Hi Eirik,
Because he has appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he has ordained; whereof he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead. (Acts 17:31)
I started thinking about the last part of the verse; why is this assurance related to Jesus' resurrection? Why will every man be assured that the world will be judged in righteousness by the fact that Jesus was resurrected?
Paul was dealing with people that were not certain of Christ's resurrection.
Mat 22:23 The same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him and asked Him,
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
v. 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
v. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
v. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise.
v. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
v. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
v. 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
v. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
It is the resurrection that we all hope for, and only if Christ rose from the dead can we have assurance. He is the firstfruit.
1Co 15:20 But now Christ has risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruit of those who slept.
Now at this time the whole Christian world do believe in His resurrection, but their fault is they do not believe He was dead. So actually according to their reasoning why did He need to be raised at all? Their doctrines just lead to confusion... "that's believing in contradictions and square circles." (quote from Ray)
mercy, peace and love
Kat