The Resurrection Of Christ

The Resurrection Of Christ

Its Reality And Significance

Introduction

"1Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you have received, and wherein you stand; 2By which also you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures:" (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

1. The death, burial, and resurrection are the heart of the gospel.

2. There are those through the ages that have, do, and will challenge and attempt to cast doubt on each of these elements.

3. Concerning the resurrection, here are some past and present theories:

a. The resurrection of Jesus is a lie, it never happened.

b. The resurrection was spiritual in nature, i.e., in as much as His disciples continually perpetuated the myth of the resurrection and His teachings…He lived on.

c. Jesus was resurrected but it was not a bodily resurrection, He came back as a spirit or ghost and showed Himself to His disciples.

4. In this lesson, our aim is to…

a. Validate the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

b. Consider the consequences of denying the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

c. Show the significance of the resurrection of Jesus.

I. The Resurrection

A. The authors of the four gospels affirm that Jesus was raised from the dead:

1. Matthew (Matthew 28:1-15).

2. Mark (Mark 16:1-14).

3. Luke (Luke 24:1-31).

4. John (John 20:1-19).

B. Jesus gave proofs of His bodily resurrection (Luke 24:33-43; John 20:19-29).

1. Jesus Himself says He had a body of flesh and bones (24:39).

2. Jesus invited them to handle Him to verify that He had a body of flesh (24:39).

3. Jesus showed them the wounds in His hands and feet (24:40) and His side (John 20:20). Thomas was invited to touch the wounds in His hands and side (John 20:27).

4. Jesus ate before them (24:41-43).

C. Other testimonies:

1. Paul claims to have seen the risen Jesus (1 Corinthians 9:1; 15:8; cp. Acts 26:12-18).

2. Many other disciples saw Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:3-7).

3. Jesus gave many proofs of His bodily resurrection (Luke 1:1-3).

II. The Consequences Of Denying The Resurrection

A. Preaching the gospel is in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14a).

1. If this element of the gospel is false then how can we be sure that the other elements, and the significance attached to them, are true?

2. Thus, preaching the death and burial of Jesus is meaningless without the resurrection.

B. Our faith is also vain (1 Corinthians 15:14b).

1. Denying the resurrection not only renders the heart of the gospel (death, burial, resurrection) meaningless, it renders ‘the faith’ itself vain, i.e., all the doctrines taught by Jesus and the apostles.

2. For if Jesus was not declared to be the Son of God through His resurrection from the dead (Romans 1:4) then Jesus is proved a lair because He said He would be raised (see Matthew 16:21). And if He is a liar then we cannot believe what He or His disciples have taught.

C. The apostles are shown to be false witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:15)

1. They testified that God raised Jesus from the dead (Acts 2:32).

2. They claimed to have spent 40 days with Him after the resurrection, eating and drinking with Him (Acts 10:39-41).

3. This would make them deliberate liars, deceivers, and frauds!

D. We are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17).

1. It was for this very reason that Jesus was raised from the dead:

2. Barnes comments:

“Your sins are yet unadorned. They can be forgiven only by faith in him, and by the efficacy of his blood. But if he was not raised, he was an impostor; and, of course, all your hopes of pardon by him, and through him, must be vain.”

E. Believers who have died have perished (1 Corinthians 15:18).

1. Their faith would have been in a false Messiah.

2. They would have had no atonement for their sins.

3. Dying in their sins, there would be no hope.

F. Christians are to be pitied (1 Corinthians 15:19).

1. Because of such elevated hopes we are now plunged into an experience of great disappointment. Men often pity those who are so greatly disappointed.

2. Because of the trials, tribulations, and persecutions we endure for a false hope.

3. Because of the pleasures and comforts this world affords that we deny oursleves.

III. The Significance Of The Resurrection

A. It verifies our justification (Romans 4:24-25).

1. Jesus claimed His blood would be adequate (Matthew 26:28).

2. By raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated His acceptance of Jesus as a sacrifice for our sins! (Romans 8:33-34).