Dennis L. Finnan Commentator
"The World, the Word & You! Broadcast"

RESURRECTION PROOF!

“DO YOU WANT TO PROVE CHRISTIANITY IS UNTRUE, A LIE AND A FALSE BELIEF? HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF RELIGIONISTS WOULD LIKE TO DO THAT, EVEN SOME WHO CLAIM TO BE CHRISTIANS, BUT THE FACT REMAINS; THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST PROVES THE VALIDITY OF THIS FAITH!”

 I’m Dennis Finnan , host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and on this Easter (Sunday) Weekend, we’ll talk about this most attested to fact of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

…Easter Sunday! It is a day the Church has held high in its remembrance for over 2000 years! In fact, Easter Sunday is the “Day” that changed the world forever and ever. Now I realize there are many other religions and faith that do not recognize the resurrection of Jesus Christ, nor even believe in Him as Christians alone do. From Islam to Judaism, at best, Christ was to them a teacher sent from God, but no more than Moses or Mohammed. But for the true Bible believing Christian and the early Church, born on the Day of Pentecost, He proved Himself to be the Creator God of the world and universe, who came in human form and flesh as Scripture promised; And, best of all Jesus Christ forever PROVED this to the world of thinking men and women. Do you believe this? If not, stay tuned, for I’m going to prove factually that Jesus Christ, the only man who ever lived, truly broke death’s bond, and came back from the dead in power and a glorious resurrection. Don’t believe it? If you listen further, you’ll have to face the reality of it. So don’t go away, be challenged to lea rn and know that Easter is not just a Christian holiday, it is a world holiday for all who come to realize its meaning and place…

…Today we’re talking about proof, incontrovertible proof that the founder of Christianity, Jesus Christ actually rose from the dead and lives eternally, now in a glorified human form in God’s abode, called Heaven. This is the basis of the Christian faith. Now if you wanted to disprove Christianity, the first and foremost area of attack would be its foundation, which is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Yes, the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the absolute crowning proof of Christianity. Everything else that was said or done by Christ and the Apostles, no matter how great or marvelous, is secondary to the resurrection in importance. For, if the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Jesus Christ is indeed the very Creator God Himself, and the Christian faith is the absolute truth and should be accepted by all as the only true religious faith!

Now let me take this time to show you why, every thinking person, regardless of what you believe or follow for a faith, must face the facts of history and the reality of this one and only resurrection from the dead, accomplished by a human being, named Jesus Christ. We’ll begin with resurrection proof by stating the absolute importance of it. Now just think…

IF CHRIST DID NOT RISE FROM THE DEAD, HE IS NOTHING BUT A LIAR AND FOOL! – No one wants to follow such a man who would deceive others. For Jesus Christ Himself, predicted and promised He would rise from the dead. Listen to the Word of God on this matter,

Mat 20:19 (NIV)  and (they) will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!"

Mat 12:38-40 (NIV)  Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Yes, the Lord Jesus predicted He would be killed, and after three days in a grave, He would miraculously be raised in a glorified body. He did accomplish this, thus He is worthy to be worshipped and praised, for only God the Creator has and can do this very thing. Now what proof is there that Jesus Christ fulfilled this miracle of Easter? The answer is the wonderful evidences in history of the reality of the resurrection. Let’s look at some of them now.

1. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION HAS BEEN FULLY PROVED BY THE REALITY & ATTESTATION OF HIS RESURRECTION APPEARANCES – In any legal court of law today, all that is needed for conviction and proof is at lea st two or three credible eyewitnesses who will testify. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead, has been proven by the testimony of over 500 people, 514 to be exact! At the time of the Resurrection, Jesus’ claim could have easily been refuted, but no one, even Christ’s detractors, the Jews and the Romans, ever disputed the claim that He was raised from the dead. To this day no one, absolutely no one, can explain the empty tomb, and the missing body, except those who saw Jesus Christ in His glorified and resurrected body and actually communicated with him. We read of this testimony in.

1 Cor 15:3-9 (NIV)  For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 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. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 For I am the lea st of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God .

