That Very Foundation: The Reformed Doctrine of the Bodily Resurrection of the Incarnate Son of Man

CONTENTS

Chapter 1:              Taking Up the Gauntlet

Chapter 2:              The Support of Hallowed Scripture

Chapter 3:              The Message and Mission of Jonah

Chapter 4:              Internal New Testament Evidence of Resurrection

Chapter 5:              The Eyewitnesses of Many

Chapter 6:              Internal Old Testament Evidence of Resurrection

Chapter 7:              External Evidence Concerning Jesus’ Resurrection

Chapter 8:              Is Reincarnation True?

Chapter 9:              The Certainty of the Bodily Risen Christ

Chapter 10:            Theories Opposed to Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection

Chapter 11:            Is the Christian faith a blind faith?

Chapter 12:            Repent and Believe the Gospel of the Risen King

Chapter 1:

Taking Up the Gauntlet

Christians would consider belief of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ crucial to the historic Christian faith.  Questions have been traditionally found on the lips of unbelievers adherent to the god of this age.  It is a sad reflection of the state of Christendom, however, that many of those charged with ministerial responsibility to encourage others in the midst of nagging doubt found themselves questioning the very cornerstone of the Christian faith.  Coming from the Reformed tradition, I believe that the actual bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is not only a possibility but is, in fact, crucial to the whole redemptive plan of God for His people.  If the resurrection of Christ did not take place, there is more at stake that apostolic reputation—faith thereby becomes futile because the issue of sin has not been adequately dealt with (1 Cor. 15:12-17).

                My undergraduate philosophy professor challenged me one day regarding the legitimacy of the bodily resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.  Far from conceding my position to his superior intellect, I decided to take up the gauntlet by researching the evidence available, hence this study.  I also had the honor of being a student of Dr. Gary Habermas.  Because of his inspiration I have taken great interest in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.  I recommend his book titled The Historical Jesus that provides a more thorough examination of the historical Jesus.

In an attempt to bring some clarity to my position, I intend to look at the internal and external evidence.  The oft-used adage, traditionally attributed to Augustine, seems appropriate here: The New is in the Old concealed; the Old is in the New revealed. 

This work is intended for Christians who love truth, and for non-Christians who seek a straightforward presentation of the bodily risen King of kings.  The brief presentation of this work is the schooling I received.  I have thought it pertinent and necessary to write on the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ in an ever-so interesting time of doubt and confusion of divine truth.

                Whilst acknowledging any bias on my part towards the biblical perspective and I am, therefore, naturally inclined towards what is recorded by way of evidence in the New Testament.  The understanding of the early Church Fathers will also be considered.  Other reliable and early historians will be examined concerning their content. 

Chapter 2:

The Support of Hallowed Scripture

Jesus Himself supports the Bible as the very voice of God and the very Word of God (Matt. 4:4).  God did not write the Bible from His own hand.  It did not fall from heaven.  Rather, Scripture was written by human authors.  Each author has his own style.  Each author has his own usage of words.  Each author has a unique highlighting.  It pleased God to rightly use men of God to accomplish His appointed task.  It does not devoid the Bible of any spiritual substance to concede it was penned by God’s special people.  Human beings wrote Scripture, but does this mean it should not be called the voice of God?  We must remain truthfully consistent and consistently truthful about how to respond to this question. 

The Bible claims to be God’s Word.  It is titled the Word of God due to its claim.  The authors of Scripture did not write their subjective opinions.  Rather, the words of Scripture are divinely inspired.  God Himself inspired Scripture.  Scripture is not man speaking, but ultimately God speaking to man.  The final source of Scripture is God Himself.  The Scripture is of God and from God through the instrument of holy, God-appointed men.  The prophets of old began with Thus saith the Lord.  Jesus Himself prayed unto His Father concerning His truth.  Jesus believed the very authority of God’s Word.  The inspired Word also refers to God the Holy Spirit’s superintended production of Scripture.  The Spirit of truth directed God’s appointed to write the Word of God.  But God did not dictate His Word.  The dictation theory is denied concerning inspiration.  The Spirit of truth speaks through the human authors; it is truly God’s word. 

God’s beloved church of Christians believe not only in the inspiration of Scripture but also the infallibility and inerrancy of Scripture.  Is God a liar?  Does God inspire falsehood?  The answer to these questions is in the negative.  No, God is completely truthful and trustworthy.  His Word is truly trustworthy and trustworthy in truthfulness.  The Bible is without error because God inspired and superintended it.  Inerrancy is affirmed in knowing the translations are subject to error.  We know the original manuscripts were totally correct.  Every statement of Scripture could be true or false.  For example, Satan told Eve she would not die (Gen. 3:4).  Is this statement true?  Of course not!  Because of Eve’s decision, her life resulted in death.  The consequence of sin is physical death and spiritual death.  The statement of Satan is false, because it came from him in falsehood and deception, but it is still historically true that Satan deceived Eve.  The message is divinely preserved and trustworthy. 

If God inspired and superintended His Word, it is certain He has a divine artifact of history that is worthy and credible of rightful acceptance.  There is a totality of sixty-six books of Scripture.  These sixty-six books are considered canonical books.  All of the books of the Protestant canon are God’s Word.  God purposed these books as His Word.  The church received these books from God Himself.  The books we have in the Old and New Testament are God-appointed and God-ordained.  It pleased God to ordain and appoint sixty-six books to speak as His inerrant, inspired word; the sole infallible and final authority for faith, morals and conduct.

Spiritual Discernment

                Spiritual foolishness of depraved men subverts his ways (Proverbs 19:3), but that which is truly spiritual discernment is actually of the Spirit of truth and illumination:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ. (1 Cor. 2:12-16 KJV).

No Thwarted Purpose of God

                Some of the characteristics of the purposes of God are irresistible (Is. 14:26-27) irreversible (Jer. 4:28) and no purpose of God can be withheld from Him (Job 42:2).  It pleased God to purpose His word in sixty-six books of the Old and New Testament.

The New Testament

                The Gospel of Matthew is the first gospel in the New Testament.  Eusebius refers to the inscription of early manuscripts, according to Matthew.  Matthew is referred to as a tax collector (Matt. 9:9), he is called Levi (Mark 2:14) and selected as an apostle (Matt. 10:2-3).  Matthew is a God-appointed disciple (Acts 1:13). 

Paul is approved by Jesus Himself (Acts 9:1-19; 10-18).  The writings of Paul are therefore acceptable.  It includes the epistle of Romans, First and Second Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, First and Second Thessalonians, First and Second Timothy, Titus, and Philemon.  The author of Hebrews, although uncertain, could be Apollos or Paul.  Apollos was approved (Acts 18:24-28; 1 Cor. 1:12) and we know Paul was acceptable. 

Paul approves Mark (2 Tim. 4:11); the Gospel of Mark is acceptable.  Paul approves Luke (Col. 4:14); the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts are acceptable.  John is appointed as an apostle (Matt. 10:2).  Jesus Himself approves of the apostle John; therefore the Gospel of John, First, Second and Third John and the book of Revelation are up to standard. 

Peter himself is approved by Jesus (John 1:42).  Therefore First and Second Peter are acceptable epistles of the New Testament.  Jesus approved of James (1 Cor. 15:7; James 1:1) and Jude (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3) as being a bondservant of Jesus Christ (Jude 1:1). 

The Old Testament

Jesus Himself affirms the writings of Moses (John 5:46-47).  The writings of Moses are acceptable.  Jesus affirms Old Testament writings (Luke 24:44) and “all the Scriptures” (Luke 24:27 NKJV).  Jesus is the impeccable Incarnate historian.  The commentary of Jesus must be accepted as fact; for Jesus is Incarnate Truth.

The Approval of the Father Concerning God the Son

                The voice of the Father proclaims, “…This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  (Matt. 3:17 NKJV).  At the transfiguration of Jesus Christ the Father said, “…This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.  Hear Him!”  (Matt. 17:5 NKJV).

The Approval of God the Word

                The approval of the gospel of Christ (Gen. 3:15), the birth of Jesus (Is. 7:14) and His mission to atone for sin for His chosen (Is. 53:4-12).  Jesus Himself testifies of the seal of approval He has from God (John 6:27).

The Approval of God the Spirit

                John the Baptist (approved, Is. 40:3) spoke of the Holy Ghost descending upon Jesus Christ (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; John 1:32; Acts 10:38).  The sign of God the Holy Spirit is the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth.  The baptism of Jesus Christ involved all three distinct persons of the Godhead.  The baptism of believers’, involves a Trinitarian formula (Matt. 28:19).

Summary

The Bible is a collection of God-Breathed books:  “All Scripture is God-Breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17 NIV). 

Indeed, Sacred Writ is inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, sufficient and efficacious whether people care to acknowledge this precious truth of God or not. 

Chapter 3:

The Message and Mission of Jonah

                Jonah 1:17 speaks of the Lord’s appointment within His blessed sovereignty concerning His creation, and it explicitly indicates God’s control and mastery of all creation.  Jonah was rescued through the instrument of a fish; freed from the terror of the depths of the sea (Jonah 2:2).  He remained in the belly of Sheol for three days and three nights.  Regarding the historicity of this unique and unusual event of Jonah, we must reflect on the actuality of the inerrancy of Holy Writ to rightly comprehend the reality of it being true.  Indeed, the Book of Jonah, as orthodox theologians maintain, is not only historical but prophetic.  Jonah was a particular character in history.  May we also consider the Lord’s rescue of a drowning man; He chose to save Jonah from death.  Indeed, God saves His people from the second death.  The Lord bestowed His beloved mercy upon a man who sinned and offended Him.  The whale was not to eat Jonah but to shield him.  This action of the God of nature; the very Author of nature, provides for us a remembrance of divine mercy; indeed, to come back and repent.  God orders what happens and what doesn’t happen in time for the benefit of His beloved elect and for His precious and blessed glory of Himself alone.

Jesus Himself spoke of Jonah’s story in the divine Scriptures (Matt. 12:38-41; Luke 11:29-32), thus indicating the narrative as actual history.  Contrary to understanding, the Book of Jonah is hardly a parable.  The immaculate Incarnate Savior comprehended the story of Jonah as a narrative grounded in historical actuality.  The fundamental denial of the Book of Jonah is presumptuous reasoning concerning God’s sovereignty in creation and in time.  God assuredly has the ability to divinely intervene.  The communication of Jesus in the New Testament regarding the story of Jonah was to speak God’s truth.  The Book of Jonah was spoken of by Jesus Himself to illustrate divine truths concerning His blessed message and mission.  Jesus Himself spoke of the sign of Jonah.  This sign was directed to the three days and three nights and the efficient proclamation of God’s message.  Concerning the three days and three nights of Jonah’s experience, is meant to be, a certain type of the Lord Jesus Christ, sufficiently foreshadowing His actual death, burial and bodily resurrection.  Thus, the sinless Christ proclaimed, “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth”  (Matt. 12:40 NKJV).  The burial of Jonah was a figure of the burial of Jesus Christ. As God appointed the grave of Jonah, so He appointed His Beloved Son.  The grave of Jonah was certainly new; so too, the tomb of the Father’s Son.  As Jonah brought repentance to Nineveh, Christ brought repentance to the world of Jewish and Gentile people.  Unlike Jonah, Christ directed helpless sinners to Himself as the only way to His Blessed Father.

