EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION: PAUL’S PERSONAL TESTIMONY
I Corinthians 15:8-11
Second hand information is defined as “information received from others, rather than personally experienced or witnessed”. There are times when we receive secondary information and the account is absolutely trustworthy and accurate. At other times we are told only a portion of the story, and important details are missing. Then there are times when we receive a report that is factually incorrect.
When I was in Jr. High School one of our teachers taught us an important lesson about the danger of hearsay and spreading rumors. There were about 30 students in that class, and we were sitting in a circle. The teacher whispered something into the ear of the student closest to him. Each student was then instructed to whisper that exact same phrase to the person next to them. After that information had been passed through the whole class, the final student was then instructed to stand and share what he heard from the student before him. What he said was not even close to being an accurate representation of what was stated at the beginning of the demonstration.
There are numerous stories and testimonies from church history that have been handed down for generations. A great many of them are factual and trustworthy. Some have been diluted or modified through the years, and some are completely inaccurate. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a doctrine that has been handed down for almost two millennia and there is more than ample evidence to support its authenticity.
For the last several weeks we have been looking at much of the evidence that supports the truth that Jesus Christ suffered, died for our sins, and rose on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. The evidence that we have examined has been provided by the Apostle Paul and is recorded in his letter to the Christians at Corinth. He is laying a foundation with the intention of proving to certain doubters that one day, all who are “in Christ” will experience their own literal, bodily resurrection. Paul has presented the Prophets of God, the Scriptures, Cephas (Peter), the rest of the Lord’s Apostles, five hundred Brethren who saw Christ at one time, and James as evidence of the Resurrection.
Thus far, Paul has only shared second-hand information. While there is much reason for us to believe the testimonies that have been recorded, we are able to find even more assurance that the doctrine of the Resurrection is reliable in 1 Corinthians 15:8-11. This is one of numerous passages where the Apostle Paul shares a personal testimony of the transformation that Jesus worked in his own life.
- As we conclude our series concerning “Evidence Of The Resurrection”, I would like to examine:
PAUL’S PERSONAL TESTIMONY
v8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Because of the various accounts of Paul’s conversion in scripture, we know that he met the Lord Jesus while on the Road to Damascus. This encounter is described in great detail in Acts 9:3–8; 22:6–11; 26:12–18. There are many other passages in Paul’s writings that point to this transformative moment in his life.
After describing the eyewitness encounters of those who saw Jesus after His Resurrection, Paul declares that even though he was “one untimely born”, Jesus “appeared” to him. The Greek word for “untimely born” is “Ektroma” which was used to refer to an abortion, miscarriage, or premature birth. In using this terminology, Paul points to the fact that his conversion and call to Apostleship was unexpected and abnormal.
The Apostle did not see the empty tomb, he was not present when the Lord appeared to His Disciples as they were gathered together on the Eve of the Resurrection, he was not there when Jesus was seen by those five hundred brethren, nor was he in attendance when the Lord ascended. In fact, Paul’s encounter with the Savior happened after Jesus had taken His rightful place beside His Father in Heaven.
In verse 9, Paul declares himself to be “the least of the Apostles”, and states that he is “not even worthy to be called and Apostle”. This is not because he was born at the wrong time, nor was this an example of false humility, rather, Paul felt that he was unworthy to be called an Apostle because he “persecuted the Church of God”.
Before he met Jesus on Damascus Road, his life’s mission was to discredit Christ and destroy the Church. In the closing verses of Acts 7 we are told that as the Jews executed Stephen, Saul/Paul was there and consenting to his death. (Acts 7:58 Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul.) Acts chapter 8 begins with a report of the persecution that Saul of Tarsus led against Christ’s Church. (8:1 And Saul approved of Stephen’s execution. And there arose on that day a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles. 2 Devout men buried Stephen and made great lamentation over him. 3 But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.)
This report was not hearsay, nor was it someone’s exaggerated account of the events that transpired. For Paul admitted to his extreme persecution against the followers of the Lord as he shared his testimony with King Agrippa in: Acts 26:9 “I myself was convinced that I ought to do many things in opposing the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 And I did so in Jerusalem. I not only locked up many of the saints in prison after receiving authority from the chief priests, but when they were put to death I cast my vote against them. 11 And I punished them often in all the synagogues and tried to make them blaspheme, and in raging fury against them I persecuted them even to foreign cities.
