HE WHO SAID “I THIRST” HAD CREATED THE SEAS

There He was, God the Son, incarnate in human flesh, nailed to Calvary’s cross. Jesus Christ was dying for all of mankind “by the grace of God” (Hebrews 2:9). He had been hanging on that rugged cross almost six hours. While He was on the cross He spoke seven times. Of the seven sayings of Jesus Christ, the shortest was, “I thirst” (John 19:28). Surely His words indicated the intense suffering He was enduring on that “tree” (Acts 10:39; Galatians 3:13). A Roman soldier gave Him a mixture of sour wine (wine that had passed its time and had turned into vinegar) and well water.

Our Lord Jesus Christ created the “waters” in the beginning (Genesis, chapter one) and yet there he was saying, “I thirst”. He also created the trees, from which wood was used to make the cross on which He hung as He was suspended between heaven and earth. Also He had created the material for the hammer or mallet being used by the Roman soldier to drive the nails into His hands and feet and the spear used by the Roman soldier that pierced His side. Even the soldier was a descendant of the man and woman who God formed/made in the Garden of Eden (Genesis, chapter two). Jesus Christ could have called down “more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53) to rescue Him from that cross “but He died alone for you and me.”

But you may ask, how was Jesus involved in the creation of the heavens and the earth? In Genesis 1:1 we read, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In the Hebrew language, “God” is from ‘Elohim’ which is a noun that is masculine and plural (Emphasis, RE). Now observe what is written in Genesis 1:26, 27: “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness…” (NKJV, Emphasis, RE). “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

In the New Testament we learn that God the Son was truly involved in the creation of the heavens and the earth and all things therein. The apostle John declared this truth in chapter 1:1-3 of his gospel: “In the beginning was the Word (Greek: Logos), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”  In verse 14 we read, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The apostle John bore witness of this great truth. The eternal Word (Logos) was incarnate in human flesh and His name was called “Jesus” (Matthew 1:21, Emphasis, RE).

 

The apostle Paul plainly taught that God the Son (Jesus) was involved in the creation. “He (Jesus Christ) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist (Colossians 1:15-17).

The writer of the book of Hebrews in chapter 1, verses 1-4, speaks of God the Father’s evaluation of His Son: “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become so much better than the angels, as He has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Emphasis, RE).

We can truly say that God the Father was the architect/designer of the heavens and the earth; God the Son (Jesus Christ) executed His plan and God the Holy Spirit was the finisher.

He is the Alpha and Omega,
the Beginning and the End.
The Son of God, King of Kings,
Messiah, Jehovah, The Prince of Peace, is He.
Son of Man, Seed of Abraham,
Second Person in the Trinity.

- From the song, Alpha and Omega, Lyrics by Robbie Trice

“LOVE THE SINNER, HATE THE SIN”

Many mothers have stated that while their son was in prison for killing a person, “I hate what my son has done but I still love him.” A broken hearted wife has found out that her husband has broken their wedding vows by committing adultery. She is overwhelmed with grief and disappointment; but, she wants to save their marriage and expresses her feelings, “because I still love him.” A son is sent to prison for selling cocaine and will be incarcerated for several years. His father hates what his son has done; but, down deep in his father’s heart there remains a love for his wayward son and he will give him moral support. No doubt, there are Christian parents who may have a son or a daughter living with a member of the opposite sex without being married. The parents know the Word of God considers such an arrangement as being the sin of “fornication” and described in the book of Galatians to be one of “the works of the flesh”; and that they “who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God” (Galatians 5:19-21). Don’t you know those parents still love their son or daughter and at the same time hate that sinful relationship? There are Christians parents who have sons and daughters who are homosexuals (Lesbians) and are actively engaged in such a lifestyle. Do not these parents love their children while hating that sinful way of living? Why, of course they do! It is my conviction that the majority of people accept that the foregoing illustrations are, in reality, common occurrences. And, we understand how you can ‘love the sinner and hate the sin’. It is mainly when Bible believing people speak out against the sin of homosexuality (actively engaged in such a life style) and ‘gay marriages’ that we are called ‘homophobic’ and ‘bigoted’. Also we are accused of actually hating the individuals. But, is it possible that a person can love the sinner, yet, hate the sin? Have you ever considered that God loves sinners but hates sin? In Proverbs 6:16-19, we read, “These six things the LORD HATES, (Emphasis, RE) Yes, seven are an abomination to Him” and then the writer list them. This passage is a continuation of the character of the person mentioned in verse 12 who is described as “A worthless person, a wicked man…” The Bible plainly teaches that God loves sinners yet hates sin. How do I know that? Please read the following passage: “But God demonstrates His own loved toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). As children of God we are taught to “LOVE your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). At the same time we learn from the Psalmist, “Through Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I HATE every false way” (Emphasis, RE, Psalm 119:104). Therefore we can love the sinner and at the same time hate the sin. There is hope for those who live the lifestyle of homosexuality and that hope is found in Jesus Christ and the power of the gospel of Christ. Please read carefully the passage of Scripture found in 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God” (NKJV). In Christ there is salvation from sin, strength to overcome our weaknesses and frailties of the flesh, and a blessed assurance of an eternal life with God when our journey on this earth has ended (1 John 5:11, 12). My friends, “Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth” when I write “the truth in love” (Galatians 4:16; Ephesians 4:15)?

