They Believed In The Resurrection Series

“They Believed in a Risen Christ”

Acts 1:3

It was Easter Sunday morning in 1932 and Pastor Alfred Ackley was getting ready for the service. He happened to turn on the radio and the announcer said, “We will now join the complete red and blue networks for a special program originating in New York City.” The speaker introduced was a well known preacher who was known for his liberal thinking. He greeted his radio audience with the words, “Good morning. It’s Easter. You know folks it really does not make any difference to me if Christ be risen or not. As far as I am concerned his body could be as dust in some Palestinian tomb. The main thing is his truth goes marching on.”

Alfred Ackley started shouting, “It’s a lie, it’s a lie.” His wife came in and asked, “Why are you shouting so early in the morning ?”

Ackley replied, “Didn’t you hear what that good for nothing preacher said? He said, it did not matter whether Christ was risen or not.”

That day in both services Pastor Alfred Ackley shot with both barrels, blasting what the preacher said and proclaiming the truth that Christ was risen from the dead and was alive. But when he got home

that evening he was still fuming. His wife said to him, “Why don’t you write a song about it and then maybe you’ll feel better. Then you will have something that will go on telling the story.” He went to his

study and turned again to the resurrection story and reread the words, “He is not here for He is risen.” He picked up his pen and wrote these words,

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today

I know that He is living, Whatever men may say

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer

And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.”

He lives, He lives; Christ Jesus lives today

He walks with and talks with me

Along life’s narrow way

He lives, He lives, salvation to impart

You ask me how I know He lives

He lives within my heart

In all the world around me I see His loving care,

And tho' my heart grows weary I never will despair;

I know that He is leading thro' all the stormy blast,

The day of His appearing will come at last.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart.

Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing

Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!

The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find,

None other is so loving, so good and kind.

He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me

Along life's narrow way.

He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart.

When we read the book of Acts we see so many amazing things that were accomplished by the apostles and the first church. We see souls saved literally by the thousands. The Scriptures speak of 3000, 4000, and over and over of many people at one time coming to Christ. The book of Acts would argue greatly with those who do not believe in mass-evangelism.

We see people healed of disease, set free from prisons, and delivered miraculously time and again from circumstances that looked hopeless.

We see the church marching on, proclaiming the gospel with boldness in the face of the worst persecution and suffering ever imagined.

How is it that the apostles and this first church moved forward, with such speed and was victorious at every turn? It is because they believed and nothing were they more convinced of than the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is what sets Christianity apart from all other faiths, religions, and beliefs in this world. Paul said “if Christ be not risen from the dead then we , Christians, are to be pitied above all other people.” But now, Christ, is risen from the dead and it is a fact not fiction.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is absolutely essential to the Christian faith. Everything we believe stands or fall on this one truth. If Christ is not risen from the dead then men are still lost in their sins including each of us. If Christ is not risen then everything we as believers hold dear is meaningless. If Christ is not risen from the dead our songs mean nothing and our sermons mean nothing. If Christ is not risen from the dead then our gathering here is worthless and meaningless.