#501 Resurrection Series# 1, The Fact of Resurrection

Resurrection Series# 1, This Changes Everything, The Fact Of Resurrection
By: D. Karl Thomas

Matthew 28:6-7 “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead,…”

Matthew 27:62-63  “The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver  …once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’  … command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, … steal Him away”

1 Corinthians 15:17-19 (NLT) “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, …all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.”

Romans 4:23-25 “Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him,  but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised ……up Jesus our Lord from the dead,  who was delivered up because of (dia) our offenses, and was raised because of  (dia) our justification.”

Romans 4:25 (Youngs Literal Translation) “…who was delivered up because of our offences, and was raised up because of our being declared righteous.”

Rom. 4:25 TPT “Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins and was raised back to life to prove that he had made us right with God!

Jesus would not be raised unless we are declared righteous.  Raised By Spirit … Raised by Glory of God
Righteous :– (dikaiōsis) the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to him. 

Matthew 28:13-15  “They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body … So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.”

The Cover Up: “…stole his body…”  vs13
Cross Examination:
1. Testimony Of Sleeping Soldiers Sleeping … how do they know what happened they say sleeping
2. Roman Seal On Tomb … You should be dead  … subpoenaed your bank accounts and we see a deposit
3. No Sign Of Struggle
4. Where Is The Body Now?  show me the body … did you look for it???  I have now more questions!!!

1 Corinthians 15:1-11
Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

He Is Risen — The Facts!
1. Documentary Evidence (3,4) “…according to the scriptures.”
Historical source. 4 Gospels … independent writers. Every prophecy was fulfilled.
Titus Livius (Livy) Born 39 BC — wrote most of what we know about Alexander the Great … 400 years later.

2. Direct Evidence “…appeared to Peter.” (5)
Specific eye witness testimony. Peter died for this testimony. Crucified upside down.

3. Supplementary Evidence “…the twelve…to more than 500…” (5,6)
Not an individuals fabrication or hallucination.
Fact supported by many other eye witnesses.
Acts 1:3 “many infallible proofs,”          

4. Declaration Of Peculiar Interest  “..then He appeared to James.” (7)
Direct testimony of His sceptical half brother.  Someone who before questioned His divinity.
John 7:5 “For even His brothers did not believe in Him.”

5. Declaration Of Penal Interest “…appeared also to me…I persecuted the church…” (8,9)
Paul tried to destroy the church with physical force. Convinced that Jesus was dead.
Now he is a strong believer.
Acts 9:5 “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.”

6. Experience Of The Early Church
Mark 16:20 “…the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.”
Acts 2:41 “…3000 were added to their number…”
Acts 5:12 “…the Apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders.” 

WHAT BEGAN IN THIS LITTLE DUSTY DIRTY CORNER OF THE WORLD HAS FILLED THE GLOBE … STILL THE FASTEST GROWING MOVEMENT!!!  ***************

7. Experience Of Today’s Church
Acts 2:39 “…promise is to you…and to all who are afar off…”

My life has been changed. — I had to have a personal encounter with Jesus … NOT BORN INTO THIS
Your life has been changed. — Bill healed tuberculosis … Kevin Crohn’s Disease … Joshua Epilepsy …
“Death where is your sting!”   He is here right now!

It isn’t enough to be convinced that He is alive.
The soldiers and Jewish leaders knew that but tried to cover it up.

WHAT DO YOU SAY ABOUT THIS JESUS?

Resurrection Series# 1, The Fact Of Resurrection, Sermon notes to print, PDF