"The Resurrection of Jesus Christ" (W. Ross Hastings)

TITLE: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Exploring Its Theological Significance and Ongoing Relevance
AUTHOR: W. Ross Hastings
PUBLISHER: Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2022, (208 pages).
 

The Resurrection of Christ is the single most important reason for the Christian faith. Paul even says that without the Resurrection, our faith would have been in vain. Thankfully, because of the bodily resurrection of Jesus on the third day, not only do we have reason to hope for a better tomorrow in Christ, we are called to share this good news with all around us. Besides these expressions of hope and joy, what else can we learn about the theological significance of the greatest event on earth? A lot, says theologian and professor Ross Hastings. Readers can find how this truth is unpacked in this book that not only talks about but does so in an illuminating style. He addresses some questions arising out of this great salvation event:

• What is the theological significance of the resurrection?
• What is the historicity of the resurrection?
• How did the resurrection transform the early disciples?
• What has the resurrection got to do with salvation?
• What does the resurrection mean to participate in a community of Christ?
• What can the resurrection inform us about our calling and vocation?
• What is the relationship between Christ's resurrection and the bodily resurrection of believers?
• How does the resurrection declare Christ's supremacy?
• What can we learn from this resurrection event about creation?
• What about the second coming of Jesus?

Hastings ends with a call for all believers not simply to believe in the reality of Christ's Resurrection, but also to be people of the resurrection to live out this belief daily. As this is the core of the gospel, we ought to make this a core of our daily living. 

My thoughts
This is an academic treatise of a crucial aspect of faith, anchored on the historical event with huge theological significance. As observed by the author, many believers do not know what to do beyond mere belief. After a brief foray into some aspects of apologetics and evidence for the historicity and reality of Christ's resurrection, Hastings guides us through each facet of Christianity. From the historicity, he deals with the reasons to believe in the resurrection. From the theological significance, he teaches us to appreciate the tight connection between the resurrection and systematic theology. From salvation to ontological significance, he unpacks the significance and shares how this plays out in real life. With the discussion questions at the end of each chapter, readers can also engage with the issues to increase their comprehension of this great Christ event. 

What is the Christian faith in a nutshell? The Gospel. What is the Gospel in a nutshell? The Resurrection. What is the Resurrection in a nutshell? It is summed up simply as "Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again." Living as Christ-followers, once we know the significance of the resurrection as described by the author, we can learn to embody the hope expressed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. Hastings joins the great apostle in proclaiming the resurrection power above the modern cultural values such as "secularism, naturalism, consumerism, ethnocentrism, individualism, religious pluralism, oralism, libertinism, modern scientism, and postmodern despair." 

Even as the world minimizes or dismisses the reality of the resurrection, Christians, of all people should be standing up for Truth in the Resurrection, and be affirming of the reality of the historic event but also the relevance of Christ in our present lives. Hastings gives us this resource to do just that. 

W. Ross Hastings (PhD, Queens University, Ontario; PhD, University of St. Andrews) is the Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is the author of a number of books, including Total Atonement, Theological Ethics, and Missional God, Missional Church. He has also served as a senior pastor in several churches.

Rating: 4.5 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Academic and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.