The Nature of Christ's Resurrection

[WebersHome]

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There lacks a universal consensus regarding the nature of Jesus Christ's resurrection.

Some believe that his crucified body was restored to its former life.

Others believe that his crucified body was exchanged for a glorified body.

Still others believe that Christ's crucified body is still dead, and its remains squirreled away somewhere on earth in a condition and a location known only to God.

It's also believed by some that Christ didn't come back as a human being; rather, as a spirit being disguised in a fully functioning human avatar; scars and all.

This is an issue well worth taking the time and effort to resolve on a world-wide forum because according to Rom 4:25, it's by means of Christ's resurrection that God is at liberty to grant guilty people a full and complete acquittal; i.e. exoneration; which is far and away superior to a pardon. For example:

Former US President Gerald Ford pardoned former US President Richard Nixon back in 1974 relative to the Watergate scandal. Ford's pardon in no way exonerated Nixon, it only let him off the hook. Though the pardon protected Nixon from prosecution; his crimes didn't go away. In other words: Mr. Nixon will always and forever be on the books of world history as a crook.

Exoneration-- defined as an adjudication of innocence, which is normally granted when there is insufficient evidence to convict --is much to be preferred over a pardon because exoneration leaves nothing on the books; it wipes people's records so clean and efficiently that there is nothing left that can in any way be used to prove they've ever been anything less than 100% innocent. As a result, there will be nothing on the books down at the end with which to justify condemning them to the lake of brimstone depicted at Rev 20:10-15.

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[RDKirk]

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Some believe that his crucified body was restored to its former life.

Still others believe that Christ's crucified body is still dead, and its remains squirreled away somewhere on earth in a condition and a location known only to God.

It's also believed by some that Christ didn't come back as a human being; rather, as a spirit being disguised in a fully functioning human avatar; scars and all.
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Which people calling themselves Christians believe those statements? Perhaps we can just identify and correct those folk.

 

[~Anastasia~]

Strange ideas. If His body lay in decay somewhere ... well that contradicts prophecy and essentially our faith is a lie.

The body He had in the Incarnation was resurrected. However, it was not identical to the body as we know it ... it was glorified. No longer subject to death, sickness, etc. and able to pass through locked doors, etc. But tangible, able to be felt, able to eat. We don't really fully know exactly what a glorified body is, but we do know that God will resurrect our own bodies similarly before the last judgement, and our bodies will be like His.

 

[redleghunter]

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There lacks a universal consensus regarding the nature of Jesus Christ's resurrection.

Some believe that his crucified body was restored to its former life.

Others believe that his crucified body was exchanged for a glorified body.

Still others believe that Christ's crucified body is still dead, and its remains squirreled away somewhere on earth in a condition and a location known only to God.

It's also believed by some that Christ didn't come back as a human being; rather, as a spirit being disguised in a fully functioning human avatar; scars and all.

This is an issue well worth taking the time and effort to resolve on a world-wide forum because according to Rom 4:25, it's by means of Christ's resurrection that God is at liberty to grant guilty people a full and complete acquittal; i.e. exoneration; which is far and away superior to a pardon. For example:

Former US President Gerald Ford pardoned former US President Richard Nixon back in 1974 relative to the Watergate scandal. Ford's pardon in no way exonerated Nixon, it only let him off the hook. Though the pardon protected Nixon from prosecution; his crimes didn't go away. In other words: Mr. Nixon will always and forever be on the books of world history as a crook.

Exoneration-- defined as an adjudication of innocence, which is normally granted when there is insufficient evidence to convict --is much to be preferred over a pardon because exoneration leaves nothing on the books; it wipes people's records so clean and efficiently that there is nothing left that can in any way be used to prove they've ever been anything less than 100% innocent. As a result, there will be nothing on the books down at the end with which to justify condemning them to the lake of brimstone depicted at Rev 20:10-15.

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Well there is another heretical view espoused by Bishop Spong Episcopal bishop.

He does not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus but a spiritual type journey to the Right hand of the Father.

