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| The Six Basic Teachings
of Christianity (Part 5) Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone! Resurrection of the Dead Resurrection literally means “a rising from the dead”. For many of us this is so absolutely beyond the realm of reason that we cannot even conceive of such a thing. But in the Bible this is one of the main cornerstones of the Christian faith. The natural mind says that such a thing is impossible. But the real issue is whether or not Jesus Christ is God. If He is not God, then the resurrection is certainly ludicrous. Nobody, absolutely nobody raises from the dead. Once you are dead, you stay dead, and no one can do anything about it. But if Jesus Christ is actually God, then the mind has no problem with His resurrection. The God who created the magnificent universe in which we live certainly has power over death; because He is the Creator of Life. So—the real struggle is whether Jesus is God or not. Once a person makes the leap of faith and accepts Jesus as God, then it is relatively easy to believe that He raised from the dead. Before I became a believer I scoffed at the idea that Jesus actually walked on the water. It seemed ridiculous to even entertain such thought. But once I accepted the fact that Jesus is God, then the water-walking thing seemed insignificant. The God who made the water can certainly walk on it if He chooses to do so. And the God who controls life and death also has the ability to resurrect. So this entire concept of the resurrection really boils down to whether or not there is a God; and whether or not Jesus Christ is God. Once these hurdles are jumped, the rest is easy. The resurrection separates Christianity from all other religions and political systems. Every leader who died stayed dead except Jesus Christ. No other religion can boast of the fact that their leader died and then rose again. Buddha stayed dead. Mohammed stayed dead. Confucius stayed dead. Lenin stayed dead. Chairman Mao stayed dead. George Washington stayed dead. Napoleon stayed dead. No matter who the person was or how much power he had, he could not raise himself up from the dead. Then we come to Jesus. We have irrefutable evidence that He rose from the dead. Even the secular historian, Josephus, wrote that Jesus rose from the dead. The Bible (the most respected book in the world, and the best selling book in the world) mentions this as a fact at least 40 times. Thinking scholars down through the ages have accepted as fact that Jesus is God and that He rose from the dead. Jesus Believed in the Resurrection of the Dead. “You err, not knowing the Scriptures, or the power of God. For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have you not read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living!” Matthew 22:29-32 “Jesus said to him (the high priest), I say to you, Hereafter you shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” Matthew 26:64 “ . . . for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.” Luke 14:14 “But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage: neither can they die any more: for they are equal to the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” Luke 20:35-36 “For as the Father raises up the dead, and makes them alive; even so the Son makes alive whom He will.” John 5:21 “Martha said to Him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. Jesus said to her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:24-26 Great power was released when Jesus rose from the dead. “Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” Matthew 27:50-53 “And he (the angel) said to them, Be not frightened: You seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; He is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.” Mark 16:6 Many people saw Him after He rose from the dead! “After that, He was seen by more than five hundred brethren at once; . . .” 1 Corinthians 15:6 “ . . . Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: And that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve: . . .After that, He was seen by James; then by all the apostles. And last of all He was seen by me (Paul) also . . .” 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven devils.” Mark 16:9 “Afterward He appeared to the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe them which had seen Him after He was risen.” Mark 16:14 “. . . He showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them for forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:” Acts 1:3 The Resurrection of Christ was the main message of the early church! “ . . . one must be ordained to be a witness with us of His resurrection.” Acts 1:22 “David spoke of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.” Acts 2:31 “The Sadducees were grieved that they taught the people; and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead.” Acts 4:2 “And with great power the apostles gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33 “. . . He preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection.” Acts 17:18 “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, we will hear you again concerning this matter.” Acts 17:32 “. . . of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” Acts 23:6 “ . . . there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.” Acts 24:15 “. . . touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day.” Acts 24:21 “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:” Romans 1:4 “For if we have been planted together in the likeness of His death, we shall be also in the likeness of His resurrection:” Romans 6:5 “Now if Christ be preached that He rose form the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ is not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-14 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:21 “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.” 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 “That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11 “Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some. Nevertheless the foundation of God stands sure, having this seal, The Lord knows them that are His. And, Let every one that names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” 2 Timothy 2:18-19 “Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:” Hebrews 11:35 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you.” 1 Peter 1:3-4 “ . . . by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him.” 1 Peter 3: 21-22 Resurrection in the Book of Revelation. “But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection: on such the second death has no power, but they shall be priests of God, and of Christ, and shall reign with Him a thousand years.” Revelation 20:5-6 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.” Revelation 20:12-13 “ . . . they shall see their dead bodies three and a half days, and will not allow their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another because these two prophets tormented them that dwelled on the earth. And after three and a half days the Spirit of Life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up here. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.” Revelation 11:9-12 Summary of the Resurrection of the Dead:
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