WHAT IF JESUS HAD NOT RISEN FROM THE ?
1 Corinthians 15:12:22 (NLT), Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-7, Luke 24:1-7, 20:1-10, Acts 2:22-36
Introduction:
One of the most vital points of our Christian faith is that of Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the . If the sacrifice of Christ upon the cross is the central theme of Scripture, then the Resurrection is the climactic scene. What if Jesus had not risen from the ? What if He had been an man wrongfully executed, but nothing else? What would that mean for you and I?
- Preaching is useless – no power in the Gospel to change lives.
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles.
- Trust in God is useless – no one greater than ourselves to believe in.
Proverbs 3:5-6
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6Seek his will in all you do, and he will direct your paths.
- Apostles lying about God – the Bible would be nothing more than good fiction.
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It straightens us out and teaches us to do what is right.
- Still under condemnation for our sins – guilt would be the order of the day. No hope for our sins being forgiven.
Romans 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 1:7 He is so rich in kindness that he purchased our freedom through the of his Son, and our sins are forgiven.
Colossians 1:14 God has purchased our freedom with his and has forgiven all our sins.
Romans 10:9 For if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the , you will be saved.
- All who died believing in Christ have perished – no eternal life.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is , but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.
- If our hope in Jesus is only for this life, we would be the most miserable people in the world – no “abundant life” now, or “blessed hope” for the future.
John 10:10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give life in all its fullness. (I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. [KJV])
Titus2:11-14 (KJV)
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly s, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
13And now, brothers and sisters, I want you to know what will happen to the Christians who have died so you will not be full of sorrow like people who have no hope. 14For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus comes, God will bring back with Jesus all the Christians who have died.
15I can tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not rise to meet him ahead of those who are in their graves. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the call of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, all the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and remain with him forever.
* 15:20 – But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the . He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again.
** The resurrection is well verified historically. After His resurrection, Christ remained on earth for forty days, appearing and talking to the apostles and many of His followers. The resurrection appearances are as follow: Mary Magdalene, the women returning from the tomb, Peter, two travelling on the Emmaus road, all the disciples except Thomas, and others with them; all the disciples on Sunday night one week later, seven disciples by the Sea of Galilee, five hundred people in Galilee, James, the disciples receiving the Great Commission, the apostles at the ascension, and the apostle Paul. (Donald Stamps, Full Life Study Bible)
Conclusion:
The FACT is Jesus died for our sins, and rose from the . Our sins can be forgiven, life is worth living, and we have the hope of eternal life because of it!
