Are We Missing Something?

Albrecht Durer, Christ Appears to the Disciples at Emmaus

… and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 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. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. (1 Cor 15:5–8)

This past Sunday, our pastor delivered the goods from 1 Corinthians 15, choosing to not elaborate on the post-resurrection appearances in the chapter. What he shared was spot on, so I do not fault him for excluding them, Indeed, I think most pastors would omit them unless their intent was to deliver an apology for the resurrection and the veracity of the Gospel accounts. I wonder, though, if perhaps pastors should make that a more integral part of the message.

For decades, we were taught that the following is the most succinct definition of the gospel:

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,… (1 Co 15:3–4)

And this is exactly what happened: we are sinners; and for that Christ died, was buried, and rose from the dead. All this He did according to what was foretold in the Scriptures (e.g. Ps 22:1, 16–18; 16:10; Hos 6:1–2). All this was accomplished according to the eternal plan of redemption on our behalf because we were completely incapable of improving our condition. What marvelous grace! And yet there is more.

The atoning work of Christ on the cross and His victory over the grave would seemingly suffice to explain the fullness of the gospel, and yet to finish his sentence, Paul adds that our Lord Jesus was seen by Peter and, later, the apostles as a group. This is perplexing, so we can treat this and the other appearances as parenthetical. However, the apostle links the appearances grammatically to the atoning work. In other words, the fullness of the good news is realized in Jesus coming to His own.

Why are these eyewitness accounts an important element? From our perspective, we might say that they establish credence to a physical resurrection. The variety is telling: the inner group, a large group, a disbelieving family member, and an antagonistic pharisee. Such a hodgepodge would be incapable of manufacturing and maintaining the story of a physical resurrection unless it actually occurred. With so many witnesses still alive at the writing of this epistle, a resurrection would be easily falsifiable.

However, the more important reason may be a more personal one. Notice that the first individual mentioned is the denier (Peter), then to the disbeliever (James), and finally to the self-righteous (Paul). Add to this the appearances to Mary Magdalene, then later to the other women and those on the Emmaus road, and we realize that though Christ died as Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, He did it for me and delivered it to me. And it is not as if only that number centuries ago are the only ones to whom Jesus has come. We receive Him in baptism. We receive Him in the bread and cup.

Our Lord prayed that we would “be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us” (John 17:21); and the work He began continues as promised: “And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them” (John 17:26). He comes to us that we might be united both with Him and with one another. It is to this end that the work of redemption was accomplished. It is to this end that He yet comes to us. And it is to this end that Christ receives us unto Himself.

He Is Not Here, for He Has Risen

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.  But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.  See, I have told you.”  So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  (Mt 28:1-8)

After the resurrection came the angel. Why then did he come he, and take away the stone?  Because of the women, for they themselves had seen Him then in the tomb.  Therefore that they might believe that He was risen again, they see the tomb void of the body.  For this reason he removed the stone.  For this reason also an earthquake took place, that they might be thoroughly aroused and awakened.  For they had come to pour oil on Him, and these things were done at night, and it is likely that some also had become drowsy.  And for what intent and reason does he say, “Fear not?”  First he delivers them from the dread, and then tells them of the resurrection.  And the ye is of one showing them great honor, and indicating, that extreme punishment awaits them that had dared to do, what the others had dared, except they repented.  For to be afraid is not for you, he means, but for them that crucified Him.

Having delivered them then from the fear both by his words, and by his appearance (for his form he showed bright, as bearing such good tidings), he went on to say, “I know that you seek Jesus the Crucified.”  And he is not ashamed to call Him “crucified” for this is the chief of the blessings.

“He is risen.”  How is it evident?  “As He said.”  So that if you refuse to believe me, he would say, remember His words, and neither will you disbelieve me.  Then also another proof, “Come and see the place where He lay.”  For this he had rolled away the stone, in order that from this too they might receive the proof.  “And tell His disciples, that you shall see Him in Galilee.”  And he prepares them to bear good tidings to others, which thing most of all made them believe.  And He said well “in Galilee,” freeing them from troubles and dangers, so that fear should not hinder their faith.