The second incontrovertible proof of Christ’s resurrection from the dead is,

2. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION HAS BEEN FULLY PROVED BY THE EFFECTS GENERATED FROM HIS RESURRECTION – Every great “effect,” has an equal great “cause!” What caused the tomb to be empty? The Roman guards could not explain it, the Jews could not refute it, so the Jewish lea ders bribed the Roman guards to say the body was stolen. But if so, what caused the miraculous events on the Day of Pentecost? Pentecost came and went each year with no change or unusual happening; but, after Christ rose from the dead, God sent down His Spirit upon the 120 believers that day, and gave birth to the Church or spiritual Body of Jesus Christ. In addition, what caused the Day of Worship to change? For centuries the Jews worshipped on Saturday; But, Christ rose on the first day of the week, and the Jews who saw Him alive followed by changing their worship day to memorializing this fantastic event of the Resurrection. The “effect” was caused by the miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ. To this day the Church honors and commemorates this glorious happening. Now here’s a third proof,

3. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION HAS BEEN FULLY PROVED BY THE CHANGED LIVES OF ALL WHO HAVE BELIEVED AND FOLLOWED – Nothing can be better proof than the fact that the resurrection of Jesus Christ, believed in the heart, changed the lives of everyone who actually saw Him alive, and all those who have followed down through the centuries. 514 people testified in the first century of seeing Jesus Christ alive. That’s no hallucination! But most of all the 12 apostles who preached and declared the resurrection went to their deaths holding forth that testimony. Now think, no one would die for a lie or fraud. Since then, for 20 centuries, martyrs have died testifying that their hearts and lives were changed when they believed in Jesus Christ as the promised Messiah and Savior who died and rose again for their sins! No other religion or philosophy can show forth what their faith in a dead founder whose dust lies in the grave, can do for them, other than Christianity. Yes, friends, changed lives are proof of the “effect” of this great “cause” – that is Christ’s resurrection from the dead! Say, do you need more proof? Well here’s more, Consider also …

4. CHRIST’S RESURRECTION HAS BEEN FULLY PROVED, BY THE SIMPLE LAW OF EVIDENCES – Do you know that the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most established, and lawfully attested to fact of history! Simon Green lea f (1783-1853), was the famous Royall Professor of Law at Harvard University . He produced what has been judged, the most famous writings on the validity of the Law of Evidences. Well, he put his mind one day to disproving the resurrection of Jesus Christ in a court of law by these evidences. But, after massive study on this subject, exploring all the evidence, he was forced to conclude that based on a legal court of law’s examination of this claim, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most attested to fact of history! But, Professor Green lea f is not alone. Great men like, the brilliant historian Alfred Edersheim, William Lyon Phillips, forty years the distinguished Yale professor, Ambrose Fleming, professor emeritus at the University of London,  John Locke, the greatest philosopher of his century, and many, many other great legal minds through the centuries -- upon examination of the facts surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ, came to the same conclusion, that if they were to believe anything from history – INDEED, JESUS CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD!

Now the question is what did this do and accomplish for those who believer and follow Him? The answer is, it brought to mankind, the most blessed of hope and promise we could ever have. You see, when Christ rose from the grave, unlike other resurrections in the Bible, He arose in a glorified body, a new prototype body that did not need to live on earthy sustenance, and was eternal and everlasting. This body was also not corporeal in the sense that ours are. Yet, it was not a phantom ghost body, rather a real body of flesh and bone; However, it could appear at will and even move through solid objects (Luke 24:15, 36). Yes, this new body, Jesus Christ rose from the grave with, is also what is promised to all who die following Him ( Col 1:18 ; Rev 1:5).

Secondly, since Christ is alive, we have the assurance from His own promises that if we follow Him, trust Him alone for our forgiveness of sins and resurrection unto life, we shall receive all that He has and be with Him for all eternity. The Bible makes this promise,

In addition, since Jesus is alive, He has promised to be our intercessor in Heaven before God the Father for all our sins and needs. Unlike the Roman Church that places a priesthood between God and man, the Bible refutes that and says,

Easter is the message -- Jesus is alive! He therefore has become our High priest and intercessor. He knows our needs, our failures, our tears and cries. He has promised to be here for us and is, because He is alive from the grave, forevermore! Friend think of this -- no other faith can give you a living Savior and a God who care for you. Jesus said over and over again,

