THREEFOLD VICTORY INTRODUCTION

THREEFOLD VICTORY INTRODUCTION

In considering the crisis of the resurrection, arguments for the actual historical fact will be taken in the last articles. First assuming the fact, its value as a demonstration of Christ's perfect victory will be considered.

Referring again to Peter's discourse on the day of Pente­cost, a most remarkable epitome of Christian doctrine, there will be found an argument concerning the resurrection which is briefly stated in the words "It was not possible that He should be holden of it," and is defended by quo­tation from ancient Scripture, full of value and of suggest­iveness. It will be well to read in full, Peter's statement, and the Psalm from which it is quoted. Having set the Cross in relation to the sin of man, and the grace of God, the apostle continued,

"Whom God raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it. For David saith concerning Him,

"I beheld the Lord always before My face;

For He is on My right hand, that I should not be moved; Therefore My heart was glad, and My tongue rejoiced; Moreover My flesh also shall dwell in hope:

Because Thou wilt not leave My soul unto Hades,

Neither wilt Thou give Thy Holy One to see corruption. Thou madest known unto Me the ways of life;

Thou shalt make Me full of gladness with Thy countenance." (Acts 2:24-28).

The actual words of the Psalm quoted, as they appear in the Old Testament are as follows,

“I have set Jehovah always before Me:

Because He is at My right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore My heart is glad, and My glory rejoiceth: My flesh also shall dwell in safety.

For Thou wilt not leave My soul to Sheol;

Neither wilt Thou suffer Thy holy One to see corruption. Thou wilt show Me the path of life:

In Thy presence is fullness of joy;

In Thy right hand there are pleasures forevermore." (Psa. 16:8-11)

Perhaps the true values of the simple statement of the apostle may be gathered, by laying emphasis upon the pronoun having reference to Jesus, and the final one referring to death. “It was not possible that HE should be holden of it." In this way the statement is seen to be an inspiring and magnificent one, in which the apostle, conscious of the vic­tory Jesus had won in life and death, treats almost with contempt the last enemy.

"He" that is "Jesus of Nazareth, a Man approved of God unto you by mighty works and wonders and signs," the One Who "being delivered up by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye by the hand of law less men did crucify and slay." This same Person, God "raised up, having loosed the pangs of death: because it was not possible that He should be holden of it." (Acts 2:22-24) The unifying fact in the whole discourse is the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, and having set in order the movements of that wonderful life, the apostle now declares that God raised Him because He was bound to raise Him. Not to have done so, if this may be reverently supposed, would have been to have violated every principle of law. The necessities of the Divine nature demanded it. The eternal order required it. If death had held Him, the issue must have been disorder, and the defeat of all the purposes of God.

So far this is a bare statement. It remains now to con­sider why “it was not possible that He should be holden of it." This is revealed in the apostle's use of the lan­guage of the Psalmist. Peter distinctly declared that what David wrote, he wrote concerning Christ, and was careful by subsequent statements to show that the language of the Psalmist could not have been fulfilled by the experience of the one who wrote it (David); but its perfect fulfillment was in the Person and victory of Jesus of Nazareth.

Turning to the Psalm, let it be carefully noted that its gladness is caused by the fact of resurrection, and that resurrection is the necessary outcome of a threefold fact in the character and conduct of the One so rejoicing. These facts may thus be tabulated. First, “I beheld the Lord always before My face." Second, “For He is on My right hand, that I should not be moved." Third, "There­fore My heart was glad, and My tongue rejoiced; Moreover My flesh also shall dwell in hope: Because Thou wilt not leave My soul unto Hades, Neither wilt Thou give Thy Holy One to see corruption." The issue of this three­fold assertion is "Thou made known unto Me the ways of life; Thou shalt make Me full of gladness with Thy countenance." (Acts 2:25-28)

The distinction between the three facts, issuing in resur­rection may not be clear, and yet on close examination will be found that they indicate THE THREEFOLD VICTORY OF CHRIST, which captured the whole ground of death's domain, and made necessary the resurrection. This threefold vic­tory may be stated, and then considered as, first, victory over the possibility of originating evil; second, victory over evil as suggested from without; and third, victory over evil as responsibility assumed.