“And they departed from the tomb with fear and joy.”  Why could this be? They had seen a thing amazing, and beyond expectation, a tomb empty, where they had before seen Him laid.  Therefore also he had led them to the sight, that they might become witnesses of both things, both of His tomb, and of His resurrection.  For they considered that no man could have taken Him, when so many soldiers were sitting by Him, unless He raised up Himself.  For this reason also they rejoice and wonder, and receive the reward of continuing with Him, that they should first see and gladly declare, not only what had been said, but also what they had seen.

John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew 89.2

How Great Is Our God!

Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know—this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.  God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.… This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.  Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.  For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says,

     The Lord said to my Lord,
     Sit at my right hand,
         until I make your enemies your footstool.

Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.  (Ac 2:22-24, 32-36)

Was He one of us, who, after His body had been laid in the tomb, manifested Himself in open day to countless numbers of men; who spoke to them, and listened to them; who taught them, reproved and admonished them; who, lest they should imagine that they were deceived by unsubstantial fancies, showed Himself once, a second time, even frequently, in familiar conversation; who appears even now to righteous men of unpolluted mind who love Him, not in airy dreams, but in a form of pure simplicity; whose name, when heard, puts to flight evil spirits, imposes silence on soothsayers, prevents men from consulting the soothsayers, causes the efforts of arrogant magicians to be frustrated, not by the dread of His name, as you allege, but by the free exercise of a greater power?

These facts set forth in holy summation we have put forward, not on the supposition that the greatness of the Agent was to be seen in these miracles alone.  For however great these things be, how excessively petty and trifling will they be found to be, if it shall be revealed from what realms He has come, of what God He is the minister!  But with regard to the acts which were done by Him, they were performed, indeed, not that He might boast Himself into empty ostentation, but that hardened and unbelieving men might be assured that what was professed was not deceptive, and that they might now learn to imagine, from the beneficence of His works, what a true God was.

Arnobius of Sicca, Against the Pagans I.46-47

Requiem for a Brother

Yesterday, there was a memorial service for a brother in Christ who had died unexpectedly and suddenly at age 64.  Occasionally, there is time at a memorial for those in attendance to share their remembrances, and so, as is my custom, I had prepared brief remarks.  The service was more scripted with appropriate music, a solid message sharing the gospel, and one eulogy that captured the deceased’s life in Christ.  That being the case, I decided to share below what I had.

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I served with Steve Ball on the deacon board, and what I most noted of him was a constant refrain from all who remembered him: he was a servant.  Every willing and ready to help where needed, he was a tireless worker when the need arose.  He did his work without fanfare and exemplified the Biblical standard to do everything

not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord.  Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.  You are serving the Lord Christ.  (Col 3:22-24)

That will be sorely missed.

I was also in a small group that Steve and Coleen were part of, and since his death, I have had multiple conversations in which the subject was broached that our study group was literally dying off.  You see, in less than a year and a half, three of our number have left this life and entered the presence of their Lord.  In a way, we are getting used to it.

As I considered this more, I could not help but be glad for those who have gone before.  Even now Steve and the others are joining angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven in praising God for all He is and all He has done.  What joy for them, but not just for them, because each Sunday morning, we get to join our voices in the chorus of all who have died in Christ.  We look forward to a day when we shall also be with those who have gone before, not simply to reminisce or enjoy each other’s company, but to join with the throng in giving all glory, laud, and honor to our King.

Until that time, we await—sometimes patiently, sometimes not—to be with our Lord Jesus.  We long for the day of His return, but we may die instead.  Either way, we look forward to a resurrection and eternity with the One who died to save us.  And that is worth waiting for.