Mat 11:28 (NIV)  “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Christianity is not faith with a dead founder! Moses’ body rotted in a grave. Mohammed’s body, likewise Buddha’s has turned to the dust of the earth, but the Body and life of Jesus came alive and rose triumphantly from the dead. Now friend, if you deny this fact of history and reality of life, think deeply, for you must also then deny every other fact and teaching of history! The evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is more sure than all the written history we accept without question. So, if you believe and turn your heart to Jesus Christ, the resurrected and living Savior, He will right now, meet you personally, within your heart and testify to His Lordship, His divinity and Saviorhood, personally for you! Are you willing to test this? If so, all you need to do is pray a meaningful prayer of faith. Jesus said,

John 6:47 (NIV)  I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

Pray something like this “only” if you mean it! Remember, God looks on the heart and all halfhearted professions simply will not count for God will pass you by.

“Dear God, I want to believe You love me and that I can have a right relationship to You. The Bible teaches that You came to earth in the Person of Jesus Christ, to prove to us that You cared enough to deal with our sins. I understand that Jesus died on the cross, and there You paid the price of all sin, especially mine. The proof of this payment being acceptable to You, was that You raised Jesus Christ from the dead. You offer Him to me now, by faith, with the promise my sins will be forever and finally forgiven. But better yet, you offer to me Your gift of eternal life, the life and quality of Jesus Christ who now lives in Heaven. I understand this gift of reconciliation is mine by faith. I so exercise it now. Come into my life, change my heart, my mind and my life. As you give me the strength and power, I will now and forever believe and follow my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Now that’s a long prayer, but the thoughts are necessary to understand. By faith alone we all enter the Christian faith and by faith alone we live and one day will die, to be gloriously resurrected, like unto our Lord. This too is promised to you. Listen further to God’s faithful Word,

1 Cor 15:50-57 (NLT) [Paul the apostle speaking]  What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God . These perishable bodies of ours are not able to live forever. 51 But let me tell you a wonderful secret God has revealed to us. Not all of us will die, but we will all be transformed. 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, the Christians who have died will be raised with transformed bodies. And then we who are living will be transformed so that we will never die. 53 For our perishable earthly bodies must be transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die. 54 When this happens—when our perishable earthly bodies have been transformed into heavenly bodies that will never die—then at last the Scriptures will come true: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 How we thank God, who gives us victory over sin and death through Jesus Christ our Lord!

The fact of the resurrection is a c lea r promise that God offers to all sinners, a full pardon and new life in Christ, to all who will come and receive Him. Have you? If not this Easter season would be the finest, most perfect moment of time for you to confess Him as your Lord God and Savior.

You know, all other religious faiths will perish because they have no savior for their sins. Their futile attempts to atone for their own sins, will not be acceptable on the day of judgment. The Bible warns,

Acts 17:31 (NIV)  For he [God] has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead.”

Phil 2:9-11 (NIV)  Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Hallelujah, Christ arose from the grave! His resurrection is proof God now accepts sinners, and all who come to Him, through Christ, will live. I thank God I’ve taken Jesus as my Savior. One day when I die or the Rapture of the Church comes, I will be changed in a twinkling of an eye and receive a glorious resurrection flesh and bone body that will live forever and ever. Say friend, how about you? It’s all in Person and His work that Easter remembers. May this Easter by your Easter resurrection unto life in Christ, and the everlasting promise and hope of life eternal…

…Friend, Easter is a remembrance of what might be called the Constitution of the Christian faith. It stands or falls on the validity of it. But, thanks be to God, we have incontrovertible and historical proof through the evidences that can be believed that Christ did rise from the dead. Greater still is the proof that comes to every heart that turns to Him by faith. The resurrection of Jesus Christ has always been and shall be the joyous captivation and motivating force of truth for the Church.

Have you accepted this truth and if not why not? You cannot say I have no proof to believe. All you can do is say, I do not want it. But if you choose the latter, there remains no hope for tomorrow but a fearful looking forward to of judgment to come. May God bless your heart with openness to receive Him this Easter Sunday.

·         Radio talk #1302

·         Broadcast date: March 31, 2002

·         Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator

·         Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast

·         Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director.

These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also.