The gospel according to Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15:3b-4 is, "...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures..." The death burial and the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ was Paul's whole argument in chapter 15 of 1st Corinthians. This concept of a man resurrecting after death is very far out. Especially in our day of scientific inquiry. It is just plain hard to believe. The world has been so enraptured by scientific theories that the idea of a man coming back to life once he is dead is to say the least far out. But to a Bible believing Christian it is a true statement. True Christians still believe in the resurrection of the dead. Let's take a look at Paul's argument against those Christians in the Corinthian church who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
After delivering the basic statement of what the apostle had received and declared unto the Corinthians. In verses 5-8 he said that the Lord Jesus was seen of eyewitnesses (of which he included himself) of Jesus' resurrection from the dead. In verses 9-11 the apostle said that while he may be the least of the apostles, he was what he was by God's grace and the grace of God that was with him was the reason that he or someone else preached to them by which they believed. Then he asked the question in 1st Corinthians 15:12b, "...how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" His argument then on through verse 18 was that if there is no resurrection then what was preached to them was a false teaching, Christ isn't risen and you who don't believe that there is a resurrection (and everyone else) are still dead in sins. In 1st Corinthians 15:19 he said, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
Then he affirms that the Lord Jesus was indeed resurrected from the dead! We who believe the Lord Jesus rose from the dead are fortunate to have the Bible in which we can read of Apostle Paul's conversion in Acts 9:3-6. You couldn't convince him otherwise because as he said in 2nd Timothy 1:12b, "...I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." There was no question in his mind. He knew that the Lord Jesus was alive for he had seen Him. Do you believe that the Man, Christ Jesus rose from the dead? While many people today believe in God, they might question the concept of a resurrection. But in Luke 1:37 the Bible says, "...with God nothing shall be impossible."
My friends, the Lord Jesus did rise from the dead and is alive today. You may ask me how I can be so sure? I too have met Him. But as Apostle Peter said in 2nd Peter 1:16-19, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts..." This goes along with What the Lord Jesus said in the Parable of the Rich man and Lazarus found in the Gospel of Luke 16:19-31.
While I will not quote the entire passage, I will quote the final answer of father Abraham in answer to the prayer of the rich man from the grave. In Luke 16:29-31, "Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." If you will not hear the testimony of the Word of God, you would not believe if the Lord showed up at your door. I will, against all argument otherwise, hear and believe the Word of God! It is after all, God's answer to the gainsayers of the world.
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