Chapter 9 The Resurrection

On the third day He rose again in accordance with the Scriptures...

1. Without the resurrection there is no gospel or salvation.
2. Paul makes this argument in 1 Corinthians 15:13-14  If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
3. According to Carl Braaten, "The deepest fault line appears where faith and unbelief meet within the churches, among their theologians, bishops, and pastors. Nowhere is this more evident than in the matter of the resurrection of Jesus."  (from The Reality of the Resurrection Bazos Press 2001)
4. Braaten & Machen both contend that without the resurrection  hristianity mutates into a different religion.  It is no longer Christianity.
5. Naturalism is when supernatural elements that can't be generally explained in scientific or rational ways are simply dismissed as unreasonable.  This process makes the human mind - human wisdom - the crucible that tests all doctrines of faith.
6. There are many 'explanations' that have been put forth that are contrary to the resurrection.  There is the idea that the disciples stole the body of Christ and made up the whole thing.  There is also the bizarre 'swoon theory' that says Jesus wasn't really dead when they buried him and that he revived in the tomb.
7. Modernist theologians have dismissed the resurrection as mythology.
8. The idea that people can search for a historical Jesus that is not divine and therefor supernatural is ironic because THAT Jesus doesn't exist.  The Jesus who lived - the Jesus of history - is divine, He is God.
9. Braaten asserts the missionary movement collapses at the denial of the resurrection. 
10. The hope of Christianity rests on our risen Lord Jesus Christ.  All other religions have founders who are dead.  Jesus is alive - raised from the dead, triumphant over sin & the grave.  This is the good news of the gospel for all of us!
11. Verses:
    Romans 6:9   For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.
    1 Corinthians 15:1-8  Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.  After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
    Acts 1: 3-8   After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.  But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."