He believed the apostles saw Jesus but not bodily. It was some existential journey:

Suddenly it all came together for Simon. The crucifixion was not punitive, it was intentional. The cross was Jesus’ ultimate parable, acted out on the stage of history to open the eyes of those whose eyes could be opened in no other way to the meaning of Jesus as the sign of God’s love. God’s love was unconditional, a love not earned by the rigorous keeping of the law… Jesus’ death was the final episode in the story of his life. It demonstrated as nothing else could or would that it is in giving life away that we find life, it is in giving love away that we find love… It was a love that allowed us to stop pretending and simply to be. Simon saw the meaning of the crucifixion that morning as he had never before seen it … this was the dawn of Easter in human history … the clouds of his grief, confusion, and depression vanished from his mind, and in that moment he know that Jesus was part of the very essence of God, and at that moment Simon saw Jesus alive. (p.255)--Bishop Spong (Considering the Resurrection: From the eyes of Bishop Spong – Part 2)​

Spong also believes Paul did not preach the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ:

“There is no sense at all in Paul of a physical resurrection of Jesus back into the life of this world. God did not, for this apostle, raise Jesus from the grave back to life on this earth. Rather, for Paul, God raised Jesus from death into God’s presence, from the grave to God’s right hand… For Paul there were no empty tombs, no disappearance from the grave of the physical body, no physical resurrection, no physical appearance of a Christ who would eat fish, offer his wounds for inspection, or rise physically into the sky after an appropriate length of time. None of these ideas can be found in reading Paul.” (Resurrection: Myth or Reality pg 50-51) Spong.​

One really has to wrest the NT to come to his conclusions.

But you can add this Spong heresy to your OP list if you will.

 

[Radagast]

it was not identical to the body as we know it ... it was glorified. No longer subject to death, sickness, etc. and able to pass through locked doors, etc. But tangible, able to be felt, able to eat.

And with scars remaining from the Crucifixion: John 20:20-27

 

[Radagast]

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There lacks a universal consensus regarding the nature of Jesus Christ's resurrection.

The Bible is fairly clear on it. Apart from a few heretics, Christians are generally united on the Resurrection.

 

[Radagast]

Well there is another heretical view espoused by Bishop Spong Episcopal bishop.

Having read some of Spong's books, I don't think he satisfies the definition of "Christian" used on CF.

 

[redleghunter]

And to ensure we have the apostolic teaching of the Resurrection I will posit 1 Corinthians 15 below:

1 Corinthians 15: NKJV

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. 24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. 27 For “He has put all things under His feet.” But when He says “all things are put under Him,” it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28 Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? 30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”

33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.” 34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain—perhaps wheat or some other grain. 38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.

39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.

40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man isthe Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who areheavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

 

[WebersHome]

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able to pass through locked doors

Christ walked on water, restored withered limbs, cured people born blind, healed serious diseases like leprosy, restored dead bodies to life, controlled the weather, multiplied fish and bread, turned water into wine, and levitated.

What's one more miracle, more or less? Walking through closed doors? Disappearing and reappearing? How hard could any of that really be for a man with the powers of God at his disposal?

It's curious how people can say they believe in miracles but yet cannot believe that God has sufficient control over the laws of nature to make a physical human body pass through solid objects.

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[~Anastasia~]

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Christ walked on water, restored withered limbs, cured people born blind, healed serious diseases like leprosy, restored dead bodies to life, controlled the weather, multiplied fish and bread, turned water into wine, and levitated.

What's one more miracle, more or less? Walking through closed doors? Disappearing and reappearing? How hard could any of that really be for a man with the powers of God at his disposal?

It's curious how people can say they believe in miracles but yet cannot believe that God has sufficient control over the laws of nature to make a physical human body pass through solid objects.

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Take it as you wish.

Christ suddenly appeared in the midst of them. He had not done so previously. But because He did so repeatedly AFTER the Resurrection, as well as could be handled, had flesh and bone, ate fish, and as @Radagast added to my post above, still had the marks of His crucifixion - these are some truths that give us an idea of what His resurrected body was like.

There is no intent to deny God's ability to do the miraculous.

 

[com7fy8]

Others believe that his crucified body was exchanged for a glorified body.

This is what I understand to be true. God did all He could, transforming Jesus Christ's flesh and blood body into God's own level of almighty power and glory.

according to Rom 4:25, it's by means of Christ's resurrection that God is at liberty to grant guilty people a full and complete acquittal; i.e. exoneration; which is far and away superior to a pardon.

Romans 4:25 >

"who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification." (Romans 4:25)

With this, we have Romans 5:10 which says we were reconciled to God by the death of Jesus, and we "shall be saved by His life."

And Jesus became "a life-giving spirit" once He was raised from the dead > 1 Corinthians 15:45. This fits with His body being spiritual after His resurrection.

Also, when Lazarus was raised from the dead, he needed for people to undo his wrappings. I understand this was because he did still have a physical body. But Jesus did not need that, because His body was supernatural after His resurrection.

Jesus is to have the preeminence in all things (Colossians 1:18); so He is the first to have a spiritual and almighty-natured body.

