THE
RESURRECTION OF CHRIST - DID IT HAPPEN?Introduction: The attention of the religious world is on the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. However, we do
not have any authority in the New Testament to set aside one
day a year to remember His resurrection. In the King James
translation (which would be the only translation that has the
word "Easter") we have only one place that you will find the
word "Easter" and it is a mistranslation (the word means
"Passover"). Instead, we remember it every first day of the
week when we come together to worship Christ. Today, I
want to show that Christ was raised from the dead and what
it means for us today. Body:
I. Was Jesus raised from the dead?
A. Did Jesus really die?
1. There are people who believe that Jesus did not really
die on the cross.
a. That He just fainted and the people just thought
that He was dead.
b. This is called the swoon theory.
2. Jesus was scourged. Mark 15:15. "The Roman scourge consisted of
a short wooden handle to which several thongs were attached, the ends
equipped with pieces of lead or brass and with sharply bits of bones.
The stripes were laid especially on the victim's back, bared and bent.
Generally two men were employed to administer this punishment, one
lashing the victim from one side, one from the other side, with the result
that the flesh was at times lacerated to such an extent that deep-seated
veins and arteries, sometimes even entrails, inner organs, were exposed.
Such flogging...often resulted in death." (William Hendriksen)
3. A spear was thrust into His side. John 19:34.
4. The Jews believed that He was dead and asked for a guard. Matthew 27:62-66.
5. When Joseph of Arimahtea asked for the body of Jesus, Pilate asked the
Roman centurion (who would certainly know if a person was dead or not)
if Jesus was dead. Mark 15:44-45. B. The Testimony of Jesus.
1. John 2:18-21.
2. Matthew 12:40.
3. Matthew 16:21.
4. Matthew 20:18-19. C. The Testimony of the Scriptures.
1. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.
2. Acts 13:33.
3. Acts 2:30-31. D. The Testimony of His Appearances.
1. 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 - The majority of which was still alive when Paul wrote
the letter.
2. John 20:14-17 - Mary Magdalene.
3. Luke 24:13-32 - The two disciples on the road.
E. The Testimony of the apostles.
1. John 20:24-28.
2. Acts 2:32; 10:41.
3. Acts 17:31.
4. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14.
F. The Testimony of the open tomb.
1. Some think the disciple stole His body. But yet there was the problem of the
Roman soldiers keeping guard, and if the body of Jesus was stolen while they
were guarding it, they would have been killed.
2. Some think that the disciples went to the wrong tomb.
a. I remember reading a book in which the author stated that in another
book that he had written, he had proved beyond any shadow of a
doubt that the disciples had gone to the wrong tomb.
b. Yet, we read in Matthew 27:55-56; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55.
3. If Jesus had still been in the tomb, it would have a simple matter for the Jews
to bring forth the body of Jesus when the apostles began to preach that Christ
had been raised from the dead. This would have put an end to Christianity.II. What does the resurrection of Christ from the dead mean for us today?
A. Jesus was declared to be the Son of God with power. Romans 1:4. B. If He had not been raised from the dead, then our religion would be in vain.
1. 1 Corinthians. 15:13-14, 17.
a. Preaching.
b. Faith.
2. 1 Peter 3:21 - Baptism.
C. We will be raised from the dead. 1 Corinthians 15.
1. The context of 1 Corinthians 15.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:12-13.
3. Therefore, we have the hope of heaven. John 5:28-29.Conclusion:
I. We see that Jesus was raised from the dead and therefore we will too, one day.
Because of this, Paul gives a certain admonishment in 1 Corinthians 15:58.
II. But you can not abound in the work of the Lord without being in Christ. How
does one get into Christ?
A. Hear. Romans 10:17.
B. Believe. Mark 16:16.
C. Repent (change of one's mind or purpose). Acts 2:38.
D. Confess your faith in Christ. Romans 10:9-10.
E. Baptized into Christ. Acts 2:38; 22:17; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27.
III. If you have been baptized into Christ, but you are not abounding in the work of
the Lord, you need to repent (Acts 8:22), confess your sins (1 John 1:9), and
pray for forgiveness (Acts 8:22).
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