TWO WRONGS HAVE THE RIGHT

But, the two wrongs do not make one right. The reason being, the wrongs are not right, singularly or collectively. Now permit me to explain what I mean by all this jargon. On Sunday, October 17, 2004, the Montgomery Advertiser carried an article pertaining to a protest led by an extremist group from the state of Kansas that occurred in Montgomery, Alabama on Saturday, October 16, 2004. The group was comprised of some of the members of the Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kansas. Their basic message in sermon and in songs was that God hates the homosexuals. They also “Thank God for Ivan”, believing that it was punishment sent from God for the immorality that exists in our country. Also that “God hates America.” A daughter of the preacher of this church explained that the signs and slogans are “about the United States’ enabling of the homosexual lifestyle.” Some of the songs and comments expressed the belief of this group that “the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were God’s wrath on homosexuals.” The beliefs of this radical group are not representative of the religious community in our nation. In fact, such extremism is injurious to an understanding of the nature of God and an acceptance of the Bible as being divinely inspired of God. Such ignorance and misguided zeal give fuel to the secular society to ridicule believers in Jesus Christ as being the only Savior of mankind and God the Father being the Creator of heaven and earth. But, these zealots have the right in this country to express their religious beliefs and teachings. For this we are indeed thankful. The truth of the matter is, God loves the homosexual but He hates the sin. In the great Roman treatise concerning the infinite grace of God, it is easy to understand how much God detest the sin of homosexuality. In chapter 1: 18 - 32, we learn that the “wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.” The heathen populace did not “glorify God” and became steeped in idolatry. Because of their willfulness in rejecting God, He “gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves.” “God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use of what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use to the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality…” One can plainly understand from a casual reading of this passage that God condemns the sins of sexual perversion, including homosexuality. However, the Holy Spirit guided the apostle Paul to write in the same book of Romans, chapter 5, verses 6 – 10, “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” The “ungodly” in verse 6, the “sinners” in verse 8 and the “enemies” mentioned in verse 10 would involve all of mankind, including the homosexuals. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). It was by the grace of God that Jesus died “for everyone” (Hebrews 2:9). No greater truth can be found in the Holy Scriptures than this, that God loved/loves the human family, including those who were/are guilty of sexual sins. On the other hand, the second group present on the occasion previously mentioned, was comprised of those who believe that the homosexual way of life is right and should be accepted by society even to the point of making it legal for persons of the same sex to be married. Under the picture of two women hugging one another on page 4c of the Montgomery Advertiser, it reads that one woman “embraces her wife”. Yes, you read that correctly, a woman who “embraces her wife” (Emphasis mine, RE). There are many passages in the Bible, including Romans 1:18-34; I Corinthians 6:19–20, that prove beyond a shadow of doubt the homoerotic lifestyle is sinful in the mind of God. Also, when the design of marriage and the relationship of man and woman are considered in view of the infinite wisdom of God, one has to conclude that same sex marriages and the homoerotic lifestyle are expressly forbidden in the Holy Scriptures. In Genesis 1:26-28, we read the following, “Then God said, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…” “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply: fill the earth and subdue it…” One can plainly see that God made man (generic term) male and female. God did not make one entity with dual personalities but two entities, male and female. It is also understood that the male and female should have children in order to “fill the earth”. Two people of the same sex cannot accomplish what God intended for the male and female (in marriage) to do. In chapter two of the book of Genesis we find more details concerning the making of man and woman by Almighty God. Notice in verses 20 – 25, “So Adam gave names to all cattle, to the birds of the air, and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper comparable to him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and he slept; and He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place Then the rib which the Lord God had taken from man He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; She shall be call woman, because she was taken out of man.” “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” After God made man, there was not to be found among the animal kingdom a help-meet (companion) suitable for Adam. God caused the man to fall into a sleep and God took a part of man and made the woman. For all time to come, the truth was stated that the man should leave his parents and cleave to his wife. It is easy to understand that the institution of marriage by God consisted of a man marrying a woman. That is God’s design for mankind. Any arrangement contrary to this is a perversion of God’s plan originating from His infinite wisdom and love. The eternal Word (God the Son) was involved in the making of the man and woman in the Garden of Eden. John declared this so in John 1:3, “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” The apostle Paul expressed it in this manner, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him” (Colossians 1:16, 17). Jesus gave credence to the story of creation and in particular to the making of man and woman as recorded in Matthew 19:4 – 6, “And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ “and said ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” It is clear that God (including God the Son) made male and female and that the man (male) should be joined to his wife (female) thus becoming one flesh. And since God joins them (male and female) in marriage, man has no right to separate the two of them. It takes professional (?) help for a person to misunderstand God’s design in marriage, that is, one man for one woman. Individuals who believe in God and have respect for His Word have no alternative but to accept God’s design and plan for marriage that involves a man and a woman. We must also conclude that Jesus did have much to say about homosexuality when it is understood that man and woman were made by Him in the very beginning and that they were the only suitable candidates for the marriage relationship. Yes, the two groups that confronted one another during the protest on October 16, 2004 had the right to express themselves; but, the truth of the matter is that neither group was right because each stood in violation of what the Holy Scriptures teach regarding God’s love for all of mankind and His design for the male and female in the holy estate of matrimony.

