WHY WE BELIEVE IN THE BODILY
(LITERAL) RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
I Corinthians 15; John 20 & 21; Matthew 28; Luke 24
We have come to the time when the world in general and the religious world in particular remembers in a special way the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is true that there are no holy seasons or holy days more holy than others. Every Lord’s Day is Resurrection Day. But because the attention of many people is turned to the Resurrection of Christ presently more so than almost at any other time, we are pleased to make this special emphasis. We believe that it is important that we understand that in reference to the Resurrection of Christ, we are dealing with facts - Historical Facts - Real Events that occurred in space and time as we know it. Facts that can be substantiated without question and documented without contradiction. We are not dealing with fables, myths, or tall tales. Hear the words of the inspired Apostle Peter: "We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; we were eyewitnesses of His majesty." (2 Peter 1:16)
Often in our world - which attempts to appear sophisticated: socially, philosophically, and even religiously, the question often surfaces: "can we really, seriously - intelligently - believe in the bodily (literal) Resurrection of Christ?" As we have already learned when we considered the Trial and Death of Jesus, this is a matter about which we cannot be - or remain - neutral. The facts of the case will not allow it. Christ will not allow it. His Word will not allow it. The Reality of Christ’s Resurrection is the crowning proof and evidence of His Divinity - that He really was - and is - Who He claimed to be: THE SINLESS, DIVINE, ETERNAL SON OF GOD. He said: Except you believe that I am He (That is: The Messiah; The I AM) you will die in your sins. (John 8:24) The Inspired Apostle Paul said: "...the word of Faith which we are preaching, (is) that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved". (Romans 10:6-11) So our response and reaction to the Resurrection of Christ - whether we believe and accept it or not -whether we order our lives accordingly - is a matter of life and death. Our response determines our eternal destiny. It is not an indifferent matter and we cannot be or remain indifferent to it.
Any honest, intelligent inquiry and investigation into the Resurrection Of Christ brings us to the same conclusion that was stated by the Apostle Paul when he was on trial before King Agrippa: This thing was not done in a corner (Acts 26:22-29). We also make another wonderful discovery: God has not left Himself without witness (and testimony) in this matter. As far as the Word of God is concerned, there are both internal and external evidences that give testimony to the reality of the literal, Bodily Resurrection of Christ. It is to those evidences that we want to turn our attention today.
WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE: OF THE OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECIES THAT WERE FULFILLED BY HIS RESURRECTION. Time and space would not permit even a listing of those Old Testament Prophecies that were fulfilled by His Virgin Birth, His sinless life, His supernatural ministry, His vicarious sorrows and sufferings and His atoning death on the Cross for our sins. Probably you are fairly familiar with those prophecies. You may not be as familiar with those prophecies concerning His Resurrection. We believe that Scripture is its own best interpretation. On the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) the inspired Apostle Peter quotes the 16th Psalm. He says emphatically that this is a prophetic Psalm written (spoken) by David that had direct reference to the Resurrection of Christ and was fulfilled by that Resurrection. (Acts 2:22-36) Paul in Ephesians 4 quotes the 68th Psalm and states that the Resurrected - Ascended Christ fulfilled this prophecy by His Resurrection and Ascension - and then by sending the Holy Spirit with His Spiritual gifts by which He equipped the Church for ministry. If we accept the prophecy of Isaiah 2:1-4 to be a prophecy of the New Testament Church, we have to understand that Christ’s Kingdom (The Church) could have never been established, had there been no Resurrection.
