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Dr. Robert Jeffress

Robert Jeffress - If Christ Has Not Been Raised (Part 1)

December 10, 2024 | S24:E5003

Robert Jeffress - If Christ Has Not Been Raised (Part 1)
Pathway to Victory offers a practical application of God’s Word to everyday life through the clear, biblical teaching of Pastor Jeffress.
#Salvation #Faith #Hope #Gospel #Religion #WordofGod #Belief #inActive #Dr.RobertJeffress #RobertJeffress #Cross #Death #Crucifixion #Iniquity #1Corinthians15

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Dr. Robert Jeffress | Robert Jeffress - If Christ Has Not Been Raised (Part 1) | December 10, 2024
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] from the pulpit
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  • Of the first baptist church of dallas, texas,
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  • This is "pathway to victory" with dr. robert jeffress.
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  • Jeffress: hi, i'm robert jeffress,
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  • And welcome again to "pathway to victory!"
  • 00:00:15.972 --> 00:00:18.475
  • For thousands of years,
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  • Skeptics have been trying to prove
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  • That the resurrection of jesus never really happened.
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  • That it was nothing more than a made up story
  • 00:00:25.181 --> 00:00:27.450
  • Or a clever trick.
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  • Their motive is clear.
  • 00:00:29.018 --> 00:00:30.753
  • Because if the resurrection is a hoax,
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  • Then all of christianity falls apart.
  • 00:00:33.356 --> 00:00:36.326
  • Today we're going to look at two reasons
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  • We can remain confident
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  • That jesus truly rose from the grave.
  • 00:00:40.230 --> 00:00:43.333
  • My message is titled
  • 00:00:43.333 --> 00:00:44.901
  • "if christ has not been raised"
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  • On today's edition of "pathway to victory".
  • 00:00:47.670 --> 00:00:51.141
  • ♪ music ♪
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  • [announcer] the celebration of jesus' birth
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  • Each christmas marks the moment
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  • When god's radiant hope entered our world,
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  • With the light of god's word
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  • Through the "pathway to victory"
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  • Light the darkness matching challenge.
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  • Since 1996, "pathway to victory"
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  • Has been boldly sharing the gospel of jesus christ,
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  • Here in america and around the world.
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  • ♪ music ♪
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  • Someone has said that,
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  • "christianity stands or falls
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  • "on the resurrection of jesus christ from the dead.
  • 00:01:37.120 --> 00:01:41.090
  • "disprove it,
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  • "and you have disposed of christianity forever."
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  • Indeed if the resurrection
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  • Is nothing more than a mythical appendage
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  • To the story of a good rabbi who was popular
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  • And yet crucified by his enemies
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  • If that's all the resurrection is,
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  • Then it simply has rendered
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  • The christian message null and void.
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  • There is no hope for any of us.
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  • And that's paul's argument
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  • In the chapter that we've come to
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  • In our study of first corinthians,
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  • First corinthians chapter 15.
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  • And remember paul wrote this letter to the church at corinth
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  • To answer questions that they had asked him.
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  • In fact, they had sent him a letter
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  • With all kinds of questions.
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  • It was kind of like,
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  • We have "ask the pastor",
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  • It was "ask the apostle",
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  • And they had a whole list of questions.
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  • We don't have a copy of the letter
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  • The corinthians sent to paul,
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  • But we have a copy of paul's response in first corinthians.
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  • And by the responses, we can pretty well determine
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  • What the questions were.
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  • The corinthians wanted to know,
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  • "paul, what should we know about divorce and remarriage?
  • 00:02:46.155 --> 00:02:51.027
  • "what about spiritual gifts?
  • 00:02:51.027 --> 00:02:52.562
  • "what about the role of women in the church?
  • 00:02:52.562 --> 00:02:55.431
  • "what about suing other christians?
  • 00:02:55.431 --> 00:02:57.667
  • "what about the lord's table?"
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  • All of these questions they had,
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  • Paul answers in first corinthians.
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  • And when we come to chapter 15,
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  • Paul is going to answer the questions
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  • They had about the resurrection.
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  • You see, in the church at corinth,
  • 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:13.549
  • There were some jewish converts
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  • Who had come from the sect known of the sadducees.
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  • The sadducees did not believe in any resurrection,
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  • Because they believed in no afterlife.
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  • And so, they had questions about
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  • All of this stuff about a resurrection,
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  • And then you had the gnostics.
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  • Gnosticism, as we've talked about on sunday morning,
  • 00:03:30.333 --> 00:03:33.303
  • Was present at that time in paul's ministry.
  • 00:03:33.303 --> 00:03:37.540
  • Remember the gnostics said that,
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  • "only that which is spiritual is good.
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  • "anything that is material, fleshly, is evil."
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  • So their whole question of the resurrection is,
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  • "even if it was true,
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  • "why would we want it to be true?
  • 00:03:48.084 --> 00:03:50.219
  • "why would we want to inherit bodies
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  • "for all eternity that are sinful?
  • 00:03:52.655 --> 00:03:54.957
  • "because the body is sinful," they said.
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  • And so, paul is answering these questions
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  • About the resurrection,
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  • And his point is very simple.
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  • He says, "the fact that jesus christ rose from the dead,
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  • "means that one day we will rise from the dead as well."
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  • And so, paul begins in verse one of first corinthians 15
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  • Talking about the case for the resurrection.
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  • How do we know christ was really raised from the dead?
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  • He says, first of all, look at the evidence of scripture.
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  • Beginning in verse one, paul writes,
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  • "now i make known to you, brethren,
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  • "the gospel which i preached to you,
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  • "which also you received,
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  • "in which you also stand,
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  • "by which you are saved,
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  • "if you hold fast the word which i preached to you,
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  • "unless you believed in vain."
  • 00:04:40.269 --> 00:04:42.205
  • Paul said, "we're going to do
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  • "a little review of what the gospel is."
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  • "it's the gospel," paul says,
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  • "by which you were saved.
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  • "and it's the gospel which you are saved
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  • "if you hold fast to the word i preached to you,
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  • "unless, of course, you believed in vain."
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  • People stumble over that, and they say,
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  • "well, is paul saying our salvation
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  • "is conditioned upon our continuing to believe?"
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  • That's what he says in verse two.
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  • "you're saved by the gospel
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  • "if you hold fast to the word i preached to you."
