Required reading
Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge (Vol 2) (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Chapter 13 (The exaltation of Christ).
My summary
This week Hodge teaches us about the exaltation of Christ, which includes:
(i) his resurrection;
(ii) his ascension;
(iii) his sitting at the right hand of God;
(iv) his coming to judge the world at the last day.
What grabbed me
I felt the chapter was a bit short considering the importance of the subject.
Nevertheless, I did enjoy the material that was given, including the points about the significance of Christ's resurrection:
'The importance of Christ's resurrection arises, —
1. From the circumstance that all his claims, and the success of his work, rest on the fact that He rose again from the dead. If He rose, the gospel is true. If He did not rise, it is false. If He rose. He is the Son of God, equal with the Father, God manifest in the flesh ; the Salvator Hominum ; the Messiah predicted by the prophets ; the prophet, priest, and king of his people ; his sacrifice has been accepted as a satisfaction to divine justice, and his blood as a ransom for many.
2. On his resurrection depended the mission of the Spirit, without which Christ's work had been in vain.
3. As Christ died as the head and representative of his people, his resurrection secures and illustrates theirs. As He lives, they shall live also. If He remained under the power of death, there is no source of spiritual life to men ; for He is the vine, we are the branches ; if the vine be dead the branches must be dead also.
4. If Christ did not rise, the whole scheme of redemption is a failure, and all the predictions and anticipations of its glorious results for time and for eternity, for men and for angels of every rank and order, are proved to be chimeras. " But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept." Therefore the Bible is true from Genesis to Revelation. The kingdom of darkness has been overthrown. Satan has fallen like lightning from heaven ; and the triumph of truth over error, of good over evil, of happiness over misery, is forever secured. '
The resurrection of Christ is fundamental to Christianity.
Next week's reading
Commence Chapter 14 (Vocation) by reading up to the heading '3. Common grace'.
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
No comments:
Post a Comment