Someone can think up other possibilities, but with what scriptures to fit with their ideas and claims?

 

[ViaCrucis]

If Jesus got a "new body", then it wasn't resurrection.
If Jesus' body remained dead, then it wasn't resurrection.

The historic teaching of Christianity on this point is clear and straightforward: Christ's body was returned to life, and glorified. That's what resurrection means.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[WebersHome]

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Were you to ask John Q and/or Jane Doe Watchtower Society missionary if they believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, I can assure you they would answer in the affirmative. However, what you may not know is that you and they would not be speaking the same language as the conversation would be talking about two very different processes that go by the same name. In other words: you would find yourself thrown off by semantic double speak.

In Watchtower Society theology, an angel named Michael volunteered to come to the earth to die for humanity's sins. But in order to do so; he had to relinquish his angel existence to become a human existence seeing as how in Society theology it is impossible for someone to exist as a spirit being and a human being simultaneously. However, when Michael expired, he didn't go completely out of existence. Instead, his "life force" remained intact and was transferred to a human form.

"the transferal of the life of his firstborn Son from the spirit realm to earth. Only in this way could the child eventually born have retained identity as the same person who had resided in heaven as the Word." (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, p.920)

"He had to become a perfect man and yet not lose his continuity of life. His life-force was not to be extinguished but would be transferred to the ovum of the virgin girl, Mary." (Watchtower magazine, 2-15-82, p.7)

But Michael's existence as a human being was only temporary. When his human form passed away on the cross, the Society claims that God transferred Michael's life force back into his angel form thus restoring him to his former spirit existence; leaving the corpse of his human existence in a permanent state of decease.

In other words: in Watchtower thinking; Christianity should be celebrating the resurrection of an angel at Easter instead of the resurrection of a human.

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[redleghunter]

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Were you to ask John Q and/or Jane Doe Watchtower Society missionary if they believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead, I can assure you they would answer in the affirmative. However, what you may not know is that you and they would not be speaking the same language as the conversation would be talking about two very different processes that go by the same name. In other words: you would find yourself thrown off by semantic double speak.

In Watchtower Society theology, an angel named Michael volunteered to come to the earth to die for humanity's sins. But in order to do so; he had to relinquish his angel existence to become a human existence seeing as how in Society theology it is impossible for someone to exist as a spirit being and a human being simultaneously. However, when Michael expired, he didn't go completely out of existence. Instead, his "life force" remained intact and was transferred to a human form.

"the transferal of the life of his firstborn Son from the spirit realm to earth. Only in this way could the child eventually born have retained identity as the same person who had resided in heaven as the Word." (Aid to Bible Understanding, 1971, p.920)

"He had to become a perfect man and yet not lose his continuity of life. His life-force was not to be extinguished but would be transferred to the ovum of the virgin girl, Mary." (Watchtower magazine, 2-15-82, p.7)

But Michael's existence as a human being was only temporary. When his human form passed away on the cross, the Society claims that God transferred Michael's life force back into his angel form thus restoring him to his former spirit existence; leaving the corpse of his human existence in a permanent state of decease.

In other words: in Watchtower thinking; Christianity should be celebrating the resurrection of an angel at Easter instead of the resurrection of a human.

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Thank you for clarifying their view. As I posted the heresy of bishop Spong above , he too denies the Bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

[WebersHome]

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● John 2:19-21 . . Jesus answered and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews therefore said: It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days? But He was speaking of the temple of his body.

Watch as I revise a portion of that passage.

"Jesus answered and said to them: Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise up another one to replace it."

The language of John 2:19-21 indicates (to me at least) that when Jesus exited the tomb, he did so with the self-same body in which he was laid to rest.

Q: Well if that's the case, then why didn't a number of his closest friends recognize him?

A: The last time they saw Jesus he was beaten and bloodied beyond recognition, plus; to their recollection, he was supposed to be dead and buried.

● Isa 52:14 . .There were many who were appalled at him-- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness--

Most everybody has, at one time or another, failed to recognize a familiar face when it turns up somewhere unexpected. Jesus was certainly no exception to that bit of human foible. The last person on earth anybody expected to see alive, in good health, and all cleaned up was him.

NOTE: The Romans abused Jesus quite a bit before he was executed, but the results were nothing like what's described in Isa 52:14. He got in that condition not at the hands of the Romans; but by God's own hand during those three hours of darkness on the cross (Isa 53:5-6, Isa 53:10). Well; if God would do that to His own son; what do you suppose He has in store for skeptics and mockers who mean little more to Him than wild pigs and feral dogs?

