Life Of Proof – March 30-31, 2024 (108/365)

Christ rose from the dead.

Among the many things that Paul needed to address in his first epistle to the people of Corinth was the contention that there was is no resurrection of the dead, and consequently, that Christ did not rise from the dead. We read the following in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11:

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word 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 in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Before we move on I’d like to point out that we can’t celebrate resurrection without there being a death first. Paul didn’t waste any words when He indicated Christ died for our sins, and was buried, BEFORE He was raised on the third day.

Paul also points out, that Christ died ‘in accordance with the Scriptures’. A quick click of the ESV brings us to references in the Old Testament in Daniel, Zechariah, and Isaiah –  of Christ being the ‘Anointed One who shall be cut off, and have nothing’, the ‘Shepherd’ who shall be struck by a sword, ‘and the sheep will be scattered‘, and finally, as we know so well, the One who is ‘pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities‘.

But while I thought I knew about all this, it was also actually ‘in accordance to the Scriptures’ that He would be raised on the third day.

We’ve received and declared the promises of Psalm 16:11: ‘You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore’; But let’s not ignore the preceding verse, which is actually attributed to Christ: ‘For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.‘

For further proof we see in the events of Pentecost, Peter quoted Psalm 16. We read it in Acts 2:27-28: “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.”

Christ was the Anointed One who died for our sins.

Christ was the Holy One who was not abandoned to Hades.

He rose from the dead, in accordance with the Scriptures.

Continuing our reading in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19:

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Let’s stop here and just bring to mind that we can say that Christ rose from the dead (1) because it was in accordance with the Scriptures, and here we read (2) it was confirmed by witnesses, who have seen Him crucified, and have encountered Him after three days.

Let’s finish the rest of our Scripture for today:

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that 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 futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

I tried looking into non-Biblical accounts of the resurrection, but then stumbled upon an article that made the following conclusion:

The real issue of the resurrection deals with its evidence. This evidence consists of the testimony of many people who stated that they had seen Jesus after His crucifixion and death. The same people who testified of the resurrection of Christ also gave up their social and economic security and put their lives on the line in order to proclaim that Jesus had risen. Does it make any sense at all to say that they knew Jesus did not rise from the dead and had concocted an elaborate plan in order to deceive a great many people into believing that Jesus had risen? Why would they do that? 

Does it also make any sense that they would continue in this lie while being persecuted, ostracized from family and friends, beaten, imprisoned, and finally killed for what they believed?  It makes more sense to believe that their actions were consistent with their teaching.

In other words, they taught about self-sacrifice, dedication to truth, love, peace, etc., and they based it all on the risen Lord.  It was based upon the truth that they had seen.

– Matt Slick, Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry // CARM.org

It’s pretty simple. I thought I’d go deeper into it but as I was looking at my captive audience I didn’t want to complicate things any further.

We could say that Christ rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures. Finding any other extra-Biblical references or proof to the resurrection can help, but we need to not just realize that the Scriptures are our primary source, but also that the Scriptures THEMSELVES are not only theologically equipping, but actual ancient historical texts.

Second, we can also say that, according to said Scripture, the accounts of the literal witnesses Paul mentioned, down to him, would also suffice as living proof. And so generation after generation risked their lives, sacrificed so much, living and dying to pass on the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, that we would enjoy the same life-bringing message, here and now.

When my own Dad was still alive, and in what would be the twilight moments of his life before transitioning into eternity, we were working on his pension, and other financial matters which required, of all things, documentation that he was still alive. I was asked to take a picture of him holding a newspaper that was printed, circulated and sold during that same day… as proof of life.

Friends in the body of Christ, I kept it simple; If we want proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, look no further than yourself. I pointed to our friend who exhorted for Holy Communion; He was a wreck on the pulpit as he shared about how he was so worried about his fur babies, and how sick they were. I pointed to our sister who exhorted for giving, and shared; testified, that her application for a loan was in perfect timing.

I told them that even in their state of distress or obligation to the world – actually, ESPECIALLY in their circumstances – they project proof of Christ’s resurrection. Their lives, and our lives are the proof of Christ’s life in us.

The thing is, when we say we are Christians, we are also automatically saying that we believe Christ rose from the dead. What we claim to do as Christians is also based on the risen Lord.

Our faith is of value, and our preaching has worth, because Christ rose from the dead.

We represent God and even recognize Him as our Father, because Christ rose from the dead.

We are freed from sin, and our lives have eternal value… all because Christ rose from the dead.

We, too, are able to go forth and live, as a testimony to God’s goodness and power… because Christ rose from the dead.

We can endure persecution, rejection, beatings, imprisonment, and even the end of our physical bodies… because Christ rose from the dead.

What’s the worst that can happen? We are able to face it without fear, because Christ rose from the dead.

What are the greatest moments of our life? What are our deepest desires, and our shallow wants? We are able to lift all of it up to our Heavenly Father… because Christ rose from the dead.

Our literal lives proclaim without fail, without end – that Christ rose from the dead.

We are His proof. Our lives are not life at all.. but Christ rose from the dead.

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Christ said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do’; Because Christ rose from the dead, now we can say, ‘Father, thank You, for because I am forgiven, You are with me in all I do.’

Christ said ‘Truly, I Say To You, Today You Will Be With Me In Paradise’; Because Christ rose from the dead, now we can say,  ‘I am with You, now and forever.’

Christ said, ‘Woman, behold your son’, ‘Behold, your mother’; and now that Christ rose from the dead, fulfilling the will of God, ‘Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother!’

Christ said, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’; Because Christ rose from the dead, we can say, ‘Father, Father, you are always thinking about me!’

Christ said ‘I thirst’, and because Christ rose from the dead, ‘out of our bellies shall flow rivers of living water.’

Christ said, ‘It is finished’, and because Christ rose from the dead, we can say, ‘It has begun’.

Finally, Christ said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commit my Spirit’; and now, because Christ rose from the dead, we are bold to say, ‘Father, You are with all of me’.

I thought I’d have time, but I’ll just share it here. A prayer Hannah gave to the Lord, after she finally had a son, who would eventually grow up to be Samuel, the prophet:

And Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the LORD;

my horn is exalted in the LORD.

My mouth derides my enemies,

because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 “There is none holy like the LORD:

for there is none besides you;

there is no rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so very proudly,

let not arrogance come from your mouth;

for the LORD is a God of knowledge,

and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken,

but the feeble bind on strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.

The barren has borne seven,

but she who has many children is forlorn.

6 The LORD kills and brings to life;

he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The LORD makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

8 He raises up the poor from the dust;

he lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the LORD’S,

and on them he has set the world.

9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces;

against them he will thunder in heaven.

The LORD will judge the ends of the earth;

he will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

1 Samuel 2:1-10

Praise God, and forget not His benefits. To Him be all the glory and praise. He is risen, He is alive!

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