The Finished Word

Christ’s Death and Resurrection are foundational and indispensable to the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles . The Apostle Paul discusses the future resurrection of believers in his second letter to Timothy in response to denials of this “ sound teaching .” Faith in the future resurrection is central to the doctrine of salvation proclaimed by Jesus and his Apostles. This teaching is utterly reliable since it is based on the historical Death and Resurrection of Jesus, and the eyewitness testimony of the Apostles – (Acts 1:21-22, 2 Timothy 1:13).

Central to the hope of the Apostolic Faith is the bodily resurrection of the dead. This will occur when Jesus appears at the end of the age . The biblical faith is forward-looking. Foundational to the doctrine of salvation is the resurrection of the righteous dead. That event will also mark the arrival of the New Creation. The New Testament links the resurrection of the saints to two events. The past Resurrection of Jesus, and his arrival at the end of the age. Our salvation will remain incomplete until Christ raises us from the dead.

In his letter to the Laodiceans, the Risen “ Son of Man ” is called the “ Beginning of the Creation of God .” In his Death and Resurrection, he inaugurated the New Creation. He is also called the “ Amen, the faithful and true witness ” in the present tense, appellations applied to him previously by the Book’s prologue – (Revelation 3:14).

In Colossians , Paul stresses the exaltation of Jesus following his Resurrection. Certain members of the congregation were confused about his authority over the spiritual powers that remained hostile to God and His people; therefore, Paul reminded the Assembly of just how highly God exalted the Crucified Christ who is now the “ Firstborn of the Dead .”

Paul claimed that the source of his apostleship was the same God who raised His Son from “ among dead ones ” (literal rendering). This same Messiah died and was raised from the dead to “ deliver us from this evil age .” In  Galatians , The Apostle was responding to certain “ men from Jerusalem ” who were operating in the Assembly as if the old era was still in effect, insisting that Gentiles must be circumcised and keep the Jewish calendar, and challenging Paul’s Apostolic authority and credentials.