God Raised Him From The Dead!
Part 1
For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre.
But God raised him from the dead. ACTS 13:27-30
Paul taught this to the wonderful people in the synagogue at Antioch of Pisidia on his first outreach itinerary. They had been taught the Scriptures every Sabbath. But that day, for the first time, they were hearing that all things written and foretold by God concerning “the Christ”—the anointed one—had been fulfilled by God’s son, Jesus. By him every detail of the work required for man’s redemption was now finished. The victory over death was fully accomplished because God had raised him from the dead. Now that victory was available to all people of all nations. God’s gift, holy spirit, which is eternal life, had been poured out to now be received by whosoever would believe.
This marvelous message was gladly received by many, but also viciously opposed by others.
And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city togetherto hear the Word of God. But when the Judeans [the Judean leadership] saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. ACTS 13:44-45
With boldness Paul continued to stand and speak. He answered to God and not men. He continued to travel and teach others the same great truths of the riches of God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness in the work accomplished by Jesus the Christ. In his second outreach itinerary Paul journeyed to many new cities, one of which was Athens of Greece. Again, the men and women there heard for the first time the redemption victory that God had accomplished for all people by the resurrection of His son from the dead.
Because He (God) hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness (just justice) by that man whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised him from the dead. ACTS 17:31
After teaching in those many cities, Paul continued to help those who believed by sending others to serve and oversee the work there, just as he would do if he could be present. By revelation he also ministered to them by writing the letters we call the Epistles. These Epistles would be sent to one city and then circulated to the saints in other cities so God’s people could all have the fullness of God’s instruction in righteousness. The Epistle addressed to the saints in Galatia begins like this:
Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, Who raised him from the dead), And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia:
Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our lord Jesus Christ,Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world [age], according to the will of God our Father. GALATIANS 1:1-4
Jesus Christ “gave himself”. He gave his life. Then God gave His son a new life when He raised him from the dead. That new life is incorruptible. That is, his body cannot corrupt with any sickness and therefore has life without end. He was made just and holy. As he is so are we. We also are now made just and holy. God’s holy spirit in us is the same new life that quickened—made alive—the dead body of Jesus Christ. We were quickened-together with him. We were raised-together with him. We are also seated-together with him at the right hand of the Father. We are sanctified (made holy), justified, and glorified! Well, Glory! Halleluiah! We have something to shout about don’t we?
God wants us to know what we have, what we are, and even what’s to come!
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised him from the dead, and set him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world [age], but also in that [age] which is to come. EPHESIANS 1:18-21
In the Epistle to the saints at Colossae, Paul reiterates the same truths that were written in the Epistles to the Galatians and the Ephesians. Several times in this Epistle to the Colossians he warns them not to be led away or compromise at all from the truth of God’s grace and their completeness in Christ. Look at these four warnings in chapter two:
And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words. VERSE 4
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit…. VERSE 8
Let no man therefore judge you…. VERSE 16
Let no man beguile you of your reward…. VERSE 18
In Antioch of Pisidia, Paul boldly and firmly stood on the truth of our wholeness and holiness by the resurrection of God’s son. We also must not be beguiled or compromise, but boldly stand and speak the truth in love. Here in chapter two of Colossians is some wonderful exhortation and instruction from God to and for His people. [I am quoting from the Working Translation by Walter Cummins because some of the King James text is difficult to understand.]
Watch [Beware!] so that no one leads you away as a captive through philosophy and vain deception according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, and not according to Christ, For in him dwells all the fullness of the divine nature bodily, And you are completely filled in him who is the head over every ruler and authority.
In him you were also circumcised with a non-handmade circumcision in the stripping off of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ.You were buried with him in baptism [the baptism of holy spirit], by which you were also raised with him through the believing pertaining to the working of God Who raised him from the dead. Yes you, who were dead in the trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made-alive together with him and forgave us all the trespasses. COLOSSIANS 2:8-13