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  • Is our salvation conditioned upon
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  • Our continued belief in the gospel?
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  • I would say it's just the opposite.
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  • Our continued belief in the gospel
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  • Is conditioned upon our genuine salvation.
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  • See, the fact is,
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  • The security of the believer is a very true doctrine,
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  • But it only applies to those who are truly saved.
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  • Assurance of salvation only applies
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  • To those who are truly saved.
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  • Paul is saying that if you are truly saved
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  • You will believe until the very end,
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  • And if you don't believe until the very end,
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  • It doesn't mean you lost your salvation.
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  • It means you never had it to begin with.
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  • One of the tests of whether you've been genuinely saved
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  • Or not is if you continue to believe until the end.
  • 00:05:58.748 --> 00:06:02.185
  • That's what he's saying in verse two here.
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  • Paul says, "let's remember what this gospel is."
  • 00:06:04.220 --> 00:06:07.290
  • Look at verse three,
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  • "for i delivered to you
  • 00:06:08.357 --> 00:06:10.026
  • "as of first importance what i also received,
  • 00:06:10.026 --> 00:06:13.496
  • "that christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,
  • 00:06:13.496 --> 00:06:17.800
  • "and that he was buried,
  • 00:06:17.800 --> 00:06:19.302
  • "and that he was raised on the third day
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  • "according to the scriptures."
  • 00:06:22.305 --> 00:06:23.773
  • Here is the summary of the christian message.
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  • Christ died for our sins.
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  • He was buried,
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  • And he rose again on the third day
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  • All as the scripture foretold.
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  • Now by scripture, he is primarily at this time
  • 00:06:34.650 --> 00:06:37.553
  • Talking about the old testament scripture.
  • 00:06:37.553 --> 00:06:39.322
  • Obviously, the epistles had not been written yet,
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  • And there were perhaps several gospels
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  • That had been pinned at this point.
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  • But he's primarily talking
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  • About the old testament scriptures.
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  • For example, the old testament scripture
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  • Prophesied that the messiah, jesus christ,
  • 00:06:52.301 --> 00:06:55.404
  • Would die for our sins.
  • 00:06:55.404 --> 00:06:56.873
  • Jot down isaiah 53:3-12.
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  • You know that passage well.
  • 00:07:00.209 --> 00:07:01.477
  • "for he was wounded for our transgressions.
  • 00:07:01.477 --> 00:07:04.013
  • "he was bruised for our iniquities.
  • 00:07:04.013 --> 00:07:06.182
  • "the chastening of our well being fell upon him.
  • 00:07:06.182 --> 00:07:09.151
  • "by his stripes we are healed.
  • 00:07:09.151 --> 00:07:11.287
  • "for all we like sheep have gone astray.
  • 00:07:11.287 --> 00:07:13.990
  • "we have turned every one unto his own way.
  • 00:07:13.990 --> 00:07:16.893
  • "but the lord has laid upon him, jesus,
  • 00:07:16.893 --> 00:07:19.762
  • "the messiah, the iniquity of us all."
  • 00:07:19.762 --> 00:07:23.199
  • The scripture foretold 700 years before the fact in isaiah
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  • And many other passages that christ would die for our sins.
  • 00:07:27.370 --> 00:07:31.641
  • Secondly, he was buried just as the scriptures said.
  • 00:07:31.641 --> 00:07:35.344
  • In isaiah 53:9, 700 years before the case,
  • 00:07:35.344 --> 00:07:39.148
  • Isaiah prophesied that jesus would be burred
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  • In the tomb of a rich man.
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  • And thirdly, he was raised from the dead
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  • According to the scripture.
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  • And paul is saying,
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  • The resurrection was central
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  • To the old testament prophecies.
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  • You say, "where do you find
  • 00:07:54.997 --> 00:07:56.265
  • "the resurrection in the old testament?"
  • 00:07:56.265 --> 00:07:58.801
  • In psalm 16:10, the psalmist said,
  • 00:07:58.801 --> 00:08:02.738
  • Speaking the words that the messiah would ultimately speak,
  • 00:08:02.738 --> 00:08:06.809
  • "for you will not abandon my soul to sheol.
  • 00:08:06.809 --> 00:08:10.046
  • "nor will you allow your holy one,
  • 00:08:10.046 --> 00:08:12.448
  • "the messiah, to undergo decay."
  • 00:08:12.448 --> 00:08:15.151
  • That is before the messiah's body could decay,
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  • The lord would raise it up.
  • 00:08:18.521 --> 00:08:20.489
  • Or job 19:25-26, remember what job said,
  • 00:08:20.489 --> 00:08:24.994
  • "as for me, i know that my redeemer lives,
  • 00:08:24.994 --> 00:08:28.030
  • "and that on the last,
  • 00:08:28.030 --> 00:08:29.365
  • "he will take his stand on the earth.
  • 00:08:29.365 --> 00:08:31.701
  • "even after my skin is destroyed,
  • 00:08:31.701 --> 00:08:34.403
  • "yet, from my flesh, i will see god."
  • 00:08:34.403 --> 00:08:37.306
  • Job understood that the resurrection
  • 00:08:37.306 --> 00:08:40.676
  • Was a central part of the messiah's message.
  • 00:08:40.676 --> 00:08:44.680
  • The resurrection was also a part of jesus' teaching as well.
  • 00:08:44.680 --> 00:08:48.818
  • This isn't something that was tacked on to the gospel story.
  • 00:08:48.818 --> 00:08:52.088
  • It wasn't something that the apostles made up
  • 00:08:52.088 --> 00:08:55.458
  • To make a good story even better.
  • 00:08:55.458 --> 00:08:57.827
  • Jesus said that he would be raised from the dead.
  • 00:08:57.827 --> 00:09:00.363
  • In matthew 16:21,
  • 00:09:00.363 --> 00:09:02.798
  • Matthew says, "from that point on,
  • 00:09:02.798 --> 00:09:04.367
  • "jesus began to show his disciples
  • 00:09:04.367 --> 00:09:07.036
  • "how he must go to jerusalem
  • 00:09:07.036 --> 00:09:09.038
  • "and suffer many things at the hands
  • 00:09:09.038 --> 00:09:10.940
  • "of the elders and the chief priests and the scribes,
  • 00:09:10.940 --> 00:09:13.576
  • "and how he must be killed and raised up on the third day."
