Study 6 – A Revelation Of The Resurrection For The Kingdom Here And Now!

“God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow….” (Philippians 2:9-10)

From Last Week:

Part II: Jesus Experienced Two Resurrections on Our Behalf

• He Was Made Alive in His Spirit

1. How was Christ spiritually resurrected following His death? Complete the following:

1 Peter 3:18b: “Christ…being put to death in the flesh but made alive __________ _______________ ___________________.”

Romans 6:4: “Christ was raised from the dead ________ _____________ _________________ ________________ _______________ ___________________.”

2. To what group did Jesus “preach” after His spiritual resurrection but before His physical resurrection? (1 Peter 3:19b)

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KEY DEFINITION: The word “preached” in 1 Peter 3:19 is translated from the Greek word kerusso, which means “to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth”; it indicates “to proclaim” and “to publish” (STRONG, G2784)

3. (a) To whom did Jesus preach the gospel before His physical resurrection? (1 Peter 4:6a)

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(b) What was His purpose in preaching to this second group? (1 Peter 4:6b)

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REFLECTIONS ON JESUS’ SPIRITUAL RESURRECTION

Jesus was vivified, or made alive, in His spirit by the working of the Holy Spirit before His physical body was raised from the dead. The power of God came upon Jesus’ spirit, which was instantly made alive. That was the initial resurrection He experienced. By the same power, we will all be resurrected one day! (See Romans 6:5)

Jesus visited two groups after His spiritual resurrection. I interpret “spirits in prison” in 1 Peter 3:19 to mean evil spiritual entities, or demons. As god’s messenger, Jesus went to the place where the demons are incarcerated in hell. He didn’t go to them to proclaim the gospel for purposes of salvation but rather to make the announcement that He was King of Kings and Lord of Lords, all authority had been given to Him, and he had the keys of hell and death. He went there to tell them that He had defeated Satan, and that He would live forever! Jesus also preached the gospel to those who were in Abraham’s bosom, for their salvation. These people had died in faith, waiting for the redemption of the Messiah, just as is described in Hebrew 11:13-16. They were first to receive the good news of the resurrection.

• He Was Made Alive in His Body

4. (a) When Christ rose from the dead, what did He become for those who believe? (1 Corinthians 15:20b)

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(b) How is Jesus described in Revelation 1:5?

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5. (a) After Jesus was resurrected and taught His disciples about the kingdom for forty, where did He ascend? Complete the following:

Acts 1:11a: “This same Jesus, who was taken up from you __________________ ______________________ …”

Acts 2:33a: “Therefore [Jesus] being exalted ____________ _________________ _______________________ _________________ ___________ _______________ …”

(b) What name has God the Father bestowed upon Jesus? (Philippians 2:9)

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6. (a) While we were once dead in trespasses, what are we now? (Ephesians 2:5b)

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(b) What is our spiritual position in Christ Jesus? (Verse 6)

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When we identify with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, we become a new creation to rule and reign with Him.

Conclusion

Jesus conquered sin, the devil and his demons, death, and hell. Realizing that Jesus triumphed over these foes, which were unconquerable to mankind, is key to understanding His full work of redemption. Christ’s resurrection from the dead accomplished the following:

• Restored us to communion with the spiritual life of God. He made us one with the Father again; we have reconciled and reunited with Him. (See Corinthians 5:18; 1 John 1:3.)
• Implanted in our mortal bodies the resurrection life, which will fully manifest when Christ returns for His church, at which point our bodies will be glorified like His. (See Romans 8:11.)
• Returned us to eternity in the presence of God. This is the consummation of Christ’s perfect work on the cross and His resurrection. (See 1 Thessalonians 4:17; Revelations 21:1-3.)
• Seated us in heavenly places to rule with Christ. After paying for our sins and being raised from the dead, Jesus sat down forever on His throne at the right hand of the Father as our High Priest. His sitting down symbolised His authority, government, and reign because His work was finished. Once his atoning work was accomplished, He gave us back the dominion that Adam had lost and – even more remarkable – seated us together with Him in His heavenly rule. The Son of God is the only king who allows His subjects to reign with Him. This is our inheritance! (See, for example. Ephesians 2:5-6; Hebrew 4:14; 6:20; 7:26-28; 10:11-13.)

