SIGNIFICANCE OF CHRIST S RESURRECTION
Psalm 118:22-24

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This text is prophetic of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He is rightly identified as "the stone" because He ever has been "the Stone of Israel" (Genesis 49:24). But He was rejected by the builders of Israel, her chief priests and scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 21:42-45 / Mark 12:1-12 / Luke 20:17-19), especially in crucifying Him. Thankfully, Jehovah His Father raised Him from the dead and made Him to be the cornerstone of His church (Acts 4:10f; cp. Ephesians 2:20). The church of Christ therefore acknowledges Him as "a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame" (1 Peter 2:6f). The day of Christ's resurrection is therefore the day made very especial by God. His saints rejoice and are glad in it because of the marvelous work done on it. This work is marvelous in their eyes because of all that is signified in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead on this day:

I. Christ's resurrection proves He is God's Son (Romans 1:4): "declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead." This may mean also that Christ is through His resurrection invested by His Father with power and authority He did not possess before as the Son of Man (Matthew 28:18).

II. Christ's resurrection signifies His and the believer's victory over sin, death, and grave (1 Corinthians 15:55-57): "'O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?' The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." This victory was obtained when Christ was resurrected.

III. Christ's resurrection proves the justification of God's elect (Romans 4:25): "who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification."

IV. Christ's resurrection proves the salvation of God's elect (Romans 5:10): "For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."

V. Christ's resurrection proves God's elect have been begotten again to a living hope (1 Peter 1:3): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

VI. Christ's resurrection establishes Him as "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" and "the firstborn from the dead" (1 Corinthians 15:20; Colossians 1:18 / Revelation 1:5). Because of the believer's vital union with Christ, Christ's resurrection guarantees the believer's resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-23).

VII. Christ's resurrection assures the believer he has eternal life (John 14:19): "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also."

VIII. Christ's resurrection assures the believer he has an intercessor before the Father (Romans 8:34): "Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us."

IX. Christ's resurrection assures the believer his own body will be resurrected (Romans 8:11): "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you" (cp. 1 Thessalonians 4:14).

X. Christ's resurrection resulted in the "Lord's Day" (Revelation 1:10). "He rose on the first day of the week" (Mark 16:9), which is to saints the "Lord's Day", "the day the LORD has made". On this day every week, Christians "in the Spirit" assemble to worship the resurrected Christ (Acts 20:7). On this day we commemorate the fact that "The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This was the LORD'S doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it."

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