Chapter 4:

Internal New Testament Evidence of Resurrection

The Resurrection of the Messiah

                The resurrection of Jesus Christ was not simply a revival of Jesus’ physical body.  The Lord Jesus is called “the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20 NKJV) and “the firstborn from the dead” (Rev. 1:5 NKJV).  He was the first to rise from the dead (Acts 26:23).  Indeed, Jesus Himself is our Incarnate Representative.  The bodily resurrection of Christ Jesus made us to be spiritually alive (Rom. 6:4; Eph. 2:6).  Jesus’ resurrection assures His people of their bodily resurrection at the last day.   Jesus’ resurrected body is glorious and deathless (Phil. 3:21; Heb. 7:16, 24).  Jesus Christ lives in and through His glorified body.  He will do this for all eternality.  Christians who are alive when Jesus Christ comes back at His Second Coming will undergo an equivalent transformation (1 Cor. 15:50-54).  Christians who have died will be transformed.  At and after the last resurrection, Christians will never die again.  The ground of Christianity is the actual Resurrected Christ.  The resurrection of Jesus is indisputable proof.  Jesus Himself accomplished victory over death.  After He bore the sins of His people that were applied to Him, He lives and has ascended on high and seats on the right hand of God the Father.  He is the sinless, risen, ascended and enthroned One.  He is the eternal Son of God with divine power from the Spirit of holiness (Rom. 1:4).  After the resurrection of Jesus, He gloriously ascended; He reigns.  The New Testament gives information concerning the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

John in John 10:17-18 states:

Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again.  No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father. (NKJV).

The Father loves the Son.  The Son loves the Father.  The Son voluntarily lays down His life and takes His life back up again.  The Son demonstrates His distinctive judgment of willingly giving His life for His sheep.  The Son demonstrates His own certain prediction of His resurrection (v. 17, “…I lay down My life that I may take it again”).  He alone lays down His life (v. 18, “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself”).  The Son has power to give His life for His chosen. Jesus Himself died to save.  The Son has power to take it up again, that is, His resurrection.  The Son received this commend from His Holy Father (the only Holy Father) in heaven.

                Jesus spoke of Himself as divine.  His adversaries understood His meaning (John 10:33).  Solely the divine Jesus could freely die and freely rise.  Jesus explicitly shows He is divine.  He alone is the Author and Giver of life as Jesus said of Himself. 

The Triune Work in the Resurrection of Christ

Let us consider the Triune work of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit were involved in the action of the resurrection of Jesus.  The Father had power, the Son had power and the Holy Spirit had power to rise up Jesus Christ to accomplish the Father’s will in Jesus by His Glorious Spirit.

God’s power accomplishes resurrection: “Therefore, in the resurrection, whose wife of the seven will she be?  For they all had her.”  Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matt. 22:28-29 NKJV).

The resurrection of Christ is distinctive from others because He rose by His own power.  He is the very author of resurrection.  But this does not deny the Trinitarian work of Christ’s resurrection.  Christ accomplished His resurrection:  “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself.  I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.  This command I have received from My Father” (John 10:18 NKJV).

The Spirit of Christ accomplished resurrection: “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you” (Rom. 8:11 cf. 1 Cor. 6:14 NKJV).

                The Holy Trinity was active in the very resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The resurrection of Jesus is in essence a Trinitarian accomplishment.  The work of redemption and creation is a Trinitarian achievement.   It demonstrates the unity of the Sacred Trinity in their essential being.  The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one in their unity and being.  There are three distinct persons Who accomplished the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The Trinitarian work of Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates the distinction of the three persons.  It shows the personality and work of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.  The Son accomplishes the will of His Blessed Father by His Holy Spirit.  The Son verifies His death as genuinely acceptable to His Father.  The atonement is authentic for the payment for the penalty of sin.  The resurrection is accomplished for His elect’s justification. 

The Word of Life

John in 1 John 1:1-4 states:

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, concerning the Word of life--the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us--that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (NKJV).

The crux of the message of Christianity is the very proclamation of the gospel of the Risen Christ for eternal life in the Incarnate Word of life.  The opening of this verse echoes, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1 NKJV).  Jesus Christ is the Word of life.  He was heard, seen and handled.  John defends the actuality of the humanity of Jesus.  Jesus was and always will remain the Incarnate Logos (John 1:14).  The self-existence of Jesus Himself speaks to the reality of His blessed divinity.  The Son’s fellowship and friendship with His Father is provided to His chosen people.  The believer in Christ has joy because of the Word of life.  He died but He rose again. 

The Bodily Risen Son

Luke in Luke 24:36-43 declares:

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”  But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.  And He said to them, “Why are you troubled?  And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Behold My hands and My feet, that is it I Myself.  Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.  But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?”  So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.  And He too it and ate in their presence.  (NKJV).

He did not rise from the dead as a spirit.  Jesus asks why His followers are troubled.  He rebukes their unbelief.  Christ told His followers to touch Him and see He is not a spirit.  His hands and feet had nail marks.  His feet bore the wounds of the crucifixion on the cross.  He asks for food and ate in the presence of His followers.  Thus, Jesus made it a necessity that He had a glorified body.  Jesus refutes the presumption that He is a spirit. He is flesh of very flesh and bone of very bone.  Jesus Himself tells His disciples what body He possesses: (v. 39 “…Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bone as you see I have”).  Jesus explicitly references, observation of His true resurrected self.  Jesus showed His disciples His wounded hands and His wounded feet.  He demonstrated His injuries from the cross at Calvary. He has a glorious and triumphant resurrected body. Jesus asked, (v. 41 “…Have you any food here?”).  The disciples gave Him broiled fish and honeycomb; He had the capacity to eat food.  Jesus ate in the presence of His disciples.  These were the very witnesses of the Word of life.  Jesus spoke to His disciples about the fulfillment of Scripture (Luke 24:44-45).  Jesus speaks about all things that needed to be fulfilled.

My Lord and My God

                John in John 20:24-29 records:

Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”  So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”  And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side.  Do not be unbelieving, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”  Jesus said to him, “Thomas. Because you have seen Me, you have believed.  Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed. (NKJV).

When Jesus came amongst the disciples, Thomas was not with them.  The disciples of the Risen Christ told Thomas (v. 25, “…We have seen the Lord.”). 

Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!”  Jesus spoke and said to them, “Peace to you!”  Jesus appeared in the locked room of His disciples.  Jesus is omnipresent; He is everywhere; He appeared where His friends were.  Jesus is omnipotent; He had infinite power to appear.  Jesus is omniscient; He had infinite knowledge to know Thomas’ request.  Thus, Jesus is Almighty God in human flesh (the Second Person of the Trinity).

Thomas needed to see, and place his finger into the nail prints, and His pierced side.  After Jesus showed Himself, Thomas believed.  Thomas would not believe unless He saw and examined the Risen Incarnate Lord.

                Thomas referred to Jesus as his Lord and his God.  This means Jesus is divine.  This plainly and entirely excludes teachings from traditions of men and doctrines of demons.  For anyone to say Jesus is not the God-man, the very Incarnate King, distinct from the Father and the Spirit, flies in the face of the actuality of scriptural precedence.  The person who denies this really denies the divine integrity of Scripture, for it clearly teaches the reality of the divine Son of Man.  Jesus is not the spirit-brother of Lucifer.  He is not a highly exalted angel.  He is not a god.  He is not merely a man who was a great prophet.  Rather, He was and is, and always shall be the Eternal Incarnate Self-Existent One.  Will you be like Thomas who proclaimed Jesus as his Lord and God?  Thomas believed Jesus rose from the dead based upon his sight of Him.  Because of belief in Jesus of those who have not seen Him; this blessing is upon God’s people.  The purpose of the Gospel of John is belief (John 20:31).  The belief of Thomas is the desired result.

He believed the Risen Christ.  The faith of Thomas was based on his eyes (he saw Christ), his ears (he heard Christ) and he touched Jesus (he felt Christ).  Thomas shows, Jesus is fully Lord and fully God.  Jesus accepts the proclamation of Thomas.  He does not rebuke Thomas. Rather, He acknowledges the statement of Thomas regarding His divinity. 

Raised Up on the Third Day

Luke in Acts 10:40-41 states:

Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.  And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead.  To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. (NKJV).

The Father raised up the Son on the third day.  The Father displayed Jesus openly.  The Father chose the people Who Jesus was seen by.  It pleased His Blessed Father to reveal Jesus to His chosen.  The disciples ate and drank with Jesus “after He arose from the dead.”  Jesus Himself commanded His disciples to preach.  His followers would testify of Jesus.  Jesus is ordained the Incarnate Judge.  Jesus is the Supreme Judge because human beings are moral creatures.  When He judges He will judge justly and righteously.  God the Father ordained His Son to be Judge.  No human creature will have their own made-man argument to place against Him to enter into His kingdom.  Made-man traditions seek to enter His kingdom in a way His Word has not prescribed or supported.  The mouths of His enemies will be shut, merely by His divine presence.  Jesus is the Judge of all mankind, and He is the Divine Defense Attorney for His beloved people.  He will acquit His redeemed people because they will be found to be in Him.  He will damn His enemies because they will not be found in Him.  For His people, it will be a joyous day, but for His enemies it will be a day of horror and dread.  Scripture supports salvation exclusively through Jesus (Acts 4:12); forgiveness of sin is guaranteed by His acceptable propitiation; confirmed by His glorious resurrection and restoration of His glory established His ascendancy, accessible of those who invoke His blessed name and His heavenly ministry as intercessor for His chosen people.

The Lord’s Day

                Some people dispute that Sunday is the day of worship for Christians.  Historic Christianity always has taught that Sunday as the Sabbath.  The New Testament speaks of the Lord ’s Day.  The Lord’s day is the day of Jesus’ resurrection.  Therefore this principle of Sabbath is established because of the Creation and the apostles.  We rejoice in the resurrection of Christ on this day and hope of rest in heaven.  Heaven is the Sabbath rest.[1]

Christ Died For Our Sins

Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 states:

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.  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.  After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.  Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born of due time. (NKJV).

