True or False: Biblical accounts of the physical (bodily) resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. This event actually occurred.

True or False?

Gospel clarity in a sea of theological confusion.

True or False Sermon Series: (Circle True or False)

True or False: The Bible is 100% accurate in all that it teaches. (3.22.26)

True or False: Jesus was a great teacher, but he was not God. (3.29.26)

True or False: Biblical accounts of the physical (bodily) resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. This event actually occurred. (4.5.26)

True or False: Even the smallest sin deserves eternal damnation. (4.12.26)

True or False: The Holy Spirit is a force, but not a personal being. (4.19.26)

True or False: God accepts the worship of all religions, including Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. (4.26.26)

Easter Sunday:

True or False: Biblical accounts of the physical (bodily) resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. This event actually occurred.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ was observed by eyewitnesses to the event, recorded by them in a document of proven historical reliability (the Bible), and no shred of historical, archaeological, scientific, or contrary circumstantial evidence has ever been presented to disprove it.

Since the Bible is historically reliable and it records Jesus’ resurrection, that’s enough to conclude that it actually happened. However, some additional historical insights will make this truth even plainer.

When the NT was written, there was a large number of people alive to affirm or deny the claim of Jesus’s resurrection.

When the resurrection event was recorded in Scripture, a sufficient number of people were still alive to verify its actuality. For example, in 1 Corinthians 15:5–6, Paul states that, after Jesus’ resurrection, Christ appeared to the eleven apostles (Judas was already dead) and to “over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present” (i.e., were still alive at the time he wrote).

Jesus appeared after the resurrection to a wide range of people, and variety of places, and in a number of different circumstances.

Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances were numerous, widespread, and occurred under a variety of circumstances. The Bible states that Jesus made fifteen different appearances in His resurrected body. Luke writes in Acts 1:3 that Jesus “presented Himself alive after His suffering [death on the cross] by many infallible proofs, being seen by them [the apostles] during forty days.” In His post-resurrection appearances, Jesus walked and talked with His disciples, ate in their homes, fished and had breakfast with them, and taught them about the kingdom of God (John 21:1–14; Luke 24:28–30). He appeared in a garden near His tomb, in an upper room, on the road from Jerusalem to Emmaus, and in faraway Galilee. Jesus even made several appearances to Paul, Stephen, and the apostle John after His ascension into heaven (Acts 7:55; 9:3–5; Rev. 1:9–13).

In the 2025 State of Theology survey

True or False: Biblical accounts of the physical (bodily) resurrection of Jesus are completely accurate. This event actually occurred.

98% of Evangelicals agree and 2% are unsure.

Evangelical Christians represent 21% of those who participated in the survey.

24% of all participants in the survey disagree, 11% of all participants in the survey are unsure, and 65% of all participants agree.

But you might wonder why the resurrection matters. Is it possible to still have a meaningful religion, have the truth, or even be saved if Jesus wasn’t resurrected? Surely the things that Jesus taught are enough without the resurrection.

It doesn’t matter if you like or agree with what Jesus said. The thing that matters the most is whether or not he rose from the dead.

For a moment lets put the teaching of Jesus to the side and consider that without the resurrection it just doesn’t matter. And that’s not just my opinion, that’s actually what the Bible says.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

[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 promise and hope of the gospel depend on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

If the resurrection isn’t true our faith is pointless.

If Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead then there is not point to preaching or teaching.

Without the resurrection Christians are the most foolish people on earth.

Paul presents the gospel as more than just the death of Christ on the cross. It is through the cross that Jesus atoned for our sin, but its through His resurrection that our eternal future is secured.

1 Corinthians 15:3-11

[3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that 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. [10] But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. [11] Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ brought the future into the present.

“The resurrection means not merely that Christians have a hope for the future but that they have a hope that comes from the future. The Bible’s startling message is that when Jesus rose, he brought the future kingdom of God into the present.” Tim Keller

Jesus overcame death that we may share in his life now and in eternity. (1 Corinthians 15:17)

Our resurrection is a present reality in Christ.

Jesus guarantees our future resurrection through His resurrection. (1 Corinthians 15:23)

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

[20] But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. [21] For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. [22] For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. [23] But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. [24] Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. [25] For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. [26] The last enemy to be destroyed is death. [27] For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. [28] When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

So, if the resurrection of Jesus is more important than what he had to say, what then do we do with what He has said, and in particular who he claimed to be.

If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said?

This is in line with all that Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15… so what did Jesus say, and what does it mean?

John 11:25-27

[25] Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, [26] and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” [27] She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

Jesus claimed to be the promised Messiah and the only path for all people to receive forgiveness for sin, peace with God, meaning and purpose, and eternal life.

John 14:6

[6] Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 6:35-40

[35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. [36] But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe. [37] All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out. [38] For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. [39] And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day. [40] For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day.”

Paul sums this up to the Corinthians by saying…

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

[50] I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. [51] Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [52] in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. [53] For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. [54] When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” [55] “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”[56] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

If the resurrection is true, what do we do with all that Jesus has said?

Believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God who has come into the world.

Be steadfast and immovable in your faith and commitment to God.

Guarantee that your life counts by knowing and doing the work of the Lord.

If the resurrection is true, then you have everything to live for, and regardless of your present circumstances everything is going to be all right.