---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If Jesus Christ had only risen from the…"
description: "\"“If Jesus Christ had only risen from the dead as a spirit, as a ghost, then His only victory and His only saving power would be limited to the world of..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/rousas-john-rushdoony-35414_material-things_if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the_2178339.jpg"
---

#  If Jesus Christ had only risen from the dead as a spirit…

![“If Jesus Christ had only risen from the dead as a spirit, as a ghost, then His only victory and His only saving power would be limited to the world of the spirit. It would mean that He would be helpless to answer prayers concerning material things, because His power would extend only to things…” quote by Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/rousas-john-rushdoony-35414_material-things_if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the_2178339.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/rousas-john-rushdoony-35414_material-things_if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the_2178339.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/rousas-john-rushdoony-35414_material-things_if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the_2178339.jpg)

> ““If Jesus Christ had only risen from the dead as a spirit, as a ghost, then His only victory and His only saving power would be limited to the world of the spirit. It would mean that He would be helpless to answer prayers concerning material things, because His power would extend only to things spiritual. It would mean that His people would be helpless against the powers of this world and without a law or a recourse in this world. But, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He is Lord over all lords, King over all kings, the lawgiver and supreme governor of all things, material and spiritual.””

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Jesus’ resurrection grants authority over both spiritual and material realms, ensuring divine power can address all aspects of life.

**In simple terms:** Resurrection gives Jesus power over everything, not just spirits.

Key Takeaway

Recognize divine authority in all areas of life.

Themes

theology authority spirituality materialism

Mood

reverent confident

Type

doctrinal inspirational

When to use this quote

- personal prayer
- ethical decision-making
- social justice
- worldly challenges

Key Concepts

Christology theodicy sovereignty

Questions to Reflect On

- How does this belief influence daily choices?
- What responsibilities arise from seeing God as sovereign over all?

A Different Perspective

Some may argue this view overstates literal power, ignoring human agency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Christ Risen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christ-risen/) [Dead Lord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dead-lord-1828727/) [Material things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-things/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Spirit Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spirit-mean-3600013/) [Spiritual Mean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spiritual-mean-4693576/) [World Jesus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world-jesus-635806/)

## Related quotes

> [“In spiritual issues--(by "spiritual" I mean: "pertaining to man's consciousness")--a trader is a man who does not seek to be loved for his weaknesses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayn-rand/in-spiritual-issues-by-spiritual-i-mean-pertaining-to-man-s/)

[Ayn Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayn-rand/)

> [I think holiday spirit can mean many things and I think holiday spirit is just sort of your state of happiness during the holidays.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-galvin/i-think-holiday-spirit-can-mean-many-things-and-i-think-holiday/)

[Noah Galvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-galvin/)

> [No marriage is "too dead" for the Lord to restore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-r-swindoll/no-marriage-is-too-dead-for-the-lord-to-restore/)

[Charles R. Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-r-swindoll/)

> [I put the pistol by my head, and say a prayer. I see visions of me dead, Lord are you there?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-put-the-pistol-by-my-head-and-say-a-prayer-i-see-visions-of-me-dead/)

[Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/)

> [Awake! thou that sleepest, arise from the dead! The Lord still lives today. His power has never abated. His Word has never changed. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aimee-semple-mcpherson/awake-thou-that-sleepest-arise-from-the-dead-the-lord-still-lives/)

[Aimee Semple McPherson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aimee-semple-mcpherson/)

> [Had Christ not risen we could not believe Him to be what He declared Himself when He "made Himself equal with God." But He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-b-warfield/had-christ-not-risen-we-could-not-believe-him-to-be-what-he-declared/)

[B. B. Warfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-b-warfield/)

> [I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist. Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesslie-newbigin/i-am-neither-an-optimist-nor-a-pessimist-jesus-christ-is-risen-from/)

[Lesslie Newbigin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesslie-newbigin/)

> [Let every man and woman count himself immortal. Let him catch the revelation of Jesus in his resurrection. Let him say not merely, "Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phillips-brooks/let-every-man-and-woman-count-himself-immortal-let-him-catch-the/)

[Phillips Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phillips-brooks/)

> [Christ is risen! There is life, therefore, after death! His resurrection is the symbol and pledge of universal resurrection!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ward-beecher/christ-is-risen-there-is-life-therefore-after-death-his-resurrection/)

[Henry Ward Beecher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ward-beecher/)

