Jesus Is Alive

JESUS IS ALIVE! REASONS TO BELIEVE Acts 1:1-3

I KNOW THAT MY REDEEMER LIVES

I know that my Redeemer lives: What joy the blest assurance gives! He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my everlasting Head!

He lives, to bless me with His love; He lives to plead for me above; He lives, my hungry soul to feed; He lives to help in time of need.

He lives, and grants me daily breath; He lives, and I shall conquer death; He lives, my future to prepare; He lives, to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His Name; He lives, my Savior, still the same; What joy the blest assurance gives: I know that my Redeemer lives [ ] 4/12/2009 #823 JESUS IS ALIVE! REASONS TO BELIEVE Acts 1:1-3

INTRODUCTION: The belief in life after death can be found in nearly every culture. The ancient Egyptian Book of the Dead is full of stories of life after death. The tomb of one of the Pharaohs, who died some 5,000 years ago, contained a boat that was designed to carry him into the next life. The ancient Greeks were often buried with a coin in their mouths to pay for their fare into the land of the living. Some Native Americans were buried with their bows, arrows and ponies, so they would be ready to hunt when they arrived at the happy hunting ground. The Muslims look forward to their version of heaven where every sensual, physical pleasure can be indulged throughout eternity. In our day, nearly all non-Christian cults and religions hold to some view of life after death.

The Bible reveals the One who died, was buried, and arose on the third day. Luke, the beloved historian, stated that Jesus “showed Himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs.” The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been investigated more carefully than any other event in history. Simon Greenleaf, a Professor of Law at Harvard from 1833-48, was known as one of the greatest authorities on legal evidences, examined the case for the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He concluded that the resurrection of Christ was a reality, that it was a historical event, and that anyone who honestly searched the evidence would be convinced. Frank Morison was a British lawyer who intended to write a book to disclaim the resurrection of Jesus. He discovered overwhelming evidence for the resurrection. He became a believer in Jesus. He did write a book entitled Who Moved the Stone? In his book, he ended up defending the deity and resurrection of Christ.

I. COMPELLING EVIDENCES A. EMPTY TOMB. The empty tomb was a compelling evidence of Christ’s resurrection. The women who went to the tomb of Jesus to anoint His body were told by the angels: “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified; He is risen; He is not here. Behold the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:6) The women told His disciples who then raced to the tomb and discovered the stone rolled away as they had said. Entering the tomb, Peter saw the folded grave clothes and the headband neatly placed separately. When John entered the empty tomb and saw the grave clothes, he believed.

B. EYEWITNESSES’ TESTIMONIES. Jesus made His first appearance to Mary Magdalene and then to the other women. He appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Luke stated that Jesus was seen by His disciples forty days and He taught them “things pertaining to the kingdom of God.” In 1 Corinthians 15:5-7 Paul wrote that Jesus “was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once. After that, He was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.” The appearances of Jesus give testimony to the reality of His resurrection.

C. ENEMIES’ TESTIMONIES. One of the most compelling evidences comes from the enemies of Christ. The chief priests and elders admitted the resurrection by telling the Roman soldiers to say that His disciples had stolen His body. (Matthew 28:11-15) The Sadducees had the disciples arrested because they preached that Jesus was raised from the dead. (Acts 4:1-4) They had no way to disprove the resurrection. The miracle by Peter and John of healing the lame man was a thorn for Christ’s enemies. Peter boldly proclaimed to the religious leaders saying, “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.” (Acts 4:10) The enemies of Christ acknowledged the miracle of healing. (Acts 4:16) The name of the risen Christ had been exalted.

These compelling evidences along with many, many, more are reasons to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

II. CONVERSION EXPERIENCES Jesus had instructed His disciples to wait until they were “endued with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49) In the upper room, 120 of Jesus’ disciples waited and prayed. Fifty days after Christ’s resurrection on the day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon the small band of followers of Christ. Filled with the Spirit of God, they boldly began to witness for Christ. Peter stood and preached the death, burial, and resurrection message to the people. Three thousand souls fell under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and were saved. (Acts 2:14-47) If the resurrection was a fake or a lie, the people would have known it within fifty days. Instead, they received the preaching of the resurrection as true.

Saul of Tarsus was a harsh opponent against Christ and Christians. He persecuted the church and gave his consent to stoning Stephen to death. As he journeyed to Damascus to persecute more Christians, the risen Christ confronted and converted Saul. (Acts 9:1-9) After his conversion, he immediately preached Christ “that He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20) His name was changed to Paul, and he became probably the greatest Christian of all time.

Conversion experiences have been repeated millions of times. Heaven is full of people who are saved and have seen the risen Christ. All around the world there are people whose lives have been changed. Many of you can tell of your conversion experience. You can tell how the Lord changed your life. The fact of changed lives is a strong reason to belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. You cannot explain how people have been delivered from all kinds of sin and have had their lives changed apart from the power of the resurrected Christ.

III. CHURCH’S EXISTENCE The church’s existence in the world is a reason to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Jews for thousands of years had observed the Passover and the Sabbath. The Passover depicted the death of a sacrificial lamb and the deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Jesus was crucified on the Passover. He is the “Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1:29) He was raised from the dead on the first day of the week. The Bible states that Christ “our Passover is sacrificed for us.” (1 Cor. 5:7) Jesus is the Passover Lamb for the Christian. The fact that saved Jews began to worship on the first day of the week is a great witness to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Instead of observing their Passover, they observed the Lord’s Supper on the first day of the week. The early church started meeting on the first day to worship, honor, and celebrate the risen Christ. The church has assembled for nearly 2,000 years on the first day of the week to proclaim the truth that Jesus is alive.

The message of the early church focused upon the resurrection of Christ. “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 4:33) Paul preached to the philosophers in Athens the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (Acts 17:16-34) It is the message that must be preached to the world.

Atheists in Britain started putting advertising posters on London buses that say: “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”

Within hours, more than 2,500 donors had given about $60,000 on a Web site set up to take contributions to fund the ads.

Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association said, “We wanted it to be a positive message. It’s about telling people that it’s OK if you don’t believe in God.”

These deceived people will find out too late that there is a God.

LESSONS FOR LIFE: 1. There is a God and we have reasons to believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ because of the enormous amount of evidence. 2. The resurrection of Jesus proves His deity and His great victory over sin and death. He is the only One who can save us and give us eternal life. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is fundamental to the Christian faith. All other truths hinge upon this great fact. 3. Atheists have no reason to enjoy life. They will die and spend eternity in hell. They will regret their foolish notion that there is no god. Jesus came so we can have life and have it more abundantly, now and for all eternity. Have you believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior?