The Sobering News of the Resurrection — Gospel Reformation: UK

Mar 30

Mar 30 The Sobering News of the Resurrection

From Acts 10:39-43 and 17:31

Have you noticed that on Good Friday Churches tend to have very sombre, even gloomy, services? They probably surmise that the death of the King of kings has a certain gravity about it. Yet it has become known as “Good” Friday, the day Jesus paid out debt. Easter services, by contrast, are often called “celebrations”. Again, understandably. Jesus was vindicated and our resurrection is tied to his. “He was raised for our justification” (Romans 4:5) and without it our faith is futile (1 Corinthians 15:14).

There is however an important sobering point about the Resurrection that is featured in how it is preached in Acts, especially seen in Acts 10:39-43 and 17:31. When the Resurrection is preached, so is judgement. As someone has put it: the Old Testament keeps promising that Jesus will come to save you, the New Testament that he will come to judge you.

Up to Acts 10:38 Peter has given a sketch of Jesus’ life, then v39 he tells of the cross (purely factually, draws no theology) and v40 that he was raised on the third day, and v41 seen by appointed witnesses. Only at v42 does he apply this. The resurrection means that the witnesses were to proclaim judgement.

Jesus’ resurrection means that all will be raised, “the living and the dead”, there will be no exceptions. This resurrection will be to judgement. Paul says something similar in Acts 17:31. The Resurrection means judgement. Judgement inevitably means separation - those who fail the judgement and those approved. On what basis will this be? “…everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name”. Those who trust him are forgiven, those who do not, are not and are judged accordingly. Heaven and Hell are at stake.

So, happy Easter, or Resurrection Day, as you may prefer. Be joyful! We know this is solid history and so it means that you, Christian, are raised and will be raised and that right now you are justified - you hear the future verdict today, “not guilty”. But it is a sombre day as well. We cannot preach the resurrection without preaching final judgement.