Tag: gospel message
Resurrection realities!
Scripture reading for November 26th: 1st Corinthians 15-16
The resurrection is foreign to anything our mind can truly understand. Death seems to the natural eye to be irreversible. Doctors can treat a person with disease or aging, but they can’t keep them from dying, and raising someone from the dead so that he will never die has not yet happened.
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” (1st Corinthians 15:3-6)
At the heart of the Gospel message is Christ’s resurrection. First Jesus appeared to Mary at the tomb. (John 20:13-18) Then Peter saw the Lord and then the Twelve, minus Judas, saw Him. (Mark 16:14) The two disciples saw Him on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:31-32) Thomas got to put his fingers in the holes of Jesus’ body and became a believer. (John 20:26-28) Finally, Jesus appeared to over 500 brothers at the same time! (1st Corinthians 15:16)
Not only has Christ been raised from the dead, but all who believe in Him will also be raised from the dead! Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection. “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1st Corinthians 15:20-22)
Paul wrote that our resurrection was like the planting of a seed. A seed goes into the ground and dies and at the proper time germinates producing a new plant. At death, our body is sown into the ground in weakness and decay but it will be raised in glory. It is sown as perishable. It will be raised a spiritual body that lives forever! (1st Corinthians 15:42-44) This change will happen at the “last trumpet”! In a split second, the perishable body will raised and death will be swallowed up by victory in Christ’s eternal life! What a glorious day that will be!
The Historic Resurrection of Jesus Christ!
Scripture reading for November 27th: 1st Corinthians 15-16
One of the key arguments against the Christian faith is skepticism about the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ. This skepticism has been around since the beginning when the soldiers assigned to guarding the tomb were paid to lie about what happened to Jesus’ body. (Matthew 28:11-15) They were instructed to say that some of the disciples came and stole the body while they were asleep. This report went around the community of Jesus’ day, but another account came from those who actually saw Jesus alive and touched Him!
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve, After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as one abnormally born.” (1st Corinthians 15:3-8)
Paul received the gospel message that he so beautifully summarized here in this short passage. Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead! This is all according to the Scriptures in fulfillment of God’s predetermined plan. This message was to be preached and those who believed in Christ Jesus would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit and eternal life. Those who rejected this message would be eternally condemned.
The key truth to verify who Jesus is revolves around the resurrection. If there is no resurrection from the dead, Christ is not raised either and our faith is in vain. We are without hope because we are dead in our sins. But thanks be to God, Jesus did rise from the dead! This is an historical fact that can be researched and proven by the many witnesses who saw Jesus alive, heard Him speak to them, and even touched Him and felt His wounds. Our faith is not in vain! “For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1st Corinthians 15:20-22) You can use this passage to defend the resurrection as an historic fact! We are alive!