“If Jesus had not been raised, none of the following things, listed in order of their appearance in Acts, would have been possible:
- The sending of the Spirit (Acts 2:33)
- Physical healings (Acts 3:15–16)
- The conversion of sinners (Acts 3:26)
- Salvation by union with Jesus (Acts 4:11–12)
- Jesus’ role as the leader of his church (Acts 5:30–31; 9)
- Forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:30–31)
- Comfort for the dying (Acts 7)
- The commissioning of gospel messengers (Acts 9; 10:42)
- Freedom from the penalty and power of sin (Acts 13:37–39)
- Assurance that the gospel is true (Acts 17:31)
- Our own resurrection (Acts 17:31)
- Jesus’ future judgment of this world (Acts 17:31)
In summary, because of his life, death, and resurrection, Jesus has brought God close to us.”
— Adrian Warnock
Raised with Christ (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2010), 114
(HT: Of First Importance)
Already Not Yet 