               

The Incarnate Messiah “died for our sins.”  Jesus died for a particular people (i.e., our).  In accordance with the Scripture Jesus died for their sins.  In accordance with Scripture Jesus was buried and rose again.  Cephas and the twelve saw the Risen Christ.  He was “seen by over five hundred at once.”  The people of the five hundred witnesses still remained alive, but “some have fallen asleep.”  After His appearance to Peter, the twelve disciples and the five hundred people, Jesus was “seen” by James and by Paul.  This passage by Paul is early in origin and proves the credibility, reliability and trustworthy of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Church Fathers On 1 Corinthians 15:4

Chrysostom wrote concerning 1 Corinthians 15:4:

This serves to confirm that Christ died a genuine human death and points us once more to the Scriptures for proof.  Nowhere does Scripture mean the death of sin, when it makes mention of our Lord’s death, but only the death of the body, and a burial and resurrection of that same body. [2]

Ambrosiaster wrote concerning the five hundred witnesses:

This is not recorded in the Gospels, but Paul knew it independently of them.[3]

Cyril of Jerusalem wrote concerning the witnesses of the resurrection:

He appeared to Cephas; and after that to the twelve.”  So if you disbelieve one witness, you have twelve witnesses.  “Then he was seen by more than five hundred people at once”—if they disbelieve the twelve, then listen to five hundred.  “After that he was seen by James,” his own brother and the first overseer of this [Jerusalem] diocese.  Since so noteworthy a bishop was privileged to see the risen Christ, along with other disciples, do not disbelieve.  But you may say that his brother was a biased witness.  So then he continues:    “He was seen by me.”  But who am I?  I am Paul, his enemy!  “I was formerly a persecutor” but now preach the good news of the resurrection.[4]

Chrysostom wrote concerning Jesus’ appearance to James:

This must be James, the Lord’s brother, whom he ordained as the first bishop of Jerusalem.  The apostle mentioned here would include the seventy and others besides the Twelve.[5]

Acts and the Resurrection

                After the resurrection the disciples of Jesus Christ began teaching, preaching and proclaiming the extraordinary fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  This occurred shortly after the resurrection event took place.  Peter preached the resurrection of Christ at Pentecost without hesitation (Acts 2:32).  He started to gain great courage and strength since the resurrection of Christ.  It was the formation of the Christian Church.  Peter gave a sermon to the crowd of different languages.  Peter himself spoke fifty days after the resurrection of Jesus.  The message was clear despite the numerous languages represented (Acts 2:11).  The proclamation of the gospel of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is apparent.  It indicates His followers boldly proclaimed the Risen Christ as the tomb of Jesus Christ was vacant.  The Christian fellowship demonstrates the substantiation of the resurrection of Jesus.  The ground of the Christian faith is the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Christian fellowship thrived in the same place where the murder of Jesus occurred.

                His followers sought nothing to gain of this world.  They were men of whom the world was not worthy.  The followers of Jesus abided by the commandments of God.  They did not seek to create another religion purely for popularity sake.  The disciples of Christ encountered much suffering.  With the exception of John, the apostles endured deaths of martyrdom.  The eyewitnesses of the resurrection of Jesus Christ truthfully proclaimed the gospel of the resurrection.  Such was no lie but motivated from pure grace and truth.  The apostles had unmovable determination, unwavering faithfulness and commitment to Christ the Risen King!  The apostles knew and believed the truth because of God’s work alone.  God opened their eyes to seek to preach His truth, He opened their ears to listen for His voice in His Word, and He opened their mouths to testify of His truth! God used His people as a means to accomplish His will.  They stood unwavering for truth, unqualified diligence, unconditional commitment and unashamed service for their Risen Lord and Redeemer Jesus Christ.

Mary Magdalene

                The first witness of Christ was a woman (John20:1-18).  Her name was Mary Magdalene. Women’s testimonies were practically meaningless especially if their beliefs superseded the chief priests and Pharisees.  The beliefs of Christianity were in violation of the present governing religion.  If they were going to fake the bodily resurrection of Jesus, they choose the wrong initial witness; for the first witness was a woman.  Why would they design their first witness to be a woman? Women were generally not promoted by law to speak in public.  It was considered an embarrassment concerning the presence of women.  Paul’s choice to exclude Mary Magdalene magnifies her witness in favor of the resurrection of Jesus.  Chrysostom speaks of the Gospel accounts of Jesus appearing first to Mary (Mark 16:9).  He notes Paul mentioning solely the men who Jesus appeared to.[6] Combining Paul’s description of who Jesus appeared to, and the witness of a woman further confirms the reality of God’s Word and the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.  Paul focused upon a truthful evangelistic proclamation of the exposure of men who saw Jesus Christ Risen.  The exclusion of Mary Magdalene does not support any sort of demeaning of women from Holy Writ.  The eyewitness testimony of Jesus Christ establishes the actuality of Christian doctrine, namely the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

                The appearances to Mary and the other appearances of Christ remain a consistent truth.  It is unlikely the apostles would agree to the testimony of Mary unless they saw the empty tomb.  They themselves didn’t understand fully that Christ would rise from the dead.  Only after they saw for themselves the same tomb Christ’s body was laid in, was, indeed, empty, they believed.  Does a lie support truth?  Does God’s truth divine need amendment?  Of course not!  They themselves did not understand Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.  It was only until after Mary came to them that Peter and John traveled to the tomb.  They saw it and entered it.  John arrived first.  He looked in and hesitated.  He was the younger of the apostles.  Peter went forward and entered the empty tomb.  John followed and believed.

                The seal of Rome on the tomb was established as a sign or symbol of the presence of the Romans.  The purpose of this sign was to protect the tomb. It was under Roman authority.  The huge rock covered the tomb of Jesus.   It was great in size.  It would have taken more than fishermen to move among the presence of Roman soldiers.  If the sign were disturbed it would constitute an immediate crime against Rome.  If a person broke the seal, they were responsible and answerable to the governor.  The apostles were not equally capable to face Roman guards in combat. 

                Rather, there was a great earthquake.  The angel of the Lord came from heaven.  He rolled back the huge stone from the door of the tomb.  His countenance was like lightning.  He garments were white as show.  The angel sparked fear in the Roman soldiers, and became like dead men.  The soldiers went to the chief priests and explained what happened.  The chief priests made a story out of deceit (Matt. 28:2-4; 11-15).  The job of the Roman guards who watched the tomb of Jesus was performed in duty.  They were soldiers of Rome who they owed their loyalty.  If a Roman guard experienced any threat he surely would have noted this.  It would have undoubtedly appeared in the Roman record.  But no such record does exist that confirms the apostles overtaking the Roman guards.  The Roman guards said they fell asleep.  They knew the ultimate penalty was death.  They entrusted themselves to the help of the chief priests with no other choice. 

The God of The Old and New

Interestingly the New Testament speaks of the raising of many saints, “and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many” (Matt. 27:52-53 NKJV).  Certainly the saints of old had the same benefits of Jesus’ atonement and the resurrection applied to them as it is to us.  The saints of the Old Testament look toward the atoning death of Christ, whereas the saints of the New Testament look back at His victorious death.  The God of the Old is the God of the New.  The saints of old were saved as the saints are now saved.

Conclusion

At the surface of this presentation it has been established that internal evidence of the New Testament supports the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ “…who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Rom. 4:25).  Insofar we ought to consider other internal evidence of the New Testament.  To this we now turn. 

Chapter 5:

The Eyewitnesses of Many

The Two on the Road to Emmaus

                They spoke about what happened, conversed and reasoned together but they did not know Jesus drew near and was with them (Luke 24:13-16).  Jesus spoke to them, and understood they were saddened (Luke 24:17).  One of the people on the road to Emmaus was named Cleopas (Luke 24:18), and Jesus spoke with him (Luke 24:18).  There were certain female eyewitnesses who found the tomb empty (Luke 24:22-23).  There were a plurality of female eyewitnesses (v.22, “Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us” NKJV; emphasis mine).  Jesus “beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27 NKJV).

The Apostle Paul

                Saul (who was later called Paul; Acts 13:9) was born in Tarsus in Cilicia (Acts 21:39; 22:3) as a Roman citizen (Acts 22:26).  He was a citizen of Tarsus (Acts 21:39) zealous for Judaism (Phil. 3:5-6) and a strict Pharisee (Acts 23:6), and Paul was educated by Gamaliel (Acts 5:34). 

He was overseer of St. Stephen’s martyrdom (Acts 8:1; 22:20).  He was distinguished as a persecutor of Christianity (Acts 22:4-5).  He sought to eliminate the followers of Christ that he considered blasphemous.  He later testifies to this fact in front of a crowd of people:

I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, as also the high priest and all the Council can testify.  I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. (Acts 22:4-5 NIV). 

In Saul’s life he wanted to set an example; Christians would not be tolerated.  For example Stephen, an early Christian, “When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul” (Acts 7:58 NASB).  “But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house, and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison” (Acts 8:3 NASB).  Saul was zealous to find men and women who followed the Way (that is, Christ; Acts 9:2).

                As he neared his journey, instantly a light from heaven appeared around him:

and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”  And he said, “Who are You, Lord?”  And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but get up and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.”  The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but seeing no one.  Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus.  And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank. (Acts 9: 4-9 NASB).

The voice Paul heard was Jesus Christ.  The Risen Savior communicated to Paul what he needed to do.  Jesus Himself had the ability of speaking after His resurrection.  He had the ability to find Paul and to know where he was going to be.  Jesus had the ability to see and hear Paul.  These things that Jesus did demonstrate the characteristics of His resurrected body.  The men with Paul did not speak but heard the voice Paul heard.  Paul experienced a spiritual transformation.  His eyes were opened.  God chose to convert Paul.  Paul is an example of a chief sinner who God graciously saved.  When Christians get down about their sins, may we think of Paul; he is an example of the great love of God Who has bestowed upon His people in His graciousness through His Beloved Son applied by His Spirit.

Ananias: A Follower of Christ

                Ananias received an appearance of the post-resurrected Christ (Acts 9:10-15).  Christ communicated to him; Paul is a chosen vessel of His; he was used as a means to accomplish God’s will (Acts 9:15).  Ananias acknowledges the actual appearance of Christ to Paul, “So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 9:17 NASB; emphasis mine).  

The Apostle Peter

Paul records in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 the fact of the appearances of the risen Jesus:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. (NIV).

Peter was a fisherman (Matt. 4:18).  He was the brother of Andrew (Matt. 4:18).  Peter was a married man (Mark 1:30; 1 Cor. 9:5).  He was named Cephas by Christ (John 1:42).  Jesus calls Peter to the discipleship (Matt. 4:18-22).  Peter saw the Risen Christ.  Luke records the appearance of Christ to Peter (Luke 24:34). 

The Twelve Apostles

                Christ appeared to His apostles.  When the Scripture reference the twelve apostles, it simply refers to a generic title for them. 

