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1997-07-01 - The Resurrection
"He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come see the place
where He was lying." Matthew 28:6
"And he said to them, Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the
Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, the
place where they laid him." Mark 16:6
"He is not here, but He has risen …" Luke 24:6
"And God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death …"
Acts 2:24
We are returning once again to the survey conducted by the Barna Research
Group that was done because of the success of the television show, "Touched
by an Angel". The attempt of this survey was to measure the spirituality
and understanding both of the nation and of those who consider themselves
born-again Christians. Regarding the resurrection of Christ from the grave
the survey found that, "39 percent of Americans and 35 percent of born-again
Christians say that Jesus Christ was crucified, but never had a physical
resurrection." What shall we say to this? What has the church said in the
past?
Apparently 1/3 of American born-again Christians have evolved beyond the
understanding of the reformer John Calvin who said, "The resurrection of
Christ is the most important article of our faith."
Apparently 1/3 of American born-again Christians have deviated from the
understand of the late 19th century Baptist preacher Charles Haddon Spurgeon
who said, "The resurrection is a fact better attested than any event recorded
in any history, whether ancient or modern."
If the Lord Jesus Christ is not a risen Christ, then He is no Lord and He
is no Christ. The Scriptures assert Him as a risen Saviour, we must also.
"And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your
faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found false witnesses of God, because
we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if
in fact 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
worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen sleep,
we are of all men most to be pitied." 1 Corinthians 15:14-19
Happy half-year,
T-
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