The Resurrecton is a Physical Truth

God’s salvation is physical. Jesus, the incarnate Son of God and the eternal second person of the Trinity, became flesh and blood. His death on the cross was a deeply physical suffering for our sin. Consider His thorns, His scourging, His nail-pierced hands. Through His death, God’s judgment against sin is satisfied. By the bloody sweat of Jesus’ brow and the back-breaking weight of carrying His cross, Jesus has undone Adam’s curse. By His physical resurrection, Jesus promises eternal life to all who believe in Him.​

Read Luke 24:28-35. How did the disciples know that Jesus had been raised?

Read John 20:24-29. How did Jesus prove His resurrection to Thomas?

In 1st Corinthians 15, Paul makes an extended argument for the resurrection. Since this happened after the events of Acts 17, Paul had had more time to refine his argument. In verses 12-19, Paul makes a multi-step “If . . . then” argument. What would the effect be if the resurrection were not physical?   Read 1st Corinthians 15:12-19.

12. If ________________________ then ____________________________. 

13. If ________________________ then ____________________________.

14. If ________________________ then ____________________________.

16. If ________________________ then ____________________________.

17. If ________________________ then ____________________________.

19. If ________________________ then ____________________________.

Continue reading 1st Corinthians 15:20-58, especially paying attention to physical references. How does Paul argue against the Epicurean pleasure-seeking view of the body (vv. 32-34)?

How does Paul argue against the Stoic belittling of the physical body (vv. 50-57)?

God created the physical world and called it “good.” God Himself formed man to bear His image. God has saved His creation time and time again through the Flood, the Exodus, and His Incarnation. If God’s creation is physical, if His salvation is physical, then it only makes sense that the resurrection is physical.

In a world that sees bodies as “transition-able” from one gender to the other, of that leans further into artificial intelligence or virtual reality, or that emphasizes digital friendships over physical, the Bible’s teaching of the resurrection is strange. It sets us Christians apart. What a joy, then, to share this Gospel! The Gospel is physical from beginning to eternity. That’s why we declare: “Christ is (physically) risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!