WE MUST ALSO CONSIDER CHRIST’S OWN PROPHECIES (PREDICTIONS) OF HIS RESURRECTION: John 2:17-22: Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up. John informs us that He was speaking of the temple of His body, but it was only after His Resurrection that His disciples remembered that He had said this; and believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had spoken. Matthew 12:38-41: No sign will be given (to this evil and adulterous generation) but the sign of the Prophet Jonah. For even as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster - great fish - (whale) so shall the Son of Man be three days and three days in the heart of the earth. (If you ever wondered why those who want to discredit the Miracles of the Bible, attempt so feverishly to discredit the account of Jonah and the Great Fish (whale), this is the reason. The experience of Jonah and the great fish (whale) and the Resurrection of Christ are inseparably connected. They complement and substantiate one another.) Mark 8:31; Mark 9:31: "He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things...and be killed, and after three days rise again". His own disciples forgot His prophecy, however, and the angel had to remind the women who came to the tomb on Sunday Morning to anoint his body of these very words. Then they remembered. (Luke 24:1-9)
The prophecies concerning Christ that were fulfilled by his Resurrection are a part of the body of prophecies that confirm him as the Messiah - the Divine Son of God. Peter Stoner in "Science Speaks" shows that co-incidence is ruled out by the Science of Probability. He chose eight (8) of the prophecies and says that by using the modern Science of Probability in reference to them that:
"we find that the chance that any man might have lived down to the present time and fulfilled all eight prophecies is 1 in 10 to the 17th power." That would be 1 in 100,000,000,000,000,000. In order to help us comprehend this staggering probability, Stoner illustrates it by supposing that ’we take 1017 silver dollars and lay them on the face of Texas. They will cover all of the state two feet deep. Now mark one of these silver dollars and stir the whole mass thoroughly, all over the state. Blindfold a man and tell him that he can travel as far as he wishes. But he must pick up one silver dollar and say that this is the right one. What chance would he have of getting the right one? Exactly the same chance that the prophets would have had of writing these eight prophecies and having them all come true in any one man, from their day to the present time, providing they wrote them in their own wisdom.’"
Now these prophecies were either given by inspiration of God or the prophets wrote them as they thought they should be. In such a case the prophets had only one chance in 10 to the 17th power of having them come true in any one man. But they all came true in Christ. This means that the fulfillment of these eight prophecies alone proves that God inspired the writing of those prophecies to a definiteness which lacks only one chance in 10 to the 17th power - of being absolute." Stoner considers 48 prophecies and says. "we find the chance that any one man fulfilled all 48 prophecies to be 1 in 10 to the 57th power."
WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE: OF THE TESTIMONY OF EYEWITNESSES - HIS RESURRECTION APPEARANCES. Again Peter said: We were eyewitnesses of His Majesty. John said: We beheld His glory (character) John 1:14) He also said: Our eyes have seen and our hands have handled the Word of Life. THE TOTAL LIST IS VERY IMPRESSIVE:
THE APPEARANCES OF CHRIST IN THE LIVES OF INDIVIDUALS:
To Mary Magdalene, John 20:14, Mark 16:9
To women returning from the tomb. Matthew 28:9, 10
To Peter later in the day. Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5
To the Emmaus disciples. Luke 24:13-33
To the apostles. Thomas absent. Luke 24:3643; John 20:19-24
To the apostles, Thomas present. John 20:26-29
To the seven by the Lake of Tiberias. John 21:1-23
To a multitude of 500 plus believers on a Galilean mountain. I Corinthians 15:6
To James, I Corinthians 15:7
To the eleven. Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:14-20; Luke 24:33-52;
At the ascension, Acts 1:3-12
To Paul, Acts 9:3-6: 1 Corinthians 15:8
To Stephen, Acts 7:55
To Paul in the temple. Acts 22:17-21; 23:11
To John on Patmos. Revelation 1:10-19
Importance of the appearances:
Professor C. S. Lewis (Miracles, The Macmillan Co., 1947), in speaking of the importance of Christ’s post-resurrection appearances, says: "The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection. If they had died without making anyone else believe this "gospel" - no gospels would ever have been written." 35/149
J. N. D. Anderson writes of the testimony of the appearances:
"The most drastic way of dismissing the evidence would be to say that these stories were mere fabrications, that they were pure lies. But, so far as I know, not a single critic today would take such an attitude. In fact, it would really be an impossible position. Think of the number of witnesses over 500. Think of the character of the witnesses. men and women who gave the world the highest ethical teaching it has ever known, and who even on the testimony of their enemies lived it out in their lives. Think of the psychological absurdity of picturing a little band of defeated cowards cowering in an upper room one day and a few days later transformed into a company that no persecution could silence-and then attempting to attribute this dramatic change to nothing more convincing than a miserable fabrication they were trying to foist upon the world. That simply wouldn’t make any sense."
