WHY I BELIEVE (in the Resurrection)

SCRIPTURE: I Cor 15:12-22

INTRODUCTION: Is it Important to Believe in the Resurrection?

The Resurrection of Jesus is the foundation fact on which Christianity is built. Clarence Larkin pg 129

"Rightly Dividing the Word"

There is simply no way to overemphasize the importance of the Resurrection to the Christian faith, for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the Christian faith. Christianity stands of falls on the validity, the historical reality, of the Resurrection. "Proof of the Resurrection" David Reagan

The most significant event in history is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the strongest evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. This event gives men and women the sure hope of eternal life a hope that not only gives joy as we look to the future but also provides us with powerful reasons to live today.

"The Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?" Pat Zukeran

According to the Word of God, if this Man named Jesus, who said He was God, who claimed that HE could and would emerge from the tomb in triumphant glory . . . if HE didn't do it, then the Christian faith is gone. It's history; it's down the tubes. "Where's the Body?" Voice of Prophecy

I. THE PROPHECY OF THE RESURRECTION

A. Genesis 3:14-15 4000 B.C.

B. Job 14:14 "If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." What change? Changed from a mortal to immortality.

Job 19:25-27 1500 B.C.

C. Psalms 16:10 "For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption." 1000 B.C.

hell = sheol, underworld, grave, hell, pit

It simply meant the place of the dead. Spiros Zodhiates

corruption = decay of the body

Acts 2:27-32 Peter quotes after Christ arose.

D. Dan 12:2 534 B.C.

II. CHRIST DECLARED that He would be crucified and buried and on the third day would rise from the dead.

A. Matt. 12:38 - 40 Jonas and Jesus --> 3 days --> Wed to Sat morning according to Dake

B. Matt. 20:17-19

C. Matt. 26:30-32

D. Luke 18:31-33

E. John 2:19-22

The overwhelming significance of the Resurrection is to be seen in the fact that it sets Christianity apart from the other world religions. The Resurrection is the unique stamp of Christianity, for only Christianity claims an empty tomb for its founder. No resurrection has been claimed for Abraham, Budda, Confucius, or Mohommed. "Proof of the Resurrection"

III. THE PROOF OF THE RESURRECTION

Many witnessed the crucifixion of Christ, but no one witnessed the actual moment of His resurrection from the dead. Did He rise from the dead? Observing the resurrection was not possible for He was alone in a tomb. How do we know He was resurrected?

We must look for the proof. The proof is found in the witnesses of His appearances after the resurrection and the empty tomb.

A. The Tomb

1. Belonged to Joseph of Arimathea Matt. 27:57-58

2. Jesus was laid in it. Matt. 27:59-61

a. 80 lbs of spice/ointment laid on Him

b. 2-ton stone rolled into a slot

3. Roman soldiers sealed it. Matt.27:62-66

A cord was stretched across the stone and an official seal with clay was fastened at each end so it could be detected if the grave was opened. Dake

4. Roman soldiers guarded it.

A guard of 4 soldiers, which were changed every 3 hours. Dake

5. Opened by angels. Matt. 28:1-4

6. Empty Matt. 28:5-6

The significant thing about the resurrection of the Jewish leaders is that they did not challenge the fact that the tomb was empty. That's because the tomb was empty.

"Proof of the Resurrection"

B. Where's the Body?

1. Stolen by His disciples. Matt. 28:11-15

The disciples were now body-snatchers. Consider this:

a. The disciples fled when Jesus was arrested.

b. Peter later followed but denied knowing Him due to fear.

c. Soldiers guarded the tomb --> they must get by them.

d. Sleeping soldiers were executed.

e. Breaking the seal carried a death penalty.

f. The grave clothes were not taken away, nor tossed to one side as if discarded, but like a hollow cocoon, stiffened by the embalming material, they were left lying on the stone slab. Jesus had just slipped out of them.

Clarence Larkin pg 132 "Rightly Dividing the Truth"

g. The disciples did not fully understand that Christ would rise.

h. The disciples were in fear and despair after the Resurrection and it seems they hid behind closed doors.

i. The disciples gave their lives preaching the Resurrection.

(1) When threatened with death, they could have saved themselves by telling how they stole the body.

(2) "Men will die for what they believe to be true, though it may actually be false. They do not, however, die for what they know to be a lie." "Know What You Believe" Paul Little

"People are not willing to become martyrs for a lie which they have themselves perpetrated." John Stott

Not one disciple changed his story!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. The Swoon Theory (Fainting)

Popularized by an apostate Christian named Hugh Sconfield in his book "The Passover Plot." It states that Jesus fainted on the cross and later revived. Calvary was a near-death experience. This implies it was a resuscitation, not a resurrection. I can see a man fainting from flogging and later reviving. I could try to believe that a man hanged on a cross for six hours could faint and later revive. I can understand that a man would faint if sealed up three days without food or water. However, I find it utterly foolishness for someone to suggest that after a man was flogged by a professional torturer, then crucified (which is not something people walk away from, but is essentially death by asphyxiation) by professional killers who attested that He was already dead, pierced in the side by a spear (heart and or lungs) until blood and water flowed out, then wrapped in linen clothe with 80 lbs of burial spice and ointment laid on Him, and then closed up in a cold tomb for 3 days and nights, revived from a near-death, fainted state. He would then have had to unwrap Himself, roll away a 2-ton stone from within the tomb, overcome Roman soldiers and walk away with no infection, swelling, dried blood, etc. evident on His body (they were glad to see Him) and walk several miles to Emmaeus and other parts of the countryside showing Himself completely healthy with only a few healed scars!!!!

3. The Wrong Tomb Theory (Confusion) --> The argument that the disciples went to the wrong tomb. Some supposedly learned men have proposed this theory over the years.

4. The Hallucination Theory --> The disciples experienced a series of hallucinations. Supposedly, "They experienced a disruption of the physio-chemical structures of the brain in such a way as to be able to see what they desperately wanted to see."

5. The Romans or Jews Stole The Body

*6. Jesus rose from the grave, has ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you and I.

Along with the empty tomb is the fact that the corpse of Jesus was never found. Not one historical record from the first of second century is written attacking the fact of the empty tomb or claiming the discovery of the body. "Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?"

IV. MUST ONE BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION? YES !!!!!!

A. I Cor 15:12-22 It is an important revelation and fact.

*B. Romans 10:9 It is vital to our salvation.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart

that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

C. Hebrews 6:1-2 It is declared a foundational truth.

(Harvest Church --> "Resurrection of the Dead" www.harvestchurch.org.harvest/resurrect.html)

V. THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION

A. By His life, we are assured eternal life.

B. By His resurrection, we are assured our own resurrection.

Romans 8:11 "But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you."

C. Will you believe and be saved, or deny and be damned?