A More Sure Word

I Corinthians 15:1-11

The resurrection of Christ has always been the main point of attack by nonbelievers, as it is the key to Christianity. Matthew 28:11-15 describes the first effort to discredit his resurrection. The historian, Josephus, questioned why the Guards publicly proclaimed that they had gone to sleep on duty, allowing his disciples to steal the body, and were not even arrested, when in every other case sleeping while on duty resulted in execution. Matthew explains that they were told to make the claim and they would be protected from prosecution.

The attacks on the validity of the resurrection continue unabated. The most damaging attacks come from theologians and preachers. Men in such positions have an appearance of authority that deceives many, and II Peter2:1-2 warns that they will be among us. “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.”

There is no group that do not have these false prophets, and they get followers. Proclaiming themselves Christians, but not believing, they do things that cause unbelievers to hate Christianity, either in the name of Christianity, or in repudiation of it. I John 2:19 explains why they reject Christ’s death. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”

James 2:14-26 make it clear that just a simple belief in God is not enough to produce salvation. Matthew 16:24-26 makes it clear that an actual commitment to Christ is required. Paul reminds the Corinthians that their faith rests in truth of the gospel, and their commitment to it. Abandoning it implies that there was no real commitment, and thus no salvation.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:1-2)

Next Paul gives assurance of the facts of the record of the gospel. Jesus is who wh is proclaimed to be because he has fulfilled the prophecy about him. Without that fulfillment, we could have no evidence of who he was. His resurrection is the final proof, and must be verified for him to be the Savior. Paul reviews the evidence.

“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 1co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 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. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.” (I Corinthians 15:3-11)

With more than 500 witnesses, there can be little doubt of the validity of the claim of his resurrection. Although some had died, most were still available to confirm the facts. Finally, Paul himself, one who had vigorously opposed the faith had seen Christ for himself. As a result, he became the most vigorous proponent of the faith. He was assured of the truth of the resurrection.

Peter makes it clear that he witnessed the proof of who Jesus is, physically observing the events, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.” (II Peter 2:16-18) It was not some story they made up.

John emphasizes the personal experience as well, in I John1:1-4. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”

Despite claims to the contrary, there is no reason to believe the gospel is false. The minor discrepancies many point at demonstrate typical human witnesses. No two people remember an event exactly the same way. A lack of these differences would indicate collusion between the writers to get the story straight. They wrote based on personal observation, and the memories of others, not copying each others writing.