Jesus Christ Lives Forevermore

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy 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 toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. - The Apostle Paul (I Corinthians 15:1-22)

The Gospel is outstandingly good news. Especially in the light of a proper grasp of our falleness and unworthiness. It is worth remembering during the dark hours of our earthly sojourn that if we are in Christ we should rejoice because our names are written in the "Book of Life" (Luke 10:20). I sometimes ponder the depressing thought of going through life only hoping in temporal things and without eternal hope. That grieves me beyond measure and should compel us to preach in season and out of season. Charles Spurgeon said that "every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter". Do not offend God with your silence concerning His gift of salvation this Easter. Set aside the debate over whether Christ's death and resurrection actually happened at this time of year and seize the opportunity to preach Christ - the resurrection hope!

It is wonderful to have the legacy of the resurrection hope while we live in our terminally ill flesh that is but a moment on the scale of eterntiy.

When all around is sinking sand on Christ the solid Rock I stand Hallelujah!



Christ was raised bodily, glorified so that His human frame was perfectly suited for both heaven and earth. His body could be seen, and touched (Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 John 1:1). He ate food (Luke 24:42-43) and walked and talked as He had before the crucifixion. At this very moment, he sits on the Father's right hand in that same body—making intercession for the saints, including me.

More amazing than all of that, I will one day have a body like His: able to traverse heaven and earth, immortal, yet familiar in its physical form. In fact, it will be this very body, thoroughly healed of all its infirmities and imperfections. That amazes me and thrills me - Phil Johnson.

Till He returns or calls me home . . .

The Father Hath Punished For Us His Dear Son

The first Easter was approaching. God incarnate was grief stricken to the point of death. The Lord prayed in the garden of Gesthemene "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Jesus Christ was fearless when confronted with the Devil, the Pharisees, the Saducees, King Herod, the Romans and their Governor. None of these intimidated the Lord as he boldly preached in their faces. But when faced with the cup of God's Holy wrath Jesus asked for another way. Mark's Gospel account reveals that Jesus petitioned the Father three times for another way than the cup of God's wrath. The wrath of God must be terrifying beyond comprehension.

It is this wrath that rests upon all unbelievers poised to strike at any moment (John 3:36). Pause and ponder that for a moment this Easter and honestly evaluate whether you value keeping the peace with an unbeliever more than informing them about the wrath that rests upon them. Jesus Christ, Who created all things, warned us with these terrifying words "do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

It is our endless littany of sin that fills the massive cup of God's wrath to the point of overflowing. When Jesus was in the garden he stared at the unspeakable horror that lay ahead. It was not the Roman beating that disfigured Him beyond recognition (as bad as that was). Nor was it the crown of thorns that penetrated deep into His skull (as painful as that was). Nor was it the capital punishment that Roman soldiers inflicted through crucifixion (as excrutiating as that was). It was the cup of God's just and righteous wrath poured out on the only Man who never deserved it. God demonstrated His great love at Easter in dying for His Church while we were still sinning!

As we travel back to Calvary today do you see your face in the angry mob shouting "crucify Him"? Do you hear the Savior saying "Father forgive them"? Do you grasp to some small extent the transaction that took place when Jesus cried "It is finished". Come today to the hill called Calvary and survey the wondrous cross where my Savior atoned for all my sin - past, present and future. Oh how precious is the blood that my Savior shed!

The Lord in the day

Of his anger did lay

Our sins on the Lamb, and he bore them away.

He died to atone

For sins not his own;

The Father hath punished for us his dear Son

Love moved him to die

On this I rely

My Savior hath loved me, I cannot tell why;

But this I can tell:

He loved me so well

As to lay down his life to redeem me from hell

(Charles Wesley)

Death and the curse were in our cup

O Christ, 'twas full for Thee!

But thou hast drained the last dark drop

'Tis empty now for me.

That bitter cup, love drank it up

Thy bruising healeth me!

Jehovah lifted up his rod

O Christ, it fell on Thee!

Thou wast sore stricken of thy God

There's not one stroke for me...

Thy tears, thy blood, beneath it flowed

Thy bruising healeth me!

(Fanny Crosby).

What Is Good About A Friday Where A Just Man Was Condemned?

I have often been criticized by professing Christians in Denmark for talking too much about Christ's death on the cross. Can we please move onto something more interesting? They tell me that once you are saved it is time to move on to other more important things in the new life. Excuse me! What song are believers going to sing for all eternity?

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" (Revelation 5:9-13)

In heaven we will sing about a murder. Why should we "move on" from the cross when we will sing about it in eternity. We don't move on from the cross - we need to grow in our understanding of it and our thankfulness for it. Yes, there are other subjects in the Bible - but they all point to the cross.

If we preach on love it should point to how God demonstrated His love by dying for us while we were sinning.

If we preach on faith it should point to our need to trust in Christ and His completed work on the cross.

If we preach on giving it should point to the One Who gave His life on the cross.

If we preach on marriage it should point to the Bridegroom Who went to the cross for His bride.

