The Resurrection of His Body from the Tomb
Objectives
- Identify the two primary reasons why Christ's resurrection is critical.
- Explain some of the reasons we can accept Christ's resurrection as historical fact.
Terms
- resurrection: A rising again; the resumption of vigor.
- infallible: Not capable of erring; entirely exempt from liability to mistake; unerring; inerrable.
- imputed: Charged to the account of; attributed; ascribed.
Why Does the Resurrection Matter?
The resurrection of Christ is the central truth of Christianity. In fact, we're going to see that if it's not true, then the rest of our faith is pointless. We should just join the unsaved in living it up while we can. But Luke points out several proofs of the resurrection of Christ.
Acts 1:1-3 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
All four gospels, Luke's history, and the remaining books of the New Testament all verify or rely on the truth of the resurrection. The Old Testament prophesies his resurrection. The Bible clearly assets that Christ rose from the dead.
Several secular historians from the first century have confirmed the scriptural account. Pliny the Younger, Tacitus, and Josephus all record information about Christ and confirm that the common view was that he had risen from the dead, or that people believed he had risen from the dead. Likewise, there is no evidence that his resurrection did not happen. Hundreds of people saw Christ; the Bible records 11 separate instances after his resurrection.
The historical fact of the resurrection is important to maintain the integrity of scripture. But there's a more important reason that the resurrection must be true: the future. Paul asserts that if Christ couldn't rise from the dead, then there is no hope that we will rise from the dead either.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 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.
Paul is telling us a very clear truth: if there is no resurrection, Christianity is a joke. What is the point of living the way we do if there is no afterlife? The resurrection is important to maintain the integrity of scripture and is a foundation of our faith.
But the resurrection also defeats death and sin. If it did not defeat sin and death then it wouldn't help us at all. According to Romans, the moment Christ resurrected he confirmed that we had been justified.
Romans 4:23-25 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
So because God raised Christ from the dead, you can know that life after death is possible. Because God raised Christ from the dead, you can know that your sins were paid for by his death on the cross.
Our justification and Christ's resurrection are directly linked in the eyes of the Father. If his sacrifice hadn't been acceptable, if he hadn't been worthy to substitute himself for us, then he would have had to pay the same price we do: death. But his sacrifice was acceptable, and was accepted. Because Christ was accepted, so are we!
That's why I believe in the resurrection of his body from the tomb.