Friday, April 18, 2014

April 19, 2014

"For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;" I Corinthians 15:3-7

There is a saying that only two things are sure in this world, death and taxes.

This week I have had very real experiences with each. It was a tough week.

But on this Easter week-end I want to declare there is a third thing in life that is sure - THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST!

Some doubt that.

This week an atheist group posted billboards that claimed - "no one died for your sins - Jesus is a myth"

I am amazed at how stupid people become when they are overcome by hatred for Christianity.

There is nothing mythical about Jesus. He is so well documented that we mark time by His life. It is 2014 AD!

And the Resurrection of Jesus is one of those most documented events in history! 

The Romans documented His resurrection in their attempts to prevent it! By sealing the tomb and posting Roman guards in front of it, they assured His body would not be stolen. The fact that the seal was broken, the stone rolled away, the fearless guards having fled in fear, the grave clothes neatly folded, the angels present, and Jesus' body gone are all evidences that Christ arose from the dead.

Reliable historic record documents that over 500 people testified to having seen the Risen Jesus following His Resurrection. They testified to this despite the threats and pressures to deny the Resurrection. No one ever found the dead body of Jesus but hundreds saw the Risen body of Jesus.

The millions of transformed lives over the two thousand years of Christian history testifies to the power and presence of a Risen Savior! Why would people be willing to forsake everything that this world system values in order to follow Jesus if they were not absolutely convinced of His resurrection?

It is illogical to declare Jesus is a myth. History documents that Jesus lived and that He was crucified on a cross. There are three logical conclusions about Christ:

First, He was a liar. He claimed to the the Son of God while knowing that He was not.

Second, He was a lunatic in that He lived under the delusion that He was the Son of God but wasn't.

Third, He is Who He claimed to be - the Son of God in the flesh Who came to take away the sins of the world.

So who do you say Jesus is?

Liar?

Lunatic?

Lord?

If you conclude that He is Lord then you concede the resurrection!