The Hinge Of Resurrection-3

The HINGE Of RESURRECTION-III

Attention:

The Trapper’s Stove!

An engineer, a psychologist, & a theologian were hunting in the wilderness of northern Canada.

Suddenly, the temperature dropped & a furious snowstorm was upon them. They came across an isolated cabin, far removed from any town. The hunters had heard that the locals in the area were quite hospitable, so they knocked on the door to ask permission to rest.

No one answered their knocks, but they discovered the cabin was unlocked & they entered. It was a simple place ... 2 rooms with a minimum of furniture & household equipment. Nothing was unusual about the cabin except the stove. It was large, pot-bellied, & made of cast-iron. What was strange about it was its location ... it was suspended in midair by wires attached to the ceiling beams.

"Fascinating," said the psychologist. "It is obvious that this lonely trapper, isolated from humanity, has elevated this stove so that he can curl up under it & vicariously experience a return to the womb."

"Nonsense!" replied the engineer. "The man is practicing the laws of thermodynamics. By elevating his stove, he has discovered a way to distribute heat more evenly throughout the cabin."

"With all due respect," interrupted the theologian, "I'm sure that hanging his stove from the ceiling has religious meaning. Fire LIFTED UP has been a religious symbol for centuries."

The three debated the point for several hours without resolving the issue. When the trapper finally returned, they immediately asked him why he had hung his heavy pot-bellied stove from the ceiling.

His answer was succinct. “Had plenty of wire, not enough stove pipe.”

Everything about the unusual situation hinged upon one pivotal reality!

Likewise, Christian faith hangs upon the pivotal reality of Christ’s resurrection.

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our faith is worthless because it cannot circumvent sin!

Christian faith hangs upon Jesus’ Resurrection.

How/Why is Christian faith hinged upon the resurrection?

We have found that Christian faith Hangs upon the Resurrection...

1. PROMISE(Mat. 16:21; Mat. 17:22-23; Mat. 20:17-19)

2. NEED(Jn. 19:31-37)

3. REALITY(Rev. 1:4-7)

4— Christian faith Hangs upon...

The RESURRECTION RESPONSE(Various)

Explanation/Argumentation: (Various)Stance

The stance of Christians regarding the resurrection is undeniable.

Without the resurrection of Christ & of the saved/church/believers, it becomes clear that such belief is ill-founded & not Christian.

Acts 1:15-26—“And in those days Peter stood up in the midst of the disciples (altogether the number of names was about a hundred & twenty), & said, “Men & brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus; for he was numbered with us & obtained a part in this ministry.” (Now this man purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; & falling headlong, he burst open in the middle & all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama, that is, Field of Blood.) “For it is written in the book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; &, ‘Let another take his office.’ “Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in & out among us, “beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.” And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, & Matthias. And they prayed & said, “You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen “to take part in this ministry & apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.” And they cast their lots, & the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles.”

Acts 2:25-32—[Peter states:]““For David says concerning Him: ‘I foresaw the LORD always before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, & my tongue was glad; Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.’[Ps. 16:8-11] “Men & brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead & buried, & his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet, & knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.”