the                  
Glorious Fact
of the
Resurrection

 

 

 

A correct understanding of the Resurrection is of
great importance in a day when so many profess-
ing Christians differ as to its meaning and worth.
As Bible-believers, we are to contend for the
Doctrine of Christ (2 John 9) and to separate
from those who do not hold to that doctrine.   The
Bodily Resurrection of Christ is an indispensable
part of the teaching concerning the Son of God.
It is a glorious and essential fact.   No true born-
again believer should be indifferent as to what
the Bible declares to be the truth.   The Word of
God clearly states, "And if Christ be not raised,
your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."
  1 Cor-
inthians 15:17.   The fact that Jesus is God incar-
nate requires the Resurrection.   God cannot be
held in death; therefore, "...it was not possible
that He
[Jesus Christ] should be holden of it
[death]."
  Acts 2:24.

THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST
The indisputable fact of the Resurrection can be
seen in Christ's own testimony.   Concerning this,
Jesus said, "The Son of man must suffer many
things, and be rejected of the elders and chief
priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised
the third day."
  Luke 9:22.   Jesus not only knew
that He must die a sacrifice for sin, but that He
must also be raised again from the grave.

THE BIBLE
Through its prophetic and direct statements, the
Bible reveals the indisputable fact of Christ's
Resurrection.   Hundreds of years before the birth
of Christ, the Psalmist prophesied, "For Thou
wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt Thou
suffer Thine Holy One
[Jesus Christ] to see cor-
ruption."
  Psalm 16:10.   This prophecy was liter-
ally fulfilled when Christ was raised from the
dead.   There is no possibility of error in the inter-

pretation of this prophecy.   Under inspiration of
the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Peter quoted this Old
Testament prophecy in Acts 2:27, and said of
the Psalmist, "He seeing this before spake of
the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not
left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all
are witnesses."
  Acts 2:31 and 32.

EYEWITNESSES
The testimony of many eyewitnesses who saw
the resurrected Christ gives us undeniable proof
of the Resurrection: "For I delivered unto you
first of all that which I also received, how that
Christ died for our sins according to the Scrip-
tures: and that He was buried, and that He rose
again the third day according to the Scriptures:
and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the
twelve: after that, He was seen of above five
hundred brethren at once."
  1 Corinthians 15:3-
6.   The Resurrection is the heart of the Gospel
message.   The Apostle Peter preached the Resur-
rection without apology (Acts 10:38-43).   Paul,
also, was unswerving in his proclamation of this
glorious truth (read carefully Acts 17:2-4).   These
eyewitnesses went out with boldness and joy
because they knew that they served a risen Lord.

THE EMPTY TOMB
Without question, the empty tomb shows that
Christ rose BODILY from the grave: "And the
angel answered and said unto the women, Fear
not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which
was crucified.   He is not here: for He is risen, as
He said.   Come see the place where the Lord
lay."
  Matthew 28:5 and 6.   This was not merely a
"spiritual resurrection"
nor was it thievery or
trickery; Christ had risen BODILY as He had said.
His own words in John 2:18-22 confirm the fact

that He rose BODILY from the grave.   In verse 19,
Christ says.   "Destroy this temple, and in three
days I will raise it up."
  In verse 21, this temple
mentioned by Jesus is clearly "the temple of His
BODY."
  The disciple remembered this dis-
course after He was risen and, therefore, accept-
ed as fact Christ's bodily Resurrection (verse 22).

The fact of the Resurrection is established by
Scripture.   As Bible-believers, we can rest in
this blessed truth and contend boldly with any
who would attempt to discredit this historical
account.   Yet, to the believer, the Resurrection
means much more.   Because Jesus Christ rose
from the grave, certain blessings and promises
are afforded those who have entrusted their
souls to the LIVING SAVIOUR.

PAYMENT ACCEPTED
The Resurrection proves that Christ's sacrificial
payment for our sin was accepted by God.   Jesus
Christ shed His blood as the payment for our sin:
"And He is the propitiation [appeasing sac-
rifice] for our sins: and not for ours only, but
also for the sins of the whole world."
  1 John
2:2.   The perfect sacrifice was offered, and any
lost sinner is justified, or made right with God, by
trusting in that precious blood (1 Peter 1:18 and
19).   In Romans, God's Word states, "Who
[Jesus] was delivered for our offences, and
was raised again for our justification."
  Romans
4:25.   In essence, we are justified by faith in His
shed blood.   Christ was raised because God
accepted His death as the perfect and only basis
for our justification.

LIFE-GIVING POWER
The Resurrection shows that Christ has the
power to give life to those who believe.   God's

Word says, "And so it is written, The first man
Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam

[Jesus Christ] was made a quickening spirit."

1 Corinthians 15:45.   The assertion of this Scrip-
ture is that Jesus Christ has the ability to "quick-
en"
or to "make alive."   In the Gospel of John, the
Saviour declares: "For as the Father raiseth up
the dead, and quickeneth them: even so the
Son quickeneth whom He will."
  John 5:21.   We
see, therefore, the resurrected Saviour who has
this life-giving power.   Today He imparts life to
all who believe.   "But as many as received Him,
to them gave He power to become the sons of
God, even to them that believe on His name."

John 1:12.

VICTORIOUS LIFE
The Resurrection also assures us of the power
needed to live a victorious Christian life: "And
what is the exceeding greatness of His power
to us-ward who believe, according to the work-
ing of His mighty power, which He wrought in
Christ, when He raised Him from the dead...."

Ephesians 1:19 and 20.   There will never be any
trial too great, any burden too heavy, or any
temptation too strong.   The same power that
raised up Jesus is available to all who believe.   As
we learn to trust Him more and ourselves less,
He will be able to display daily His mighty power
in our lives.

PATTERN FOR THE FUTURE
Finally, the Resurrection reveals the pattern of
what lies ahead for the believer.   Christ is the
firstfruits, that is, the firstborn from the dead.   He
was resurrected from the grave and the promise
is, then, that we will be raised in like manner.
"But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept.   For

since by man came death, by man came also
the resurrection of the dead.   For as in Adam all
die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."

1 Corinthians 15:20-22.   Because Christ arose,
all who are His shall, at His appearing, receive
new, resurrection bodies (see Philippians 3:20
and 21).   Whether living or dead, "...we shall all
be changed."
  1 Corinthians 15:51.   What a
blessed future is in store for all who place their
trust in the resurrected Saviour and Lord, Jesus
Christ!

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is a glorious
fact.   Jesus Christ lives today!
  He imparts life to
lost souls who believe the Gospel message.   He
empowers believers to live victorious Christian
lives.   Do YOU know the risen Lord as your per-
sonal Saviour?
  He died to pay the penalty for your
sins.   He arose victorious from the grave!   Trust
Him as your Saviour today!

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His
only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
Him should not perish, but have everlasting
life."
  John 3:16.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth
my Word, and believeth on Him that sent me,
hath everlasting life, and shall not come into
condemnation; but is passed from death unto
life."
  John 5:24.

Fundamental Evangelistic Association
P.O. Box 6278, Los Osos, California 93412

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