More Than Five Hundred At The Same Time

 

The Risen Christ appeared to over five hundred brethren.  The appearance of the Risen Christ occurred at the same time.  This appearance is the only account mentioned in the New Testament.  Paul had close contact with the witnesses who saw the Risen Christ because he stated they fell asleep, and it meant they died; Paul apparently had contact with the eyewitnesses.

James

James saw the Risen Christ.  Jesus was never accepted in His own house among His own: “He came unto his own, but his own received him not” (John 1:11 KJV).

His own rejected Him as the Messiah.  They did not believe He was the divine prophet.  Jesus Himself was accused of being out of his mind (Mark 3:21). 

John in John 7:1-8 states:

After this, Jesus went around in Galilee, purposely staying away from Judea because the Jews there were waiting to take his life.  But when the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus' brothers said to him, “You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do.  No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.”  For even his own brothers did not believe in him.  Therefore Jesus told them, “The right time for me has not yet come; for you any time is right.  The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.  You go to the Feast. I am not yet going up to this Feast, because for me the right time has not yet come”(NIV; Emphasis mine).

                After Jesus was risen, according to the many witnesses who saw Christ, out of literally nowhere James appears in the upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:14).  Later James becomes one of the bishops of the visible church.  Paul testifies of the fact that when he had visited Peter he mentions he saw James only (Gal. 1:19). 

                In Galatians 2:9, Paul visits the church in Jerusalem, he sees: “James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.  They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the Jews” (NIV).

Extraordinarily, James is leader of the council of elders:  “The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present” (Acts 21:18 NIV).

James went from a man who rejected Christ openly, and wanted nothing to do with Christ, to a man who accepted Christ openly!  The very transformation of James indicates the actuality of the Resurrected Lord of lords.

Chapter 6:

Internal Old Testament Evidence of Resurrection

1 Kings 17:18-24

                The mother of the dead child needs assistance from Elijah.  He took the young boy from her arms, and he laid him on his bed.  Elijah was a man of God who prayed to the Lord God.  The prayer of Elijah was formed in a question.  Elijah extended himself out on the youngster.  Three times Elijah did this, and he cried out to God in prayer.  He prayed the boy’s life would return to him.  The miracle of God by Elijah supports prayer to God alone.  Elijah prayed for help to the Lord God.  The Lord God heard the prayer of Elijah.  The child’s life returned to him and he was alive.  Elijah picked the child up, carried the youngster and he gave the child to his mother and pronounced his resurrection, “See, your son lives!”  (NKJV).  The mother of the resurrected child knows Elijah is truly a man of God.  The Lord God granted Elijah’s request because of his status as a man of God.  The young child arose physically from the dead.  Elijah prayed he would rise.  The mother of the child saw the life which was back within the child.  She knew Elijah was a man sent from God.

2 Kings 4:18-37

                The child grew and went to his father.  The young child cried out to his father for help because of the discomfort or pain in the child’s head.  The father ordered the servant to carry the child to his mother.  The servant lifted him up and carried him to his mother.  The boy sat upon the lap of his mother.  The boy at noon died.  The mother laid him on the man of God’s bed.  The mother shut the door and went her way.  The mother cried out to her husband.  She requested a servant to obtain the donkey to go to the man of God.  It needed to be done quickly and return.  She needed to go to the man of God’s residence.  The mother had tremendous faith that God through the man of God would heal her son.  The father of the dead child wondered why she needed to see the man of God.  The mother of the dead child responded briefly to the father, saddled the donkey and went on her way.  She specifically instructed the servant not to slow down but continued on their way.  Eventually she arrived at Mt. Carmel.  This was where the man of God was staying.  The man of God saw her in the distance.  The man of God requested of the servant to run and ask her questions about their safety and well being.  Surprisingly the mother of the dead child responded, “Everything is all right.”  When she reached the man of God at the mountain she held his feet.  The servant tried to push her away from the man of God.  The man of God instructed the servant to “Leave her alone!”  The man of God knew she was in “bitter distress.”  He also knew the Lord hid it from him and He did not tell him why.  We read in 2 Kings 4:28-30:

“Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn't I tell you, 'Don't raise my hopes'?”   Elisha said to Gehazi, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take my staff in your hand and run. If you meet anyone, do not greet him, and if anyone greets you, do not answer. Lay my staff on the boy's face.”  But the child's mother said, “As surely as the LORD lives and as you live, I will not leave you.” So he got up and followed her.  (NIV).

Following the story, the mother needed the presence of the man of God with her.  The servant laid the staff on the boy’s face.  The staff did not appear to bring forth a response.  The servant went and told the man of God, “The boy has not awakened.”  Elisha reached the household and noticed the dead boy on the couch.  Elisha went inside the household, and shut the door on them and prayed to the Lord God.  Elisha went upon the bed and laid his mouth, eyes and hands upon the dead boy.  The dead boy began to become warm after Elisha stretched out himself upon him.  The boy’s body began to grow warm.  Elisha turned away and walked back and forth in the room.  He got on the bed and stretched out upon the boy again.  The boy, who was once dead, sneezed seven times and opened his eyes.  Elisha instructed the servant to call the bother of the resurrected boy.  Elisha instructed her to take her son.  The mother of the child came in the household and found her son alive.  She fell at his feet and bowed to the ground.  She eventually took her son and went from that place.  Elisha, the man of God, performed a resurrection miracle for the mother of a dead child.  The body was a dead corpse, but Elisha accomplished the work of God from the Lord God.  The resurrection of this boy demonstrates God’s work in him.  The boy who was once dead is now alive.  The spirit of the boy came back into his body, and thus he became alive. 

2 Kings 13:20-21

                The man of God, Elisha, died and he was buried.  Moabites entered the country every spring.  When Israelites were burying a man, they suddenly saw a group of raiders.  These men threw the body of this man into the tomb of Elisha.  This man’s body touched or came into contact with the bones of Elisha.  The body of the dead man became alive.  The resurrected corpse “stood up on his feet” (NIV).  The man, who was once dead, became alive through Elisha from the Lord God.  This was not a spiritual resurrection, but rather a physical resurrection.  The body of a dead man became alive, thus the Lord God breathed into this man new life to live rather than to remain dead.  This miracle of God supports God’s power alone but it clearly does not advocate relics.

Job and His Redeemer

The Old Testament provides explicit verses which speak about resurrection. The factuality of resurrection in the Old Testament Holy Scripture is seen (Is. 26:19; Dan. 12:2, 3, 13).  The doctrine of the bodily resurrection is found within the book of Job. 

Job 19:25-27 says:

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at the last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another.  How my heart yearns within me! (NKJV).

Job refers to His Redeemer Who lives.  Job’s Redeemer or Vindicator is heavenly (John 16:19).  Job refers to his bodily resurrection “in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself.”  Job 14 refers to the resurrection of the dead.  This is in reference to the bodily resurrection on the last day.  Job’s eyes shall behold his loving Vindicator and Redeemer.  Job yearns for His Vindicator in his heart (Job 19:27).  This passage is focused upon one Mediator.  This Mediator is between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).  The Mediator is Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 16:10 and the Resurrection

                In the immediate context, Psalm 16:10 refers to David and the Old Testament saints.  It is about deliverance from death, but it prophetically refers to the Incarnate Son of David, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”  (KJV).  Peter refers to this Psalm (Acts 2:25-28) and Paul refers to it as well (Acts 13:35).  These apostles of the Christian Faith refer to Christ as the ultimate fulfillment of this Psalm.[7]  Christ bodily rose from the dead, and saw no corruption.  Christ is the Incarnate Holy One.  He is the Lord and Master over the grave.  He is the Incarnate Living One.

Summary

                The Old Testament demonstrates God raised people from the dead.  The spirit of the dead person entered into the corpse and became alive through the work of a man of God from the power of the Lord God Himself.  The three resurrections within the Old Testament Holy Scriptures were like Jesus’ resurrection, in that the dead corpse became alive.  However, Jesus received a resurrection body after He rose from the dead.  These instances of resurrection in the Old Testament Holy Scripture did not reach the extent that Jesus’ resurrection did in this sense.  The physical resurrections do not suggest reincarnation.  There is no evidence of reincarnation in the totality of Holy Writ.  The overall evidence points to resurrection wholly not reincarnation.  The New Testament records instances of restorations not reincarnation (Matt. 9:18-25; Luke 7:11-17; Acts 9:40-42; 20:9-12). 

Chapter 7:

External Evidence Concerning Jesus’ Resurrection

Cornelius Tacitus (AD 55-120)

                Tacitus mentions the name Christian and its founder Christus. He mentions his procurators, Pontius Pilatus.  He hints about Christianity being hated.  It was considered an “abomination.”  He records Christus, suffered an “extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus” which ended the “superstition,” for a small period of time.  He contends that it broke out again “not only in Judaea…but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular.”  Tacitus implies this indirectly since he affirms that “it broke out again” after Jesus’ death.[8]  The historicity of the bodily resurrection of Jesus is undoubtedly seen in its identification of the writings of Tacitus.

Josephus (AD 37-100)

                Joseph records the Old Testament without the apocrypha writings. He explicitly supports the person of Jesus, his death and resurrection. He states the follower and existence of John the Baptist.  He mentions John’s martyrdom.[9]  This study focuses upon the person of Jesus, His death and resurrection. 

                Josephus briefly mentions Jesus Christ:

Now there was about this time, Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such man as receive the truth with pleasure.  He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles.  He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst those that loved him at the first did not forsake him.  For he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day.[10]

Other scholars say the Arabic is a fourth century text. It is said to reflect the author’s original intent:

At this time there was a wise man who was called Jesus.  And his conduct was good and [he] was known to be virtuous.  Many people from among the Jews and other nations became his disciples.  Pilate condemned him to be crucified and to die.  And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship.  They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion and he was alive; accordingly, he was perhaps the messiah concerning whom the prophets have recounted wonders.[11]

                Concerning this, there is controversy over the words of Josephus.  It is focused upon whether or not he would write such a thing as being a part of the Jewish priestly line.  Whatever the case, I contend; Josephus clearly makes reference to Christ and his post-resurrection appearances.

Thallus

                Julius Africanus (AD 221) who quotes Thallus wrote of the death of Jesus of Nazareth; the darkness (Luke 23:44-45) and earthquake (Matt. 27:54).  This confirms the actuality of Jesus’ death and the very gospel of Christ. Without the death of Jesus, there would be no resurrection (a certain verification of the cross).

The Talmud

                The Talmud mentions Jesus being put to death because of His teaching of apostasy.  It records no one came in support of his defense.  He was “…hanged on the eve of the Passover!”  This affirms the New Testament. It verifies Jesus’ crucifixion and death.  It states the religious leaders sought to murder Jesus.  The Talmud establishes the person of Jesus.  Jesus spoke of His death along with His resurrection (John 10:17-18).  Biblically, Jesus refers to His death and His resurrection.  Such must be rightly noted if the integrity of the statements of Jesus is credible.[12]

Jesus died for me that day on Calvary’s tree,

Matchless, spotless, sinless Savior is He,

Incarnate Lamb of God, Second Person of the Trinity,

Bore His cross, Died, atoned and delivered me,

Ransomed, reconciled, and redeemed 

Accepted, satisfied, sufficient substitute,

Purchased Your own by Your ultimate sacrifice,

Redemption accomplished,

My actual Redeemer.

