"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept." I Cor. 15:20
Here is a thunderous affirmation of the most important truth in Scripture. The Christian faith stands or falls on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the ultimate argument for Christianity. Without it, as scripture itself declares, "our faith is vain (cf. v.14)." With it, the gospel of the grace of God is irrefutable.
The first great truth established by the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the authenticity of scripture itself, the written word of God. His death and resurrection were "according to the scriptures." (Cf. v.3,4) After His resurrection, "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke. 24:27)." And throughout His public ministry, Jesus repeatedly affirmed His confidence in the Old Testament. Had He not risen, those scriptures would be in doubt, but by His resurrection His confidence in the scriptures is vindicated—and so is ours! Our faith in the God of the bible, the biblical account of creation, the nature of man, and human destiny are all justified.
The second great truth confirmed by His resurrection is, of course, His own person, power and purpose. Throughout His ministry He made what would have been outrageous claims concerning Himself, including the prediction of His death and resurrection, had He not returned from the grave. He claimed that He would give His life a ransom for many, and we can believe it because He is risen from the dead, "even as He said." He promised eternal life to all who will believe on His name; we can believe it because He is risen from the dead. He promised to return again "with power and great glory," and we can confidently expect Him because He is risen from the dead. He assured us of the resurrection of the dead, and we can anticipate it because He is risen from the dead. He spoke of heaven and the Father's house as tangible realities, and we can believe it to be so because He is risen from the dead!
It has been said by others that Jesus Christ is either "a liar, a lunatic or Lord of all." His resurrection assures us of the latter and separates biblical Christianity from all the other religions of the world, past and present, including Atheism and secular humanism. But it does more than that. It gives authority to all of His word. It deprives us of the privilege of picking and choosing from what He has said, accepting some and rejecting other. He affirmed the existence of both heaven and hell. He declared all men lost in sin. He proclaimed salvation from sin only through faith in Himself and His atoning blood shed on the cross of Calvary. We believe Him wholly, or we do not really believe Him at all.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ makes it evident that we are not dealing with a philosopher, preacher or priest. In Him we are confronted with the Lord of Glory, Who speaks with authority. He does not need the endorsement of congress to sit on the supreme court of the universe, not does He need the help of a committee to make His judgments. He is the Sovereign of the universe, and it behooves us to hear Him and heed His word. Because He is risen from the dead, if we dispute Him or deny Him we prove ourselves the lunatics!
It is this risen Christ who said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God (Jn. 3:16-18)." The dead will rise. Those who have by faith received Christ as Savior will enjoy an eternity of "everlasting life" in the glory of His presence. Those who have neglected or rejected Him will experience "everlasting destruction." You stand on one side or the other—"saved," or "condemned." Which? There is no middle ground. And His resurrection proves it so!
Yours for a joyous eternity,
"Pastor" Frasier
Here is a thunderous affirmation of the most important truth in Scripture. The Christian faith stands or falls on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the ultimate argument for Christianity. Without it, as scripture itself declares, "our faith is vain (cf. v.14)." With it, the gospel of the grace of God is irrefutable.
The first great truth established by the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the authenticity of scripture itself, the written word of God. His death and resurrection were "according to the scriptures." (Cf. v.3,4) After His resurrection, "Beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning Himself (Luke. 24:27)." And throughout His public ministry, Jesus repeatedly affirmed His confidence in the Old Testament. Had He not risen, those scriptures would be in doubt, but by His resurrection His confidence in the scriptures is vindicated—and so is ours! Our faith in the God of the bible, the biblical account of creation, the nature of man, and human destiny are all justified.
The second great truth confirmed by His resurrection is, of course, His own person, power and purpose. Throughout His ministry He made what would have been outrageous claims concerning Himself, including the prediction of His death and resurrection, had He not returned from the grave. He claimed that He would give His life a ransom for many, and we can believe it because He is risen from the dead, "even as He said." He promised eternal life to all who will believe on His name; we can believe it because He is risen from the dead. He promised to return again "with power and great glory," and we can confidently expect Him because He is risen from the dead. He assured us of the resurrection of the dead, and we can anticipate it because He is risen from the dead. He spoke of heaven and the Father's house as tangible realities, and we can believe it to be so because He is risen from the dead!
It has been said by others that Jesus Christ is either "a liar, a lunatic or Lord of all." His resurrection assures us of the latter and separates biblical Christianity from all the other religions of the world, past and present, including Atheism and secular humanism. But it does more than that. It gives authority to all of His word. It deprives us of the privilege of picking and choosing from what He has said, accepting some and rejecting other. He affirmed the existence of both heaven and hell. He declared all men lost in sin. He proclaimed salvation from sin only through faith in Himself and His atoning blood shed on the cross of Calvary. We believe Him wholly, or we do not really believe Him at all.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ makes it evident that we are not dealing with a philosopher, preacher or priest. In Him we are confronted with the Lord of Glory, Who speaks with authority. He does not need the endorsement of congress to sit on the supreme court of the universe, not does He need the help of a committee to make His judgments. He is the Sovereign of the universe, and it behooves us to hear Him and heed His word. Because He is risen from the dead, if we dispute Him or deny Him we prove ourselves the lunatics!
It is this risen Christ who said, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God (Jn. 3:16-18)." The dead will rise. Those who have by faith received Christ as Savior will enjoy an eternity of "everlasting life" in the glory of His presence. Those who have neglected or rejected Him will experience "everlasting destruction." You stand on one side or the other—"saved," or "condemned." Which? There is no middle ground. And His resurrection proves it so!
Yours for a joyous eternity,
"Pastor" Frasier
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