“OUR MARRIAGE WILL NOT AFFECT OTHERS”

This was said by a ‘gay’ person who planned on marrying his ‘partner’ after the Supreme Court Justices (I shall call them ‘little gods’ since they redefined the definition of what marriage has been understood for centuries, i.e., the joining together of a man and woman in matrimony) legalized same sex marriages on June 26, 2015. The man probably was correct in his assumption that his particular marriage ceremony would not affect others; however, the legalization of homosexual marriages will have some of the greatest impact on the citizens of the United States of America like it has never experienced before in the history of our nation.

First of all, let me say that the liberal estimate of the number of ‘gays’ living in our nation is only 2-4 percent. Whenever any negative statements are made, or articles written about the homosexual style of living, the words “homophobic’ and ‘bigot’ are used toward the heterosexual population. Now that the ‘little gods’ have legalized ‘gay marriages’, we are going to discover just how intolerant a group of people can be when individuals and businesses will not canter to their demands. The courts throughout the land will be filled with law suits of ‘gays’ demanding their ‘rights’, whatever they might be. F. LaGard Smith wrote the following in his book, ‘Sodom’s Second Coming’, page 8, “Hardly anyone stops to notice that gay rights means heterosexuals having to give up rights – like the right to consider character when renting one’s house or when hiring the church secretary; or the right of parents to keep their children from being taught that homosexual couples are just as acceptable as mommie and daddy.” Incidentally, his book was published in 1993.

There are individuals who are not ‘church going’ people who understand that men marrying men and women marrying women is contrary to nature; and, whose consciences will prevent them from encouraging this kind of life style. They will also be challenged when ‘gays’ demand of them services which will be contrary to their convictions.

Here is a partial list of individuals, churches, religious organizations and businesses that will certainly be tried and tested because of the legalization of ‘gay marriages’.

-          Christian adopting agencies.

-          Preachers who, based on the teaching of the Bible, will neither condone such a style of living nor perform a wedding for homosexuals.

-          Churches that will not allow ‘gay marriages’ to be conducted in their buildings.

-          Businesses and companies that choose not to hire ‘gays’; or, be unwilling to pay for the insurance, retirement, etc. of a married ‘gay couple’.

-          Religious universities and schools that choose not to hire teachers who are homosexuals.

-          Professional photographers.

-          Florists.

-          Rental property owners.

-          Bed and Breakfast owners.

