The Resurrection of Christ
This lecture addresses the essence of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, explaining its theological meaning and salvific impact on humanity. The Resurrection is not merely a historical event, but a life-giving power that extends to every believer, granting hope in eternal life and victory over death.
Lecture Summary
First: The Resurrection of Christ as the Firstfruits of Life
The Resurrection of the Lord Christ is unique, because He rose with a permanent resurrection with no death after it. Therefore, He was called “the Firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” All who rose before Him died again, but He rose with a glorified body free from bodily weakness.
Second: Hope in Our Own Resurrection
The Resurrection of Christ is the assurance and foundation of our own resurrection. We shall also rise in the likeness of His glorified body and share in His victory over death.
Third: God Created Man for Life, Not Death
Death entered the world through sin and was not part of God’s original intention. Sin brought several kinds of death: spiritual, moral, physical, and eternal. Christ saved us from eternal death through His death on the Cross.
Fourth: The Salvific Power of Christ’s Death
The death of Christ was not a separation of His divinity from His humanity, but the separation of the human soul from the human body, while the divinity remained united with both. With His soul united to His divinity, He descended into Hades and opened the gate of Paradise to those who slept in hope.
Fifth: Christ’s Resurrection by His Own Authority
Christ is the only One who rose by His own will and divine power, without anyone raising Him. He came out of the sealed tomb unseen, just as He was born of the Virgin with her virginity sealed.
Sixth: Christ’s Work After the Resurrection
After His Resurrection, He restored faith to His disciples, healed their doubts, comforted the brokenhearted, forgave the weak, delivered to the Church her faith, rites, and sacraments, and established the priesthood.
Seventh: The Resurrection as Ongoing Life
His Resurrection confirmed that there is life after death, and that whoever believes in Him receives true life, because Christ is the Resurrection and the Life, and death cannot prevail before Him.
“For better translation support, please contact the center.”
