1 Corinthians 15:4, 5 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:… Men in all ages have recognized that the truth of Christianity depends upon the historical verity of our Lord's resurrection from the dead. Consequently, attacks of various kinds have been made upon the fact. It has always been felt that this was the key of the Christian position. We may summarize the attacks thus: 1. Men denied the reality of our Lord's death. 2. Then they argued that the only resurrection possible to man is a spiritual regeneration and conversion. 3. By and by men said that the resurrection was no fact, only a myth that grew up, fashioned by the wishes of a credulous band of disciples. 4. And then the scientific people thought to bury the old truth forever out of reach, by declaring that the resurrection of bodily forms which have once decayed is simply impossible; all decaying matter goes to the formation of fresh life, and the bodies of dead men really become, over and over again, constituents of the bodies of living men. But the question which concerns us first of all is not - How can these things be? but - Is there sufficient evidence and proof? The matter may be beyond present explication, but it is not therefore untrue, nor can we be justified in refusing to accept an adequately sustained historical fact, because the fact is surrounded with scientific and moral difficulties. True science bids us accept without questioning every well-ascertained fact. Now, the verses before us declare two facts: (1) Christ really died; (2) Christ really rose from the dead. We affirm that we have - I. ADEQUATE PROOF OF THE REAL DEATH. Illustrate: 1. The nature of the death, from ruptured heart. 2. The testing spear thrust. 3. The distinct attestation of the Roman centurion, and subsidiary testimony of the Roman soldiers, who did not break our Lord's legs. 4. The actual burial in the tomb. II. ADEQUATE PROOF OF THE REAL RESURRECTION. 1. Scripture antecedent cases show the possibility of resurrection from the dead. Our Lord's resurrection does not stand alone. 2. The various appearances of our Lord. 3. His special manifestation to St. Paul. - R.T. Parallel Verses KJV: And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:WEB: that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, |
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