Suetonius

Suetonius was a Roman historian.  He mentions the title of Jesus which is Christ.  The title refers to the Messiahship of Jesus of Nazareth.  It is significant because the title indicates the conception Suetonius had.  He mentions the pandemonium the teachings of Jesus caused.  He refers to Christians as believing mischievous religious conceptions.  The label Christian serves to place identification on whom Christians follow.  Biblically, we know the title Christ is used of Jesus in Scripture.  The function of Jesus is being the Christ.  The Christ had to die on the cross and raise again the third day.  The mission of Christ was not like any other.  This is why the statements of Suetonius imply the resurrection by his usage of the term Christ.  Surely the title Christ implies the belief of the Risen Jesus because it is found in the ancient Old Testament Scriptures.

Pliny the Younger

                He was an author and administrator.  Pliny indicates important realities of the historic Christ.  He speaks of Christian worship “on a certain fixed day.”  He refers to “a hymn to Christ.”  It directly implies the divinity of Jesus.  He also mentions Christ’s deity.  Like Tacitus and Suetonius Pliny who wrote earlier speaks of the instructions of Jesus as superstitious.  The Christians of Christ took oaths to abstain from immoral sins.  Additionally, Emperor Trajan and Hadrian refer to Christians.

The Treatise on Resurrection

                The author is unknown in this second century work.  The author speaks of the Lord who existed in flesh.  Jesus is referred to as the Son of God.  The title Son of God refers to the humanity of Jesus.  He mentions the title of Son of Man.  This title refers to the divinity of Jesus Christ.  The author refers to Jesus as vanquishing death.  It refers to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  We are told Jesus swallowed up death.  The resurrection is said to not be an illusion.  It is said to the truth.  Jesus Himself is referred to as the Lord and Savior.  The treatise has Gnostic and Scriptural tendencies in referring to the death and resurrection of Jesus.  The treatise in part serves as a statement of criteria found in Christianity. 

Summary

                The resurrection of Jesus Christ, although supported by other Jewish and Gentile sources, establishes the truthfulness of what Holy Scripture has been saying all along.  The resurrection is not simply a theologically matter but impacts life itself and history.  The mere study of the resurrection of Christ in a brief matter brings attention to the credibility of belief.  The resurrection is not simply a historical event.  The question needs to be asked, what did Jesus accomplish by rising from the dead?  The Incarnate Christ rose bodily that sin and death will have no power upon His people.  Without the resurrection the cross would have no verification for forgiveness of sin.  The blessed ramifications of the cross of Jesus for His people would have no confirmation.  The resurrection provides us with the actuality of sins being forgiven.  The resurrection has given His chosen victory over the grave.  The fear of death is excluded when the Risen Christ in our true belief is included.  Belief devoid of the bodily Risen Savior and Lord is the essence of hopelessness.  But truly regenerated belief on the bodily Risen Lord and Savior is the essence of real hope unto eternal life.  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57 NKJV).

Chapter 8: 

Is Reincarnation True?

Introduction

Cultic and occultic organizations are spreading their religious views about reincarnation.  Americans are susceptible to reincarnation.  The Christian response and answer to the alleged evidences of reincarnation is credible, true and believable.  The definition of reincarnation is apparently important for our understanding of it.  There is a difference between reincarnation and the Hindu doctrine of transmigration.  Transmigration is known as the doctrine of cyclic rebirth in different forms.  The Eastern belief of transmigration appeals to the Eastern mind.  Transmigration occurs with what is known as the law of karma.  Yet reincarnation is coming back on earth in a different human body.  The Western mind finds the Eastern thought of transmigration more difficult to apprehend, and believe.  Reincarnation from the Western mind is a redefinition of transmigration.  Transmigration is tainted with Eastern concepts, and portrayed as new.  The doctrine of reincarnation is an ancient doctrine described in a way that makes it attractive. Essentially, reincarnation and transmigration are to be understood as the same thing, but it manifests itself in “the Eastern mind and the Western mind.”[13]

The question arises is reincarnation true? if resurrection is a reality.  If reincarnation is true, then resurrection is false.  If resurrection is true, then reincarnation is false.  Resurrection and reincarnation cannot both be truth.  Either one is true or none is true.  The Christian Bible explicitly teaches the atonement, resurrection of Christ and eternal torment[14] not reincarnation.  The atonement and resurrection of Christ has already been established from the divine Word.

Did Christianity teach it?

 Advocates of reincarnation like to say that Christianity has taught it in the past.  There is no evidence for this position.  Advocates of reincarnation also like to say that it solves the problem of evil.  Within the first life of the person, there is evil.  There is no life before the first life.  Since there is evil within the first life, there was no previous life to explain the evil in it.  Reincarnation does not solve the problem of evil.  Some say that evil is eternal.  But this complicates the problem of evil.  It does not solve it.

Elijah:  A Case of Reincarnation?

Advocates of reincarnation will use Elijah as proof of reincarnation.  The Bible teaches that Elijah was taken up into heaven, “As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven” (2 Kings 2:11 NASB).  The New Testament declares, “By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was pleasing to God” (Heb. 11:5 NASB).

Does Born Again Mean Reincarnation?

                Advocates of reincarnation will refer to the New Testament language of being born again.  They will say it refers to reincarnation.  When the New Testament refers to being born again, it is not referring to reincarnation.  Rather, it is refers to regeneration.  When a person is regenerated it does not mean they are reincarnated.  Christ was the first person to declare the absolute necessity of being regenerate.  Regeneration comes before faith.  In order to enter the kingdom of heaven, a person must be born again.  Regeneration enables and changes the heart to actually believe.  This simply means that a person who is born from above will have spiritual life in this existence.  Regeneration is spiritual resurrection.  John 11:1-46 refers to the death and physical resurrection of Lazarus.  Non-born again people are like Lazarus.  Unregenerate people are spiritually dead.  But it is Christ who calls the dead to life, “Lazarus, come forth” (John 11:43 NASB).  The resurrection of Lazarus supports the Reformed understanding of spiritual resurrection and physical resurrection.  The work of the Holy Spirit is accomplished upon the spiritually dead (Eph. 2:1-10).  Non-born again people are regenerated from the will of the Living Father through His Living Son by His Living Spirit.  The Spirit of holiness recreates the heart.  He quickens the human being from spiritual death to spiritual life.  With regeneration there is an inclination for God in the heart of the believer.  God planets a true desire in the human heart for Himself.  This desire would be wholly absent if God did not plant it there.  Regeneration is God’s divine act in the salvation of the soul.  Thus Ezekiel 36:26 says, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh” (NASB).  Also 2 Timothy 1:9 says, “who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity…”  (NASB).

Exposing Recall

In reincarnation there is recall.  First, there is hypnotic recall.  There are presumptions and manifestations from hypnotic recall that are utterly unbiblical.  Second, there is intuitive recall.  The person has unclear impressions and recollections.  But impressions and recollections can be wrong.  People can be deceived from their own minds.  Third, there is spontaneous recall.  There was a case of Bridey Murphy.  This case seemed like a sure support for reincarnation.  But this person never existed at all.  This person read books and actually learned Gaelic from her grandmother at a young age.  When hypnosis took place, she recalled these things.  This case was thought to be proof for reincarnation but in actuality it was not.  Fourth, there is psychic recall.  This information is clairvoyant in nature.  Psychics tell a person they have lived before.  The spirits tell the person what life they lived.  Then the person begins to believe the information about living a past life.  But the spirits are wicked and must not be believed.  In short, recall is not logical or trustworthy.  It does not explain, indirectly or directly, reincarnation.  Rather, recall only demonstrates it is not a sound argument.[15]

Who purges from sin?

                Advocates of reincarnation claim it purges us from sin.  The Christian Bible teaches that Christ Himself, and He alone, purges or cleanses His people from their sin.  2 Peter 1:9 proclaims that believers are actually purged from their sins:  “But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins” (KJV).  Also the author of Hebrews 1:1-3 declares,

God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world. And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.  When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high…  (NASB).

The divine Lord Jesus Christ purged His people from their sins.  It was not reincarnation.  Reincarnation could never actually accomplish this.  Rather, it was and is the Incarnate King.  He alone has the power to cleanse from sin.  Anything apart from Christ Himself who claims to cleanse people from sin is a counterfeit.  The divine Lamb of God cleanses His people from their sin.  He has the divine ability to accomplish purging from sin.[16]

God Alone Forgives and Cleanses From Sin

                Moreover, the divine Word provides His own with assurance of the forgiveness and the cleansing (Ps. 51:2) from sin when His people repent, “but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin….If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 9 NASB).  Christ’s blood cleanses His people from dead works, “how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:14 NASB).

The All-Sufficient Redeemer Paid It All

                There is no need to enter the process of reincarnation.  Rather, Christ Himself paid the debt that His people could not pay, and gained everlasting redemption.  The author of Hebrews 9:11-12 declares,

But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption (NASB).

Scripture declares, “but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, SAT DOWN AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD… For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified” (Heb. 10:12, 14 NASB).  Only by the actual blood of Christ are sins remitted.  There would be no remission of sin unless His blood was shed.  It was the Just for the unjust, the Righteous for the unrighteous, the Holy for the unholy, the Good for the bad and the Sinless for the sinner. Isaiah 53:4-5 NASB declared,

Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; Yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.

The atonement of Christ is vicarious.  He paid the debt for His elect only.  He is the actual Savior and Redeemer.  The gospel of the all-sufficient atonement of Christ is denied by reincarnation.  His ultimate sacrifice was offered once and for all.  Therefore, reincarnation is not necessary and must be rejected.[17]

Suffering In Vain

                Reincarnationists suffer for the sins of their previous life but people do not know the sins that are suffering for.  This denies that Christ alone provided atonement for sin of His people.  The suffering of sinners for their sin will not avail before God the Father.  Only the sinless God-man could bear the sins of His people and make sufficient atonement for them.  Full disclosure is not provided for the reincarnationist of their past lives.  Their suffering is in vain.  First, a sinner cannot atone for his own sins.  Second, the suffering is in vain since the past sins of the past lives are not manifested in the present life.  How can the law of karma perfect me if I repeat the same sin and are being punished for the same sin?[18]  John 9:1-3 demonstrates that Christ Jesus did not hold to the law of karma, “As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (NASB).  Note well:  this man did not sin or his parents.  Rather “…it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” 

                The Christian Bible addresses this matter to Christians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor. 15:58 NASB).  Moreover, “holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain” (Phil. 2:16 NASB). 

