Post by didymus on Oct 27, 2010 0:56:05 GMT -5
In recent days I have been involved in an on line discussion about Christmas. During the discussion, someone made the statement that the birth of Christ was the "greatest event in world history." Shortly, though, you will see that the resurrection of Christ is the greatest event in world history. If you would like to see the discussion about Christmas I am referring to, just click on to the following link:
www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/general-discussion/what-about-christmas/
Let's start with Romans 6.4,5 form the NKJV:
Through baptism into Christ, we are united with him in his death, then we are raised in newness of life in the likeness of his resurrection. Had Christ not raised from the dead, how could we be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection? If Christ had not raised from the dead, how could we walk in newness of life? Had Christ not raised from the dead, even if we were baptized into Christ, there would be no raising to new life in the likeness of his resurrection, for there would be no resurrection. And Jesus would have remained dead.
These are points Paul makes in I Corinthians 15. I will not reproduce the entire chapter here. But, if you read it, you will see that he makes some of the same points I made above.
Apparently Paul was dealing with those who claimed there was no resurrection. He says that Jesus "died for our sins according to the Scriptures," and that he was buried and raised the third day also according to the Scriptures. And then he gave evidence of the resurrection of Christ. He said the Jesus was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve, and then by 500 brethren at once. Then he said that Christ was also seen by him, probably referring to his Damascus Road experience.
Next he writes briefly about his about his ministry of which he labored abundantly.
Then he writes about the ramifications if Jesus had not raised from the dead. He said "our" preaching would be in vain, and "your faith is also in vain." If Christ be not risen then the apostles were false witness. If Christ be not risen than "then your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
Do you understand what the ramifications are today if Christ had not risen? Our faith is futile, and we are still in our sins. If Christ has not risen, we could not be risen into newness of life.
I don't believe there can be any doubt that the resurrection of Christ is the most important event in all history. Without it Jesus would have been yet another that came along with false claims of being the Messiah. And, Christianity, if it existed at all, would simply be yet another false religion in a world that is full of them.
As I said above, this grew out of a discussion about Christmas. And this is my answer to the claim that the birth of Christ is the greatest event in world history. But without the resurrection, Jesus would have been just another man who was born, lived, and died.
www.gracecentered.com/christian_forums/general-discussion/what-about-christmas/
THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST
[The Greatest Event In World History]
[The Greatest Event In World History]
Let's start with Romans 6.4,5 form the NKJV:
Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,
Through baptism into Christ, we are united with him in his death, then we are raised in newness of life in the likeness of his resurrection. Had Christ not raised from the dead, how could we be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection? If Christ had not raised from the dead, how could we walk in newness of life? Had Christ not raised from the dead, even if we were baptized into Christ, there would be no raising to new life in the likeness of his resurrection, for there would be no resurrection. And Jesus would have remained dead.
These are points Paul makes in I Corinthians 15. I will not reproduce the entire chapter here. But, if you read it, you will see that he makes some of the same points I made above.
Apparently Paul was dealing with those who claimed there was no resurrection. He says that Jesus "died for our sins according to the Scriptures," and that he was buried and raised the third day also according to the Scriptures. And then he gave evidence of the resurrection of Christ. He said the Jesus was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve, and then by 500 brethren at once. Then he said that Christ was also seen by him, probably referring to his Damascus Road experience.
Next he writes briefly about his about his ministry of which he labored abundantly.
Then he writes about the ramifications if Jesus had not raised from the dead. He said "our" preaching would be in vain, and "your faith is also in vain." If Christ be not risen then the apostles were false witness. If Christ be not risen than "then your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."
Do you understand what the ramifications are today if Christ had not risen? Our faith is futile, and we are still in our sins. If Christ has not risen, we could not be risen into newness of life.
I don't believe there can be any doubt that the resurrection of Christ is the most important event in all history. Without it Jesus would have been yet another that came along with false claims of being the Messiah. And, Christianity, if it existed at all, would simply be yet another false religion in a world that is full of them.
As I said above, this grew out of a discussion about Christmas. And this is my answer to the claim that the birth of Christ is the greatest event in world history. But without the resurrection, Jesus would have been just another man who was born, lived, and died.