  • 00:09:13.576 --> 00:09:18.881
  • Jesus taught that there was a resurrection.
  • 00:09:18.881 --> 00:09:22.151
  • Remember, "destroy this temple," jesus said,
  • 00:09:22.151 --> 00:09:24.053
  • "and after three days it will be raised up."
  • 00:09:24.053 --> 00:09:27.089
  • You know what is interesting is,
  • 00:09:27.089 --> 00:09:28.457
  • Even jesus jesus' enemies understood
  • 00:09:28.457 --> 00:09:31.627
  • That the resurrection was central to jesus' claim.
  • 00:09:31.627 --> 00:09:34.897
  • Remember what happened after good friday
  • 00:09:34.897 --> 00:09:37.033
  • When jesus was crucified?
  • 00:09:37.033 --> 00:09:38.868
  • Remember how he was buried in
  • 00:09:38.868 --> 00:09:40.670
  • The rich man joseph of arimathea's tomb?
  • 00:09:40.670 --> 00:09:43.239
  • Remember what happened on that saturday?
  • 00:09:43.239 --> 00:09:45.741
  • On that saturday, jesus' enemies, the pharisees
  • 00:09:45.741 --> 00:09:49.345
  • Who had been responsible for his crucifixion,
  • 00:09:49.345 --> 00:09:51.947
  • Began to panic, and they went to pontius pilate.
  • 00:09:51.947 --> 00:09:55.051
  • And remember in matthew 27:63-64,
  • 00:09:55.051 --> 00:09:58.954
  • They went to pilate, and said,
  • 00:09:58.954 --> 00:10:00.356
  • "sir, we remember that when jesus
  • 00:10:00.356 --> 00:10:03.225
  • "was still alive that deceiver said,
  • 00:10:03.225 --> 00:10:06.796
  • 'after three days, i am to rise again.'
  • 00:10:06.796 --> 00:10:10.099
  • "therefore, pilate, give orders
  • 00:10:10.099 --> 00:10:12.234
  • "for the grave to be made secure until the third day.
  • 00:10:12.234 --> 00:10:15.738
  • "otherwise, his disciples may come and steal him away,
  • 00:10:15.738 --> 00:10:19.809
  • "and say to the people, 'he has risen from the dead'
  • 00:10:19.809 --> 00:10:23.012
  • "and the last deception will be worse than the first."
  • 00:10:23.012 --> 00:10:27.683
  • Those enemies of jesus understood
  • 00:10:27.683 --> 00:10:30.052
  • What he had claimed was going to happen.
  • 00:10:30.052 --> 00:10:32.488
  • They wanted to make sure that grave was secure,
  • 00:10:32.488 --> 00:10:35.091
  • Which is why they posted that roman guard unit
  • 00:10:35.091 --> 00:10:38.260
  • Of 16 highly-trained men to guard that tomb.
  • 00:10:38.260 --> 00:10:41.964
  • They didn't want to give credence to the claim
  • 00:10:41.964 --> 00:10:44.433
  • That jesus had been raised from the dead.
  • 00:10:44.433 --> 00:10:47.570
  • Paul said, "the resurrection of jesus
  • 00:10:47.570 --> 00:10:50.573
  • "is proven by the evidence of scripture,
  • 00:10:50.573 --> 00:10:53.609
  • "but also secondly by the evidence of eyewitnesses."
  • 00:10:53.609 --> 00:10:57.980
  • You know, the testimony of eyewitnesses has long been
  • 00:10:57.980 --> 00:11:00.750
  • Considered one of the most reliable forms of evidence.
  • 00:11:00.750 --> 00:11:05.187
  • Thomas arnold a historian at oxford university wrote,
  • 00:11:05.187 --> 00:11:10.126
  • "i know of no one fact in the history of mankind,
  • 00:11:10.126 --> 00:11:13.863
  • "which is better proved by fuller evidence
  • 00:11:13.863 --> 00:11:16.999
  • "than the great sign that god has given us
  • 00:11:16.999 --> 00:11:19.769
  • "that christ died and rose again from the dead."
  • 00:11:19.769 --> 00:11:24.173
  • What would cause such an educated historian
  • 00:11:24.173 --> 00:11:26.776
  • To say there is nothing in human history
  • 00:11:26.776 --> 00:11:29.311
  • Better proved than the resurrection
  • 00:11:29.311 --> 00:11:31.347
  • Of jesus from the dead?
  • 00:11:31.347 --> 00:11:32.948
  • It is the strength of the eyewitness testimony.
  • 00:11:32.948 --> 00:11:37.253
  • It's that eyewitness testimony
  • 00:11:37.253 --> 00:11:39.188
  • That paul describes beginning in verse five.
  • 00:11:39.188 --> 00:11:41.991
  • He says, "and that he,
  • 00:11:41.991 --> 00:11:43.359
  • "jesus, appeared to peter."
  • 00:11:43.359 --> 00:11:46.629
  • The first person christ appeared to
  • 00:11:46.629 --> 00:11:49.231
  • After his resurrection was to peter.
  • 00:11:49.231 --> 00:11:51.901
  • Now remember peter had denied the lord
  • 00:11:51.901 --> 00:11:54.837
  • Three times just a few days earlier.
  • 00:11:54.837 --> 00:11:57.940
  • And yet, jesus had selected peter
  • 00:11:57.940 --> 00:12:00.876
  • To be the leader of the apostles.
  • 00:12:00.876 --> 00:12:02.545
  • And it only makes sense that the first person
  • 00:12:02.545 --> 00:12:05.014
  • He would appear to would be peter.
  • 00:12:05.014 --> 00:12:07.383
  • And that appearance transformed peter forever.
  • 00:12:07.383 --> 00:12:11.453
  • It gave him the courage to be a bold defender
  • 00:12:11.453 --> 00:12:14.023
  • Of the christian faith,
  • 00:12:14.023 --> 00:12:15.324
  • To be willing to give his life for christ
  • 00:12:15.324 --> 00:12:17.593
  • Because of what he had seen in the resurrection christ.
  • 00:12:17.593 --> 00:12:20.262
  • How do you explain that metamorphosis
  • 00:12:20.262 --> 00:12:22.865
  • That occurred in peter?
  • 00:12:22.865 --> 00:12:24.033
  • The only way to describe it is that
  • 00:12:24.033 --> 00:12:26.235
  • He had seen the resurrected christ.
