. Just follow this spiritual “logic” with me.

1. Acts 17:28: “In Him we live and move and have our being.” — All creation exists “in” the container of all creation, the incarnated Son of God who is our gateway into being, and our connection point into the life of God. He’s not just some “propositional” fact we accept so “we” can “enter” the life of God. He is Reality! And in Him all things have their being, “hold” together, and function and exist.Colossians 1:17: “And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [He is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]
   Colossians 2:17: “… reality, however, is found in Christ.”
2. 2 Corinthians 5:14: “… one died for all, therefore all died…” — At least in my way of thinking, all who “have their being” in Christ somehow, from God’s perspective, died when He died — and so did the power of all their sin.
3. But the news gets even better! Ephesians 2:4-5: “… God, who is rich in mercy… made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions…”

What are the implications of that, if this Scripture can be taken at face value?

We’ll consider that in the third installment of this series.

It speaks of the hope of Jesus that is greater than we can allow our Western minds to grapple with–how we’ve been included in the Trinitarian life of God, and yes, even in Christ’s resurrection.

The Good News is better than we’ve allowed it to be!

 

Study Session 3: The Real Meaning of the Resurrection of Christ — for you!

Goal: To help us know more about the resurrection of Christ, and how we were all included in that resurrection.

Discussion Points: What are the main points that stand out to you about Christ’s resurrection? What’s the difference between a resurrection and resuscitation? In what ways are we included in Christ’s resurrection? In what ways is all of creation included in Christ’s resurrection?

 

Scriptures to consider:

• Matthew 28:1-5 — What does this Scripture tell us about what happened to Christ after his death?
• Luke 24:30, 36-42; John 20:19-20 — What do these Scriptures say about the kind of body Jesus came back with?
• 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 — If all died with Christ, what else must be true?
• Acts 17:28 — If this is true, then what happened to you when Jesus died? What happened to you when Jesus rose? Where are you now if you are in Jesus? If this is true, what does it say about your status with God?
• Colossians 3:1-4 — What is the truth about your life now? Because of Jesus, who are you?
• Romans 5:12-19 — What is the picture at the right all about?

Resuscitation = restoration of consciousness or life functions after death

Resurrection = rising from the dead into a spiritually-generated life