CHRISTOLOGY
Resurrection Declares Christ as Son of God
Romans 1:3-4
Declared Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection.
DEFINITION
The resurrection vindicates and installs Jesus as the Son of God in power.
EXPLANATION
The Spirit’s declarative energy revealed what was veiled in the flesh: the eternal Son, glorified as God and man, appointed messianic Lord (Col. 1:18). Calvin: ‘The power peculiar to God shone forth, proving him to be God.’ Gaffin: Christ entered a new phase of Sonship — resurrection is not evidential of divinity but transforming of his humanity. Luther: before resurrection his Sonship was hidden in the flesh; now publicly revealed in power.
Sources: Calvin, Hodge, Vos, Gaffin, Schreiner, Lloyd-Jones
JUSTIFICATION
Resurrection Declares Sinners Righteous
Romans 4:24-25; 10:9-10 Raised for our justification. Believe in your heart that God raised him — you will be saved.
DEFINITION
Christ’s resurrection is God’s verdict that the atoning work is complete and accepted.
EXPLANATION
Murray: Christ was raised for the purpose of our justification — his resurrection is his justification before God, and through union with him by faith, his vindication becomes ours. Edwards: ‘The resurrection is God declaring his satisfaction; he thereby declared it was enough.’ Without resurrection, faith is futile and we remain in our sins (1 Cor. 15:17). Saving faith confesses the risen Lord (Rom. 10:9-10).
NEWNESS OF LIFE
Resurrection Empowers Present Obedience
Romans 6:4
Just as Christ was raised by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
DEFINITION
Union with the risen Christ breaks sin’s dominion and empowers holy conduct now.
EXPLANATION
Baptism seals co-crucifixion and co-resurrection with Christ, shattering sin’s reign. Murray: ‘The decisive entrance upon newness of life is required by the decisiveness of Christ’s own resurrection.’ Gaffin: ‘There is no more basic NT perspective on sanctification than Romans 6 – a continual living to God of those alive from the dead.’ This is inaugurated new-creation existence, eschatology already begun in history.
SANCTIFICATION
Resurrection Defines Our New Identity
Romans 6:1-14
Consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. (v. 11)
DEFINITION
The believer’s definitive break with sin and ongoing transformation flows from co-resurrection.
EXPLANATION
Romans 6 grounds sanctification in union with the resurrected Christ, not moral effort. Murray’s ‘definitive sanctification’: an irreversible breach with sin’s reign (vv. 2-11) distinguishable from progressive sanctification. Gaffin: ‘Christian existence is a manifestation of the resurrection life and power of Christ, the life-giving Spirit.’ Believers begin at the top — already perfect in Christ, being progressively conformed.
HOPE OF GLORY
Resurrection Guarantees Final Glorification
Romans 8:11, 18-23, 29-30 He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit.
DEFINITION
The indwelling Spirit as first-fruits of resurrection guarantees future bodily glorification.
EXPLANATION
Gaffin: Christ’s resurrection is ‘the actual beginning of the general epochal event’ – two episodes of one eschatological reality. The Spirit (8:9-11) is the down-payment. Vos: Christ’s resurrection inaugurates the new creation; believers are first-fruits. Schreiner: present sufferings incomparable to glory to be revealed. The golden chain (8:29-30) — predestined, called, justified, glorified — anchored in Christ as Firstborn.