  • 00:12:26.235 --> 00:12:28.537
  • And not only did he appear to peter,
  • 00:12:28.537 --> 00:12:30.072
  • But also to "the twelve."
  • 00:12:30.072 --> 00:12:32.274
  • Now that's a reference to the apostles.
  • 00:12:32.274 --> 00:12:34.376
  • Now literally, when christ rose from the dead,
  • 00:12:34.376 --> 00:12:36.979
  • There weren't 12 apostles.
  • 00:12:36.979 --> 00:12:38.581
  • There were only 11.
  • 00:12:38.581 --> 00:12:39.815
  • Remember judas had already hanged himself,
  • 00:12:39.815 --> 00:12:43.118
  • And matthias had yet to have been selected.
  • 00:12:43.118 --> 00:12:45.821
  • But "the twelve" was the title that they went by,
  • 00:12:45.821 --> 00:12:48.257
  • So he appeared to "the twelve."
  • 00:12:48.257 --> 00:12:50.359
  • "and then after that," verse six,
  • 00:12:50.359 --> 00:12:52.127
  • "he appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time
  • 00:12:52.127 --> 00:12:57.433
  • "most of all who remained that is they're alive till now,
  • 00:12:57.433 --> 00:13:00.569
  • "but some have fallen asleep."
  • 00:13:00.569 --> 00:13:03.539
  • That is they have died.
  • 00:13:03.539 --> 00:13:05.541
  • Jesus christ appeared to 500 people at one time.
  • 00:13:05.541 --> 00:13:09.812
  • We don't know the circumstances of that appearance.
  • 00:13:09.812 --> 00:13:12.548
  • But paul said that those people
  • 00:13:12.548 --> 00:13:14.650
  • To whom he appeared are well known.
  • 00:13:14.650 --> 00:13:16.752
  • Some of them are still alive,
  • 00:13:16.752 --> 00:13:18.320
  • Although some of them have died
  • 00:13:18.320 --> 00:13:20.456
  • 20 years after this appearance.
  • 00:13:20.456 --> 00:13:23.592
  • You know, every now and then,
  • 00:13:23.592 --> 00:13:25.628
  • You ever stand in a supermarket line
  • 00:13:25.628 --> 00:13:27.463
  • And kind of look at those tabloid magazines?
  • 00:13:27.463 --> 00:13:29.999
  • I'll confess.
  • 00:13:29.999 --> 00:13:31.233
  • Okay, i confess.
  • 00:13:31.233 --> 00:13:32.668
  • Some of them grab my attention every now and then.
  • 00:13:32.668 --> 00:13:35.104
  • You know, the cover of them?
  • 00:13:35.104 --> 00:13:36.705
  • Every now and then in some of the lesser-known publications
  • 00:13:36.705 --> 00:13:42.077
  • You'll read some of these fantastic stories.
  • 00:13:42.077 --> 00:13:45.681
  • Have you seen those?
  • 00:13:46.148 --> 00:13:47.082
  • Every now and then they crop up.
  • 00:13:47.082 --> 00:13:48.183
  • You know, "elvis has been sighted."
  • 00:13:48.183 --> 00:13:50.286
  • You know, "he's back in memphis.
  • 00:13:50.286 --> 00:13:52.554
  • "somebody saw him at a walmart or a mcdonald's.
  • 00:13:52.554 --> 00:13:56.525
  • "elvis has come back to life again."
  • 00:13:56.525 --> 00:13:59.194
  • Has anybody ever really fallen for that?
  • 00:13:59.194 --> 00:14:01.931
  • Does anybody really believe elvis is alive?
  • 00:14:01.931 --> 00:14:04.466
  • I mean, is there a movement right now
  • 00:14:04.466 --> 00:14:06.669
  • That is based on the fact that elvis presley is alive?
  • 00:14:06.669 --> 00:14:09.972
  • I mean, are people willing to give their life for the fact
  • 00:14:09.972 --> 00:14:13.042
  • That elvis presley is still alive and well
  • 00:14:13.042 --> 00:14:15.711
  • And singing in memphis?
  • 00:14:15.711 --> 00:14:17.346
  • I don't know anybody who would do that.
  • 00:14:17.346 --> 00:14:19.515
  • There's people who hope he's alive,
  • 00:14:19.515 --> 00:14:21.750
  • But if it came down it, does anybody really,
  • 00:14:21.750 --> 00:14:25.120
  • Would they be willing to give their life for that fact?
  • 00:14:25.120 --> 00:14:27.523
  • I mean, you hear occasionally people say that,
  • 00:14:27.523 --> 00:14:29.992
  • But, on the other hand, what if 500 people all said,
  • 00:14:29.992 --> 00:14:34.496
  • "we saw elvis presley?
  • 00:14:34.496 --> 00:14:36.298
  • "we saw him here."
  • 00:14:36.298 --> 00:14:37.700
  • And not only that, it was 500 people
  • 00:14:37.700 --> 00:14:39.835
  • Many of whom you had great respect for.
  • 00:14:39.835 --> 00:14:42.371
  • It's 500 people who say we believe this so much
  • 00:14:42.371 --> 00:14:45.174
  • We are willing to die for this.
  • 00:14:45.174 --> 00:14:47.576
  • That would cause you to think again, wouldn't it,
  • 00:14:47.576 --> 00:14:50.212
  • About whether elvis presley was alive or not?
  • 00:14:50.212 --> 00:14:53.148
  • Here are people who absolutely said that they believed
  • 00:14:53.148 --> 00:14:56.986
  • Beyond a shadow of a doubt that jesus christ was alive.
  • 00:14:56.986 --> 00:15:00.723
  • Not only that, he appeared to james.
  • 00:15:00.723 --> 00:15:03.092
  • James was the half-brother of jesus.
  • 00:15:03.092 --> 00:15:05.494
  • So how did jesus have a half-brother?
  • 00:15:05.494 --> 00:15:07.529
  • Well, it was through mary and joseph.
  • 00:15:07.529 --> 00:15:10.165
  • Mary and joseph had many other children.
  • 00:15:10.165 --> 00:15:12.301
  • You know, they had them the old fashioned way, okay,
  • 00:15:12.301 --> 00:15:14.737
  • And that made them the half-brothers and sisters of jesus.
  • 00:15:14.737 --> 00:15:18.207
  • James was a skeptic.