Later, when writing to the Galatians, Paul again referenced his life before Christ and testified to his actions of persecution and destruction concerning the Church. He said, “For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.” (Galatians 1:13)
Prior to his conversion, Paul’s goal was destruction and for a time he was very successful in causing fear and even physical harm to those who were faithful followers of the Lord Jesus. But one day the last thing he could have expected happened to him. As he journeyed towards Damascus with written authorization to arrest Christians and to bring them bound back to Jerusalem, Paul came face to face with grace! The record of this transformation is first recorded in Acts chapter 9. There Luke tells us that:
“as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him. And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.” (Acts 9:3-9)
After this, the Lord sent a disciple at Damascus named Ananias to minister to Saul. Understandably, Ananias was apprehensive and feared being in Saul’s presence. However, Jesus assured him that He had a special and specific plan for this man that we now know as the Apostle Paul. Jesus said to Annanias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (Acts 9:15-16)
Ananias did as the Lord commanded and entered the house where Saul was staying and laid his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. (Acts 9:17-19)
Following this, Saul ironically spent some time with the followers of Jesus in Damascus, (the very people that he had intended on arresting and taking back to Jerusalem to stand before the Chief priests). After this, he entered the synagogues and began to preach that Jesus was indeed the Son of God. This action brought confusion and concern to the Jews, and joy and astonishment to those who followed Christ. And this was just the beginning, the majority of the New Testament records the amazing work that God did in the life of this faithful servant. Paul served as a preacher, evangelist, church planter, missionary, and Apostle. However, one of his favorite terms used to describe himself is a bond servant or “slave” of Jesus Christ.
Even though he saw himself as not even being “worthy to be called an apostle”, I think it is safe to say that no mortal man has served to spread the Gospel, advance the Kingdom, and strengthen the Church of Christ more than the Apostle Paul. In our selected text, Paul goes on to tell us how this was made possible. He declares that it was not by human effort, rather it was the grace of God working in and through him. He says in verse 10 “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me”.
This testimony of grace was a common theme in Paul’s preaching. Paul did not work for his salvation; in fact his personal testimony proves that he certainly didn’t go looking for Jesus. Jesus came to him. Jesus called his name; Jesus commissioned him to serve in the gospel ministry. Though Paul did not work to earn his salvation, he responded to his salvation by fervently laboring for the Lord who had sought him out and changed his life eternally. Though he was confident enough to proclaim that he “worked harder than any of them”, Paul was also humble enough to acknowledge that he was not capable of accomplishing anything beneficial for the Kingdom apart from the grace of God that was working in him.
For the last 4 weeks (8 sermons total) we have listened as Paul defends the authenticity of the Resurrection. He has told us how the Prophets and scriptures pointed to the day when the Lord would rise from the grave. He has told us of those many people who had first-hand encounters with Jesus after His Resurrection. Now he has referenced his own personal experience with the Lord Jesus.
Before we close, I would like to share with you one passage that solidifies my belief that Paul truly believed in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the future resurrection of the Saints. It is found in 2 Corinthians 11:21-29, in that passage Paul shares a detailed account of the things that he suffered as a servant of Christ, he says:
“whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches”.
Common sense tells me that Paul would not have endured all of these things if he did not truly believe that he had seen the Risen Christ. There are many people who profess to believe the Gospel and they claim to belong to Jesus, however their actions do not match their words. Paul was a man who truly talked the talk and walk the walk. So much so that in the end he was willing to die for the cause of Christ. We do not know the exact details, but tradition tells us that Paul was beheaded in Rome, thus dying as a martyr for the cause of Christ that he championed throughout his life. Therefore, I believe that the Apostle Paul is truly a reliable witness of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Most of the witnesses that Paul mentioned in this passage suffered and died as a result of their love, devotion, and service to Christ. They endured such horrific suffering and death because they believed the Gospel message that declares that “Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”.
I began this series by stating that, we can agree to disagree on many doctrines in the Bible, but the resurrection is a doctrine about which there is
no room for debate. The scriptures make it clear that one cannot by saved if they deny the reality of Christ’s resurrection. Paul said in Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
This world is filled with people who profess to know Jesus, Multitudes want the benefits that come from a relationship with Him, yet for many there is no visible evidence that they have ever had a personal encounter with Him. Those who have truly seen the risen Christ will exhibit the evidences of a transformed life that only He can provide.
If you belong to Jesus, you have had an encounter very similar to the people mentioned in this passage. Though we have yet to see Him with our physical eyes, He has appeared to us in a very real and powerful way. So much so that we can live this life with full assurance that Jesus is alive and because of this we are able to possess security concerning our salvation and all of the many promises of God.
Jesus lived, He suffered, He died and was buried, He rose on the third day in accordance with the scriptures. After His Resurrection He appeared to His followers, in time He ascended to Heaven with a promise that one day He would return for His own. Those who repent and believe in Him have the opportunity to experience Him daily and know that we will be with Him eternally.
Maybe you still have some doubts concerning the authenticity of the Resurrection, if so, I submit to you the testimonies of Cephas, the Twelve Apostles, those 500 Brethren, James and the Apostle Paul as Evidence Of The Resurrection. It is our prayer that you see this evidence and respond by putting your faith in the Risen Christ.
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