VIII. By whose power or through whom will the dead be raised?

The resurrection of the dead will be effected by the power of Christ as the mediator. “I will raise him up at the last day.” This declaration of Christ must be understood of the body: because he will not raise up the soul, for this does not die. The man Christ will raise us by his human voice, and divine power, according as it is said, The hour is coming in which all that are in their graves shall hear his voice.” “God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (John 5:28. Acts 17:31.) The use of this question is that our faith may be established in regard to this article, from this, that he by whom the resurrection will be effected is possessed of sufficient power, seeing that he is the Almighty God, and also willing, in as much as he is our head. It is also a source of great comfort, from the fact that he will not be unmindful of his own flesh, and members, but will raise them up to eternal life, for which cause he assumed our nature and redeemed us.

Obj. But the Father is said to raise us; yea, he raised Christ himself: “He that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies, by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:11.) Therefore the dead shall neither be raised by Christ, nor by his power.
Ans. The works of the Trinity which are external, being such as are performed upon creatures are common to all the persons of the Godhead, observing the order in which they operate. As the Father is therefore, not excluded when the resurrection is ascribed to the Son, so the Son is not excluded when the Father, or the Holy Ghost are said to raise the dead. The Father shall raise us mediately through the Son. The Son shall raise us immediately by his Spirit, as our redeemer and judge. “We look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” “As the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them, even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.” (Phil. 3:20; 21. John 5:21.) The Holy Spirit shall raise us immediately by himself. “If the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead,” &c. (Rom. 8:11.)