John Warwick Montgomery (History and Christianity, Downers Grove, IL. 60515: lnter-Varsity Press, 1964. Used by permission) comments:
"Note that when the disciples of Jesus proclaimed the resurrection, they did so as eyewitnesses and they did so while people were still alive who had contact with the events they spoke of. In 56 A.D. Paul wrote that over 500 people had seen the risen Jesus and that most of them were still alive (I Corinthians 15:6 ff.). It passes the bounds of credibility that the early Christians
could have manufactured such a tale and then preached it among those who might easily have refuted it simply by producing the body of Jesus."
Bernard Ramm (Protestant Christian Evidences, Moody Press. 1953) writes:
"if there were no resurrection it must be admitted by radical critics that Paul deceived the apostles of an actual appearance of Christ to him. and they in turn deceived Paul about the appearances of a risen Christ to them. How difficult it is to impugn the evidence of the Epistles at this point when they have such strong validation as authentic!"
HOW MUCH MORE EVIDENCE AND TESTIMONY WOULD BE NECESSARY TO CONVINCE AN UNBELIEVER? 500 PEOPLE AT ONE TIME SAW HIM ALIVE AFTER HIS RESURRECTION!!!!! THERE COMES A POINT WHEN MORE TESTIMONY WOULD BE RIDICULOUS AND UNNECESSARY. (COMPARE JOHN 3:12; LUKE 16:27-31) The fact remains: Jesus was crucified. Jesus did die. The Roman Soldiers saw to that. The Roman Government Officials confirmed it and sealed the tomb in which he was buried with an official Roman Seal. Then He was seen alive - over and over again - not just once but many time - by many witnesses in many different circumstances. The claim (accusation) that the disciples wanted so badly to believe that He was alive that they concocted the story is too ridiculous and far-fetched to receive serious consideration. By their own testimony, they did not believe He was going to rise again after they saw Him die, and to a man refused to believe and accept the report that He was alive when told. But one by one, they were backed into a corner (so to speak) and forced to come face to face with the Living Christ. He assured them that He was real - that His Resurrected Life (body) was real. He invited (urged) them to touch Him, to feel Him, and to see that it was really He and not a spirit. He even took a piece of broiled fish and ate it.
Almost to a man everyone of them laid down their lives in order to proclaim Christ and His Resurrection, and they did so willingly and gladly. Men do not willingly give their lives for that which they know is false or that about which they have serious doubts. What do we owe them - and the Christ - whose resurrection they witnessed - those who left their indelible testimony imprinted upon the sands of time ?????? We owe them the response of Thomas: You remember He said that He would not believe (The Resurrection Story) unless He could see, touch, and feel the prints the nails made in Jesus’ hands, and the scar the spear made in His Side. When confronted with the living Christ, his response was: MY LORD AND MY GOD!!!!
WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE BEGINNING AND CONTINUATION OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH. The beginning of the church is recorded in Acts 2. The only power sufficient to bring the church into existence as described there was (is) the Holy Spirit. The coming of The Holy Spirit was based on the reality of the Resurrection of Christ and His being alive after his Ascension & able to keep His promise to His Apostles to send the Holy Spirit to them. The Church was established. The Church is still here - in this world. We know its beginning - its birthday. The Church has been hated and persecuted by its enemies; abused - misunderstood - neglected by its friends; perverted and shrouded with mystery (never intended by Christ, His Apostles, or Scripture) by false prophets and teachers. Yet the fact remains that The Church is still here after 20 centuries of time. Its existence is confirmation of the promise and prophecy of Jesus that on the Rock of the fact that He was - and is - the Divine Son of God - He would build His Church and even the gates of hell would not be able to withstand the mighty onslaughts of His Kingdom. When we know what we do about the Jewish Institution built around the Mosaic law - we understand that the only power that could have overturned the tables of Judaism and set in its place - The New Testament Church - was the reality of the Resurrection of the Son of God. Peter’s sermon on Pentecost (Acts 2) drew from the audience a response of repentance and obedience that brought the New Testament Church into existence. The conclusion of that sermon was: "This same Jesus God has raised up whereof we are all witnesses" and "God has made this same Jesus whom you have crucified both Lord and Christ".
WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE BEGINNING, EXISTENCE, AND PERPETUATION OF THE LORD’S DAY.
It deserves to be said that the Lord’s day was not designed to be a "Christian Sabbath" or a continuation (extension) of the Old Testament Sabbath. Sabbath observance fits into all those "handwritings & ordinances that were against us which were nailed to the Cross". (Colossians 2:14) When we know what we do about Judaism & the Jewish Institution of the Sabbath - and its observance - we become aware that the only power strong enough to convince the Jew to forsake it would have been - & is The Resurrection of Christ. Consider: The Beginning of the Church was on Sunday (Pentecost). By Acts 20, The disciples were (still) meeting on the first day of the week to "break bread" (observe The Lord’s Supper.) Paul instructed the Corinthians when they came together "on the first day of the week" to bring their tithes & offerings. John, when in exile on the Isle of Patmos, writing the Revelation related that we was "in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day." (Revelation 1) We are to understand that this change (from the Sabbath to the Lord’s Day) was made in the presence of the Inspired Apostles, beginning at Pentecost. If it was an error, none of them made any attempt to say so - or to correct it. Rather those first century Christians were taught & exhorted (encouraged) to continue steadfastly in the Apostle’s Doctrine, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread (The Lord’s Supper) and Prayer. Paul, In Hebrews 10 exhorts them to "not forsake the assembling of themselves together" - & gives a lengthy discourse of the sin & dangers of habitually & purposely doing so.
WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE OBEDIENCE OF THE ORDINANCE OF BAPTISM
The obedience of the repentant believer in baptism has no meaning or significance apart from the Resurrection of Christ. To begin with - If Christ did not arise from the Grave - The Obedience of Baptism is totally meaningless & unnecessary. We are to identify with Christ’s death - His burial - AND His Resurrection. Our acceptance by faith that He died on the Cross for our sins - and our repentance (sorrow for sin & resolving to forsake it) - our death to sin - self - the world - the flesh - the devil - is our identification with His death. Having died with Christ, we are buried with Him (Colossians 2:12) For it is a trustworthy statement: If we died with Christ, we shall also live with Him. (2 Timothy 2:11) We were buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall be also in the likeness of His Resurrection. (Romans 6:4-5) The thrust of Romans 6 is that the Obedience of our Baptism is a picture of - an enactment of - our identification with - the Death - Burial - Resurrection of Christ. The Obedience of our Baptism is more than ritual or form - though there is form to it. (In our baptism - Paul says we obey from the heart THAT FORM OF DOCTRINE delivered to us. Romans 6:17) Again - the Obedience of Baptism has been hated & scoffed at by unbelievers (Please note that one of the reasons the devil hates this doctrine so much - & our proper obedience to it - is that it is in our Baptism that we identify {sometimes we say contact} with the Atoning Death Of Christ - & as a result - His Redeeming , Saving, Sanctifying, Justifying Blood. Almost more than anything else - the devil hates the Blood of Christ) The Obedience of Baptism has been misunderstood - abused - misused - & neglected even by those who claim to be God’s People. But the commandment for it is still in the New Testament, & we are commanded to be baptized into Christ - for the Forgiveness of our sins - to have our consciences cleansed - to receive the Holy Spirit - and to identify (contact) the Death - Burial - & Resurrection of Christ. That commandment has been obeyed by repentant - obedient - believers - beginning at Pentecost down to the present time. Where did it originate if not in the historical fact on which it is based (both the design - AND - the commandment to obey it?)
WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE & PERPETUATION OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
Most people know that it was on the night of the observance of the Passover Feast with His disciples that our Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper - the Communion Service with the Command & Request: DO THIS IN REMEMBRANCE OF ME. We are aware that He said the broken bread was His Body - & the Cup was His Blood to be shed (poured out - not spilled) for the remission of sins. We remember that Paul taught that it was (is) not a physical meal, but a time of (spiritual) self-examination - a time when we remember His sorrows & sufferings for our sins - & devotionally enter into those sufferings. But that is not all it means. That is not its entire purpose - as significant - meaningful - & important as that is. Paul informs the Corinthians (I Corinthians 10 & 11) that by faithfully & conscientiously observing the Lord’s Supper - we PROCLAIM THE LORD’S DEATH UNTIL HE RETURNS. Get this please! The Lord’s Supper has absolutely no meaning or significance without the Resurrection of Christ - that is if The Resurrection Of Christ - is not a reality. The Lord’s Supper is not just to be observed - - it is to be observed - - UNTIL JESUS RETURNS. The observance is based not only on His atoning death - but also on the fact that He arose from the grave - & that He even now is alive, & is coming again in all His glory. Again the Lord’s Table has been hated & despised by the enemies of Christ. It has been misunderstood & perverted by many presently & thru the ages of time. It has been (& often still is) abused, misused, or neglected by the friends of Christ. However, The Lord’s Table still stands (even after 20 Centuries of time) as a tremendous - powerful witness & testimony to the Death - Burial & Resurrection of Christ - & to His sure return in all His Glory to receive us to Himself. Let us ever order our hearts & lives that we never count the Blood of the Covenant whereby we have been sanctified an unholy thing - & thereby do despite to the Holy Spirit of Grace!!! Take seriously the Lord’s Table - & - The Crucified - Resurrected - Living Lord Of The Table. He will return. He is coming again. When we faithfully, reverently, sincerely, week by week, eat of the Bread - & drink of the Cup in obeying the Lord Jesus - we proclaim His Death until He returns.
. WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE EXISTENCE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT
The central theme of the New Testament is the Birth - Life - Ministry - Death - Burial - Resurrection - Ascension - and sure Return of Christ. The New Testament was written by four apostles and four prophets. Christ had promised after His departure that He would send the Holy Spirit who would lead and guide them into all truth. The message of the New Testament is that He died and arose from the grave as He said He would. Then He ascended to heaven from where He sent the Holy Spirit (On Pentecost). The New Testament is the product of The Holy Spirit coming to inspire the Apostles and Prophets and to lead and guide them into all truth. The New Testament has inherent within itself the power to save, redeem, convert, sanctify, etc. etc. by virtue of the fact that it presents to us a Resurrected, Living, Savior (And Redeemer). The New Testament has been hated and despised by the enemies of Christ. They have attempted to destroy it by outlawing it, burning it as well as its translators and teachers. Philosophers, Atheists, Agnostics, and Unbelievers have attempted to disprove it, discredit it, BUT THEY ARE GONE (AND MOST OF THEM FORGOTTEN) THE NEW TESTAMENT STANDS AS AN ETERNAL WITNESS TO THE CLAIM OF THE LIVING CHRIST: HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY BUT MY WORD SHALL NEVER PASS AWAY.
Only the Resurrected Christ could have inspired His apostles and prophets to write the New Testament (by inspiration of the Holy Spirit). Only the Resurrected Christ could have protected & preserved the New Testament thru 20 centuries of time. Only the Resurrected Christ could bring into existence a volume that has the power inherent within itself to save, redeem, sanctify, edify, satisfy, etc. Hear the words of the Inspired Moses as he concluded giving the Law to Israel (They could almost be the words of Christ Himself to us):
Take to heart all the words with which I am warning you today,
which you shall command your sons to observe carefully, even
all the words of this law. For it is not an idle word for you; indeed
it is your very life!!!!!! (Deuteronomy 32:46-47)
Jesus said: The Words I have spoken to you; they are spirit - & they are life. Then, Let the Word of Christ dwell in your richly. (Colossians 3:16)
WE BELIEVE IN THE LITERAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST BECAUSE OF THE EMPTY TOMB
The tombs of great world leaders - religious & otherwise - contain their remains (bones). Unique among all the tombs is the Tomb of Christ - THE EMPTY TOMB. Somewhere in Palestine - there remains as a powerful witness & testimony to the Resurrection Of Christ - His truthfulness & His power - An empty tomb in which Christ was once buried. We have substantiated that Christ died. He was buried. It needs to be repeated: THE TOMB WAS (IS) EMPTY!!! We do not worship a dead Jew - but the Resurrected Christ - The Living Lord - The Reigning King - The Returning Redeemer - The Sinless Son Of God!!!!!
