“The Dead Shall Arise!”

“The Dead Shall Arise!”(I Cor.15:12-19).
Those who killed Jesus were convinced that his disciples would steal his body from the tomb, hide it and claim that he had been raised.
The first apostolic sermon was preached on Pentecost by Peter; after the Holy Spirit had descended on them. In his message, Peter spoke with confidence of the resurrection: “God raised this Jesus to life, and we are witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit…” He continued by letting them know that “God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” He asked them to repent and be baptized in the name of that same Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins(Acts.2:32ff).
This message of forgiveness in the name of Jesus the risen Lord through baptism was a new teaching. It contradicted the traditional teaching of being put right with God through the Mosaic law.
This contradiction is what led to the strong wave of Christian persecution. And Paul was part of the persecuting band spitting fire against the followers of Christ.
Thus to Paul and the others, the message of the resurrection was raising false hope in people by leading them away from the right way.
Ironically these early believers were called, “people of the way” before they were first called Christians at Antioch.
What I’m driving at is that the Paul who became a staunch apologist in defense of the resurrection once challenged that same resurrection.
Having himself encountered the risen Lord, he knew from experience the emptiness of those who in Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of Christ.
Whoever does not accept the preaching that Jesus was raised from the dead cannot claim to be a Christian.
No resurrection, no salvation from sin. If our hope in Christ is only for this life, “we are to be pitied more than all men.”
If the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is false, we make God a liar; but he is not!
When we recite the Creeds we are not only affirming the divine Sonship and humanity of Jesus alone. We also affirm that his dead and burial are established facts and his resurrection is indisputable! Etc!
Our faith stands or fall by this affirmation????????.
The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
But this wouldn’t make sense if we have any iota of doubt concerning resurrection.l for us believers.
Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit who leads us into all truths. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.