How much more should we speak of the blessed Savior on "Good Friday". A day where A Gospel where, in the words of John Macarthur:

Christ was not a sinner, but was treated as if He were, so believers who have not yet been made righteous are treated as if they were righteous. Christ bore their sins so that they could bear His righteousness. God treated Him as if He committed believers’ sins, and treats believers as if they did only the righteous deeds of the sinless Son of God (excerpt from John Macarthur's Commentary on 2 Corinthians 5:21).

If that doesn't excite you then you need to spend more time thinking about God's righteousness and your sinfulness. And then look to the glorious cross.

A Rugged Cross, An Empty Grave, And A Throne In Heaven (Part 3)

The Resurrection on Trial – Evidence For The Resurrection

There is enormous evidence for the resurrection. I’ll mention just five of them.

1. Jesus was seen by hundreds of witnesses. That is good enough in a court of law.
2. When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost he testified to the resurrection in Jerusalem. Thousands were there and no one questioned him.
3. The Bible has never been proven wrong on anything. We have a document more trustworthy than any other book ever written.
4. That Christianity has survived for 2000 years.
5. The change in the disciples behavior. What else could explain how these cowards who fled when Jesus was crucified had suddenly become bold and fearless witnesses ready to preach endlessly and die willingly in His Name. (Read from Foxes book of Martyr’s)

There is no reason to deny the resurrection other than a desire to keep on sinning in the hope that you will not have to face the resurrected Lord on the day of judgment.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:20)

Christ’s resurrection guarantees the resurrection of His church.

For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

Adam’s one sin brought death on everyone. The ultimate statistic – one out of one people die. Adam’s sin brought the curse of death. In Christ’s resurrection shall all be made alive. Now – does this verse teach universalism that everyone will be saved? We know the Scripture cannot contradict itself and it clearly teaches that not everyone gets saved – that there are sheep and goats. So what is Paul saying here? It depends upon the link with the man. All who are in Adam – who are the descendants of Adam? We all are. All who are in Christ – who are the descendants of Christ? John 1:12 says "as many as believed in Him, to them He gave the power to become the sons of God."

The first all includes all who are in Adam by the common factor of . . . sin. The second all includes all who are in Christ by the common factor of . . . faith. All who are in Adam die. All who are in Christ live. Who are you in?

But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:23-26)

Christ was raised bodily, glorified so that His human frame was perfectly suited for both heaven and earth. His body could be seen, and touched (Luke 24:39; John 20:27; 1 John 1:1). He ate food (Luke 24:42-43) and walked and talked as He had before the crucifixion. At this very moment, he sits on the Father's right hand in that same body—making intercession for the saints, including me.

More amazing than all of that, I will one day have a body like His: able to traverse heaven and earth, immortal, yet familiar in its physical form. In fact, it will be this very body, thoroughly healed of all its infirmities and imperfections. That amazes me and thrills me (Phil Johnson, online source).

Go Back To Part 2
Go back To Part 1

A Rugged Cross, An Empty Grave, And A Throne In Heaven (Part 2)

The Resurrection on Trial – Refuting False Theories

Most reasonable historians will concede that Jesus Christ was a true historical figure. In recent times there have been people who try to deny this, in spite of all the evidence to the contrary. I’ll give just one example of this evidence. In the middle of the first century, a man called Thallus wrote a history of the Mediterranean world from the time of the Trojan War until his own time. What is interesting about this is that Thallus was not a believer and yet tried to explain the darkness that covered the earth during the crucifixion of Christ. He suggested it was an eclipse, which was ridiculous because it happened at the time of the full moon and solar eclipses don’t happen during full moons. Note that Thallus did not try to deny the darkness – why, because everyone knew about it. Most reasonable unbelievers who do their research agree that Jesus Christ was a real historical figure, that He was crucified, and that his body went missing. It is over the reason for the empty tomb that the debate is fought. This is why there are several theories that attempt to give an explanation for the empty tomb rather than denying that there was an empty tomb. And as you will see, it probably takes a lot more faith to believe these theories than what the Bible clearly teaches – that Jesus rose from the dead. I will respond to the two most popular theories as the others aren't even worth using time on. My responses to these two theories are much shorter than they can be. I will only be bringing up some of the reasons they are false or stupid or both false and stupid.

1. The Stolen Body Theory

The first theory is the one the Pharisees gave. That the disciples stole the body. I think we all know that the tomb where they laid Jesus was being guarded by at least 10 Roman soldiers – because Jesus had prophesied his resurrection and the Pharisees thought the best chance of stopping God’s plan involved Roman soldiers and a giant rock. Well it was pretty hard for the soldiers to ignore a severe earthquake caused by an angel rolling the stone away. (As a sidenote – do you think the stone was rolled away to let Jesus out, or to let the disciples come in and take a look?)
Back to the story, the soldiers ran away in fear and headed for the city where the Pharisees were:

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day. (Matthew 28:11-15)

The Pharisees were not only corrupt liars, they were really dumb corrupt
liars. Can you imagine how this story would go in a court of law?