  • 00:15:18.207 --> 00:15:19.742
  • He turned away from the lord.
  • 00:15:19.742 --> 00:15:21.143
  • He didn't believe his half-brother was the lord
  • 00:15:21.143 --> 00:15:23.712
  • Until jesus appeared to him in his resurrected form,
  • 00:15:23.712 --> 00:15:27.216
  • And james became one of leaders of the early church.
  • 00:15:27.216 --> 00:15:30.219
  • He wrote the epistle we have
  • 00:15:30.219 --> 00:15:31.720
  • In our new testament called james.
  • 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:33.989
  • "and then he appeared to all of the apostles,
  • 00:15:33.989 --> 00:15:36.525
  • "and not only that and last of all
  • 00:15:36.525 --> 00:15:38.660
  • "as to one untimely born,
  • 00:15:38.660 --> 00:15:41.063
  • "he appeared to me also," paul said.
  • 00:15:41.063 --> 00:15:44.166
  • "one untimely born,"
  • 00:15:44.166 --> 00:15:45.467
  • That is, "i was born to late to be an apostle,
  • 00:15:45.467 --> 00:15:48.871
  • "but jesus appeared to me in his resurrected form,
  • 00:15:48.871 --> 00:15:53.108
  • Not immediately after the resurrection,
  • 00:15:53.108 --> 00:15:55.344
  • "but weeks later when i was on the road to damascus,"
  • 00:15:55.344 --> 00:16:01.050
  • Jesus had already ascended into heaven,
  • 00:16:01.050 --> 00:16:02.951
  • But he appear today paul and spoke to paul
  • 00:16:02.951 --> 00:16:05.587
  • And called him as an apostle.
  • 00:16:05.587 --> 00:16:08.223
  • You know, it's interesting the sense of humility
  • 00:16:08.223 --> 00:16:10.759
  • That the apostle paul had about that.
  • 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:13.228
  • You would think paul would be boastful
  • 00:16:13.228 --> 00:16:15.064
  • And prideful about his call to be an apostle.
  • 00:16:15.064 --> 00:16:18.434
  • The lord speaking to him directly,
  • 00:16:18.434 --> 00:16:20.169
  • But look at verse nine.
  • 00:16:20.169 --> 00:16:21.537
  • "and for i am the least of all of the apostles,
  • 00:16:21.537 --> 00:16:25.140
  • "and not fit to be called an apostle
  • 00:16:25.140 --> 00:16:27.443
  • "because i persecuted the church of god.
  • 00:16:27.443 --> 00:16:30.212
  • "but the grace of god i am what i am.
  • 00:16:30.212 --> 00:16:33.248
  • "and his grace toward me did not prove vain.
  • 00:16:33.248 --> 00:16:35.918
  • "but i labored even more than all of them,
  • 00:16:35.918 --> 00:16:38.353
  • "yet not i, but the grace of god with me.
  • 00:16:38.353 --> 00:16:40.956
  • "whether then it was i or they,
  • 00:16:40.956 --> 00:16:42.391
  • "so we preached and you believed."
  • 00:16:42.391 --> 00:16:45.294
  • Paul never got over the fact
  • 00:16:45.294 --> 00:16:47.229
  • That god had forgiven him.
  • 00:16:47.229 --> 00:16:49.398
  • Paul had formally been a blasphemer,
  • 00:16:49.398 --> 00:16:51.567
  • A persecutor, a killer of christians.
  • 00:16:51.567 --> 00:16:54.770
  • I'm sure paul was haunted by the things
  • 00:16:54.770 --> 00:16:56.872
  • He had done in the past,
  • 00:16:56.872 --> 00:16:58.974
  • And yet, paul said, "god forgave me."
  • 00:16:58.974 --> 00:17:01.443
  • In fact, in first timothy 1:15-16,
  • 00:17:01.443 --> 00:17:05.114
  • Paul said, "it is a trustworthy statement,
  • 00:17:05.114 --> 00:17:07.516
  • "deserving full acceptance, that christ jesus
  • 00:17:07.516 --> 00:17:10.119
  • "came into the world to save sinners,
  • 00:17:10.119 --> 00:17:12.488
  • "among whom i am the foremost of all.
  • 00:17:12.488 --> 00:17:15.624
  • "and yet, for this reason i found mercy
  • 00:17:15.624 --> 00:17:18.127
  • "so that in me, as the foremost of sinners,
  • 00:17:18.127 --> 00:17:21.497
  • "jesus christ might demonstrate his perfect patience
  • 00:17:21.497 --> 00:17:25.334
  • "as an example for those who would believe in him
  • 00:17:25.334 --> 00:17:28.203
  • "for eternal life."
  • 00:17:28.203 --> 00:17:29.138
  • Paul was saying, "i am exhibit a
  • 00:17:29.138 --> 00:17:31.406
  • "of god's ability to forgive."
  • 00:17:31.406 --> 00:17:34.643
  • When people say to me, "oh, pastor,
  • 00:17:35.377 --> 00:17:36.845
  • "god could never forgive me.
  • 00:17:36.845 --> 00:17:38.714
  • "you don't know what i've done.
  • 00:17:39.348 --> 00:17:40.682
  • "you don't know the sin i've been involved in.
  • 00:17:40.682 --> 00:17:43.619
  • "god couldn't forgive me.
  • 00:17:43.619 --> 00:17:45.721
  • "i'm too great a sinner."
  • 00:17:45.721 --> 00:17:47.689
  • I always respond, "you're not as good
  • 00:17:48.524 --> 00:17:50.125
  • "of a sinner as you think you are."
  • 00:17:50.125 --> 00:17:52.694
  • I can tell you somebody who was much better at sinning
  • 00:17:52.694 --> 00:17:54.596
  • Than you ever could think of being.
  • 00:17:54.596 --> 00:17:56.398
  • It was the apostle paul.
  • 00:17:56.398 --> 00:17:58.367
  • He was the chief of sinners,
  • 00:17:58.367 --> 00:18:00.169
  • And yet god saved him as exhibit a
  • 00:18:00.169 --> 00:18:03.605
  • Of his grace and his willingness to forgive anyone.
  • 00:18:03.605 --> 00:18:06.742
  • For some of you listening tonight,
  • 00:18:06.742 --> 00:18:08.277
  • You think you are beyond the reach of god's forgiveness.
  • 00:18:08.277 --> 00:18:10.913
  • You're not.
