169. II. Credibility Of The Resurrection.

II. Credibility Of The Resurrection.

1. A Divinely Purposed Futurity.—That God purposes the resurrection of the dead is a truth which is surely grounded in the texts of Scripture which set forth such a resurrection. This fact is so plain that it needs no further treatment; and its meaning for the credibility of the resurrection is manifest. All unconditional purposes of God shall be accomplished. There is ground for a distinction between his conditional and unconditional purposes. The former are not absolute, and therefore may never be effectuated, as the conditions of their effectuation may never be met. But absolute purposes have no such conditions, and therefore must be fulfilled. No such purpose can ever meet any insuperable hinderance. The resurrection was not purposed in any oversight of its difficulties, and nothing can hinder its achievement. Therefore as a divinely purposed futurity it is thoroughly credible.

2. Within the Plan of Redemption.—The resurrection of the dead is as really a part of the Christian economy as the redemption of the world. This appears in its close connection with the resurrection of Christ and the implications of its denial. If the dead rise not, Christ is not risen, neither is there any salvation in him (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). The completion of his mediatorial reign shall be attained only with the resurrection: “For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:25-26). These words area part of St. Paul’s formal treatment of the resurrection, and clearly set it forth as an integral part of the Christian economy. As this economy shall not fail of its completion, so shall the dead rise again. On the ground of such facts the resurrection is surely credible in the view of Christian faith. We have said that, so far as we know, other matter than that of our own body would answer as well for the resurrection body. The proposition is equally true conversely. Hence it may please God that the mediatorial triumph of his Son shall be signalized by the resurrection of the body which was made subject to death on account of sin. The thorough inclusion of the resurrection within the economy of redemption is suggestive of this thought.

3. Apparent Difficulties of the Doctrine.—Such difficulties may be elaborately displayed, but a few words will present them in all their real strength. The body crumbles into dust, and the dust may be widely scattered. Some of it may go to the nourishment of vegetation, and through it to the nourishment of animal tissue, and through either or both become incorporated in other human bodies. Further, there are instances of cannibalism, with a like result. Such are the difficulties. They center in two points: the wide dispersion of the particles which composed the living body, and the possibility that in the course of time some may belong to different bodies. The apparent magnitude of these difficulties is far greater than the real, especially if we view them, as we should, in the light of the divine providence. The dispersion of the particles is real only in our own view. However widely scattered or deeply mingled with other matter, they remain as near to the omniscient eye and omnipotent hand of God as if placed in an imperishable urn at the foot of his throne. Nor is there any probability, even on natural grounds, that in any case so much matter could become common to two bodies as would be necessary to a proper identity of either. When we place the subject in the light of God’s providence, whose purpose it is to raise the dead, all difficulties vanish. In referring the possibility of the resurrection to the divine sufficiency we do but follow the Scriptures and the logic of the question. Zeno pronounced the resurrection the hope of worms, and Celsus applauded him as wiser than Jesus. Pliny deemed it impossible, even to the power of God, “revocare defunctos.” Philosophers falsely so called find in a fortuitous concursus of incoherent atoms, or in the potentialities of a primordial fire-mist, the original of mind and the harmonies of the universe, but declare the resurrection of the dead an impossibility. They are effectually answered in the words of our Lord: “Ye do err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).