the third day - the importance of the resurrection

The Third Day

An Examination of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

The Third Day

The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection

The German chancellor, Konrad Adeneur, once asked Billy Graham this question: ―Mr.Graham, do you really believe that Jesus Christ rose from the

dead?‖ Billy Graham somewhat taken aback by the question said, ―Sir, if I did not believe in the

resurrection of Jesus Christ, I would have no gospel left to preach.‖ Graham said Conrad Adeneur

paused, walked over to the end of the room, looked out of the window, at the post-war ruins and said,

―Mr. Graham, outside of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I know of no other hope for mankind.‖

The Fact of the Resurrection

" Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word

which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He

appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time,

most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and

last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also."(1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

"Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast

the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain."(1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

Paul is about to describe the Gospel, or ―good news‖, which includes the resurrection. This

Gospel:

1. Was preached2. Was received3. Makes believers stand4. Saves believers

―For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was

raised on the third day according to the Scriptures‖(1 Corinthians 15: 3-4)

Theologians agree that vs. 3-5 are one of the earliest Christian creeds, which Paul quotes. Some believe that Paul received it

directly from Peter and James while visiting them in Jerusalem –some five years after Jesus‘ crucifixion.

―For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was

raised on the third day according to the Scriptures‖(1 Corinthians 15: 3-4)

Paul says these points – Christ‘s death, burial, and resurrection are of ―first importance‖ - prōtois - which signifies a prominence; ―most

important‖. Without these three facts, Christianity falls and is worthless. Paul also puts the integrity of Bible on the line and says

these things were prophesied in the Scriptures.

"And He said to them, ―O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets

have spoken! ―Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?‖ Then beginning with Moses and

with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the

Scriptures."(Luke 24:25-27)

What if no Resurrection?

"Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection

of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then

our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified

against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped

in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."(1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

―But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. ‖

(1 Corinthians 15: 13-14)

Paul says his preaching and our faith are ―kenon‖, which means ‗empty‘ and ‗devoid of value‘. This is an important point to understand:

without the resurrection of Jesus, Paul says the Christian faith has no value whatsoever.

―[This is] not simply as having some mixture of falsehood, but as being

altogether an empty fallacy. For what remains if Christ has been swallowed up

by death — if he has become extinct — if he has been overwhelmed by the curse of sin

— if, in fine, he has been overcome by Satan? In short, if that fundamental article

is subverted, all that remains will be of no moment. For the same reason he adds,

that their faith will be vain, for what solidity of faith will there be, where no hope of life is to be seen? But in the death of Christ, considered in itself, there is seen nothing but ground of despair, for he cannot be

the author of salvation to others, who has been altogether vanquished by death.‖

- John Calvin

―Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are

not raised. ‖(1 Corinthians 15: 15)

If Jesus was not resurrected, then Paul says he and the other apostles and fellow workers have been spreading a false religion. But in addition, Jesus is found to be a liar or wrong as well as the

Scripture.

Paul Would be a Liar or Wrong

"―Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed,

having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.‖"(Acts 17:30-31)

"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through

His Spirit who dwells in you.―(Romans 8:11)

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was

raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,"(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

" But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep."(1 Corinthians 15:20)

The Apostles Would be Liars or Wrong

"this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. ―But

God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power."

(Acts 2:23-24)

"And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all."

(Acts 4:33)

"let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the

dead—by this name this man stands here before you in good health."(Acts 4:10)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the

resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"(1 Peter 1:3)

Jesus Would be a Liar or Wrong

"From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and

scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day."(Matthew 16:21)

"As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, ―Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man has risen from the

dead.‖"(Matthew 17:9)

"Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, ―Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets

about the Son of Man will be accomplished. ―For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, and after

they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.‖"

(Luke 18:31-33)

Jesus Would be a Liar or Wrong

"Jesus answered them, ―Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.‖ The Jews then said, ―It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?‖

But He was speaking of the temple of His body."

(John 2:19-21)

―Our Saviour‘sresurrection is truly of

great importance in Christianity, so great that His being or not

being the Messiah stands or falls with it.‖

- John Locke

Jesus Would be a Liar or Wrong

" Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, ―Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.‖ But He answered and said to them, ―An evil and adulterous

generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in

the heart of the earth."(Matthew 12:38-40)

Jesus did not say He would give them no sign. Jesus said THE sign, THE proof that would show Him to be truthful and the Messiah was His resurrection from the

grave.

"―So, having obtained help from God, I [Paul] stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that

the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish

people and to the Gentiles.‖"(Acts 26:22-23)

The Bible Would be Wrong

The Bible Would be Wrong

"I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my

glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to

Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay."

(Psalm 16:8-10)

God the Father Would be a Liar

In the original Greek, the construction of verse 15 seems to indicate Paul saying that God was lying and by God‘s false testimony, he and

the other apostles were spreading falsehoods.

―Now, therefore, he teaches that, if the resurrection of Christ is denied, God is made guilty of falsehood in the witnesses that have

been brought forward and hired by him.‖ - John Calvin

The Uniqueness of Christianity Vanishes

All Dead

and Buried

Buddha

Muhammad

Confucius

VS.

Alive Forever?

―Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are

not raised. ‖(1 Corinthians 15: 15)

If Jesus was not resurrected, then Paul and the apostles word could not be trusted, Jesus could not be trusted,

and the Bible could not be trusted. What source of truth is left…?

"For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also

who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished."(1 Corinthians 15:16-18)

Without the resurrection, Jesus could not have done three things:

1. Conquer Sin2. Conquer Death3. Conquer Hell

Why is this the case? Why couldn‘t Jesus die on the cross for our sins

and His spirit then depart and be with

God? Why did He have to be resurrected to

defeat sin, death, and Hell?

―This firstborn from the dead was raised from the grave, not a

human creature, but a spirit‖

Jehovah‘s WitnessesLet God Be True, pg. 276.

The Anthropology of Man

What is the nature of human beings? Some theories:

• Materialism – humans have a material body but nothing else. All is just a manifestation of matter.

• Idealism – the reverse of materialism – humans only have an immaterial dimension, and the body is nothing more than a mirage to the non-material mind.

• Monism – just as one side of a coin is the same substance as the other side of the same coin, so humans are made up of a body and soul that are the same substance – really just the same thing.

• Dualism – the body and soul are separate components that run in parallel to each other, but never really interact.

• Trichotomy – a person has a separate body, soul, and spirit. With the body, a person is world-conscious; with the soul, they are self-conscious; and with the spirit, they are God-conscious.

The Anthropology of Man

What is the nature of human beings?

A person has a material and immaterial component, but they are unified in one person, with the word for this unity being

hylomorphism.

When God breathed life into man in Genesis 2:7, there was a unity of dust (body) and God‘s breath giving life to the unified person.

Paul touches on this cohesive concept in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 when he says, ―Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;

and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.‖

In the same way God is not three gods but one God in three persons, our immaterial and material sides are one.

The Fall of Man

―The Lord God commanded the man, saying, ‗From any tree of the

garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.‘‖ (Genesis 2:15-16)

The Hebrew word for ―die‖ in verse 16 is muwth, which can mean to die prematurely from neglect of

wise or moral conduct.

The Fall of Man

―For the wages of sin is death‖-Romans 6:23

The concept is simple – you sin, you die. A person experiences separation from God (spiritual death) and

your body ages and dies in a physical manner. Both were consequences of the fall and both have to be undone

because, as we‘ve already seen, man‘s nature involves an inseparable unity between the material and the immaterial.

We cannot just be partly saved – it‘s all or nothing.

The Redemption of Man

"Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all

men, because all sinned—"(Romans 5:12)

Just as through one man sin entered into the world and spread death and separation from

God to all mankind, through another man, freedom from sin, physical death, and separation

from God (Hell) entered into the world.

Jesus had to be raised bodily to fully save mankind and demonstrate victory over sin and death. If He wasn‘t raised bodily, then sin and

Satan won in the garden. What the first Adam lost, the last Adam (Christ) retrieved.

The Redemption of Man

The key difference to remember between Greek/Platonic thought, Gnostic philosophy and

Christianity is this: In the former, salvation is defined as deliverance FROM the body, whereas in Christianity,

salvation is deliverance OF the body.

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;"

(1 Corinthians 15:56)

Without a bodily resurrection of Jesus, sin wins and eternal death is the ultimate outcome for every human being. But because of the sacrifice and victory over sin accomplished by Christ, we are saved

from the sting of sin: "I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name‘s sake."(1 John

2:12)

No Resurrection: Sin Wins

"―I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of

Hades will not overpower it."(Matthew 16:18)

Contrary to many interpretations, ―the gates of Hades‖ does not refer to Satan‘s kingdom. Instead it is a Jewish expression for

death. Jesus was saying that death would not defeat Him, would not defeat His plan for building His Church, and would not defeat

those who would be part of His body. But without the resurrection? As Paul says, ―Then those also who have fallen

asleep in Christ have perished."

No Resurrection: Death Wins

"But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on

immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, ―Death is swallowed up in victory. ―O

death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?‖

(1 Corinthians 15:54-56)

Notice it is only after our resurrection that death will be finally overcome. And if Christ was not raised, as Paul

has said, neither will we be.

No Resurrection: Death Wins

"Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has

no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand

years."(Revelation 20:6)

Without Christ‘s bodily resurrection, Hell wins. Christ‘s resurrection was the proof (or demonstration and vindication) of

God‘s acceptance of Jesus‘ sacrifice. Because He lives, God can credit His provided righteousness to the account of every person who responds by faith to that offer: "He who was delivered over

because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification."(Romans 4:25)

No Resurrection: Hell Wins

"If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."

(1 Corinthians 15:19)

No Resurrection?

―If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

(1 Corinthians 15:32)

No Resurrection?

No Resurrection?

1.The life-giving power of the Gospel is eliminated2.The divinity of Jesus is eliminated3.Salvation from sin is eliminated4.Eternal life is eliminated

But…

"But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep."

(1 Corinthians 15:20)

―no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three

nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days

and three nights in the heart of the earth.‖ (Matthew 12:38-40)

"who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of

holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,"(Romans 1:4)

The Proof of Christ’s Word

―For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was

raised on the third day according to the Scriptures‖

Christ‘s resurrection is of ‗first importance‘ – without it, Christianity collapses.

The Third Day

The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection