1. It proves He is the Son of God.
2. It attests to the truth of Scripture.
3. It assures us of our own future resurrection when we die.
4. It is proof of future judgment upon the wicked.
5. It is one of the central truths in the Gospel.
6. It is the basis for our future inheritance.
7. It is the foundation for Christ's heavenly priesthood.
8. It gives power to the Christian life.
THE PROOF OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
1. The resurrection of Christ is an accepted historical fact, and the person who questions or denies it must offer the proof that He did NOT arise from the dead. The same Satan who tried to destroy Christ on the cross now want men to believe that He is still dead. It was Satan, the liar, who was the author of the conspiracy between the Jews and the soldiers in Matt. 28:11-15.
2. Christ's PERSON demands that He be raised from the dead. As the Son of God, He could not be held by death. (Acts 2:24).
3. Christ promised that He would be raised from the dead. His virtuous life proved that He always told the truth, and even His enemies could find not fault in Him. Either He came out of the tomb, or He was a liar.
4. Eye-witnesses testified that they had seen Christ
(Luke 24:33-36); John 20:19, 26; Acts 1:3, 21-22). At one time, over 500 people saw Christ alive (1 Cor. 15:6). Some unbelievers say that these early witnesses were "hypnotized" or that they suffered from "self-imposed hallucinations." But it seems to me, that it would be hard to fool 500 people at one time.
5. The change in the early believers proves He arose from the dead. When you stop to think that Peter and the other Apostles did not expect the resurrection, the remarkable change in their lives proves that they must have met Christ. Peter was a frightened coward one day, and a mighty preacher the next.
6. Paul's conversion (Acts 9) proves that Christ was alive. No "delusion" or "myth" could change this dedicated Jewish rabbi into a fiery preacher.
7. The existence of the NT, the continuation of the Church, and the significance of the Lord' s Day, are all proof that Christ is alive.
8. Of course, the best proof is the conversion of a sinner. "You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!!!
THE EMPTY TOMB.
We must admire these women for their devotion to Christ. God rewarded their love by allowing them to see the empty tomb and hear the message of the resurrection from the angel. The stone was not rolled away to allow Christ to come out; it was rolled away to allow men to look in and see that He was gone. The true Easter message is "Come and see.....Go and Tell !!!
Every Sunday is resurrection day for the believer. Keep in mind that the empty grave clothes in the tomb were lying there in the shape of the body of Christ, like an empty cocoon. This proves His body was not stolen, but that He arose THROUGH THE CLOTHES and left them behind. If His body had been stolen, it was stolen by either friends or enemies. If by enemies, they would have produced it and silenced the disciples. If by friends, they would not have willingly given their lives for a lie.
THE GREAT COMMISSION -- 28:16-20
1. All power (authority) - This was not just a humble peasant of Galilee, but the mighty Son of God. In His death and resurrection, He had conquered Satan, sin, and death; and God had given all authority into His hands. Remember, Satan had taken Christ to a mountain and offered Him all the kingdoms of the world. Here on this Galilee mount, Christ proclaimed that He now had all authority, and that Satan had been defeated.
2. All Nations -- "Teach" is actually "Make disciples." This is a commission to take the Gospel to all nations, and is a definite change from 10:5-6, where the commission was limited to the Jews only. Evangelism alone is not the commission; after people are won, they should be baptized, which suggests a local church fellowship. They should also be taught, which suggest the teaching and preaching of the Word of God. Keep in mind that our commission is not simply "to win souls." It is to "make disciples" -- which includes winning them, bringing them into a Christian fellowship, and building them up in the faith. No group can do this better than the local church
3. All things -- A disciple is a learner, and he is to be taught "all things whatsoever I have commanded you." This includes the whole Word of God. Man is to live "by EVERY word of God." "ALL scripture....
is profitable.....The church that fails to teach people the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27) is not obeying the Great Commission.
4. "Always" -- What a tremendous promise: " I am with you always." In Matthew 1:23, He was called " Immanuel" -- God is with us; and here He reaffirms that name. He is with us still through His Spirit, In His Word, by His providential care, and with His divine presence. This is the promise that carried Livingston into the heart of darkest Africa, and that encouraged and enabled messengers of Christ down through the years.
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Thank you for your participation.
Rev. Ronald D. Ellis
"Brother Rick"