Jesus Christ: First-Born and First-Fruits

But it was not only by word, but also by deed, that the Lord revealed the resurrection of the bodies.  First He raised up Lazarus, even after he had been dead four days, and was stinking.  For He did not raise the soul without the body, but the body along with the soul: and not another body but the very one that was corrupt.  For how could the resurrection of the dead man have been known or believed if it had not been established by his characteristic properties?  But it was in fact to make the divinity of His own nature manifest and to confirm the belief in His own and our resurrection, that He raised up Lazarus who was destined once more to die.  And the Lord became Himself the first-fruits of the perfect resurrection that is no longer subject to death.  Therefore also the divine Apostle Paul said: If the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.  And if Christ be not raised, our faith is vain: we are yet in our sins. And, Now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first-fruits of them that slept, and the first-born from the dead; and again, For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  Even so, he said, as Christ rose again.  Moreover, that the resurrection of the Lord was the union of uncorrupted body and soul (for it was these that had been divided) is manifest: for He said, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.  And the holy Gospel is a trustworthy witness that He spoke of His own body.  Handle Me and see, the Lord said to His own disciples when they were thinking that they saw a spirit, that it is I Myself, and that I am not changed: for a spirit hath not flesh or bones, as ye see Me have.  And when He had said this He shewed them His hands and His side, and stretched them forward for Thomas to touch.  Is not this sufficient to establish belief in the resurrection of bodies?

John Damascene, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, 4.27

Dazed and Confused

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.  And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.  And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”  And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large.  And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.  And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed.  You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.  He has risen; he is not here.  See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you.”  And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.  (Mark 16:1-8)

A young rabbi, Jesus of Nazareth, had been teaching with authority and working miracles for the past three years.  Many had followed him, believing he was someone special from God, but his ministry came to a screeching halt.  A week prior, Jesus was being heralded with great rejoicing upon his entry into Jerusalem, but it ended a few days later with his whirlwind arrest, trial, and execution as a pernicious, traitorous vigilante—a victim of trumped-up charges.  His followers were left with nothing but dejection and hopelessness from a crushing defeat.  What now?

After the Sabbath, three women—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome—hurriedly purchased spices, then set out the following morning before daybreak to anoint the dead rabbi.  Anoint him?  One does not simply anoint a condemned criminal.  Holy places and holy things are anointed.  Holy people are anointed: kings like Saul, David, or Solomon.  Priests are anointed: Aaron, his sons, and every high priest afterward received it.  Even prophets are anointed—Elisha, anyone?  But a criminal?!  Never a criminal.  Besides, anointing can only happen by a prophet or priest—protocol, people, protocol.

Jesus was worthy of the planned anointing.  He is the Prophet like Moses, proclaiming repentance for the kingdom of God was at hand.  He is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek giving the last and only abiding sacrifice.  Condemned as a criminal, he bore the punishment of something far greater—your sin and mine—and now ever lives to make intercession for us.  He is the rightful King to sit on David’s throne.  He now waits until all things have been put under His feet when He will reign with righteous judgment and rule the people with equity.

The women had good intentions, but they never got a chance.  He had already been anointed—once in Bethany by Mary, but before that from His Father.  He was Messiah, the Anointed by God Himself.  He did not need an anointing, the women needed it, and Jesus would provide it.  In the Upper Room, Jesus promised that He and the Father would send the Holy Spirit to empower the disciples and point to Himself.  The promised anointing did come—in amazing fashion—on the first believers; and wonderfully, it is now promised to all who believe:

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.… But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you.  But as his anointing teaches you about everything—and is true and is no lie, just as it has taught you—abide in him.  (1 Jo 2:20, 27)

Besides the preparations for this last act on their leader, the ladies had another problem: a huge stone prevented the completion of their mission.  While walking toward the tomb, the women kept trying to determine a plan to get the stone rolled away.  This was difficult enough for a group of men to accomplish, but for three women impossible.  Help was needed.  There is no indication that they were aware that a guard had been placed, and even if they did know, that the guards would be willing to help.