  • 00:18:10.913 --> 00:18:12.214
  • If god can forgive paul, he can forgive anyone.
  • 00:18:12.214 --> 00:18:15.951
  • Now paul moves from the abstract to the concrete,
  • 00:18:15.951 --> 00:18:18.720
  • From the theoretical from the intensely practical,
  • 00:18:18.720 --> 00:18:21.723
  • As he talks about the consequences of no resurrection.
  • 00:18:21.723 --> 00:18:25.027
  • He's proved the resurrection by the testimony of scripture,
  • 00:18:25.027 --> 00:18:27.896
  • By the eyewitness testimony,
  • 00:18:27.896 --> 00:18:29.665
  • And now he talks about the consequences of no resurrection.
  • 00:18:29.665 --> 00:18:33.468
  • Look in verse 12.
  • 00:18:33.468 --> 00:18:35.537
  • He says, "now if christ is preached,
  • 00:18:35.537 --> 00:18:37.940
  • "that he has been raised from the dead,
  • 00:18:37.940 --> 00:18:39.841
  • "how do some among you say that there's
  • 00:18:39.841 --> 00:18:41.877
  • "no such thing as the resurrection of the dead?
  • 00:18:41.877 --> 00:18:44.379
  • "but if there is no resurrection of the dead
  • 00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:47.115
  • "not even christ has not been raised."
  • 00:18:47.115 --> 00:18:49.985
  • Now as dave ramsey would say,
  • 00:18:49.985 --> 00:18:52.221
  • "this isn't rocket surgery here, okay?"
  • 00:18:52.221 --> 00:18:55.657
  • What he's saying is,
  • 00:18:55.657 --> 00:18:56.925
  • "if there is no such thing as a resurrection
  • 00:18:56.925 --> 00:18:59.761
  • "as some of you seem to think,
  • 00:18:59.761 --> 00:19:02.064
  • "if this life is all there is,
  • 00:19:02.064 --> 00:19:04.166
  • "then that means jesus christ
  • 00:19:04.166 --> 00:19:05.767
  • "has not been raised from the dead."
  • 00:19:05.767 --> 00:19:07.703
  • And before you say that,
  • 00:19:07.703 --> 00:19:09.905
  • Consider the consequences of no resurrection.
  • 00:19:09.905 --> 00:19:14.142
  • And beginning here,
  • 00:19:14.142 --> 00:19:16.078
  • Paul begins to talk about the consequences
  • 00:19:16.979 --> 00:19:20.782
  • Of no resurrection from the dead.
  • 00:19:20.782 --> 00:19:24.052
  • Now remember, again, there were some who said,
  • 00:19:24.052 --> 00:19:26.822
  • "we do believe in a resurrection,
  • 00:19:26.822 --> 00:19:28.790
  • "but we think it's a spiritual resurrection."
  • 00:19:28.790 --> 00:19:30.959
  • You have some liberal theologians today who believe that.
  • 00:19:30.959 --> 00:19:33.161
  • "oh, yeah, we believe in a resurrection,
  • 00:19:33.161 --> 00:19:35.097
  • "but jesus was spiritually raised from the dead.
  • 00:19:35.097 --> 00:19:38.066
  • "and one day we are spiritually raised from the dead."
  • 00:19:38.066 --> 00:19:40.702
  • That all comes from gnosticism.
  • 00:19:40.702 --> 00:19:43.171
  • They believed that jesus couldn't be flesh and blood
  • 00:19:43.171 --> 00:19:46.341
  • Because to be of flesh and blood would be to be sinful,
  • 00:19:46.341 --> 00:19:48.744
  • Because the flesh is naturally sinful.
  • 00:19:48.744 --> 00:19:51.146
  • No, it's not our bodies that are sinful
  • 00:19:51.146 --> 00:19:53.548
  • In and of themselves.
  • 00:19:53.548 --> 00:19:54.583
  • It's because we've been infected
  • 00:19:54.583 --> 00:19:55.917
  • With a sin virus that we're sinful.
  • 00:19:55.917 --> 00:19:58.020
  • But jesus christ was blood and flesh.
  • 00:19:58.020 --> 00:20:01.857
  • He ate. he drank.
  • 00:20:01.857 --> 00:20:03.225
  • "he was born of a woman," galatians 4:4 says.
  • 00:20:03.225 --> 00:20:07.129
  • In first john 1:1, john said,
  • 00:20:07.129 --> 00:20:09.464
  • "what was from the beginning,
  • 00:20:09.464 --> 00:20:10.966
  • "what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes,
  • 00:20:10.966 --> 00:20:13.669
  • "what we have looked at and touched with our hands
  • 00:20:13.669 --> 00:20:16.371
  • "concerning the word of life."
  • 00:20:16.371 --> 00:20:18.106
  • He said, "we've touched him,
  • 00:20:18.106 --> 00:20:19.441
  • "the word of life, jesus.
  • 00:20:19.441 --> 00:20:21.109
  • "we know he is real.
  • 00:20:21.109 --> 00:20:22.644
  • "he is flesh and blood."
  • 00:20:22.644 --> 00:20:24.813
  • You say, "well, why does that make a difference
  • 00:20:24.813 --> 00:20:26.782
  • "whether jesus christ was flesh and blood?"
  • 00:20:26.782 --> 00:20:29.584
  • Because it means, among other things,
  • 00:20:29.584 --> 00:20:32.254
  • That god indwelling flesh
  • 00:20:32.821 --> 00:20:35.724
  • Means that god understands us.
  • 00:20:35.724 --> 00:20:38.026
  • He understands you not just intellectually.
  • 00:20:38.026 --> 00:20:40.896
  • He understands you experientially.
  • 00:20:40.896 --> 00:20:44.032
  • There's no heartache,
  • 00:20:44.032 --> 00:20:45.200
  • There is no trial you face,
  • 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:47.536
  • That god doesn't understand and sympathize with
  • 00:20:47.536 --> 00:20:51.173
  • Because he's also experienced it.
  • 00:20:51.173 --> 00:20:53.709
  • Hebrew 4:15-16,
  • 00:20:53.709 --> 00:20:56.078
  • "for we do not have a high priest
  • 00:20:56.078 --> 00:20:58.180
  • "who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
  • 00:20:58.180 --> 00:21:00.382
  • "but one who was tested in all points as we are,
  • 00:21:00.382 --> 00:21:03.552
  • "and yet without sin.
