The resurrection, after all, is the full and perfect deliverance from the whole effect and consequence of sin. At the same time it shows that what God has predestinated us to is an entirely new estate and condition of things altogether. Nothing is more important than that we should clearly apprehend what God is about —whether He is correcting the old thing or setting up an entirely new thing. Now the resurrection shows that God is not bringing about a modification of the scene in which we are, but that He is bringing in a totally new power. The discernment of this has the most important effect upon the way of life, the modes of seeking to do good, and the objects and efforts of Christians. Christ went about doing good, and we are of course to follow His example, but did Christ correct or set things right when down here? No! The very result of the Lord’s coming into the midst of the Jewish nation was that they rejected, hated and crucified the Prince of life and Lord of glory. The Lord Jesus went about doing good, but seemingly in vain. Still none of God’s counsels have failed, but as to the outward result, the Lord said, “I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought” (Isa. 49:44Then I said, I have labored in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain: yet surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my God. (Isaiah 49:4)). So far as the outward scene went, in which He labored, there was no kind of restoration, for the more love Christ manifested, the more fully man’s hatred to Him was brought out. “For My love they are My adversaries” (Psa. 109:44For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer. (Psalm 109:4)).
An Entirely New Scene
The resurrection introduces an entirely new scene, so that Paul says, “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Now it is a very difficult thing for men to submit their minds to this truth, because it plainly tells man that, in himself as man, he is totally and utterly ruined. It is quite true that naturally man has great and wonderful faculties. But with all this, man morally is utterly ruined and lost. Paul opens out in this chapter what the character and power of resurrection is, the resurrection of the just being the subject of it, although that of the unjust is also glanced at. It is not merely God acting in sovereign power, which can take a dead thing out of the state of death, but by virtue of association with the life of Christ we have participation in Christ’s resurrection. It is not only that we are blessed, but blessed with Christ. If He lives, we also live together with Him. “Because I live, ye shall live also” (John 14:1919Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (John 14:19)). If He is the righteousness of God, we are made “the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). If He is heir of glory, we are “joint-heirs [together] with Christ” (Rom. 8:1717And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17)). If He is the Son, we are sons also — “I ascend unto My Father, and your Father” (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)). We are put, through grace, into this wonderful place of sons so that it is a real thing, and having thus been brought by adoption from a state of sin to that of sons, the Holy Spirit is given to us as the power of our enjoyment of it. Such is the marvelous place into which we are brought, even that of everlasting companionship with Christ — “members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.”
Man down here on the earth strives in vain for his objective, for wonderful as his natural faculties may be, as soon as his “breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish” (Psa. 146:44His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish. (Psalm 146:4)). What then becomes of his wondrous faculties? All is gone, for there is no fruit whatever reaped by himself. The man may have directed the world, but what of that, if death comes in and writes nothingness on all his powers? Another may come after him and improve upon what he has done, but it is all gone as regards himself forever, although the man has a moral responsibility in connection with it all.
Immortality
In this chapter (2 Corinthians 5) the Apostle was meeting the minds of those who had cast doubts on the resurrection, but not on immortality. A man will cast doubts on the resurrection, while he will speak of his immortality and magnify himself in it because it is I. It is I that am immortal. But if I am the dead thing God raises from the dead, what then —where am I? Why, my pride is brought down, and God’s power is brought in and exalted. Therefore if I am talking of immortality, I am talking of myself, but if talking of resurrection, I am wholly cast on God.
The Power of Death
Resurrection is connected with death (I now speak of believers), but it is the coming in of God’s power to deliver from the power of death —not merely an escape from my sins, but a full and perfect deliverance from all the consequences of my sins, so that even the very dust of my body will be raised in divine glory. In Christ’s death I also get another truth, which is that my resurrection is consequent on Christ’s death and resurrection. I share in it as forgiven, for Christ quickens me, in virtue of having put away my sins. “You, being dead in your sins . . . hath He quickened together with Him [Christ], having forgiven you all trespasses” (Col. 2:1313And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; (Colossians 2:13)). We are partakers of the life in which Christ is risen, so that I have a life totally discharged from all question of sin, for I cannot have life without having forgiveness, and hence rest and peace.
Incontrovertible Proofs
Christ had an unchangeable life as Son of God, but He died as a man, for there was complete evidence given through many incontrovertible proofs that He was really a dead man and that He was raised from the dead and seen of many witnesses. All the gospel rests on the resurrection of Christ. There is no gospel at all unless there is the resurrection. This is a point of the deepest interest, showing how really Christ entered into the case. So truly was Christ dead in consequence of our sins that if He did not rise from the dead, then all is utterly gone forever. So completely was Christ a dead man for us that if He is not raised from the dead, no man can ever be raised. And if dead people are not raised, then is Christ not raised. Yet we know He could not be held by death — that were impossible. Thus everything that could possibly come between the sinner and God has been entirely removed — the burden of sin on the soul — God’s wrath against sin — Satan’s power — the weakness of man in death. By grace Christ put Himself entirely in our place. Has death any more power over Him? No, for He is risen in the power of an endless life. But still He has been there on account of our sins and has entirely put away the sin that took Him there, having risen without them. What then can there be between God and me which Christ has not entirely put away? Nothing. Seeing then that Christ has so completely acted out this condition before God, death is no longer death to me; it has lost its power and its terror too. Now death to me is simply departing to be with Christ. It is to be “absent from the body . . . present with the Lord”; it is but the getting rid of a mortal body.
God’s eye rested on the blessed One who had glorified Him about man’s sin, so that He takes Him from among the dead up to Himself. Christ has accomplished a righteousness on which God has set His seal, in that He raised Him from the dead. Having quickened us together with Christ, we are made partakers of it. Were there no resurrection, it would be complete abandonment by God: “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain. . . . Ye are yet in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:14, 17).
Results of Resurrection
But now comes a full burst of testimony to this accomplished work: “Now is Christ risen from the dead.” Thus the righteous and beloved One is raised out of this scene into an entirely new one, even that of becoming the firstfruits of them that slept, for if Christ be raised, His saints must be raised, as a Head cannot be raised without a body — it would be monstrous. The resurrection comes in, not by the power of God only, but also by man. “Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead” (1 Cor. 15:21). It is the Man Christ Jesus coming in power. Every created thing, the whole universe, is to be wholly put under this righteous Man, this now-glorified Man, the second Adam. He only is excepted which did put all things under Him — that is, God the Father.
All power in heaven and earth is given to Christ. All are to be brought under His power. Not only will His saints bow before Him — who do it now with delight, in the power of a new life — but His enemies must bow before Him. Then, when all things are made subject and Christ shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father, the mediatorial reign will be at an end, because God will be all in all. However, Christ the man will never cease to be “the firstborn among many brethren.” Subjection is man’s perfection. Therefore Christ’s subjection as man results from His perfection. “Then shall also the Son Himself be subject.” This is most blessed, that forever and forever He will be in our midst — He whose heart is love — He who, as the Man of sorrows here, brought down God’s love to us! He will take His place in our midst as the second Adam, as the Head and Source and Channel of every blessing.
The power then which delivers us from wrath, from sin and from Satan is the resurrection of Christ in virtue of His accomplished righteousness, and thus we are brought into fellowship with Him. Our portion, whether in suffering down here or in glory up there, is all in Christ, as the One risen from the dead. The Lord keep our hearts full of rejoicing, crucifying the flesh, and as being dead to law, sin and the world. We live to God in the same power in which Christ lives. The Lord give us thankful hearts for His unspeakable mercy.
J. N. Darby, adapted