> [Hear the bells ringing they're singing "Christ is risen from the dead!" The angel up on the tombstone said, He is risen just as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/keith-green/hear-the-bells-ringing-they-re-singing-christ-is-risen-from-the-dead/)

[Keith Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/keith-green/)

> [The best proof that Christ has risen is that he is still alive. And for the immense majority of our contemporaries, the only way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-evely/the-best-proof-that-christ-has-risen-is-that-he-is-still-alive-and/)

[Louis Evely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-evely/)

> [If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen-nothing else matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaroslav-pelikan/if-christ-is-risen-nothing-else-matters-and-if-christ-is-not-risen/)

[Jaroslav Pelikan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaroslav-pelikan/)

> [When exhaling this air, we announced Jesus Christ risen by the same Spirit. No one can live without breathing. It is the same for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/when-exhaling-this-air-we-announced-jesus-christ-risen-by-the-same/)

[Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/)

> [“I am neither an optimist nor a pessimist,” Lesslie Newbigin once said. “Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-chaddick/i-am-neither-an-optimist-nor-a-pessimist-lesslie-newbigin-once-said/)

[Tim Chaddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-chaddick/)

> [“proofs are no help to believing, especially material proofs. Thomas believed, not because he saw Christ risen, but because he wanted to believe, before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoyevsky/proofs-are-no-help-to-believing-especially-material-proofs-thomas/)

[Fyodor Dostoyevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoyevsky/)

## More by Rousas John Rushdoony

> [“For the Christian the environment can only truly be changed as men are changed, and these men then remake their world and place it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/for-the-christian-the-environment-can-only-truly-be-changed-as-men/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“God’s sovereign grace commands and directs man in His appointed and ordained way. Man cannot get “off the track” permanently when he is truly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/god-s-sovereign-grace-commands-and-directs-man-in-his-appointed-and/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“Laws cannot make men good: that is the work of the Holy Spirit. But laws can prevent men from doing evil.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/laws-cannot-make-men-good-that-is-the-work-of-the-holy-spirit-but/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“Truth is exclusive in every area, in religion, science, farming, and all things else. If you don’t believe it, go pick your grapes from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/truth-is-exclusive-in-every-area-in-religion-science-farming-and-all/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“Man’s mind, as well as his feet and devotion, wander easily, and we are readily given to changing our minds. Our attention wanders always,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/man-s-mind-as-well-as-his-feet-and-devotion-wander-easily-and-we-are/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“The modern state offers a pretended ministry of service as a means to exercising a pagan dominion, and the result is a vulture society…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/the-modern-state-offers-a-pretended-ministry-of-service-as-a-means-to/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“A key fact, thus, of polytheism is that at best the area and scope of meaning is severely limited. There is no universal scope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/a-key-fact-thus-of-polytheism-is-that-at-best-the-area-and-scope-of/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“The hypocrite is against sin in other people. The godly man is against sin anywhere but, first and foremost, against sin in himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/the-hypocrite-is-against-sin-in-other-people-the-godly-man-is-against/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“This is the world of polytheism: it knows no overall truth and order, only fragments and limited connections in the shambles of time and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/this-is-the-world-of-polytheism-it-knows-no-overall-truth-and-order/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [The urge to dominion is God-given and is basic to the nature of man. An aspect of this dominion is property.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/the-urge-to-dominion-is-god-given-and-is-basic-to-the-nature-of-man/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“In fact, my relationship to myself must be at all times a mediated one: I can only live my life through Christ, my mediator,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/in-fact-my-relationship-to-myself-must-be-at-all-times-a-mediated-one/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

> [“The world is in rebellion against that government. From these rebels and revolutionists, we hear much talk about “peace,” and a great deal of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/the-world-is-in-rebellion-against-that-government-from-these-rebels/)

[Rousas John Rushdoony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

[Explore all 13 Rousas John Rushdoony quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/)

## More Material things quotes

> [“That which they have need of . . . let it be given them day by day without fail. Ezra 6:9 If we really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/watchman-nee/that-which-they-have-need-of-let-it-be-given-them-day-by-day-without/)

[Watchman Nee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/watchman-nee/)

> [Our obsession with material things and lack of self-worth is evident in our need for an abundance of momentary luxuries and must-have amenities that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-i/our-obsession-with-material-things-and-lack-of-self-worth-is-evident/)

[T.I](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-i/)

