(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/no-bath2 NULL.png)

Jesus was the greatest teacher of all time. His methods of teaching were so effective because He was able to use simple real-life common activities and events to explain profound and complex theological truths. In the last hours of His life during the Last Supper, Jesus rose to wash his disciples’ feet (John 13:1-17). This was an incredible act of love as the worthy one served the unworthy ones. During this act of service Jesus explains to Peter the great truths of salvation in a way that even children can understand.

Jesus Came to Serve by Washing Us!
At first Peter was hesitant to allow Jesus to serve him. Maybe it was out of humility that Peter refused, but more likely it was a result of Peter’s pride. Certainly, Peter understood that Jesus was the Son of God. When asked by Jesus, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter said clearly, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matthew 16:16). Peter understood clearly that Jesus was no mere man and that he was a “sinful man” (Luke 5:8). When it came time for Jesus to wash his feet, Peter knew that this was a task reserved for slaves and he quickly opposed Jesus. But Peter did not rightly understand what the Son of Man came to do. Jesus humbled himself and took on human flesh in order that He might serve His people (Philippians 2:6-8). He laid aside His divine rights as He left heaven and came to serve and “give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Jesus was clearly illustrating not with words but with actions that He must serve them (John 10:11).

And the service that Jesus came to do was to “wash us.” The work of Jesus on the cross was a service of cleansing, not from dirt and grime, but from the filth of sin. When Peter opposed Jesus, Jesus made it very clear to Peter and all of us the consequences of rejecting His ministry. Jesus said, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me” (Jn 13:8). Jesus uses the physical washing to illustrate a spiritual truth. Rejecting Jesus’ ministry of cleansing is an outright rejection of Christ. Jesus is saying clearly that there is no other way to be saved. Jesus has the exclusive rights of spiritual cleansing. There is no other way to be cleansed. In fact you cannot even wash yourself! So many people are trying to clean up their own lives by the way the live. It is impossible to do so! There has to be a cleansing that comes from outside of us. Only the work of Christ is capable of washing away our sin (Hebrews 10:4, 10-14).

Many Will Refuse to be Washed
Sadly, most will not allow Jesus to wash them because of the pride in their hearts. It is a humiliating thing to have to admit that washing is needed. But because we are sinners and live in this filthy world, we need someone to wash us. Salvation is available only to those who are humble enough to cry out for mercy and ask Jesus to wash them (Luke 18:9-14).

Good News: Believers Only Need One Bath
When Jesus chided Peter, Peter responded with a willing heart, but with a misinformed mind. Peter tells Jesus not just to wash his feet, but also his hands and his head (v. 9) indicating that he had not fully understood the work of salvation. Jesus clears up the issue by telling Peter the wonderful good news that true believers don’t need a second bath. He says to Peter, “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” It is certain that Peter didn’t understand the full implication of what Jesus was telling him. But in short, Jesus was saying that Peter had already been saved. And once he was saved there was no need for further bathing. The bath of salvation for true believers is a one-time event, never to be repeated again.

Understanding Regeneration & Justification
Jesus is explaining, in parable form, the doctrine of regeneration and justification. When a sinner puts his faith in Christ, he experiences the “washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom [God] poured out on us rightly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:5). In a word, the first bath Christians ever have is the bath of being “born again.” And as a result, God justifies us, not by our works but by our faith (Romans 5:1). So, when Jesus tells Peter that he and the other disciples (except for Judas) are “completely clean” He is assuring them of their salvation. This event would never take place again! It was complete and finished.

Eternal Security
Can you imagine Jesus telling you that you are completely clean? This is a phenomenal statement that describes eternal security. Jesus knew that Peter was going to deny Him three times in just a few hours. Jesus knew that all of the other disciples were going to abandon Him in His greatest hour. Jesus knew that Thomas was going to doubt His resurrection. And yet, Jesus gives them all this wonderful affirmation that they had been cleansed. This cleansing was not based upon their work, but the work of Christ. He had chosen them and they were His sheep and no one could pluck them out of His hand (Jn 10:27-30). He promised to raise them up on the last day (Jn 6:39-40). Being “washed” by Jesus guarantees a person’s eternal destiny.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/dirty-feet NULL.jpg)Continual Feet Washing: Ongoing Sanctification
Jesus continues to teach the disciples and us that though we are clean (justification) there is still an ongoing daily cleansing (sanctification) that is necessary. Jesus tells Peter, “the one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet” (v. 10). In the days of Jesus, people wore open toed sandals and their feet were continually in need of washing especially when a house was entered. Their bodies were clean but their feet needed cleansing on a regular basis. While justification is a one-time event never to happen again for the believer, the process of sanctification is an ongoing lifetime process that never ends until the believer reaches heaven.