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[WebersHome]

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● Luke 23:50-54 . . And, behold, there was a man named Joseph, a counselor; and he was a good man, and a just (The same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them) he was of Arimathaea, a city of the Jews: who also himself waited for the kingdom of God.

. . .This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulcher that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. And that day was the preparation, and the sabbath drew on.

For the benefit of those looking in who may not be familiar with the ancient Jews' religion: the day of preparation is set aside for the Jews to rid their homes of leaven; plus slaughter and roast lambs with fire ready to eat for that night's Passover dinner. (Exodus chapter 12)

Passover for 2018 is Saturday, March 31; making preparation day Friday, March 30. So; if Jesus were to be crucified this year, his first night in the tomb would be Friday night, his second night would be Saturday night, and his third night-- as per Matt 12:40 --would be Sunday night.

His first day in the tomb would be Saturday, his second day would be Sunday, and his third day-- as per Matt 12:40 --would be Monday.

Monday would also be Christ's resurrection day seeing as how the preponderance of evidence attests that he rose from the dead on the third day rather than after the third day was over and done with.

Matt 17:22-23
Mark 9:31
Luke 9:22
Luke 24:21-23
Luke 24:46
Acts 10:40
1Cor 15:4

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[ViaCrucis]

Jesus was laid in the tomb Friday before sunset. That's the first day.
Jesus was in the tomb from sunset Friday to sunset Saturday. That's the second day.
Jesus rose from the dead early before sunrise on Sunday. That's the third day.

Monday would also be Christ's resurrection day seeing as how the preponderance of evidence attests that he rose from the dead on the third day rather than after the third day was over and done with.

Matt 17:22-23
Mark 9:31
Luke 9:22
Luke 24:21-23
Luke 24:46
Acts 10:40
1Cor 15:4

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Except Monday isn't the first day of the week.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[WebersHome]

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Except Monday isn't the first day of the week.

The chronology of Post #16 isn't based upon the year Jesus actually went to the cross; it's based upon 2018. Had Jesus been crucified this year, the first day of the week would be positioned in the chronology quite different than his year.

For example: Passover for 2017 was Tuesday, April 11. So preparation day would've been Monday, April 10.

Had Jesus been crucified in 2017; his first night in the tomb would've been Monday night, his second would've been Tuesday night, and his third would've been Wednesday night.

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[Shempster]

It had to be the same body because of the holes in his hands and feet.
He even commented that he was for real in the flesh and bones.
Yet when he met his friends face to face they did not recognize him.
He must have looked different because it took them a while to get it.
Plus the body was gone, so I doubt it was a completely different body.

Perhaps it was the same body with all new DNA that was not programmed to die. I don't know.

 

[WebersHome]

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● Luke 24:36-43 . . And as they thus spoke, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

. . . And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet.

. . . And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any food? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.

The Watchtower Society (a.k.a. Jehovah's Witnesses) claim that the body Jesus invited his friends to examine was not an actual human body. They allege that it was a materialized body, i.e. an avatar. In other words: the human body of the Society's Jesus never recovered; it's still dead.

"If Jesus were to take his body of flesh, blood, and bones to heaven and enjoy them there, what would this mean? It would mean that there would be no resurrection of the dead for anybody. Why not? Because Jesus would be taking his sacrifice off God's altar." (page 237 of the April 15, 1963 issue of the Watchtower magazine)

In the Society's thinking, there no longer exists a human Jesus; he's undergone a species change: now he's an angel.

Angels are spirit beings; their bodies are invisible to the human eye. A fully functioning human avatar was allegedly Jesus' way of showing his friends that their beloved master, although dead, was still in existence.

Well; if Jesus really and truly had undergone a species change, then why didn't he tell anybody about it? But not once did he ever let on that the body his friends were invited to examine wasn't really him.

Well that, in my estimation, would be the grandest fraud ever perpretrated; even exceeding Bernie Madoff's colossal Ponzi scheme, and that's saying something!!

Jesus Christ is revered by Christians the world over for his honesty and integrity. It is just absolutely unthinkable that God's son would ever mislead people like that, any people, let alone his friends. Bernie Madoff misled his friends; but Bernie is a degenerate sociopath.

Jesus proclaimed "it is I myself". Well; I for one am satisfied that the body his friends were invited to examine really was himself rather than a very clever disguise.

NOTE: Had Christ not returned as the very same species of life that he was when he departed; his prediction at John 2:19-21 would have been easily proven false.

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