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Bible Will I Find: Reasons For Christ's Resurrection? By: Gary Colley
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Bible Will I Find: Reasons For Christ's Resurrection? By: Gary Colley
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The foundation of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Many have died on this earth since its beginning (Gen.1:1), and some have been raised from the dead (Jn.11). Some have even “promised” that they would come back from the grave after their death, but their tombs are still occupied. Jesus is the only one who promised, before His death, to come back to life on this earth that has done so! (Matt.26:31-32; 28:7,10,16). He is the only one who arose never to die again. His grave is still empty! One must believe, and confess his faith in the resurrection of Jesus in order to be saved (I Jn.5:5; Phil.2:9-12). Jesus is not only declared to be God’s only begotten Son by God speaking from Heaven (Matt.3:17; 17:4-5), but also He is declared to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead (Rom.1:4). He died and was raised from the dead before His ascension back to the right hand of God to reign and rule over His church or kingdom (Acts 1:9-12; Eph.1:22-23). These happenings all transpired “according to the (O.T.) scriptures,” and because of God’s love and Christ’s love for lost mankind (Lk.24:46-47). Before being ready to believe in Jesus with all the heart, and confess Jesus as the Christ, one needs to understand and appreciate the reasons for the resurrection of Christ. 1. Jesus was raised to establish His deity. The miraculous signs done by the Lord prove that He was the Christ, but were not accepted by all then or now (Jn.20:30-31). Jesus said to that evil generation, that the last sign given would be His resurrection from the dead (Matt.12:39-40). 2. Jesus was raised to produce faith in God (I Pet.1:21; I Cor.6:14; Acts 2:24). This miracle proved that the “God that made the world and all things” was not any idol of man, but the “true and living God.” 3. Jesus was raised in order to save lost man. He was “delivered for our offenses, and was raised for our justification (Rom.4:25). Until His spirit was reunited to His body, Jesus could not ascend back on high to carry his blood into the true holy of holies for our salvation (Heb.9:12,22). 4. Jesus was raised to reign on David’s throne in Heaven. This is stated by the inspired apostle Peter on Pentecost (Acts.2:30-31). Jesus is NOW reigning on David’s throne in Heaven (Rev.17:14; Psa.89:34-37; Rev.3:21). 5. Jesus was raised to return hope to His disciples. Peter wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (I Pet.1:3). He exhorted them before, to let not their hearts be troubled about His death, knowing that He would be raised (Jn.14:1-6).-Gary Colley