  • 00:21:03.552 --> 00:21:05.821
  • "therefore, let us come boldly to the throne of grace
  • 00:21:05.821 --> 00:21:09.224
  • "that we might receive mercy and find grace to help
  • 00:21:09.224 --> 00:21:12.561
  • "in our time of need."
  • 00:21:12.561 --> 00:21:14.396
  • When you're going through a trial in your life right now,
  • 00:21:14.396 --> 00:21:17.332
  • You can go to god.
  • 00:21:17.332 --> 00:21:18.600
  • You can ask for his mercy and his grace,
  • 00:21:18.600 --> 00:21:20.969
  • Knowing that he understands exactly
  • 00:21:20.969 --> 00:21:23.372
  • What you're going through,
  • 00:21:23.372 --> 00:21:24.673
  • Because he's experienced it
  • 00:21:24.673 --> 00:21:26.341
  • In the person of jesus christ.
  • 00:21:26.341 --> 00:21:29.878
  • What is the consequence of no resurrection?
  • 00:21:29.878 --> 00:21:33.648
  • First of all, if there is no resurrection,
  • 00:21:33.648 --> 00:21:35.884
  • First of all, christ is not risen from the dead.
  • 00:21:35.884 --> 00:21:39.988
  • If there is no resurrection,
  • 00:21:39.988 --> 00:21:42.190
  • Then christ is not risen from the dead.
  • 00:21:42.190 --> 00:21:45.794
  • And that makes that very simple.
  • 00:21:45.794 --> 00:21:47.929
  • But not only that, secondly,
  • 00:21:47.929 --> 00:21:49.865
  • Preaching is useless.
  • 00:21:49.865 --> 00:21:52.167
  • Look at verse 14.
  • 00:21:52.167 --> 00:21:53.402
  • "and if christ has not been raised,
  • 00:21:53.402 --> 00:21:56.037
  • "then our preaching is in vain."
  • 00:21:56.037 --> 00:21:58.874
  • That is our preaching, the bible,
  • 00:21:58.874 --> 00:22:00.609
  • Is nothing more than a aesop fable
  • 00:22:00.609 --> 00:22:02.644
  • If, in fact, there is no resurrection of the dead.
  • 00:22:02.644 --> 00:22:06.314
  • If some of it can't be trusted, none of it can be trusted.
  • 00:22:06.314 --> 00:22:10.118
  • Everything we say in a sermon is in vain.
  • 00:22:10.118 --> 00:22:13.755
  • Thirdly, if there is no resurrection
  • 00:22:13.755 --> 00:22:16.691
  • And christ has not been raised from the dead,
  • 00:22:16.691 --> 00:22:19.194
  • Faith is meaningless.
  • 00:22:19.194 --> 00:22:20.996
  • Look again at verse 14,
  • 00:22:20.996 --> 00:22:22.631
  • "and if christ has not been raised,
  • 00:22:22.631 --> 00:22:24.866
  • "then our preaching is vain,
  • 00:22:24.866 --> 00:22:27.369
  • "and your faith is also in vain."
  • 00:22:27.369 --> 00:22:32.607
  • That so-called faith you exercised
  • 00:22:33.341 --> 00:22:35.977
  • To become a christian that was just an emotion.
  • 00:22:35.977 --> 00:22:39.848
  • That faith that sustained you in a time of trial
  • 00:22:39.848 --> 00:22:42.717
  • In your life, that was just a sham.
  • 00:22:42.717 --> 00:22:45.754
  • That faith that gave you comfort in the loss of a loved one,
  • 00:22:45.754 --> 00:22:49.291
  • That was just your imagination.
  • 00:22:49.291 --> 00:22:51.593
  • Paul says, "if there is no resurrection,
  • 00:22:51.593 --> 00:22:55.096
  • "your faith is meaningless.
  • 00:22:55.096 --> 00:22:57.866
  • "it's in vain."
  • 00:22:57.866 --> 00:22:59.234
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:22:59.234 --> 00:23:04.473
  • There's more i want to share with you about what's at stake
  • 00:23:04.473 --> 00:23:07.342
  • If christ has not been raised from the dead,
  • 00:23:07.342 --> 00:23:10.412
  • And i'll do so when this message continues.
  • 00:23:10.412 --> 00:23:13.582
  • Well, december 31st is fast approaching,
  • 00:23:13.582 --> 00:23:16.651
  • And now is the time to respond
  • 00:23:16.651 --> 00:23:18.687
  • With your special year-end gift.
  • 00:23:18.687 --> 00:23:21.056
  • Today, i'm boldly inviting you
  • 00:23:21.056 --> 00:23:22.924
  • To illuminate the darkness of our day
  • 00:23:22.924 --> 00:23:25.494
  • With god's hope and truth by giving
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  • A generous gift to "pathway to victory".
  • 00:23:27.929 --> 00:23:30.866
  • Remember that right now because of the
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  • Light the darkness matching challenge,
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  • Every dollar you give
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  • Between now and december 31st will be matched,
  • 00:23:37.072 --> 00:23:40.375
  • And therefore automatically doubled in impact.
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  • Your gift will enable us to shine the light of god's word
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  • Through the most effective means available, including:
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  • Television, radio and digital streaming, and print media.
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  • Thank you so much for giving generously
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  • To "pathway to victory",
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  • And helping us light the darkness
  • 00:23:59.461 --> 00:24:01.162
  • With the eternal hope found in christ.
  • 00:24:01.162 --> 00:24:04.332
  • Now stay right there.
  • 00:24:04.332 --> 00:24:05.634
  • I'll be back with more "pathway to victory"
  • 00:24:05.634 --> 00:24:08.236
  • In just a moment.
  • 00:24:08.236 --> 00:24:09.905
  • (gentle music)
  • 00:24:09.905 --> 00:24:11.306
  • [announcer] the one thing god wants more than
  • 00:24:11.306 --> 00:24:13.074
  • Anything else in this world is time with you.
  • 00:24:13.074 --> 00:24:16.545
  • Make god your priority by spending quality time
  • 00:24:16.545 --> 00:24:19.314
  • In his word with the brand new 2025
  • 00:24:19.314 --> 00:24:21.850
  • "pathway to victory daily devotional".
