By: Gen. Jim — 12/24/18
“For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep (died)” (1 Corinthians 15:16-20).
One philosopher once said, “… death was philosophy’s only problem, and anyone who has watched a loved one die understands that philosophical problem will.” The ongoing debate over the resurrection of Christ Jesus brings to the surface the nature of Jesus’ and the Christian’s destiny: Jesus raised from the dead (Matthew 28:6) gave Him “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth,” (v.18). No death/resurrection, no ALL authority/Lord and Christ destiny… no eternal life (for those who have not repented of their sins) destiny.
We can expect the world’s people not to believe in His resurrection, but we don’t expect parts of the Christian church to be incredulous; we expect them to be zealous for veracity, i.e. devoted to Biblical/historical truth. The scriptures are not silent on this centerpiece/core/foundation of the Christ in faith.
There are numerous cynics/skeptics that deny the Gospel message. It all boils down to: “I don’t believe” – “I do believe.” But if the Bible’s account (and several extra Biblical accounts) is all we have we’re faced with believe or disbelieve. If we do believe, and I do 100 percent! Then we’re challenged to present the facts/truths found in scripture.
This is where algorithm (world’s way of solving a problem by procedure); in Biblical terms, exegesis, i.e. explanation for critical problems here as well for exegetes hold different interpretations. But I find the scriptures plain – Jesus talked about His own death/resurrection/destiny.
The exeget – liberal or conservative – must submit to scrutiny/analysis as Jesus’ claim: “Destroy this temple (His body), and in 3 days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). By Jesus’ resurrection, He could proclaim: “This is the will of Him who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40); “From that time on, Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things… and be killed, and be raised on the 3rd day” (Matthew 16:21); “… just as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father…” (Romans 6:4); “… the spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you…” (Romans 8:11); “… even when we were dead in sins, made us alive together with Christ, and He raised us up and seated us together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus…” (Ephesians 2:5,6); “… many bodies of the saints who had died were raised… after His resurrection…” (Matthew 27:52, 53); “… I am the resurrection and the life…” (John 11:25); “With great power the apostles testified to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus…” (Acts 4:33), (see 17:18); “… to know Him, and the power of His resurrection…” (Philemon 3:10); “… a response toGod… through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21); “And you, being dead in your sins… He has resurrected together wit Him, having forgiven all your sins” (Colossians 2:13); “For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, so that He might be Lord of both dead and living” (Romans 14:9); “… how Christ died for our sins… was buried, rose again the 3rd day…” (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).
Did the resurrection of Christ really happen? One can believe or disbelieve. One can claim the resurrection to be a myth or one can go about demythologizing the texts of the Bible. The “myth” assumption is in the camp of much of the liberal scholarship; no proof! But they fail to prove their “no proof” prejudice.
If the “no resurrection” folks are right – we die and that is it! Nothing to worry about after death; and if the “yes resurrection” folks are right, the NR folks have a lot to worry about.
How can any theologian et al. believe many things in Biblical accounts to be true yet disbelieve Jesus’ physical resurrection? Jesus Himself spoke of His death – resurrection – glorification on repeated occasions. In His earthly days the Jewish leaders (with a few exceptions) did not believe in Jesus’ mission – the Lamb of God to take away sins of the world by His death and resurrection. All they would have to do is present the dead body of Jesus to prove He did not rise from the dead. Even the Roman authorities could have disproved His Messiah-ship by presenting His dead body; neither did!
In short, Jesus’ victory over the tomb provided the impetus for the early church (Ekklesia) to go into ALL the world and preach the Gospel.