Mar 1, 2010

Essential Doctrine pt6; The Resurrection from the Dead

Three days after Jesus was crucified, He rose to life from the dead in a physical body. This is and must be true. Why? Because as Paul put it, " If He did not rise our faith is in vain and we are still in our sins. (1 Cor 15:10)

If you reject the resurrection, than what is the point of calling yourself a Christian. Jesus said on several different occasions that He would be in the grave 3 days, and on that third day He would rise again (Mk 8:31, Mk 9:31, Mk 10:34)

Jesus was clear that this was a literal bodily resurrection. He spoke with the Sadducees (A certain party of the religious leaders. They did not believe in the resurrection; Mk 12:18) that the resurrection was a true fact.

Jesus said, "But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, 'I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, and the God of Jacob'? "He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken." Mark 12:26-27


Paul explains the importance of the resurrection of Christ concerning our salvation. "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? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied." 1 Corinthians 15:12-19



Some people like to alogorize or moralize the truth of the resurrection. They might say something like the resurrection symbolizes a new life for the believer. This is not exactly what meant in the Scriptures.

The resurrection of Christ does provide a new life for us, meaning that we now receive eternal life in Christ. Whenever, the Bible talks about the resurrection or our eternal life in Christ or the life that we ultimately hope for, it is always future tense, after we pass from this plane. "If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied... If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. (1Co 15:19,32)

The truth of the resurrection can not be seperated from the cross, nor from the forgiveness of our sins. It is the very fact that Jesus was raised from the dead that it proves that His sacrifice was pleasing and acceptable to appease the wrath of God and thereby purchase the forgiveness for our sins. All of what Christ did hinged on the resurrection.
"Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

If you deny the resurrection, then again I ask, who is the Jesus Christ that you are following? Because he is not the Christ if you do not believe that He was physically raised from the dead.

Now does that mean that you can't have 'doubts' or questions, because someone raising from the dead! That's not something that happens every day. It is a stumbling block for many. It was in Peter and Paul's day, it is now. It was also for all of the disciples of Jesus.
But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." (Luke 24:37-39)

Jesus does not send you away for having troubles believing something, but rather He will gently tell you to be not unbelieving but believing.
But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.

So the other disciples were saying to him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe."

After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you."

Then He *said to Thomas, "Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing." Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus *said to him, "Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed."
(John 20:24-29)

Jesus will give you the gift of belief if you repent and put your faith in Him. There is a part for us to participate in growing in the Lord, but it is really the Holy Spirit who leads us in our faith.
"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. "He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
(John 16:13-14)



"O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:55-58

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