-          Christian teachers in universities and schools who will refuse to teach a curriculum that advocates that the ‘gay life style’ and marriages should be accepted as being normal.

-          Probate Judges and Justices of the Peace who refuse to perform a ‘gay marriage’.

-          Religious companies that publishes books and literature.

-          Preachers who publicly preach and/or write articles that the homosexual style of living is sinful.

We can now expect that television commercials will be using ‘gay married couples’ in their advertising of different products, companies and businesses. The ‘soap operas’ have been encouraging the ‘gay lifestyle’. You can be sure that more will be forthcoming.

Christian parents will have to be more aware what is being taught their children in the public schools system. More time will need to be spent in teaching children what the Word of God has to say on the subject of homosexuality. Conviction on such matters can be held and taught without hatred for anyone.

Suggested prayer: "Dear God, help me never to forget Your goodness to me and Your everlasting love and grant that, no matter how dark the night, I will never turn from You. And graciously grant that our nation will turn to and never forget You. Thank You for hearing and answering my prayer. Gratefully, in Jesus' name, amen."

SAME SEX MARRIAGE: IT'S A MATTER OF EVOLUTION

You may ask, ‘How did we come to this place in the history of our nation that the Supreme Court would redefine marriage? The decision made by the Judges on June 26, 2015 went contrary to the understanding of the majority of the citizens of the United States regarding the definition of marriage and that being, the joining together of a man (male) and woman (female) in the holy estate of matrimony.

One news reporter explained very clearly as to why that infamous decision was made when he said, “we have evolved in our culture that we now can accept ‘gay’ marriages.” Did you understand what he said? The reporter stated that we have “evolved in our culture” as to the reason the decision was made by the Supreme Court Judges. One definition of the word ‘evolve’ is, “a gradual process of change and development.” The word evolution is defined as “the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form.” In other words, the moral standards of our nation have eroded over a period of time and not suddenly as when a tornado occurs in a few seconds, often without warning.

The decision by the U. S. Supreme Court on January 22, 1973 (Wade Vs Roe) to legalize abortion, the killing of ‘heart beating’, innocent unborn children devalued human life. The conservative estimate is that 1.5 million abortions are performed in this nation annually.

The fact that society, in general, no longer considers it  ‘a shame’ for a woman (often teenagers) are having children out of wedlock. Some estimate that 40-70 percent (depending on the race of the mothers) of the children born in the United States are born to unwed mothers.

In today’s society the number of couples living together outside of marriage has greatly increased – without shame. One report that I read is that “cohabitation before a wedding has increased almost 900 percent since the l960s. Consider this: “Couples aged 50 and older are living together in greater numbers than ever. According to Forbes.com, more than 1.8 million Americans in that age group are cohabiting.”  Among young adults, living together without being married is acceptable in society today. The number of marriages has fallen drastically over the years. The fact may be, the couples cohabiting together may out number the couples who are married.

It is not surprising, though disappointing, that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of ‘same sex marriages’. It has been and is the case that we are gradually evolving in our culture that what used to be the accepted norm is no longer. And, the sad fact is, we are not finished with this gradual process of eroding the high moral standards that once we had in the country.

GOD'S DESIGN FOR MARRIAGE

People who are acquainted with the Bible, God’s inspired Word, have read how He created the heavens and the earth and formed man from the “dust of the earth” (Genesis, chapters one and two). We also have learned from the same text how God took a part of man (Adam) and made woman. When Adam saw her, he said: “This is now bone of my bones And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called Woman, Because she was taken out of Man.” Please read very carefully the following: “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh” (Gen.2:23, 24). It is reasonable, is it not, that the part of man that God removed from the side of Adam, He made woman and she became his wife. So, the man (male) and the woman (female) were joined together by God. Later “Adam called his wife’s name Eve, because she was the mother of all living” (Gen.3:20). You see, God had given them the command, “Be fruitful and multiply…” (Gen1:28).

It is not difficult to understand that in order to “Be fruitful and multiply”, that is, to bear children, you have to have a male and female to propagate the human family. This is God’s design. This is a very strong argument against a man marrying a man or a woman marrying a woman. Such a ‘marriage’ would be in opposition to and against God’s design for an acceptable marriage.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, gave credence to the record of creation and the beginning of the human race as found in the first two chapters of Genesis. In Matthew 19:4-6, He was answering a question raised by the Pharisees and here was his answer: “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning ‘made them male and female,’ “and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? “So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate.” If we believe in Jesus Christ we must also accept as literal the record of creation recorded in Genesis.  And it is obvious that the “wife” (Eve) of the “male” (Adam) was a “female”.

