Week of April 5

Never give up the resurrection facts, but also make sure to abide in their truth! I recall a precious woman, who knew in detail the facts about Jesus’ life and death, but she did not believe that He was raised from the grave. She did believe, like so many others in our generation, that Jesus was a good teacher but not a risen Savior and Lord. 

I am in full agreement that facts about Jesus are critical for understanding how God has worked out His salvation for us. Never give up the facts, as I have written above; however, know that the Gospel is not only about facts, but about faith—yours and mine. The propositional truth about Jesus must become the personal truth applied to our lives or we live without hope. I love to ask, “What’s the point?” First Corinthians 15 concludes with the point! “Keep on becoming steadfast, unshaken” (15:58). The simple truth that Jesus was raised from the grave is not an Easter tale, but the eternal truth. We ought to live in this truth every day until He returns.

The nature and meaning of the resurrection provide readers with the clear theme of 1 Corinthians 15. Here is the outline: stating the resurrection platform (15:1-11) and making application (15:12-58). Paul constructs this foundation with a statement of proper Christian belief (15:3-5) and the resurrection appearances (15:6-7). He does this to counter false teaching at Corinth. He adds to these statements his own personal witness to having seen the risen Christ (15:8), then he shares a testimony about his own status and work, possibly to refute the claims of false teachers that he lacked authority (15:9-10; cf. 15:9:1-2; see also 2 Corinthians 10:13; Handbook). Bible teachers see evidence of a very clear and deep summary of Christian beliefs in verses 3-5 and possibly verses 6-7. These are the facts, but we need to live them as truth, or we will miss Paul’s point.

Foundation for assurance of salvation. Several truths rise to the surface in our focal section. First, Paul assumes the belief of the Corinthians in verses 1-2. He demonstrates this by using a Greek construction in verse 2, best translated as, “since you hold fast . . .” In other words, the Gospel of Jesus Christ assures our salvation unless the “supposed faith” we claimed to have was in fact “actually empty and worthless and unenduring” (EBC; ATR). We say, “Once saved always saved,” so is this claim still true? Yes, emphatically, but Paul holds over them the peril of falling prey to any tempting tale that the resurrection did not occur. I cannot recall all the times I have encountered folks that question the facts about Christ’s resurrection, but there have been many. They often look puzzled until I confirm that the resurrection has made all the difference in my daily life. My testimony of assurance nails the truth to their hearts because it becomes current through my life. The resurrection forms the basis for our faith and hope in forgiveness of sin and life eternal and the means of an effective witness. There is more to consider.

Based upon a clear revelation. Paul bases his teaching upon a direct revelation from the Lord. There was no mistaking the fact that he claimed to have received his message from a “living” Savior. He explained this Gospel message using four verbs: died, was buried, has been raised, and appeared. Christ died was stated as a historical fact and a crucial event (ATR), crucial because it was “in behalf of our sins.” The Scriptures teach it: Jesus taught it (Luke 22:37; 24:25), Peter pointed this truth out (Acts 2:25-27; 3:25), and Paul did the same (Acts 13:25ff; 17:3; ATR). Christ was buried, thus placing our sins in the grave. Dead and gone! He has been raised is a perfect passive indicative. This means that He was raised, and is still raised to this minute, and will continue to be so. Permanence! Lazarus was resuscitated in John 11 only to die again, until the resurrection when he will be raised forever. Paul teaches that Jesus was resurrected from the grave never to die again. He is the “first fruits” of this new life that is preached in the Gospel.

You may be asking the same question that was raised in Paul’s day: Is He truly alive? Paul writes, “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:12). Let’s see what Paul says! “He appeared” is stated as a historical fact (15:5). We should know the facts. There were multiple resurrection appearances. Take note of the number, the variety of people involved, and the places of resurrection appearances: Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18), the two going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), the eleven disciples (Matthew 28:16; Luke 24:36-49), Simon Peter (1 Corinthians 15:5), the ten apostles (John 20:19-23), the eleven (John 20:26-29), the seven by the sea (John 21:1-14), to over five hundred in Galilee (1 Corinthians 15:6), and to the apostles in Jerusalem (1 Corinthians 15:7b). There is also one to James (1 Corinthians 15:7)(ATR). And Christ appeared to Paul (1 Corinthians 15:8). Our trust in the resurrection of Jesus Christ provides essential truth for living with assurance and hope today. Trust Him as your life, guide, and hope for eternity.

A locksmith visited the Baptist Center for Global Concerns’ offices because our keys were not working correctly in some of the doors. I demonstrated the problem firsthand and even shared a bit of my own frustration that even my master key did not work properly. He assured me that I had the right key (fact) but shared what I was lacking (testimony). He used a spray aptly named “Houdini,” and my problem was solved.  

Here is a spiritual reminder. People often know that Jesus is the key to life eternal, but they have never been given a way for that truth to transform their daily lives and hope for eternity. Paul knew the importance of getting the resurrection details accurate, because the entire Christian Gospel depends upon it, BUT he also takes great care to pilot us to eternal security. We do well this Easter to know and apply well the central Christian truth about the resurrection.

1. The simple fact is that simple facts form the foundation upon which our hope rests. Build your faith foundation well upon these and other Bible verses of truth. Use verses from 1 Corinthians 15 to anchor your personal testimony to others who have doubts or who have yet to come to Christ. 
 
2. For Families: Do your children know the facts about Jesus’s resurrection? A great project would be for them to explore the many appearances of Jesus, found in the section above, called “The Point.”

In at least eleven appearances, after He had risen, more than 550 people saw Jesus alive again. Let your kids look up the passages (see above), talk about what they have found, and make a poster, or a chart, detailing who saw Him and what the Bible says happened in each case. This will be a powerful teaching moment, when they discover for themselves, and are able to tell others, what they learned. 

When they have finished their projects, let them take their work to church next Sunday and explain the findings of their research to their Sunday School teachers and pastor. What a marvelous way to move forward into the Easter celebration, armed with the facts about the resurrection!

May your paths be straight,
Larry C. Ashlock