> [“Don't envy what people have, emulate what they did to have it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-fargo/don-t-envy-what-people-have-emulate-what-they-did-to-have-it/)

[Tim Fargo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-fargo/)

> [“Cause and effect is as absolute and undeviating in the hidden realm of thought as in the world of visible and material things. Mind…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-allen/cause-and-effect-is-as-absolute-and-undeviating-in-the-hidden-realm/)

[James Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-allen/)

> [We live in a vastly complex society which has been able to provide us with a multitude of material things, and this is good,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euell-gibbons/we-live-in-a-vastly-complex-society-which-has-been-able-to-provide-us/)

[Euell Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euell-gibbons/)

> [“The poor who commit murder, rape and robbery are not only not starving, they have far more material things than the word ‘poverty’ suggests.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-prager/the-poor-who-commit-murder-rape-and-robbery-are-not-only-not-starving/)

[Dennis Prager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-prager/)

> [I read American sagas (of the west) and I do not see people who went in search of material things. I see people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-keyes/i-read-american-sagas-of-the-west-and-i-do-not-see-people-who-went-in/)

[Alan Keyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-keyes/)

> [“When the first chakra is disconnected from the feminine Earth, we can feel orphaned and motherless. The masculine principle predominates, and we look for security…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-villoldo/when-the-first-chakra-is-disconnected-from-the-feminine-earth-we-can/)

[Alberto Villoldo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-villoldo/)

> [If you wish to care for your body, first of all take care of material things, though even when you have all the things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhuangzi/if-you-wish-to-care-for-your-body-first-of-all-take-care-of-material/)

[Zhuangzi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhuangzi/)

> [Renounce all those material things that you gained by exploiting other human beings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chapman/renounce-all-those-material-things-that-you-gained-by-exploiting/)

[Tracy Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chapman/)

> [I didn't have a great childhood, and neither did Debbie, my wife, so we both try to give the kids not only the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/i-didn-t-have-a-great-childhood-and-neither-did-debbie-my-wife-so-we/)

[Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/)

> [PROPERTY, n. Any material thing, having no particular value, that may be held by A against the cupidity of B. Whatever gratifies the passion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/property-n-any-material-thing-having-no-particular-value-that-may-be/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

> [You can not Sell you Soul, just for material things, material do comes to an end. Or being damage or taken from you and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-ntuli/you-can-not-sell-you-soul-just-for-material-things-material-do-comes/)

[Simphiwe Ntuli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-ntuli/)

> [ “\[FN#268\] Se-ji-hyaku-dan. 12. 'The Five Ranks of Merit.' Thus far we have stated how to train our body and mind according to the general… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kaiten-nukariya/fn-268-se-ji-hyaku-dan-12-the-five-ranks-of-merit-thus-far-we-have/)

[Kaiten Nukariya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kaiten-nukariya/)

> [Generosity is not limited to the giving of material things. We can be generous with our kindness and receptivity. Generosity can mean the simple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-fronsdal/generosity-is-not-limited-to-the-giving-of-material-things-we-can-be/)

[Gil Fronsdal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-fronsdal/)

[Browse all 391 Material things quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/material-things/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“If Jesus Christ had only risen from the dead as a spirit, as a ghost, then His only victory and His only saving power would be limited to the world of the spirit. It would mean that He would be helpless to answer prayers concerning material things, because His power would extend only to things spiritual. It would mean that His people would be helpless against the powers of this world and without a law or a recourse in this world. But, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead, He is Lord over all lords, King over all kings, the lawgiver and supreme governor of all things, material and spiritual.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Rousas John Rushdoony"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the-dead-as-a-spirit-as-a-ghost/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Material things"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the-dead-as-a-spirit-as-a-ghost/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/rousas-john-rushdoony-35414_material-things_if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the_2178339.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/rousas-john-rushdoony-35414_material-things_if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the_2178339.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c4e/rousas-john-rushdoony-35414_material-things_if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the_2178339.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If Jesus Christ had only risen from the dead as a spirit, as a ghost, then His only victory and His only…” — Rousas John Rushdoony",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Rousas John Rushdoony",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rousas-john-rushdoony/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“If Jesus Christ had only risen...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the-dead-as-a-spirit-as-a-ghost/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rousas-john-rushdoony/if-jesus-christ-had-only-risen-from-the-dead-as-a-spirit-as-a-ghost/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