Consider the disciples would (could) not have stolen the body & then perpetrated the story of the Resurrection. They would not have wanted the body. His enemies would have surely produced the body could they have done so in order to disprove the accounts of the Resurrection. THE FACT REMAINS THAT THEY DIDN’T - BECAUSE THEY COULDN’T!!!!
Hear again the message of the Angel: HE IS NOT HERE! HE IS RISEN AS HE SAID! COME SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY!!!! The facts of History emphasize: On the third day - after Jesus died & was buried: The tomb was empty. The stone was rolled back NOT to let the Resurrected, Living Christ - out - BUT - to let the disciples IN that they might see the most powerful testimony to the Reality of Christ’s Resurrection: THE EMPTY TOMB! AND THEY DID! AND IT CHANGED - TRANSFORMED THEM - FOREVER - ETERNALLY! THEY WERE NEVER THE SAME AGAIN. & I can promise you - with all assurance - that if YOU will come see the Place where the Lord lay: You, too, can be convinced that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. He was buried. He arose again the third day, according to the Scriptures. That is The Power Of His Resurrection. If you will confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord - & will believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead - you will be saved. For with the heart we believe unto righteousness. With the mouth - confession is made unto (on the way to) salvation. If you will identify with Him then - become like Him in the likeness of His death (the Bible calls that Repentance); If you will identify with Him - become like Him in His burial - (The Bible calls that the Obedience of Baptism); then you will be like Him in the likeness of His Resurrection. You will arise to walk in newness of life to die no more. That is the power of His Resurrection. When Jesus made His Triumphant Entry into Jerusalem, some Pharisees asked Him to rebuke His disciples for all the noise they were making with their enthusiastic praises in acclaiming Him as Messiah & King. Do you remember what He said: If these were silent: The stones would cry out. Job was told: Speak to the earth - the rocks - it will teach you. & So it is - even now - The stones of that empty tomb - the very heart of the earth cry out: He is not here. He is risen. Come see the place where the Lord lay.
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IMPERATIVES OF THE EMPTY TOMB (REQUIREMENTS OF THE REALITY OF THE REDEEMER’S RESURRECTION):
1. Having identified with His death - i.e. having died with Christ and having been buried with Him, we identify with His Resurrection by coming from the Obedience of Baptism to WALK IN NEWNESS OF LIFE - not just then - but every day we live. (Romans 6) It is ever true that "if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away and have become new". (2 Corinthians 5:17)
2. We accept and implement THE LORDSHIP OF CHRIST in our lives. "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses...This Jesus whom you crucified, God has made Him both Lord and Christ". (Acts 2:32,36) HE IS KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS (Revelation 16:19) The Requirement is for total (complete) obedience (Romans 6:12-16) Jesus still says: Why do you call me Lord and yet will not do the things I say? (Luke 6:46) -AND - Not every one who says "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he that DOES the will of my Father in heaven. (Matthew 7:20-27)
3. We set our minds and affections on the things that are above. (Colossians 3:1- 4): - - -IF THEN YOU BE RISEN WITH CHRIST: Set your mind and affections on those things above, not on the things that are on the earth. Keep seeking the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Lay up treasure in heaven. (Matthew 6:19-21) Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. (Matthew 6:33)
4. Maintain a spirit (attitude) of Repentance and preparedness to stand before God. (Acts 17:30-31; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11) Sin is not to have dominion (Be master) over us. No sin. (Romans 6) Live every hour of every day as if it were our last -and as if before it were over, we could be called to stand in the nearer presence of God - IT MAY WELL BE!