GOD’S GRACE AND LOVE REQUIRE A RESPONSE

I often grow weary over the labels we place on one another in the church of Jesus Christ.  Brethren refer to one another as belonging to either the ‘grace oriented’ or the ‘work oriented’ groups.  Could I not belong to both at the same time?  Do I have to join only one group?   After all, I truly desire to associate with all my brethren, if possible.  I sincerely long for and pray for faithfulness and peace among my brethren.  It seems that we are people of extremes.  It is either one way or the other.  It just could not be both at the same time.  Where is the balance that is sorely needed in a time of doubt, disbelief and disunity?

 I have no problem in understanding that we are saved by the grace of God for the Word of God clearly teaches such as is found in Ephesians 2:5.  Yet, in verse 8 of the same chapter, we learn that we are saved by grace through faith.  There is a sense in which I do not contribute anything to my salvation since it is a gift from God; nevertheless, if I do not manifest my faith by doing what God wants me to do, I will not benefit from the unmerited favor of the Lord in the matter of salvation from sin.   No, the works of the Law of Moses or the meritorious works of man’s devising cannot and will not save.  However, all the works ordained of God must be done by His children (Ephesians 2:10).

Consider also the very nature of God.  He is not self-contradicting.  Yes, His infinite grace saves us but we are also saved by His infinite love (Hebrews 2:9; John 3:16).  Jesus plainly taught that true love requires actions on the part of mankind in order to prove our love for Him.  He told his disciples, “If you love Me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).  Jesus stated it very plainly that we show our Love for Him when we do what he requires of us.  In John 14:21, He said, “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me.  And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”  As you can clearly see, even the Father loves the person who loves His Son and keeps His commandments.

 Even Jesus obeyed His Father’s will and was loved by His Father, even as He loves those who keep His commandments (John 15:10).  When you think about it, keeping commandments is not so bad after all.  Even the Son of God complied with the directives of His Father.  The Lord said in John 14:31, “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandments, so I do.  Arise let us go from here.”  Jesus proved beyond a shadow of doubt that He loved His Father by keeping all the commands that He received from Him.

 To be like Jesus, we must also obey the commands our Lord has given to us.  Otherwise, we show that we do not love Him as we should.  Jesus expressed it in this fashion as recorded in John 14:24, “He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.”    The apostle of love, John, wrote in I John 5:3, “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome.”  God does not require anything of us except it be for our ultimate good.  We should respond to His commandments out of a heart of love.  When love is the motive, His commandments are not grievous or overbearing.  We obey because we are heirs and not slaves.  The precious words of our Savior bring joy to the heart of a Christian as is found in John 15:14, “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”  When we sing the hymn, “I’ll Be a Friend to Jesus”, it means that we will be submissive to His will for us to do.

Yet, my response to God’s grace and love by the works I do will not save me.  I cannot merit salvation on my goodness.  The words of Jesus as found in Luke 17:10 remind me of this truth, “So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.” 

We should be eternally grateful for God’s infinite grace and love. Our response should be, as Paul wrote in Galatians 5:6 that it is our “faith working through love.”

IF CHRIST BE NOT RAISED

One of the cardinal doctrines of the New Testament is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There are 38 references to the resurrection of Jesus in the books of the New Testament. The resurrection of our Lord is mentioned at least 13 times in the book of Acts alone so it was the center of the preaching of the apostles and other inspired men. If a person believes in the resurrection of our Lord then all the other miracles listed in the Bible can be easily accepted as being true. Should a person deny the resurrection of Jesus then the other miracles would also be denied.

In the epistle to the “church of God which is at Corinth” the apostle Paul writes in detail concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The general resurrection at his second advent is predicated upon the fact that our Lord Himself was resurrected from the dead. To deny one is to deny both. In the time of Paul, the Greeks did not believe in the resurrection of the body. They felt like the spirit relieved of the body was actually a blessing and the human body would never be resurrected. Even among the Jews, there was a sect called the Sadducees that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead (Matthew 22:23). In the great resurrection chapter of I Corinthians 15, the apostle deals at length with this important subject.