As the sun came up, the women arrived at a most unlikely scene.  There before them was the tomb with the stone rolled away.  What’s going on?  Who would desecrate the tomb?  Vandals?  Grave robbers?  Mary Magdalene immediately ran to tell Peter and John the body had been stolen (John 20:1-2).  The other Mary and Salome looked inside the tomb and saw a man in white.  They were dumbstruck, alarmed by the sight.  The man told them, “You’re looking for Jesus, but he’s not here.  Go and tell the disciples and Peter that he will meet up with them in Galilee, as he had said” (Mark 14:28).  What was their immediate reaction?  Did they whoop and holler like a Cinderella team during March Madness?  Did they run to the city proclaiming to one and all that Jesus was alive?  No, they went home and said nothing.  It was all too much to take in.

We might not consider their silence to be conduct befitting a disciple, but it was certainly typical that weekend.  Judas Iscariot had silenced himself permanently.  The eleven disciples were behind closed doors for fear of reprisal.  Mary Magdalene kept the news of the violated tomb to a select few.  None of Jesus’ followers believed that he would rise.  We can’t judge too harshly though.  Let’s face it: we would have done the same.  It was all too incredible.  People do not raise themselves from the dead.  Yet on one magnificent morning outside Jerusalem, Jesus did just that, as He had promised.  Now two millennia later, we can rejoice in joyful chorus with those who have gone before:

Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Alleluia!

It Is Finished

I had the privilege of writing a piece (based on Romans 10:5-8) for Grace for Sinners in their Ascension Series. My thesis was that we try to add works of faith to gain more righteousness before God, but nothing more is needed. The work is complete in Christ.

This morning I learned that the piece had been posted. You can read it here.

What Does the Resurrection Mean for Me Today?

Yesterday morning, we heard a message from Greg Forseen, our church administrator, on reasons to believe the testimony of the eyewitness accounts of the resurrection as related in the Gospels.  He presented good, useful information to help each Christian in giving a defense.  I decided to go one step further and asked myself the question: What does the resurrection mean for today?  Sure, something happened two millenia ago, but what are the ramifications that make this event important in the twenty-first century?  I give some thoughts below from passages in canonical order.

Complete Work for Sin
But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also.  It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.  (Rom 4:23-25)

All that was required to atone for all sin for all time was compressed into a few hours one afternoon outside Jerusalem as Jesus hung on a cross displaced from both heaven and earth.  He bore the full weight of sin’s guilt: he became sin (2 Cor 5:21).  The resurrection was testimony that the complete satisfaction for Adam and his posterity had been wrought.  We who believe are justified in Christ Jesus.  We can say, then, that while the cross dealt with the need for precious blood to ransom us (1 Pet 1:19), the fullness of the work is everything occurring from the crucifixion through the resurrection.

Fundamental to Belief
But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).  But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.  (Rom 10:6-10)

If Jesus did not rise from the dead there is nothing to believe, but if Jesus rose from the dead, and I do not believe, there is no true faith.  What I have is a sentimental ascent to an ideal but nothing in which trust is placed.  Without belief in a resurrection, no amount of altruism or philanthropy can suffice to overcome the spiritual deadness within.  Only trust in a risen Savior can do that.

Promises Validated
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  (1 Cor 15:3-5)

As God revealed himself through time, he was constantly pointing to the seed who would crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15).  That one was referenced as being the Lord’s anointed one who would ultimately reconcile Israel to God and God to Israel.  There was never a question of a promised one and the ultimate goal: what the Jews misunderstood was how that would be effected.  Isaiah was clear that a suffering servant would bear the punishment for mankind’s transgressions and iniquities (Isa 53:5-6).  The nation misconstrued this servant passage to be about them,* but this was never the case.  As Jesus points out to Cleopas and the other disciple on the road to Emmaus, the Scripture are about him (Luke 24:27).  All the promises pointing to his sacrifice and rising are fulfilled, so that we can rest assured of those foretelling his return.