At Home with the Lord

                The destination of a Christian is heaven not cyclic rebirth.   Consider these verses from the Christian Bible:  “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain…But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake” (Phi. 1:21, 23-24 NASB).  “we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8 NASB).  “They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" (Acts 7:59 NASB).  “And He said to him, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43 NASB).

Reject Reincarnation

                Reincarnation does not answer the problem of evil.  It does not deal with sin correctly.  Christianity has no favoritism towards reincarnation because it is simply untrue.  It is contrary to the divine Scriptures of the Old and New Testament.  It is not just nor does it accomplish justice.  It does not purge us from our sin.  Rather, it is foreign to the justice of God and it is alien to the Christian gospel of the bodily Risen Redeemer.  It is militantly opposed to the heart of the Christian gospel.  Therefore, it must be rightly rejected.

Fearing Death?

                Jesus Christ vanquished death; He conquered it.  Death is unnatural to life.  Do you fear death, or perhaps what may come after death?  Christ has victory over the grave.  All before Him were thieves and robbers.  Christ has shown Himself to be the Living One.  And, in terms of after death, where He is we shall be also!  May the Christian sing, “Jesus lives, and so shall I.  Death! Thy sting is gone forever!  He who deigned for me to die, lives, the bands of death to sever.  He shall raise me from the dust:  Jesus is my Hope and Trust.”[19]

Turning to the Risen Christ

                Now we shall turn to the certainty of the bodily Risen Christ.  “Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power” (1 Cor. 6:14 NASB).

Chapter 9:

The Certainty of the Bodily Risen Christ

The resurrection of Jesus demonstrated that Jesus was the Father’s Son.  The resurrection of Jesus is not a legend, fable or myth.  Luke wrote about the credible proof he found through careful investigation of the facts (Acts 1:3).  The book of Acts provides Christians, the proclamation of the Son of God.  The resurrection occurred; it was real and factual.  The resurrected body is the same physical body, which was born from Mary.  The same physical body grew into manhood, lived a sinless life, performed miracles, taught from God, proclaimed and declared the gospel of God, perfectly accomplished the will of the Father, became tortured before His way to the cross, crucified on the cross, placed into the tomb, and Jesus arose in His glorified body.  This same body of Jesus ascended into Heaven.  He is now seated at the right hand of God the Father in perfect completion of His work.  This body of Jesus will return to earth in His Second Coming to raise the dead and judge humanity.

My Savior lives and reigns,

Verified Your substitution;

Truly risen, really forgiven;

Solely Thee, triumphant, Savior Be.

Before His triumphant resurrection, the body of Jesus was truly a humble body (Phil. 2:5-11).  Before His glorious resurrection, He possessed a humble body. Jesus possessed an actual natural body.  The body of Jesus was indeed, an earthly, mortal and real human body apart from sin.  Jesus is truly man of truly man.  After His resurrection from the dead, He now has a triumphant and glorified body.  Jesus had a natural body before His resurrection, but like then and now He possesses a supernatural body.  The body’s attributes have been expanded.  Jesus had a mortal body.  After His resurrection, He obtained an immortal and incorruptible body.  Jesus cannot die again, having once a mortal body.  He is incorruptible—Jesus cannot decay as an earthly body is predisposed to.  Jesus’ resurrected body is glorious, triumphant, supernatural and heavenly. It is still the very and true body of Jesus Christ.  Paul makes the observation that we no longer know Jesus according to the flesh.  Now He is the Lord of glory! 

Summary

The very foundation of Christianity is the Risen Lord of glory.  The theology presented is not merely an articulation of the truth of the Risen Christ.  Rather, we are to boldly live knowing our Lord and Savior bodily rose.  The certainty of Jesus’ resurrection is what we must live by.  The hope of eternal life is grounded in none other than Jesus Christ.  Denying the bodily Risen Lord and Savior is rejecting eternal life.  Someone cannot be a Christian and deny the bodily Risen Savior.  Embracing doubt and disbelief is prescript to eternal damnation.  The belief and trust of the bodily Risen Christ, as our Great Incarnate Savior, is the very opposite of eternal damnation.  Christ has purchased and secured us, insured His exaltation and guaranteed judgment.  As Christ lives, His people shall live with Him for all eternality. 

Chapter 10:

Theories Opposed to Jesus’ Bodily Resurrection

                It seems appropriate to identify some of the more common views proposed by those who object to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  There are others, though they are mainly variations of those cited.  The theories are presented fairly.  Far from offering any reasoned explanation or indeed disproving the resurrection of Jesus Christ, they each in some measure fail to acknowledge some or all of what we do know from the biblical account.  The biblical account will be rightly affirmed and defended.

The text of Holy Writ offers alternative theories no actual credibility, spiritual substance or rational substantiation.  The source of Sacred Writ offers reliable verification, trustworthy history and preserved testimony for support of God.  The counter-arguments confirm rather than muddle God’s inerrant, inspired and infallible written Word of God. 

The Wrong Tomb Theory

The idea that women who followed Jesus went to the wrong tomb as a combined product of their emotional state and the early hour’s darkness is preposterous in the light of the biblical evidence.  The gospels record that the apostles visited the site in order to investigate and substantiate the reports of the allegedly empty tomb of Jesus (Luke 24:1-12 cf. John 20:1-9).  Given what we know, it is incredulous to suggest that the followers of Jesus did not know exactly where his tomb was (Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55).  Similarly, those who opposed the ministry of Jesus would have been equally clear regarding the precise location of his tomb.  The likelihood that all parties concerned could have genuinely mistaken his burial place, therefore, appears negligible, to say the least.  Moreover, Scripture clearly identifies Joseph of Arimathea, a Jewish believer as the owner of the tomb in which Jesus was laid (Matt. 27:57-60).

                The problem with this theory is simply that, were it true, it would not have been a difficult task to prove it.  Perhaps the most obvious evidence to disprove the resurrection would have been to produce the body of Jesus.  His followers initially declared their conviction in the resurrection only a few miles from where the crucifixion and burial took place.  If the body of Jesus was actually in another tomb, surely this was an ideal opportunity to demolish the very foundation of Christianity it its infancy.  But no body was found.  The absence of objection by the early skeptics speaks sufficiently to the presence of the Christians of the Lord. 

The Hallucination Theory

The hallucination theory implies the disciples were subject to a series of telepathic manifestations or visions.  In this field maintain, experts confirm, non-drug-induced hallucinations are subject to specific conditions and standards.  Hallucinations almost invariably occur to individuals of an imaginative or excitable disposition, to those who are particularly anxious or experiencing circumstances of heightened anticipation, or those who are in a sustained meditative state of mind.  The New Testament records a group of more than five hundred people that saw the resurrected Jesus (1 Cor. 15:6).  Subjective visions simply do not present themselves to several persons simultaneously.

Similarly, the disciples were not eagerly awaiting the resurrection.  Indeed, Thomas demanded evidence beyond the mere confession of his friends which, of course, Jesus gave him (John 20:24-29).  James, the brother of Jesus, who had initially been an unbeliever, became a follower because of Jesus’ post-resurrection appearance to him (1 Cor. 15:7).  The testimony of Scripture also suggests that many of these appearances took place while people went about their ordinary daily business (cf. Luke 24:13-35).  Those who maintain what the disciples saw were legitimate objective visions, given by God for means of encouragement admittedly avoid most (if not all) of the above objections.  To admit the possibility of such a supernatural expression, however, and yet deny the actuality of the resurrection seems illogical.  Furthermore, it virtually denies the righteousness of God by making him capable of deceptive methods.

The Swoon Theory

The swoon theory suggests Jesus merely fainted on the cross and was erroneously pronounced dead by Roman authorities.  He later allegedly revived himself and appeared on the third day to his followers.  There are many reasons why this theory fails to address the significant factors surrounding the account of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.  First of all, Jesus was mocked and beaten before he was crucified (Matt. 26:67-68; Mark 14:65; Is. 50:6; 53:4-7).  The condemned carried the crossbeam to their death.  Jesus Christ began to carry His cross (John 19:17) but the overwhelming nature of it was such that the wooden cross had to be carried by the Cyrenian, Simon from Cyrene, North Africa (Luke 23:25-27) due to his weakened human condition through scourging (Mark 15:15).  And yet proponents of the “swoon theory” seem to suggest that he had the capability only a short time later to roll away the immense stone from the entrance to the tomb and endure a return journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus on crucified feet.

Secondly, the Roman soldiers were specialists in carrying out crucifixions.  They engaged in several techniques to ensure the intended victim was, in fact, deceased.  The crucifiers pierced the side of Jesus with a sword.  Blood and water spilled from his side (John 19:34).  Modern medical knowledge affirms this as a sure indication that the blood circulation has ceased.  As a concession to Jewish religious sensitivities it was also customary to break the legs of those who were crucified immediately prior to the Sabbath, thus ensuring death by asphyxiation.  The biblical record is clear to point out after careful examination, the soldiers did not break the legs of Jesus because he was already dead (vv. 31-33). 

Another difficulty that the proponents of this theory fail to satisfy is how Jesus, presumably in urgent need of medical attention due to his damaged physical condition, managed to present himself to his weary and despondent disciples as an object of glory and worship.  Surely the likeliest motivation to them proclaiming a message of victory was that they had encountered the Victor. 

Finally, if Jesus did merely pass out on the cross, then it is surely not only the resurrection that is brought into disrepute, but also the ascension.  If Jesus did not really die on the cross, then presumably he must have lived a natural life thereafter in secrecy.  This is wholly untenable with all that we know of the development and impact of Christianity in those early years. 

The Stolen Body Theory

The idea that a collaboration existed between the Jewish religious leaders and the Roman authorities to hide the body of Jesus in an attempt to dissuade later stories of a resurrection does not make credible sense.  If there was any truth in such a theory, then why did those same powers accuse the disciples of stealing the body of Jesus (Matt. 28:11-15)?  The Jewish representatives were angered and frustrated in their efforts to prevent the growth of Christianity (see Acts 4).  Had they been responsible for such an act, then presumably all that was required to silence the apostles of Jesus was for them to produce the body. 

Similarly, the view that the disciples stole Jesus’ body as part of a deliberate and complex plan to substantiate their claims about the resurrection is not without difficulties.  The most obvious, of course, is that their testimony elsewhere thereby becomes subject to suspicion.  Given the state of mind of many of Jesus’ closest followers at a time; it is also highly unlikely they would have had the courage for such a task.  Certainly, some would have presumably bowed under the pressure of the hostility that faced them in later years rather than die for the sake of a lie.

This theory is even mentioned in Matthew’s account of the resurrection:

When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money telling them, “You are to say, his disciples came during the night and soles him away while we were asleep.”  “If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”  So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.  And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day (Matt. 28:12-15 NIV).

                There are other improbabilities attached to this theory.  First of all, if the soldiers were truly asleep, how could they be absolutely certain it was the disciples who stole the body of Jesus?  Secondly, could this disheartened and disparate group of fishermen really move a stone of such size from the mouth of the tomb and evade the guards without waking them?  Finally, the Gospel of John indicates the burial clothing of Jesus was folded neatly in the tomb (John 20:6-7).  To suggest the disciples managed to muster sufficient courage to tiptoe past the guards, push away the very large stone without making a considerable amount of noise, undo the clothing on the body of Jesus, provide it with new clothing, and fold up the bloody cloth separate from the linen, accomplishing their plans in pitch darkness seems almost more difficult to believe for the logical mind than the miracle of the resurrection.

The only apparent beneficiaries of such a story being circulated would be those who opposed the truth become public knowledge.  The Jewish leaders had a clear vested interest, whilst the Roman authorities had a reputation to uphold.

The Islamic Theory

                This theory holds; Jesus did not die on the cross.  Rather, the Supreme Being made another person who was incorrectly identified as Christ.  Jesus is said, by most, to have been “taken up into heaven” by God without dieing on the cross.  There are variations on whom it is believed to have been crucified.  Nevertheless two fundamentally true doctrines are denied by Muslims.  Jesus clearly taught about Himself that He would be betrayed, crucified and rise (Luke 9:44; 24:7).  Jesus Himself taught of His sinlessness (John 8:46); to accept His disciples (Luke 10:16), for the apostle Peter writes of the “lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Peter 1:19 NKJV).  The impeccable Christ could never error.  It’s hardly true that Jesus did not die on the cross.  The Gospels unambiguously maintain the historic crucifixion as Jesus Himself did.  The testimony of Holy Writ undoubtedly confirms the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of the Lord Christ.

The Identical Twin Theory

                Jesus is said to have a twin brother.  The twin brother pretends to be the risen Jesus Christ.  At birth the twin brother is separated from Jesus.  The twin brother does not see Jesus until the crucifixion.  The twin steals the body of Jesus.  He impersonates Jesus as resurrected.  Holy Writ teaches Jesus as the firstborn son (Matt. 1:25; Luke 2:7).  “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given…” (Is. 9:6 NKJV).  The birth of Jesus was strictly unique (Matt. 1:18-25).  The birth of Jesus was a supernatural conception.  This is called the Virgin Birth of Jesus (Luke 1:26-56; 2:4-7).  “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…”  (John 1:14 NKJV).  The imposter could not have imitated the resurrected Christ successfully; for Scripture states: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me” (John 10:27 NKJV).  The very apostles of Christ were commissioned by Jesus Himself (John 20:19-23).  Thus excludes other persons as a possibility.  Only the God-ordained ministry of the apostles could have been started by Christ exclusively (John 20:21 cf. 17:18).  The creditability of this theory lacks scriptural substantiation, logical insight, historical precedence, a reliable explanation of the very transformation of the apostles of Jesus Christ and the growth of Christianity grounded on the very bodily resurrection of Christ.

The Jehovah’s Witness Theory

               

                Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the very bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus Himself did not rise bodily from the grave. Instead, He dissolved into gases.  The body of Jesus was disposed of.  The body of Jesus that He appeared with was not the same body He was crucified in.  Jesus had a body similarly as angels do to complete their mission by God.  This theory is devoid of any plausible reliability for several simple reasons.  First, there is no scriptural precedence to believe Jesus dissolved into gases.  Second, the Jesus of Scripture was sensitive to touch and recognizable (John 20:17 cf. 20:19-30).  Third, Jesus Himself carried the very marks of His death (John 20:24-29). Thus Jesus did not have an angelic body.  Indeed, He resurrected in the same body of His crucifixion yet glorified and triumphant (1 Cor. 15:12-28).  Thus the bodily resurrection of Christ. 

Association for Research and Enlightenment’s Theory

                This theory denies the reality of the work of the Triune Lord in the bodily resurrection of the very Incarnate Son of Man.  It affirms the reality of the resurrection of Jesus[20] but denies it in practice.  The power of Jesus rising from the dead, according to this theory, is because of Cayce’s God.[21]  If the Triune God did not raise Christ from the dead, it is then a different God.  It denies the very teachings of Jesus Christ by affirming and teaching unbiblical doctrines because A.R.E. teaches pantheism and reincarnation.  These teachings are foreign to the Christian Bible.  It is plainly evident that resurrection and reincarnation cannot both be equally true, and support for the Triune work of God in the bodily resurrection of Jesus has already been established.  Thus, this theory must be rejected.

The Theory of A Course in Miracles

                This theory rejects the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus.  This theory rejects the reality of the physical body and death.  Therefore, according to the Course, the resurrection could not have happened.  The Christian Bible refers to the reality of the death of Christ (Rom. 5:8), and it refers to Jesus who rose from the dead (Rom. 6:4).  The Bible is God’s Word, and it speaks of the literalness of the resurrection of Christ (Luke 24:38-39; John 2:19-21; 20:26-29; Acts 2:31; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).  Who should we believe about God except God Himself?  Therefore, the resurrection of Christ is true. 

The Lost Tomb of Jesus

People behind the Lost Tomb of Jesus claim the have the bones or remains of the family of Jesus and Jesus Himself.  Let us understand how we can refute this theory.  First, this theory can easily be refuted because Mary Magdalene is nowhere mentioned in The Acts of Philip.  The Acts of Philip refers to Mariamne, but is does not mean Mary Magdalene.  Second, in the realm history, it lacks substantial credibility because it relies on flawed extra-biblical sources.  Third, The Acts of Philip does not mention that Mary Magdalene would die in Jerusalem.  Rather it refers to Mariamne dying in the Jordan River.  Fourth, the Lost Tomb advocates abandon the New Testament testimony on the certainty of the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Fifth, the names of Jesus, Mary, Joseph, etc., were found in additional burial sites in the past in Jerusalem.  Sixth, the names are among the ten most popular names in first century Jerusalem.  Therefore the foundation of Christianity is true: that being the bodily resurrection of Christ. For more information, I strongly recommend Dr. James R. White’s book FROM TORONTO TO EMMAUS: The Empty Tomb and the Journey from Skepticism to Faith. 

Summary 

Having reviewed the main theories opposed to the actual bodily resurrection of Jesus, the question must be asked: Do these theories effectively countermand the evidence?  I submit that they do not.  Indeed, the historicity and trustworthiness of the existence of Christianity are sufficiently attainable in the pursuit of truth of what really happened on the morning of the bodily resurrection of Jesus.  These theories produce accounts of what the New Testament historically documents and what the Hebrew Scriptures foretell about the coming Messiah that are fictional, ineffective and erroneous.  They fail to satisfactorily explain the empty tomb of Jesus, the absolute transformation of the apostles after the resurrection of Jesus, the initial spark of Christianity in Jerusalem and the factual accounts of the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus.  There is no greater miracle than the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, and there is no greater religious leader in history than Jesus of Nazareth, the Incarnate Son of Man.  In lieu of this truth, the bodily resurrection of Jesus actually took place in history, for there are no theories to otherwise account for the evidence. 

Conclusion

                As the resurrection was taught in the Old, it is certainly taught in the New.  Like the Sadducees people today will deny resurrection.  But as Christ affirmed resurrection Christians will assert it.  As Lazarus was physically rose by Christ so to will pre-converted elect sinners be spiritually risen by Christ.  Like the false teachers of old (2 Tim. 2:18) non-Christians and cultists will try to explain away resurrection.  As resurrection was mocked it will be mocked again.  But as it was proclaimed by Paul it will proclaimed by God’s people.  As the proof of Scripture echoes through external evidence and overall substantiation, God’s power is proven; fellowship with Christ attained by Christ for His chosen.  The resurrection of the dead at the last day will be accomplished as it was accomplished in Christ Jesus.  As Jesus’ body was incorruptible, so shall our bodies be.  We are His purchased elect serving our Incarnate Lord and Savior.  As Holy Writ describes the final resurrection of the righteous and wicked, so shall it be.

Chapter 11:         

Is the Christian faith a blind faith?

                Christianity is correctly described as a faith.  It is known as the Christian faith.  The reason this is so is because it has a criteria of knowledge.  This body of knowledge is believed by believers.  It is called a faith because it is vital to its comprehension of redemption.  Faith, in our culture, is misunderstood as a blind belief.  It is understood as blind faith and it is associated with which is unreasonable.  The Christian faith is by no means a blind faith.  It is neither unreasonable nor contradictory.  If someone calls the Christian faith unreasonable it is an offense against Christians and God Himself. 

                The Christian Bible refers to blindness but it is not in regard to the reasonable Christian faith.  Rather, it refers to those who are children of darkness.  These are the one who are blinded as children of disobedience.  Biblical Christianity calls unregenerate people out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of Christ.  Faith is not the cause of blindness.  Rather, faith is the solution to blindness. Faith means trust.  When Christians trust God it is not unreasonable faith.  God shows Himself to be exceedingly trustworthy.  Christians are told in Scripture that God provides His people with abundant reason to depend upon Him.  God shows Himself to be impeccably faithful.  He is indeed creditable of trust. [22]

                There is an apparent distinction between faith and credulity.  Credulity means to believe something without reason.  Superstition is made up of credulity.  That which is of true faith is without credulity.  Faith is based upon solid empirical evidence.  It is coherent and consistent.  The apostle Peter makes it abundant clear that the Christian faith is not based cunningly devised fables.  Rather, the Christian testimony is based upon trustworthy eyewitnesses of the majesty of Christ (2 Peter 1:16).  Biblical Christianity is not based upon myths and fables.  Rather, it is based upon evidence of eyewitness and earwitness testimony. 

                The heavenly gospel is established in the reality of historical facts that are manifested in real events in history.  The Christian faith is indeed trustworthy.  If it is not, the faith of Christians is vain.  If God asked His people to believe something on the basis of myth, it would be unreasonable.  But does God do this?  God forbid!  God never asks His people to believe fables.  Rather, He asks us to believe reasonable truth.  To the natural man God’s truth in the preaching of the gospel is considered foolish.  But to a regenerate sinner, God’s truth is embraced in the gospel.[23]

                The Christian Bible understands faith is the substance of things hoped for, and it is the evidence of things unseen (Heb. 11:1).  Faith encompasses the heart of hope for the future.  Christians trust God for what He accomplished in the past for the future.  The Christian faith is the absence of gratuitous faith, and the presence of trustworthiness of God.  When Christians believe that God will continue to be reliable, it does not therefore mean, that God is gratuitous.  God provides His people with all reason to believe He will be faithful to His own promises.  There is no reason to believe that God will not continue to be faithful to His promises of the past in the future.  He has never shown Himself to be unfaithful to His purchased ones.  There is assured evidence for the hope that is within us for the future.  The faith of the evidence not seen “has primary but not exclusive reference to the future.”[24]

                Moreover, faith encompasses belief in God.  James refers to this kind of faith as how demons believe (James 2:19).  When people merely believe in the existence of God is be eligible to be demons.  To believe in God, and to believe God are two vastly different things.  When Christians trust or believe God, it is central to the faith of Christians.  Therefore, may people see that the Christian faith is reasonable and true![25]  As Jesus Christ lives, the Christian faith is reasonably true. 