5. Maintain purity of heart and holiness of life. Of the Resurrected Christ it is said: It does not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.......AND HE THAT HAS THIS HOPE SET ON HIM PURIFIES HIMSELF EVEN AS HE IS PURE. (I John 3:1-3) Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8) Without this sanctification (holiness) no man shall see the Lord. (Hebrews 12:14)
6. We believe because He lives we shall live also. (John 14:19) He is the Resurrection and the Life. If we believe on Him, we shall live even if (when) we die; and if we live and believe on Him, we shall never die. (John 11:25-26) When our Christian loved ones disappear (die) we have not lost them (forever) so "we sorrow not as those who have no hope" (Though we do often sorrow) (I Thessalonians 4:13-18)The Resurrection of Christ and our resurrection are tied inseparably together. IT IS EVER TRUE THAT IF IN THIS LIFE ONLY WE HAVE HOPED IN CHRIST - WE ARE OF ALL MEN MOST PITIABLE (MISERABLE)! (I Corinthians 15) The Resurrection Of Christ causes us to know - in reality - what Job only knew by Faith. With real meaning & purpose we can echo His words: As for me I know that my Redeemer lives & that He shall stand on the earth in the latter days. & When the skin worms have destroyed my body - then outside my flesh I shall see God - Whom my eyes shall behold - & not as a stranger.
7. We remember and believe in the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God. The Prophet Daniel prophesied that the God of Heaven would set up a Kingdom that would never be destroyed, but which would crush in pieces all other kingdoms and then would stand forever. If you are a Christian, you are part of that Kingdom (Daniel 2:44). I Corinthians 15:24-26: Then comes the end when He (The Resurrected Christ) delivers up the Kingdom to God. The kingdoms of this world are to become the kingdoms of our Lord and His Christ and it will stand forever. (Revelation 11:15)
8. The development of Christian (Spiritual) maturity. (Romans 8; I Corinthians 3:1-3) The mark of maturity is a faithful, steadfast, fruitful, effective Christian life. That has to be developed. It does not come about overnight - or automatically. We are to be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. (I Corinthians 15:58) Spiritual maturity means Character development - the development of the Character of Christ in us: Called Christian graces and virtues in 2 Peter 1:1-12; and the fruit of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5. We develop spiritual maturity and avoid the condition called "carnality" in I Corinthians 3:1-3 and Romans 8. We develop spiritual maturity and avoid the dangers, pitfalls, curses, and condemnation described in Hebrews 5:11-6:12; We remain faithful to Christ until death - or until He comes again - knowing we will receive the crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
9. The development - and maintaining an evangelistic and missionary spirit (zeal). The first people to learn of the Resurrection of Christ were instructed: GO AND TELL. To them Jesus said: You shall be my witnesses - first in Jerusalem - then in Judaea - then in Samaria - and then to the uttermost parts of the earth. The great commission: Go into all the world preach the gospel to every person (teach all nations-make disciples of them), baptizing them in the name of the Father -the Son & the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:18-20) The mission and purpose of the Church has remained unchanged through 20 centuries of time: Seek and save the lost and build up in the faith those who are saved. (We are either missionaries or mission fields!!!)
10. Maintain a prayerful readiness (watchfulness) for the return of Christ. HE IS COMING! IT IS WRITTEN ON ALMOST EVERY PAGE OF THE NEW TESTAMENT!!! BE READY FOR THE SON OF MAN COMES IN AN HOUR WHEN YOU THINK NOT!!!!!! (Matthew 24:42-46) Of Christ It is said that He was manifested once to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. So Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, shall appear a second time without sin unto salvation. (Hebrews 9:26-28) Christians - the Church thrive on His wonderful promise: I go to prepare a place for you. If I go, I will come again and receive you unto myself.
(John 14:1-6) He did go! He will return! He is coming! Be ready! There is no greater challenge for our ungodly, atheistic, humanistic, immoral age than these words of the Resurrected Christ: heaven and earth shall pass away but my words will not pass away. Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries (cares) of this Life, and that day come on you suddenly like a trap (snare); for it will come upon all those who dwell on the face of all the earth. But keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength to escape all these things that are about to come to pass and to stand before the Son Of Man (Luke 21:33-36). Amen! And Amen! Maranatha!!! Even so Lord Jesus, come quickly!!!!!!!
This Message Prepared by:
Don T. Paden- Interim Minister
Montpelier Church Of Christ
4226 South Wayne Avenue
Fort Wayne, IN 46807
Land Line: 260-744-5700
Cell: 260-579-1808
Email:dtpaden@verizon.net