Fundamental to the Gospel
Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.  (1 Cor 15:12-19)

When we share the good news of Jesus’ redeeming work for our sin, part of the message must be the resurrection.  As noted before, that was the seal of approval from almighty God that the work was complete.  We Christians rest on that fact.  The gospel message is not just for today however.  This is a promise that extends beyond the grave.  The promise of reconciliation and restoration was not just to be considered in a political sense.  The havoc death and the grave had wreaked will ultimately be fully restored in a new creation.  What we have in Christ is the beginning of that new creation (2 Cor 5:17), which will be completed when the new heavens and earth replace the old.  We live in expectancy of that future as whole creatures bearing new bodies—corporeal in some sense, yet different beyond description (1 Cor 15:35-49)

Living Hope
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  (1 Pet 1:3-5)

We have a living hope for the future because we have one who has conquered death.  What the Lord Jesus gained in his redemption will be revealed to us on the last day—an inheritance without measure or end.  What that inheritance entails is beyond our ken, I suppose, though was can be certain it will involve the presence of our Lord Jesus and the fulness of what was promised when we believed (Eph 1:3-14).

Access to God
Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers having been subjected to him.  (1 Pet 3:21-22)

Through the resurrection, we have access to God.  We make our appeal to Him because Jesus has achieved access for us by removing the veil separating us from God and making himself the way (Heb 10:19-22).  Where there had once been a barrier, there is no an invitation to come before the throne.


Does the resurrection matter to us today?  It certainly does.  Without our Lord rising again we would have uncertainty both in this life and the life to come.  Because he is risen, we can have full assurance of faith.



* Scripture is never to be personalized this way.  God’s word is a testimony of his interaction with man looking to the redeeming work in Christ.  When we make the Bible about us, we miss the point.

Christ Is Risen!

Are there any who are devout lovers of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!

Are there any who are grateful servants?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!

Are there any weary with fasting?
Let them now receive their wages!

If any have toiled from the first hour,
let them receive their due reward;
If any have come after the third hour,
let him with gratitude join in the Feast!
And he that arrived after the sixth hour,
let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss.
And if any delayed until the ninth hour,
let him not hesitate; but let him come too.
And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour,
let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first.
He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour,
as well as to him that toiled from the first.

To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows.
He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor.
The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord!

First and last alike receive your reward;
rich and poor, rejoice together!
Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not,
rejoice today for the Table is richly laden!

Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one.
Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith.
Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!

Let no one grieve at his poverty,
for the universal kingdom has been revealed.

Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again;
for forgiveness has risen from the grave.

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

John Chrysostom, Easter Sermon (circa 400 AD)

Jesus’ Resurrection Brings Sweet Consolation

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.  For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.  (1 Thess 4:13-14)

[Paul] proposes instruction on the resurrection to console those upset about the dead.  He does not completely oppose grieving, but rules out an excessive degree, and consoles them with hope in the resurrection.  Those without it have an excuse for uncontrolled grief.  This is the reason he did not say, “about the dead,” but “about those who have fallen asleep,” bringing consolation through the use of this term.  Then he offers a proof of the resurrection from what they had heard of the teaching of Christ the Lord.  If the resurrection of Christ seems to us worthy of belief, let us believe that we also will attain resurrection.  It was for our sake the the mystery of the incarnation was arranged.

Theodoret of Cyrus, “The First Letter to the Thessalonians”

Baptism: Symbol of Death, Resurrection, and the Life to Come

Because it was necessary that we who were born later should receive faith concerning the above future good things and that we should believe that our Savior, our head and the cause of all of them for us, was Christ our Lord, it was imperative that He should also arrange as much as possible our mode of life in this world according to the hope of the future.  It is with justice, therefore, that in this also He became our head.  He was baptized so that He might give a symbol to our own baptism.  In it He was freed from all the obligations of the law.  He performed also all the economy of the Gospel: He chose disciples to Himself, established the teaching of a new law and a new doctrine, promulgated ways of acting congruous to His teaching and different from the teaching of the Law, and taught that the ways of acting of us who believe should be in harmony with those.*