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…” (Philippians 3:10)

Introduction
Often, when we hear the message of Christ’s resurrection preached in churches, it is presented solely from a historical point of view without revelation. Consequently, we do not often witness God’s power manifesting among His people. A revelation of the living Christ distinguishes between those who believe in the resurrection for the here and now – the eternal present – and those who believe in it as a historic event. The former are activated and receive Jesus’ supernatural power for advancing His kingdom.

Study Questions

Part I: Ten Essential Revelations of the Resurrection

• Revelation #1: The Resurrection Is Always Revealed by the Holy Spirit in The “Now”

1. (a) Read John 19:17-18,34 and John 20:24-28. Then, explain how the disciple Thomas gained a revelation of the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. (John 20:27-28)

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(b) What did Jesus say about those who never personally saw the resurrected Christ but who received the revelation of His resurrection? (John 20:29b)
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(c) because Peter had witnessed the living Christ (see Acts 3;15b) and knew there was power in His name (see verse 16a), what did he say and do to the lame man at the temple gate? (Acts 3:6b-7a)
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(d) What happened to the lame man as a result? (Verse 7b, 8b)
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• Revelation #2: Jesus’ Resurrection Is the Demonstration of his Love and Power

1. Because of the Father’s love for us, demonstrated through the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus Christ, what are we called? (1 John 3:1a)

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• Revelation #3: Jesus’ Resurrection Is the Foundation and the Sustenance of Christianity

1. Without the resurrection to culminate the work of the cross, there would be no salvation and no resulting personal transformation, since it is resurrection power that activates that work. Because of Christ’s resurrection, in what manner should we now “walk”?  Complete the following:

Romans 6:4b: “…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in ________________________ ____________ ___________________.”

• Revelation #4: If Christ Had Not Resurrected, Our Faith and Message Would Be in Vain

1. What would have been some of the consequences if Jesus had not resurrected? (1 Corinthians 15:14b-15a, 17b-19)

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• Revelation #5: The Resurrection Validates and Vindicates Christ as the Son of God

1. What was Jesus declared to be by the “Spirit of holiness”? Complete the following:

Romans 1:4: “[Jesus was] declared to be ___________ _______________ _________ _________________ _________________ ______________________ according to the Spirit of holiness, _________ _____________ ________________________________________ _____________ __________________.”

• Revelation #6: Christ Is the Only One with a Testimony of Being Permanently Raised from the Dead, Both Spiritually and Physically

1. (a) What did the resurrected Christ say about Himself? (Revelation 1:18a)

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(b) Note a significant contrast between the first Adam and Christ, the” last Adam.” Complete the following:

1 Corinthians 15:45: “‘The first man Adam ________________________________ __________ ________________________ ____________________.’ The last Adam ____________________________________ _________ ____________________________ ________________.”

• Revelation #7: The Resurrection Established Christ’s Kingdom and Destroyed Satan’s Kingdom

1. (a) What titles belong to Jesus? (Revelation 19:16)

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(b) By His death and resurrection, what did Jesus do to the evil principalities and powers of Satan’s kingdom? (Colossians 2:15)
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… continued next week …

Prayers of Activation

Holy Spirit, You are the Administrator and Executor of the power of Christ’s resurrection. We ask You to enlighten our understanding with the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so we can know the power of the resurrection, so we can know the power of the resurrection, apply it to our lives, and release it others who are in need.

Let Jesus’ resurrection life and faith flow through us today. We acknowledge that the power of the resurrection is available and active wherever we go. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. Nothing is impossible for us, as nothing is impossible for God. We are an extension of the resurrected Christ on earth in order to advance His kingdom. He lives, and we live according to His life and faith. In the name of Jesus.