261 Users found this project useful

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST: A DOCTRINAL TEACHINGS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH AND THE IMPACT

ABSTRACT

This study was on the resurrection of Jesus Christ: A doctrinal teachings of Christian faith and the impacts.  The total population for the study is 200 members of selected churches in Oyo state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made up pastors, deacons, female members and male members was used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1   Background of the Study

Christian scholars agree that few doctrines of the Christian faith are more necessary to the whole of the person and work of Jesus Christ than the doctrine of the resurrection. It is the witness of Paul and the writers of the New Testament that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pivotal point of Christian theology. Still, one may be justified in claiming that many believers have misconceptions about the resurrection. Perhaps the confusion comes in understanding the resurrection as a single event, without regarding the overall context of Scripture. Another reason may be that the interpreter leans too heavily on the ideas of life after death within his or her own culture. Whatever the case may be a correct view of the resurrection of Christ cannot be overstated. For the Apostle Paul, the resurrection of Christ was not simply a miraculous event. In addition to being miraculous, Paul saw the resurrection as the lens by which to interpret Scripture. Thus, the Apostle saw the miracle of Christ’s resurrection as the power to bring about the events of the end times, in particular, the resurrection of the dead.

A number of Christians feel that their gospel presentations should include simply the fact of Christ’s death, but not his resurrection. Some go so far as to have a crucifix in their homes or around their necks with a corpse hanging on it. Certainly such a picture elicits remorse and pity. But does it offer hope? Does it suggest that sins are forgiven, or just that they are the cause of such a vile punishment, of the innocent dying in the place of the wicked?

First, Jesus’ resurrection is Jesus’ vindication by God. The powers-that-be had given their verdict on Jesus: guilty, and therefore to be shamed, cast out and executed on a cross. However, by raising Jesus from the dead God reverses that verdict: Jesus is declared righteous by God, he is glorified and worthy of all honour, he is brought to God’s right hand, and he is given true life untouched by sin and death.

This has a whole world of implications. That God has vindicated Jesus means that Jesus’ teaching is as Jesus claimed it to be: having the authority of God. It means Jesus’ way of life is as Jesus claimed it to be: evidence of God’s kingdom, the outworking of God’s good news for the world. It means Jesus’ death was not simply a horrific tragedy, the death of an innocent man; it is the very undoing of the ways of the world, the way of death, and so it is the epitome of God’s love and wisdom and power.

This was a world-changing belief for those early followers of Jesus, that the crucified Jesus of Nazareth had been raised from the dead by God. This is why we have the gospels, why we have the New Testament, why Jesus is more than just a historical footnote as yet another failed messiah because these early Jesus-followers believed Jesus had appeared to them, resurrected and fully alive. Based on this, the researcher wants to investigate the resurrection of Jesus Christ: A doctrinal teachings of Christian faith and the impacts

Statement of the Problem

Resurrection is creation’s affirmation by God. This is why the bodily nature of Jesus’ resurrection is so important (however “bodily” is understood). By resurrecting Jesus in a body God affirms the essential goodness of our bodies, the goodness of the created order, the goodness of human existence and human history.

This also has several profound implications. Christianity, the way of Jesus, is not some kind of disembodied ideal, trying to renounce our human desires or deny our essential humanity. These things are given by God, and they are good and this is affirmed not only by humanity’s creation but also by Jesus’ resurrection.

Objectives of the Study

The objectives of the study are;

1.   To ascertain the impact of resurrection of Jesus Christ to Christian faith

2.   To find out the implication of resurrection of Jesus Christ to Christianity

3.   To find out the relationship between resurrection Jesus Christ and the doctrine preaching of faith

Research Hypotheses

For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher; 

H0: there is no impact of resurrection of Jesus Christ to Christian faith.

H1: there is impact of resurrection of Jesus Christ to Christian faith.

H02: there is no relationship between resurrection Jesus Christ and the doctrine preaching of faith.

H2: there is relationship between resurrection Jesus Christ and the doctrine preaching of faith

Significance of the Study

After the study there will be clear insight in the believe of resurrection of Jesus Christ by Christian and the doctrine of different churches towards the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The study will give an insight on the resurrection of Jesus Christ: A doctrinal teachings of Christian faith and the impacts. The study will also serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic.

Scope and limitation of the study

The scope of the study covers the resurrection of Jesus Christ: A doctrinal teachings of Christian faith and the impacts. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;

a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study   

b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Resurrection: Resurrection or anastasis is the concept of coming back to life after death. In a number of religions, a dying-and-rising god is a deity which dies and resurrects.

Doctrine: a belief or set of beliefs held and taught by a Church, political party, or other group.

Christian: a person who has received Christian baptism or is a believer in Christianity.