The resurrection looks BACK to Christ’s righteous life and atoning death on the Cross, through which He fulfilled the righteous requirement of the Law in behalf of His people, and so secured, once and for all for all who believe, the forgiveness of their sins, the imputation of His righteousness, and God’s free gift of eternal life.

It looks AHEAD to what His righteous life and atoning death purchased: the effusion of divine life out of heaven and into the fallen world-system, an effusion that began on the Day of Pentecost and has continued to this very day, as sinners hear the Gospel, believe its message, call upon Christ for salvation, and welcome Him into their hearts as Lord.

It also looks AHEAD to the resurrection of the dead on the Day of Christ, when He will return to raise the dead, judge the world in righteousness, turn the unrepentant and unbelieving into Gehenna, and create glorious new heavens and a new earth, the eternal home of the manifested glory of the triune God, all the holy angels, and all the saints.

Finally, it SAYS that the curse which fell upon man and nature at Adam’s fall—and also the curse which falls upon all who break God’s holy Law—has been broken (and is being lifted) once and for all for all who believe.

“Father, may You enable all who read these words so to look and so to hear that they too may rise to the newness of life that is found in Your risen Son, in whose name I pray.” Amen.