Historical Evidences for the Resurrection

Did He Rise? If not…your faith is FUTILE

Did He Rise? If not…your faith is FUTILE

All human history hinges on this one event. The Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

If not…your faith is FUTILE

This is where I started when deciding for myself if Christianity was Truth.

If He really rose from the dead, it would affirm everything he said and commanded, not just for believers, but for all of creation. (Absolute Truth)

What are the 6 stages of building belief?

If not…your faith is FUTILE

Recap the stages of building belief Truth > Worldview > Theism > Revelation > Resurrection > Gospel >> Missions

Truth > Worldview > Theism >Revelation > Resurrection > Gospel

The Resurrection of the Dead 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (1 Co 15:12–19). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 ESV

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Defeating the Resurrection claim means defeating Christianity in whole

Movie Clips - Son of God - Resurrection > Historical Evidences by Frank T.

First off, notice how simply reading the Bible in public sparked gospel conversation. Try it and see.

Jesus, a myth? - 6 Undisputed Facts

90% plus of all Biblical scholars (believers and nonbelievers) affirm these historical facts:

Fact: Jesus of Nazareth actually existed

Fact: Jesus of Nazareth died by Roman Crucifixion

What about the Swoon Theory? - No longer considered credible by anyone.

Fact: Jesus of Nazareth’s disciples believed they encountered the risen Jesus.

Paul, an enemy of Christians became a Christian

Paul devoted his life to killing Christians, in an instant he did a 180 and became the greatest Evangelist and missionary, writing much of the NT.

James, Jesus’ half brother who doubted him, became a Christian

When your own family doesn’t buy in, you have a problem. That changed after the resurrection.

The tomb was empty

Common Arguments Against the Resurrection & Their Rebuttals

Conspiracy Theory

The disciples took the body or simply lied / made up resurrection account.

Disciples were put to death for claiming resurrection and never recounted their testimony. People don’t willingly die for what they know is a lie.

Hallucination Theory

Disciples were so upset and distraught over loosing Jesus, they hallucinated seeing him, so actually believed that he rose. People would die if they simply believed that they saw him.

Far too many people would have to have hallucinated for this argument to work. Plus it happened at different times. hallucinations don’t work this way.

It also doesn’t account for the tomb itself being empty.

English Standard Version Chapter 15

he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Resurrection would be a Miracle and science has disproven miracles.

Science has in no way disproven miracles. Actually, It is logically impossible for science to disprove something that is outside of the laws of nature. A miracle by definition is an event that breaks the laws of nature, caused by an unseen or detectable agent. Namely…God.

Closing

The historical evidence is so strong that the resurrection actually happened, that critics are struggling and reaching to find other arguments. i.e. Jesus had a twin brother, maybe miracles do happen but that doesn’t mean God performed them, etc.