We also when we are baptized show the symbol of that world to come; we die with Him in baptism, and we rise symbolically with Him, and we endeavor to live according to His law in the hope of the future good things which we expect to share with Him at the resurrection from the dead.  If Christ our Lord had immediately after His rising from the dead, raised also all men who had previously died, and had bestowed upon them new life fully and immediately, we should have been in no need of doing anything; as, however, He actually performed only on Himself the renewal which is to come and through which He rose from the dead and His body became immortal and His soul immutable, it became necessary that this decrepit and mortal world should last further in order that mankind might believe in Him and receive the hope of communion and future life.

Theodore of Mopsuestia, Commentary on the Nicene Creed, 6

Suffering for Christ Has Its Reward

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.  (Romans 8:16-17)

Here again he shows us that our sufferings are less than their rewards.  Now, since it is through the flesh that we suffer with Christ—for it is the property of the flesh to be worn by sufferings—to the same flesh belongs the recompense which is promised for suffering with Christ.  Accordingly, when he is going to assign afflictions to the flesh as its especial liability—according to the statement he had already made—he says, “When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest;” then, in order to make the soul a fellow-sufferer with the body, he adds, “We were troubled on every side; without were fightings,” which of course warred down the flesh, “within were fears,” which afflicted the soul.  Although, therefore, the outward man decays—not in the sense of missing the resurrection, but of enduring tribulation—it will be understood from this scripture that it is not exposed to its suffering without the inward man.  Both therefore, will be glorified together, even as they have suffered together.  In parallel with their participation in troubles, must necessarily run their association also in rewards.

Tertullian, On the Resurrection of the Flesh, XL

Buried in Baptism, Resurrected to Life Eternal

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.  (Col 3:1-4)

You became dead to the present life, being buried in baptism with Christ and receiving the hope of resurrection.  After all, with his rising we were raised.  But we do not see the outcome in reality.  The mystery of our resurrection is hidden in him.  When he comes a second time, therefore, then we shall attain resurrection and enjoy immortal life.… In hope we have the promises of the good things.  What is now unknown will then be revealed.

Made Alive With Christ

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

But though our condition was so bad, the Lord God in the depths of his goodness made us sharers in the immortal life of our Lord—the meaning of made us alive together with Christ.  Since he is risen, we also hope to rise, as through him our condition has been set to rights.  Then he brings out more clearly the greatness of the gift: you were called not on account of the excellence of your life but on account of the love of the one who saved you.

Since he is risen, we rise in hope, and since he is seated with the Father, we also participate in the honor; it is our head that is seated with him, our first-fruits who reigns with him, since He is clothed in our nature.  Here and now the greatness of the good things hoped for, while completely hidden from the nonbelievers, the faithful at any rate gaze upon as in a mirror and in shadow, walking through faith and not in appearance.  But then they will see face to face; then both faithful and nonbelievers will see the nature taken from us adored by all creation, and the saints reigning with him.  "If we died, we shall also live with Him," Scripture says, remember, "if we endure, we shall also reign with Him."

Theodoret of Cyrus, "The Letter to the Ephesians" on Ephesians 2:4-7

Unity of the Trinity in Our Resurrection

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

He invigorates them by hope of the future, and inspires them with willing readiness sufficient for present contests.  Before long your bodies will be immortal and superior to the passions that now molest them.  And this the God of all will do, who now so liberally bestows on us the pledge of the Spirit.  And he has given us all a pledge of this resurrection in the resurrection of Christ.  And he teaches by all this the unity of nature in the Godhead, for he calls the thrice-holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Father and of the Son, not that, as the infamous heretics say, He was created of the Father by the Son, but that He is one substance with the Father and the Son and proceeds from the Father according to the teaching of the gospels.  His grace it is, that is extended to such as are worthy.

Theodoret of Cyrus, "The Letter to the Romans" on Romans 8:11