s20070408m_Why Do You Believe Jesus Rose From the Dead

Why Do You Believe Jesus Rose From the Dead?

17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19

·         I Believe Because [THE WHOLE BIBLE IS ABOUT HIM]!

44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46 and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day. Luke 24:44-46

·         I Believe Because [THE CHURCH DID NOT DIE IN JERUSALEM]

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” 20 Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.21 From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” Matthew 16:18-21

·         I Believe Because [THERE IS NO OTHER REASONABLE EXPLANATION]

Four Major Human Theories About the Resurrection of Jesus

1. The Swoon Theory                                2. The Mass Hallucination Theory

3. The Mystification Theory                  4. The Disciples Stole the Body Theory

31 Foreseeing this, David spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, saying, ‘He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh experience corruption.’32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses. Acts 2:31-32

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— 3 we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ

 1 John 1:1-3

Testimony of the Earliest Gospel-1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (LET’S READ IT TOGETHER)

·         I Believe Because [HIS RESURRECTION STILL CHANGES LIVES]

17 I pray that … God … may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation…, 18 so that, …, you may know 19what is the immeasurable greatness of his power for us who believe, according to the working of his great power. 20 God put this power to work in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. Ephesians 1:17-20