The Resurrection PartB
In a previous post I compiled three reasons to believe in the resurrection, and then found two others; though I have added this as an update to that previous post, I thought it fitting to bolster the faith of some this Easter by setting these 5 reasons in it’s own post adding Scripture references as well for easy reference.
May the Lord use this to fortify the church further and bless His glorious name, Amen.
One can remember these by thinking of Part A of the Gospel is the death and burial of Jesus and Part B is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you remember the Passion movie, after you witnessed the crucifixion and Jesus was buried there was a great sense of sadness, but the movie comes out at the end with the Stone being rolled away and the Tomb empty, and you leave with a sense of hope. Oh, if that part was left out, what a tragedy it would be! But it is not left out and should not be left out of our Gospel sharing. He is risen and there is hope indeed, there is a part B to the cross, the resurrection! And every person will have a part B, a resurrection of life or to a resurrection of judgment (Daniel 12:1-3; John 5:25-29). Based on Jesus’ part B, there is hope. Let’s be sure we share the whole Gospel, part A (He was crucified and buried) and part B (He rose again! God raised Him from the grave, Romans 10:9-10).
5 Reasons to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Powerful demonstration of miracles and courage recorded in Acts
An empty tomb (Mark 16:1-7, Matthew 28:1-6, Luke 24:1-2, John 20:1)
Real historical witnesses (1 Cor. 15:4-6; 1 John 1:1 seen, looked, touched; John 20:27-29)
The birth and perseverance of the Church (Acts 2; Revelation2-3, 21:9)
Baptism, buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in the newness of life! (Romans 6:4)
Read MoreWhat J.I. Packer Tells New Christians
JI Packer Speaks To New Christians from Mike Anderson on Vimeo.
Historical Evidence for the Resurrection
Desiring God Staff wrote a helpful article on this subject back in 2007 using a variety of scholarly research. The article develops the follow three points, but the points stated are in themselves helpful and encouraging in devotion. I have listed the three major points they gave then put it into a more memorable list for one’s faith and defense of the Gospel.
1. The tomb in which Jesus was buried was discovered empty by a group of women on the Sunday following the crucifixion.
2. Jesus’ disciples had real experiences with one whom they believed was the risen Christ.
3. As a result of the preaching of these disciples, which had the resurrection at its center, the Christian church was established and grew.
To put it in a memorable way, we can believe the resurrection because of:
1. An Empty Tomb
2. Real Historical Witnesses
3. The Birth and Perseverence of the Church
(two aids to memorization can be used: acrostic A.R.T. and/or emphasized words: Tomb, Witnesses, Church)
Update: I was reading through Albert Howell’s (founding pastor 1890) book The Dawn of a New Day and thought of two more important proofs (I am putting this in a second post as well):
Demonstrations of power- after Jesus rose, there was recorded numerous miracles in Acts as well as, perhaps more importantly, the demonstration of courage by the disciples which only could come from a risen Christ.
Baptism- it displays the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in the newness of life.
And yes, I did find a way to make this memorable as well, an acrostic P.A.R.T.B.
5 Reasons to believe in the resurreciton of Jesus Christ:
Powerful demonstration of miracles and courage recorded in Acts
An empty tomb
Real historical witnesses
The birth and perseverance of the church
Baptism, buried with Christ in baptism, raised to walk in the newness of life!
Read MoreGetting old for the glory of God
Here is a sermon that talks of the subject of growing on for the glory of God. It is helpful and encouraging for older and younger. Here is an excerpt:
Read MoreThe works we do on the path of love do not win God’s favor. They result from God’s favor. Christ won God’s favor. And we receive him by faith alone. And love is the overflow and demonstration of this faith.
This is the key to growing old to the glory of God. If we are going to make God look glorious in the last years of our lives, we must be satisfied in him. He must be our Treasure. And the life that we live must flow from this all-satisfying Christ. And the life that flows from the soul that lives on Jesus is a life of love and service. This is what will make Christ look great. When our hearts find their rest in Christ, we stop using other people to meet our needs, and instead we make ourselves servants to meet their needs. This is so contrary to the unregenerate human heart that it stands out as something beautiful to be followed or something convicting to be crucified.
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