  • 00:24:21.850 --> 00:24:24.085
  • This year's devotional,
  • 00:24:24.085 --> 00:24:25.320
  • Has a beautiful navy blue leather cover
  • 00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:27.155
  • With inlaid brown and gold foil accents.
  • 00:24:27.155 --> 00:24:29.558
  • And now with larger print,
  • 00:24:29.558 --> 00:24:30.926
  • The 260 practical insights
  • 00:24:30.926 --> 00:24:32.961
  • From dr. robert jeffress are easier to read.
  • 00:24:32.961 --> 00:24:35.664
  • This stunning 532 page devotional
  • 00:24:35.664 --> 00:24:38.300
  • Makes an ideal christmas gift for loved ones
  • 00:24:38.300 --> 00:24:40.502
  • Who want to grow in their faith too.
  • 00:24:40.502 --> 00:24:42.537
  • Of all the ways god could've revealed himself to us,
  • 00:24:42.537 --> 00:24:45.974
  • He chose to do it through the written word.
  • 00:24:45.974 --> 00:24:48.977
  • And that's why it's so important for you
  • 00:24:48.977 --> 00:24:50.812
  • And for me to set aside regular time
  • 00:24:50.812 --> 00:24:53.381
  • To read the word of god.
  • 00:24:53.381 --> 00:24:55.951
  • [announcer] every season carries an up lifting theme.
  • 00:24:55.951 --> 00:24:58.153
  • (bright exciting music)
  • 00:24:58.153 --> 00:24:59.654
  • Begin the new year by exploring god's will for your life.
  • 00:24:59.654 --> 00:25:02.223
  • In spring and summer, grow stronger in christ
  • 00:25:03.158 --> 00:25:05.460
  • With insights from colossians.
  • 00:25:05.460 --> 00:25:07.529
  • And in the fall and winter,
  • 00:25:07.529 --> 00:25:08.797
  • Embrace the father who loves you
  • 00:25:08.797 --> 00:25:10.699
  • With inspirations readings based on
  • 00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:12.534
  • "the parable of the prodigal son".
  • 00:25:12.534 --> 00:25:15.303
  • When the day-to-day problems of life feel overwhelming,
  • 00:25:15.303 --> 00:25:18.306
  • Take a moment to anchor yourself in the calming truth
  • 00:25:18.306 --> 00:25:20.942
  • Of god's word with the brand new 2025
  • 00:25:20.942 --> 00:25:23.612
  • "pathway to victory daily devotional".
  • 00:25:23.612 --> 00:25:26.414
  • Your gift of support not only provides
  • 00:25:26.414 --> 00:25:28.450
  • You with this life-giving resource,
  • 00:25:28.450 --> 00:25:30.418
  • It empowers us to spread the hope-filled message
  • 00:25:30.418 --> 00:25:33.154
  • Of jesus christ as well.
  • 00:25:33.154 --> 00:25:35.090
  • Thank you for supporting
  • 00:25:35.090 --> 00:25:36.391
  • The ministry of "pathway to victory".
  • 00:25:36.391 --> 00:25:40.829
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:25:41.162 --> 00:25:42.497
  • The evidence of scripture,
  • 00:25:42.497 --> 00:25:44.132
  • The evidence of eyewitnesses
  • 00:25:44.132 --> 00:25:45.700
  • It all point to one truth.
  • 00:25:45.700 --> 00:25:48.169
  • Jesus christ really did rise from the dead,
  • 00:25:48.169 --> 00:25:51.373
  • Not just in spirit but in bodily form as well,
  • 00:25:51.373 --> 00:25:55.076
  • And that is the good news for us today.
  • 00:25:55.076 --> 00:25:57.746
  • Because if the resurrection is false,
  • 00:25:57.746 --> 00:26:00.382
  • Then all christianity falls apart.
  • 00:26:00.382 --> 00:26:03.351
  • Our faith becomes meaningless.
  • 00:26:03.351 --> 00:26:05.820
  • And next time we'll continue looking at what's at stake
  • 00:26:05.820 --> 00:26:08.990
  • If jesus did not actually conquer death.
  • 00:26:08.990 --> 00:26:12.594
  • Stay tuned for a preview of what's coming up next
  • 00:26:12.594 --> 00:26:15.063
  • In our series "the incomparable christ".
  • 00:26:15.063 --> 00:26:19.100
  • Nobody willingly dies for something
  • 00:26:19.100 --> 00:26:21.970
  • That they know is absolutely false
  • 00:26:21.970 --> 00:26:24.506
  • And certainly not these apostles.
  • 00:26:24.506 --> 00:26:26.975
  • I mean, they were cowards
  • 00:26:26.975 --> 00:26:28.710
  • Three days before the resurrection.
  • 00:26:28.710 --> 00:26:30.745
  • They had deserted jesus like rats off a sinking ship.
  • 00:26:30.745 --> 00:26:34.416
  • But then suddenly they were transformed by something
  • 00:26:34.416 --> 00:26:37.719
  • That gave them the courage to die for their faith.
  • 00:26:37.719 --> 00:26:39.988
  • What was that something?
  • 00:26:39.988 --> 00:26:41.389
  • They had seen the resurrection of jesus christ.
  • 00:26:41.389 --> 00:26:44.759
  • [announcer] set your dvr,
  • 00:26:45.326 --> 00:26:46.695
  • And join us next time for part two of the message
  • 00:26:46.695 --> 00:26:49.030
  • "if christ has not been raised"
  • 00:26:49.030 --> 00:26:51.299
  • Here on "pathway to victory!"
  • 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:52.567
  • ♪ music ♪
  • 00:26:52.567 --> 00:26:55.904
  • Picture yourself relaxing aboard a luxury cruise ship
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  • Or exploring the ancient ruins of ephesus.
  • 00:26:59.340 --> 00:27:02.143
  • You can experience all this on the 2025
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  • Pathway to victory journeys of paul mediterranean cruise.
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  • Together we'll study god's word in the very places
  • 00:27:08.883 --> 00:27:11.753
  • It was written all amidst the beauty of god's creation.
  • 00:27:11.753 --> 00:27:15.957
  • [announcer] to book your spot on the 2025
  • 00:27:15.957 --> 00:27:18.159
  • Journeys of paul mediterranean cruise
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  • Call 888-280-6747,
  • 00:27:20.295 --> 00:27:23.698
  • Or go to ptv.org.
  • 00:27:23.698 --> 00:27:23.698