The Doctrine of the Resurrection

Curtis Gordon

D.O.C.T.R.I.N.E. • Sermon • Submitted 3 years ago

1 Timothy 4:16

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Preliminary & Review

We have recently been discussing the importance of DOCTRINE

1 Timothy 4:16 KJV 1900

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

We’ve been using the term “doctrine” as an acronym to share what I see to be the eight most important doctrines.

D= Deity of Christ

0 = Original Sin

C = Canon

T = Trinity

R= Resurrection

I = Incarnation

N= New Creation

E = Eschatology

Read 1 Cor. 15:3-8

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 KJV 1900

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most important of the core doctrines.

Floyd Filson writes, “the Christian faith is essentially a resurrection faith…Christian theology is essentially resurrection theology.” (cited in Grider, A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology ch. 13)

Karl Barth called Jesus’ resurrection the “validating” event, for its supports the truth of other events such as His birth of a virgin, His being divine as well as human, His teachings, His atoning death, His present office as the one Mediator between God and us, and His intention of returning in kingly power and glory.”

C.S. Lewis said, “to preach Christianity meant to preach the Resurrection.”

In Peter's sermon at Pentecost, as Luke records it, 13 verses relate to the resurrection of Christ, and only 2 mention His crucifixion. Other sermons in Acts have this as their theme also (see 3:15; 4:10; 5:30-32; 10:40; 13:30-34; 17; 26:23). Indeed, James Stewart is correct in saying that not a line of the New Testament would have been written had it not been for the faith of the early Christians in Christ's resurrection from the dead.

Grider, J. Kenneth. A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology (Kindle Locations 5902-5905). Beacon Hill Press. Kindle Edition.

But even more important than all of the quotes, the Bible declares emphatically if we are going to have eternal life we must believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It’s shocking to say this, but did you know the Bible never once says we must believe in its inspiration or inerrancy in order to have eternal life. But according to Romans 10:9 the belief in Jesus’ resurrection is essential to be saved and have eternal life.

(Gary R. Habermas;Michael R. Licona. The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kindle Locations 356-357). Kindle Edition.)

Romans 10:9 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

I do want to point out however, that the resurrection Paul preaches is based on inspired and inerrant Scripture.

Quickly by way of argument I would like to give a quick and what I feel is powerful argument for the resurrection and then I want to talk about what the resurrection of Jesus means for us -

I believe according to the scriptures that Jesus is who he says he is and the whole burden of proof of the claims of Jesus rests upon one thing - THE RESURRECTION -

If that happened (And with God's help I want to prove it did) then Jesus is Lord

I want to use the acronym HEART to prove this - The Resurrection is at the Heart of the Gospel message and final proof that Jesus is who he says he is.

This is not original with me this was written by Dr. Mark Bird at GBS.

I. The Resurrection: At the HEART of the Gospel

Horrible Death

Heavy loss of blood

When His side was pierced, blood and water flowed out.

Soldiers didn’t break His legs.

Pilate asked for assurance (from the centurion) that Jesus was dead.

He was wrapped completely in bandages and laid in a tomb.

Non-Christian sources confirm the Crucifixion of Jesus.

Empty Tomb

The Jews through history have admitted that the tomb was empty. They only give reason for the tomb’s vacancy—belief in the empty tomb is assumed.

Christianity could not have originated in Jerusalem within a few weeks of the supposed Resurrection if there were no empty tomb.

Why not? No one would have believed the Resurrection if there were no empty tomb, seeing the Resurrection was first preached in Jerusalem (the very city in which the body had lain) within a few weeks of the Crucifixion and burial.

Other explanations for the empty tomb are not reasonable.

Disciples stole the body.

The disciples would have had to sneak by or overpower the Roman guard outside the tomb.

If the disciples stole the body, they died for what they knew was a lie.

Can we trust the apostles to have told the truth?

Peter, crucified

Andrew, crucified

Matthew, by the sword

James, son of Alpheus, crucified

Philip, crucified

Simon, crucified

Thaddaeus, arrows

James, brother of Jesus, stoned

Thomas, spear thrust

Bartholomew, crucified

James, son of Zebedee, the sword

“Nothing in law so convinces courts and juries of the truthfulness of a story as the fact that a man’s life has been consistent with such story.” (Henry Barnett, attorney)

The Jewish or Roman authorities removed the body.

If they had removed it, they would have produced it for everyone to see. Why?

Swoon Theory

More incredible than a Resurrection

Appearances after the Resurrection

In 1 Corinthians 15:3–8, (our text - see you thought I forgot it didn’t you…) Paul gives a list of some of those who saw Christ:

Peter

The Twelve

500 brethren at once, most still alive when Paul wrote this

James

Paul himself

The Gospels also record the testimony of others who saw Christ after He had been crucified.

Record of Women as the first Witnesses

Transformation of Disciples

Peter Cowardly denier to its greatest proclaimer

Paul antagonist to advocate

James, Jesus’ brother – Skeptic (from crucifixion to resurrection) to Superintendent. (becomes leader of Jewish church. )

The Resurrection was a great display of God’s Power

Power to raise the Christ

Power to Change Lives

Resurrection Power

Josh McDowell entered university looking for a good time and searching for happiness in life. He tried going to church, but found religion unsatisfying. He ran for student leadership positions, but was disappointed by how quickly the glamour wore off. He tried the party circuit, but he woke up Monday mornings feeling worse than ever.

Noticing a group of students engaged in Bible study, he became intrigued by the radiance of one of the young ladies. He asked her the reason for it. She looked him in the eye and said, “Jesus Christ.” Josh accepted their challenge to intellectually examine the claims of Christ, and after much research, he admitted that he couldn’t refute the body of proof supporting Christianity.

One of the major factors in his conversion was his inability to ignore the historical resurrection of Jesus Christ, a point he made later to a student at the University of Uruguay who asked him, “Professor McDowell, why can’t you intellectually refute Christianity?”

“For a very simple reason,” replied McDowell. “I am not able to explain away an event in history — the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”

Morgan, Robert J.: Nelson's Annual Preacher's Sourcebook : 2002 Edition. electronic ed. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001, S. 22

We read over there in the great book of mysteries

Rev. 1:17-18

That Jesus appears to John the Revelator and he falls at His feet as dead, Jesus lays His right hand on him and says… “Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was death; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, AMEN; and have the keys of hell and of death.

Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 2769 Garden Tomb’s Soil Analyzed

When the Garden Tomb was discovered in 1885, the godly General Gordon was convinced that this was the place where the body of Jesus had lain. There is a traditional tomb inside the wall of modern Jerusalem, but no certainty attaches to the site.

The Garden Tomb, hidden for centuries, was covered with rubbish twenty feet high. When they first cleared the spot, with great caution they gathered all the dust and debris within the tomb and carefully shipped it to the Scientific Association of Great Britain. Every part of it was analyzed, but there was no trace of human remains. If this is the real tomb of Christ, then Jesus was the first to be laid there and he was also the last.

—Alliance Weekly

When the angels said:

Matthew 28:6 KJV 1900

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

they were saying -

The Gospel Message is True

Jesus is EXACTLY Who He Said He IS

That...

Romans 10:9 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

is true

That we can have a changed life - Because of the cross and the empty tomb.