Acts 26:8 Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead? Why should it be thought, etc.? Grounds of the incredible. Contradiction of reason. Contradiction of experience. Absolute isolation of a fact. A statement is credible because it is rational, because it has been predicted, because it is analogous to and harmonious with experience, because it is morally and practically serviceable to humanity. I. THE APPEAL TO FAITH. You believe so much; why not this? The Jewish Scriptures contained the doctrine of resurrection. Enoch. Abraham's anticipation of Isaac's resurrection. Moses. Elijah. The teaching of the Psalms and prophets. The growth of the doctrine through the post-Exilian times. Even the heathen not without much that prepared the way for the truth. Doctrine of the dead and of the future life. Longing for the perfection of humanity. Moral helplessness. II. THE CHALLENGE OF CHRISTIANITY TO PERSONAL ACCEPTANCE. 1. The credible ought to be accepted, if it comes with the evidence of fact. 2. The real root of unbelief is personal and moral. Paul refers to himself, "I was once as you are; but the facts were too much for me." 3. The resurrection is not a mere speculative doctrine or unpractical mystery, but it is the root of the whole system of Christianity; it stands at the entrance of the new way, into which we are all invited, both as sealing the testimony of Christ, and as opening the new world to our faith and setting our affection on things above. - R. Parallel Verses KJV: Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead?WEB: Why is it judged incredible with you, if God does raise the dead? |
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