Chapter 12:

Repent and Believe the Gospel of the Risen King

                We have briefly seen the evidence for the very bodily resurrection of Christ.  In a merely brief fashion the bodily resurrection of Christ is established and supported.  Now we turn to this:  faith and repentance.  If the resurrection is true, which I believe has been proven; will you not do what God says?  The Jesus of faith is the Jesus of history.  It is true whether you believe it or not.  I pray that this presentation will encourage you to repent.  What does God say?  Here we have an eternal treasure of eternal importance.  In God’s divine Word we see, God commands all people to repent and believe the gospel.  This is no mere human invention.  Rather, this is the eternal message of the Eternal Incarnate King.  The Incarnate One commands allegiance to Himself.  Will He have your allegiance?

                So I ask you, have you repented of your sinful life?  Have you repented of past sins in a particular fashion?  Do you faithfully repent of past sins?  Have you repented of your total depravity for all the days of your life?  What about when you had no spiritual understanding, fear of God or faith and repentance?  When people begin to repent there is the temptation to merely repent of general things only and to omit repentance of specific sins.  God commands all people to repent.  Surrender to God and ask Him to reveal to you your sin, so you may repent.  Search your life and locate sin to repent.  For every sin you have committed is reason to repent.  Repentance is turning from sin to God through Christ crucified in acknowledging your sin, forsaking your sin and asking for forgiveness for your sin.  God does not invite people to repent.  Rather, He commands them to repent.  Repentance is not something that is optional.  Rather, it is a divine command.  The consequence of the lack of faithful repentance is God’s wrath, misery and ultimately eternal torment.  People that do not repent will be placed in hell. 

                The Christian Bible is clear regarding faithful repentance:  Christ preached the command of repentance: “From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “…Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" (Matt. 4:17 NASB).  Christ denounced the cities which did not repent:  “Then He began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles were done, because they did not repent” (Matt. 11:20 NASB).  Christ sent out the twelve apostles to spread the message of repentance:  “They went out and preached that men should repent” (Mark 6:12 NASB). John the Baptist commanded:  "Therefore bear fruits in keeping with repentance…” (Luke 3:8 NASB).  Christ calls people to repent:  “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance” (Luke 5:32 NASB).   Christ commands repentance, or perish: 

Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And Jesus said to them, "Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?  "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  "Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?  "I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish (Luke 13:1-5 NASB). 

Christ proclaims there is joy in heaven over one sinner who repents:  “I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7 NASB).  There is joy in the presence of the angels over one sinner who repents:  "In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents" (Luke 15:10 NASB).  God has granted Gentiles repentance unto life:  “When they heard this, they quieted down and glorified God, saying, "Well then, God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life” (Acts 11:18 NASB).  God commands all people to repent:  “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent…”  (Acts 17:30 NKJV). The command of repentance extends to Jewish and Gentile people:  “…solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 20:21 NASB).  God’s kindness leads His people to repentance:  “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”  (Rom. 2:4 NASB).  Therefore, hearken to the gospel command of the Incarnate Son of Man.

                My prayer is that you repent and believe the gospel.  May God alone be glorified, honored and magnified in the Christian’s faith and repentance in allegiance to the true, all-sufficient, Incarnate Living King.  For the Christian; may we stand in hope of our resurrection!

How calm and beautiful the morn that gilds and sacred tomb, where Christ the crucified was borne, and veiled in midnight gloom!  O weep no more the Savior slain; the Lord is risen; he live again.  Ye mourning saints, dry every tear for your departed Lord; behold the place, he is not here, the tomb is all unbarred; the gates of death were closed in vain:  the Lord is risen; he lives again.  Now cheerful to the house of prayer Your early footsteps bend; the Savior will himself be there, Your Advocate and Friend: once by the law your hopes were slain, but now in Christ ye lives again.  How tranquil now the rising day!  Tis Jesus still appears, a risen Lord to chase away Your unbelieving fears: O weep no more your comforts slain; The Lord is risen; he lives again.  And when the shades of evening fall, when life’s last hour draws nigh, if Jesus shine up on the soul, how blissful then to die!  Since he has risen that once was slain, ye die in Christ to live again.  Amen.[26]

ENDNOTES

---

[1] RC Sproul.  Essentials Truths of the Christian Faith (Wheaton, Illinois:  Tyndale House Publishing, Inc, 1992), 239.

[2] Gerald Bray, ed., Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture New Testament VII, 1-2 Corinthians (Downers Grove, Illinois:  InterVarsity Press, 1999), 149-150.

[3] Bray, 150.

[4] Bray, 150.

[5] Bray, 150. 

[6] Bray, 150.

[7] RC Sproul.  New Geneva Study Bible (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1995), 767.

[8] Tacitus 15.44.  Tacitus wrote:  “Consequently, to get rid of the report, Nero fastened the guilt and inflicted the most exquisite tortures on a class hated for their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and a most mischievous superstition, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome, where all things hideous and shameful from every part of the world find their centre and become popular. Accordingly, an arrest was first made of all who pleaded guilty; then, upon their information, an immense multitude was convicted, not so much of the crime of firing the city, as of hatred against mankind. Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus, while he mingled with the people in the dress of a charioteer or stood aloft on a car. Hence, even for criminals who deserved extreme and exemplary punishment, there arose a feeling of compassion; for it was not, as it seemed, for the public good, but to glut one man's cruelty, that they were being destroyed.”

[9] Josephus writes: “Now some Jews thought that the destruction of Herod’s army came from God, and very justly, as a punishment of what he did against John, who was called the Baptist; for Herod slew him, who was a good man, and commanded the Jews to exercise virtue, both as to righteousness toward God and so to come to baptism.” (Josephus Flavius, The Antiquities of the Jews. New York: Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co., 18.5.5, 1900).

[10] Josephus Flavius.  The Antiquity of the Jews. (New York: Ward, Lock, Bowden & Co., 18.3.3, 1900).

[11] Josh McDowell. The New Evidence that Demands a Verdict, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1999), 57.

[12] The Talmud says: “On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged.  For forty days before the execution took place, a herald went forth and cried, “He is going to be stoned because he has practiced sorcery and enticed Israel to apostasy.  Anyone who can say anything in his favor, let him come forward and plead on his behalf!”  But since nothing was brought forward in his favor he was hanged on the eve of the Passover!” (See reference: The Babylonian Talmud, Translated by I. Epstein (London: Soncino, 1935), vol. III, Sanhedrin 43a, 281).

[13] Walter Martin. The Riddle Of Reincarnation (Vision House Publishers: Santa Ana, California, 1977), 5-7.  This endnote includes the entire paragraph.

[14] The Bible teaches the doctrine of eternal hell.  This scriptural doctrine is unpopular today.  But it is still true.  Hell is taught in Matt. 8:12, 25:41, 46 and Rev. 19:20.  Those who reject the gospel are sent to hell.  The reality of the doctrine of eternal hell, which was taught by Christ Himself, shows that reincarnation is not true.  Therefore, reincarnation must be rejected, and the scriptural doctrines must be believed.

[15] Martin, 18-20.

[16] Martin, 24-25.

[17] Martin, 24-26.

[18] Martin, 26.  Dr. Martin states, “Yet this so-called karma law of justice seems to be turning me over forever on some kind of reincarnational cosmic spit, until at length I arrive at the place where I have some kind of absorption into something.  This philosophy is classic monism, in which there is only one reality and in which evil is negated.  But Scripture tells us that evil is real and is the opposite of the eternal God.  Evil exists by His permission, but it is real….One of the questions the reincarnationists have difficulty answering is, “Why can’t I remember my past so that I can profit from it in the present, and won’t have to suffer for it in the future?”  This very reasonable question never seems to get a satisfactory.” (p. 27).

[19] Trinity Hymnal Baptist Edition, (Georgia:  Great Commission Publication, 2000), 596.

[20] Harmon Hartzell Bro.  A Seer Out of Season:  The Life Of Edgar Cayce (New York:  Signet Books, 1989), 117.

[21] Thomas Sugrue.  There Is A River:  The Story of Edgar Cayce (New York:  Dell Publishing, 1961), 307-308.

[22] RC Sproul.  Essentials Truths of the Christian Faith (Wheaton, Illinois:  Tyndale House Publishing, Inc, 1992), 183.

[23] Sproul, 183. 

[24] Sproul, 184.  Dr. Sproul goes on to speak of this subject within two paragraphs on page 184. 

[25] Sproul, 184. 

[26] Trinity Hymnal Baptist Edition, (Georgia:  Great Commission Publication, 2000), 209.

 

That Very Foundation focuses upon the historic Christian doctrine of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.  The internal and external evidence is examined and defended.  It is meant to be a presentation of the historicity of the bodily Risen Christ.  The evidence for the bodily resurrection is scripturally-focused, logically presented, rationally held and spiritually substantive of saving truth.  The bodily Risen Christ is supported by the totality of Holy Scripture, by the entirety of reliable external evidence that is rationally substantiated.  It is a scripturally true, historically actual, theologically real, doctrinally sound, theologically historical and rationally logical in favor of the bodily Risen Christ.  The argumentation of the Jesus of faith not being the Jesus of history is shown to be an explicit falsehood of poor scholarship.  The theories against the bodily Resurrected Christ fuel the very thing it is set out to disprove.  All the theories demonstrate the insufficiency, unreliability, foundationless and absurd argumentations by non-Christians.  The scholarship of biblical Christianity is corroborated by credible overall evidence.  It is shown; the basis and grounds for biblical Christianity is the reality and actuality of the real and actual Risen Christ.  Biblical Christianity is founded upon nothing less then Jesus Christ, the Living Risen Savior.  The totality of Scripture also supports resurrection not reincarnation.     

                                                               

In a merely brief fashion the credibility of arguments against Jesus Christ are shown to be poor in relation to argumentation, mostly novel in terms of Scripture and seriously lacking trustworthiness.  This work is primary designed for Christians who struggle with comprehending the evidence for the bodily Risen Lord and who are seeking a straightforward presentation of internal and external evidence for Jesus Christ as Risen for His beloved church.  The resurrection of Christ is meant as a comfort for the Christian.  The secondary purpose of this work is focused to present the truth of the foundation of Christianity to non-Christians in a scholarly yet straightforward manner to gain understanding of the resurrection, and to repent toward God.  Learn about the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.