1. Who can guess what the punishment was for a Roman soldier who slept on duty?
2. If the soldiers were sleeping how did they know who stole the body? If they were awake – why did they let them?
3. Can you imagine the disciples sneaking up on 10 or more Roman soldiers, all sleeping at the same time, and saying shhhhhh roll that giant rock very quietly. It’s doubtful if they could have even moved it.
4. Who has ever seen CSI? What is the first thing they always do when a body is missing? – look for it.
5. Other than John, all the disciples had fled. They thought it was over. Peter had publicly denied Christ three times. Why would these frightened men risk their lives to steal a dead body of a man they had abandoned?

2. The Swoon Theory
The swoon theory says that Christ did not actually die on the cross. He was seriously wounded and the soldiers thought he was dead. But after the beating, the crucifixion, and three days in a cold tomb with no food or water and a giant rock trapping him in there, Jesus regained his strength rolled away the giant rock and beat up all the Roman guards. Here’s just a few points to consider:

1. The Roman soldiers could be executed for failure to complete an execution.
2. The Roman soldiers were experts at killing people – the fact that they didn’t break Jesus’ legs shows that they were certain he was dead.
3. John testified to seeing separated water and blood flow out of Jesus side when the spear was thrust into Him. If Jesus were still alive there would have been blood pumping out with every heartbeat.

There are more theories but I don’t think they are worth talking about. I find all of these theories much harder to believe than what the Scipture says. They only serve to show sinful man’s desire to reject God so he can keep on sinning.

Concludes on Friday - The Resurrection on Trial: Evidence For The Resurrection

Go On To Part 3
Go back To Part 1

A Rugged Cross, An Empty Grave, And A Throne In Heaven (Part 1)

The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD." So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, "Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live." So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army. Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say, 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I will open your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD. (Ezekiel 37:1-14)

Can these dead bones live? Oh Lord you know. Prophesy over these dead bones and say “Hear the Word of the Lord – so says the Lord, I will cause breath to enter you and you shall live”.

What is that a picture of? That is evangelism. Evangelism always involves three parties. A corpse, a prophet, and the God of the resurrection. Who is the corpse? That valley of dry bones is a good picture of every lost sinner we speak to. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells us:

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience - among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. (Ephesians 2:1-3)

A dead body needs a lot more than persuasion to become a Christian. He needs to be resurrected by the God Who raises the dead. And that God Who raises the dead chose the "foolishness of preaching to save them that believe" (1 Corinthians 1:21b).

This prophet God uses are those Christians who are called to preach the
Gospel. Which Christians are they? Which of us?

But do we just hope that God raises the dead or do we know it? I recently did a series called The Exhilaration Of Double Imputation which spoke about Christ’s atoning death and how it secures a double imputation for Christians. The sins of the sinner are credited to Christ and the righteousness of Christ is credited to the sinner. But this good news would remain an empty hope without Christ’s resurrection.

Who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

This means that the resurrection would prove that God had accepted the sacrifice of His son and was now able to be both just and the justifier of the sinner who repents and trusts the Savior. Without Christ’s resurrection we have no hope of being justified with God and no hope of our own resurrection body.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:12-17)

To be continued on Wednesday - The Resurrection on Trial: Refuting False Theories

Go On To Part 2

The One Thing that Scared Jesus

The first Easter was approaching. God incarnate was grief stricken to the point of death. The Lord prayed in the garden of Gesthemene "Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

Jesus Christ was fearless when confronted with the Devil, the Pharisees, the Saducees, King Herod, the Romans and their Governor. None of these intimidated the Lord as he boldly preached in their faces. But when faced with the cup of God's Holy wrath Jesus asked for another way. Mark's Gospel account reveals that Jesus petitioned the Father three times for another way than the cup of God's wrath. The wrath of God must be terrifying beyond comprehension.

It is this wrath that rests upon all unbelievers poised to strike at any moment (John 3:36). Pause and ponder that for a moment this Easter and honestly evaluate whether you value keeping the peace with an unbeliever more than informing them about the wrath that rests upon them. Jesus Christ, Who created all things, warned us with these terrifying words "do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matthew 10:28).

It is our endless littany of sin that fills the massive cup of God's wrath to the point of overflowing. When Jesus was in the garden he stared at the unspeakable horror that lay ahead. It was not the Roman beating that disfigured Him beyond recognition (as bad as that was). Nor was it the crown of thorns that penetrated deep into His skull (as painful as that was). Nor was it the capital punishment that Roman soldiers inflicted through crucifixion (as excrutiating as that was). It was the cup of God's just and righteous wrath poured out on the only Man who never deserved it. God demonstrated His great love at Easter in dying for His Church while we were still sinning!

As we travel back to Calvary today do you see your face in the angry mob shouting "crucify Him"? Do you hear the Savior saying "Father forgive them"? Do you grasp to some small extent the transaction that took place when Jesus cried "It is finished". Come today to the hill called Calvary and survey the wondrous cross where my Savior atoned for all my sin - past, present and future. Oh how precious is the blood that my Savior shed!