The Tomb Is Empty

Ready Stance: all sort of sports you have what they call the “ready stance” that you teach young children. I see this in verse 3. I share that because, just as we teach young children to get themselves set and ready, we as christians should do the same. So lets take a few minutes and walk through verse 3. Let’s get used to getting into our ready stance when it comes to sharing the Gospel.

"As of first importance"

There are some secondary issues we can disagree on.

mode of baptism

meaning of predestination

whether we should speaking in tongues

You must resolve where you stand on this issue

Paul underscores this in his letter to the Romans

There are some secondary issues we can disagree on.

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

Romans

mode of baptism

Who who believe the Gospel and those who do not.

meaning of predestination

whether we should speaking in tongues

"What I also received"

Paul is referring to the means by which he came to know this truth

Galatians 1:12 ESV

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:12

We proclaim the same message: “I delivered to you what I also received.

The truth doesn't rest on my authority

Regardless of our past, regardless of our education, regardless of our support

We are truth bearers.

We are messengers.

We are simply telling them what we have heard, and believe, ourselves.

"in accordance of scripture"

Don't take my word for it, read for yourself.

I am simply a messenger

This also help place the responsibility “properly” back on those who doubt us.

They can study the same evidence as we have and make their own conclusions

The fact that this DOES have scriptural support means something

It was prophesied (in detail) sometimes thousands of years before

READ

Read the words of Christ in the Gospels

I am walking on a foundation laid thousands of years before me.

Next few verses: you can track the points Paul is making by the word THAT.

Paul lays out his Gospel arguments step by step.

And it’s spot on.

There is so much that can be understood here.

but for today we are focused on our claim of an EMPTY TOMB

Christ Died

this is something that we see debated.

Obviously an attempt to deny Christ’s true identity.

The Romans believed he was dead

They didn't break His legs. (as was written)

it was getting late in the day

they wanted to speed up the process

They pierced His side (as was written)

The Apostles believed he was dead

They buried Him and mourned

Mary was on her way to anoint Him with oil

"That He was buried, that he was raised on the third day…"

This point is PARAMOUNT

The tomb is empty

This point is absolutely paramount to our faith

They believed he was dead

1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

1 Cor

they prepared the body

If verse 3 - 4 are not true our faith is useless.

They buried Him

That’s why you MUST resolve what you believe right here.

The powerful testimony of the Apostles

"He appeared to Cephas and then to the twelve"

Theories of death and resurrection

Swoon theory

Theft Theory

Hallucination Theory

Impersonation Theory

Walk in the apostles shoes (even before they were apostles)

Theories of death and resurrection

(feast of the taber

swoon theory

the disciples stole the body

Now ask yourselves...

Why would the apostles commit their lives to a lie?

"He also appeared to me"

Why would Paul leave his place of prominence if he wasn’t convinced.