Here are some fateful conclusions which must be accepted if Christ was not raised from the dead.

  1. “OUR PREACHING IS VAIN” (V.14). The central theme of the apostolic message was the resurrection of Jesus; that is, “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he arose again the third day according to the scriptures”. The first gospel sermon that was preached by the 12 apostles dealt with the death and resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:24, 30, 31).

 2. “YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN” (14, 17). Our faith in the deity of Christ rests largely upon His resurrection. If He had not risen, His words were false because He Himself predicted His resurrection. “Jesus answered and said unto them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remember that he spake this; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said” (John 2:19-22; See also Luke 9:22; Matthew 12:40). IF Jesus was not raised from the dead he would have proven to be inferior to death and the grave. The redemptive work of God was accomplished through the resurrection of Jesus. It gave spiritual power to those who believed to live a life of holiness and to posses the belief in eternal life. Please observe that the term “vain” in verse 14 and in verse 17 are different. “Vain” in verse 14 means void and in verse 17 it means “devoid of force and truth.”

  3. “WE ARE FOUND FALSE WITNESS OF CHRIST” (V. 15). The apostles were told by Jesus that they were to be his witnesses (Acts 1:8). If Christ was not raised, the apostles were false witnesses in stating that they had seen him after his resurrection. Either one of the following two things would have to be true.  The apostles deceived themselves; or, they were some of the world’s greatest liars and imposters. To bear false witness against men is bad but to bear false witness concerning Christ is even worse.

  4. “YE ARE YET IN YOUR SINS” (V.17). A dead redeemer who has not been raised is no redeemer at all! It is true that Jesus died for our sins but Paul wrote in Romans 5:10: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” Also, Jesus “was raised again for our justification” (Romans 4:25). The resurrection of Jesus lies at the foundation of faith and forgiveness of sins, and without it a confession of faith in Jesus Christ is meaningless.

  5. “THEY ALSO THAT HAVE FALLEN ASLEEP IN CHRIST HAVE PERISHED” (V.18). Their loved ones who had obeyed Christ and lived for him who had died were lost if Christ was not raised. It isn’t that they were annihilated but rather they were before God the Father without an Advocate and Mediator. There was no one to help them. They were in God’s presence with their sins still upon them if Christ be not raised. If Christ was not raised from the dead then the term “asleep in Jesus” is nothing but a mocking rhetoric, a worthless expression denoting no comfort whatsoever. But Jesus said, “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that they have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation” (John 5:28, 29; See also I Thessalonians 4:13-17, Emphasis, Mine, RE).

  6. “IF WE HAVE ONLY HOPED IN CHRIST IN THIS LIFE, WE ARE OF ALL MEN MOST PITIABLE” (V.19). Believers in Christ are worse off than the unbeliever if Christ be not raised. Degrees of pitiableness are regulated by hope. Christians are most pitiable because of their willingness to suffer, to be mocked and to die because of their hope in Christ if he be not raised from the dead. The apostle Paul compared all his sufferings as “light afflictions” in comparison to that “eternal weight of glory” awaiting him in heaven (2 Corinthians 4:17, 18). But such sufferings would be in vain if Christ be not raised. However the Christian has this precious promise: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3;Emphasis, Mine, RE).

The apostle Paul writes of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as being an established fact in chapter 15:20-22. During the 40 days between the resurrection of Christ and his ascension back to heaven, he appeared 10 times to different ones beginning with his appearance to the women (“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary”, Matthew 18:1). In 1 Corinthians 15:5-9, Paul mentioned several of his appearances: “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 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. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”  The evidence therefore is overwhelming that Jesus Christ did in fact arise from the grave.

The lives of his apostles were changed after his resurrection. Christianity began to spread with great rapidity throughout the Roman World. Even after nearly 2,000 years the resurrection of Jesus Christ is having a tremendous impact on the lives of countless men and women who believe in Him as being the divine Son of God. Paul, in his letter to the church in Rome wrote the following: “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness” (Romans 6:17, 18). A “form” is a likeness and the “form” of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is found in Romans 6:1-4 when Paul wrote that the Christians had died to sin and were buried with their Lord in baptism and were raised to “walk in newness of life.”

The empty tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea is proof beyond any reasonable doubt that we serve a risen Savior.