Washing our feet daily is not necessary to maintain our legal standing with God, but it is necessary to maintain our fellowship with God. Once we are adopted into the family of God there is nothing that can change our position. Once we are children of God we will never be lost. But as children of God we should desire to remain faithful and holy to the Lord. Inevitably, whether intentionally or accidentally, we are going to get our feet dirty with sin from this world. In order to have our feet washed we must “confess our sins” knowing that “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). This is the prayer of daily cleansing (NOT a prayer to be saved all over again). Jesus teaches us in the Lord’s Prayer that we are to ask God to “give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:12). This is not a daily prayer for justification, but a daily prayer for sanctification. We must make daily cleansing a routine practice in our lives, confessing our sins daily so that we will not grieve or quench the Holy Spirit (Eph 4:30, 1 Thess 5:19)

Great Comfort
When we understand the simple teaching of Jesus it ought to bring us incredible comfort. As believers we have been completely washed, but this does not mean that we will be without sin (1 Jn 1:8). If we have been washed we will continually battle against becoming dirty. Having been washed we will desire to strive toward holiness. In fact, the mark of a true Christian is that they do not continue to practice sin (1 Jn 3:9-10). But when we do sin, we can be comforted to know that we have been washed and nothing can change our position. This should motivate us to strive to keep our feet as clean as possible in this world as we march toward Zion, the beautiful city of God.

 

Growing up in our Wednesday night program at the First Baptist Church in Guymon, Oklahoma, I was an “RA” or “Royal Ambassador” from grades 1-6. The program was our children’s discipleship program and I can still quote our motto to this day. The motto goes like this: (http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/RA-logo NULL.jpg)

“As a Royal Ambassador I will do my best to become a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ, to have a Christ-like concern for all people, to learn how to carry the message of Christ around the world, to work with others in sharing Christ and to keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body.”

This vision comes directly from what the Apostle Paul teaches that every true believer has be entrusted with the “message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). When anyone is saved and reconciled to God, they are no longer citizens of this world, but children of the Kingdom of light (Col 1:13), and citizens of heaven (Phil 3:20). As a result, God makes us ambassadors. This is a great word which describes our new position in this world. An ambassador is “an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country.” Since our new home is in heaven, we actually currently live in a foreign land that is not our home (Heb 11:16). God leaves us here to be His official representatives and spokesmen.

Our Hearts Must be Right
Living like an ambassador requires having our hearts in the right place. If we were all honest this is a major battle within us. We must change the way we think about this life we live here and now. We typically want to do what we want to do, go where we want to go, eat what we want to eat…..you get the idea. But as ambassadors we are no longer our own. The struggle is that we want to live as though we are the king of our own lives. We want to live as though this world is our own little kingdom. But as believers we are not the king of our own lives, but are sent here to honor the true King of Kings, who bought us with His own blood. We are called daily to “set our minds on things above” (Col 3:1). We must keep the right mindset or we will tragically live like this world is our home.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/ambassadors-quote2 NULL.png)Giving up Trinkets for Real Treasure
As ambassadors we understand that we are going to give up much in this life. But having the right mindset will help us! We look around and see all of the nice things that this life offers, and we struggle. But we must remember that these things are nothing but trinkets compared to the treasure that is awaiting us in heaven. We have an imperishable inheritance that is being stored up for us (1 Peter 1:4). As ambassadors then, we must live life loosely on this earth. We must remember that the pleasures of this world are simply trinkets compared to what is waiting for us in heaven. We must strive not to “love this world or the things in the world” (1 Jn 2:15). It doesn’t mean that we don’t enjoy our time here and the blessings God has given us. But it does mean that we keep the right perspective and remember that we are just passing through, and that the King is going to come back and get us and take us to be with Him in a mansion that He has built for us (John 14:1-4).

Representing the King
Furthermore, being an ambassador means that we actually represent the one who sent us. The way we conduct our time in the foreign land reflects upon our home country and King. There are rumblings (https://www NULL.dailywire NULL.com/news/45035/calls-grow-remove-obamas-us-ambassador-ukraine-ryan-saavedra) that the current US ambassador to the Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch, may be removed from her post for dishonoring the current administration with her words. The lives and words of ambassadors are important and reflect those who sent them. In the same way we are to live our lives in a way that honors our King Jesus. As the motto of RAs says, we must strive to “keep myself clean and healthy in mind and body” for the sake of bringing glory to our Lord (1 Cor 10:31).

But Most Importantly
But more than anything, as ambassadors we are called to speak on behalf of the one who sent us. Paul makes this clear when He says that God is actually “making his appeal through us” (2 Cor 5:20). It isn’t enough simply to live a good holy life for the King in the foreign land. We are also called to promote His agenda, advance His directives, speak loudly His message to the people around us. This means that we must know the message well. No good ambassador is ignorant of the agenda. And the agenda is clearly stated that we are left in order that we might “implore [everyone] on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.”

We have been entrusted with the ministry of reconciliation, namely that God is reconciling the world through His Son Jesus Christ. Every human being is at enmity with God because of their sinful nature. But through the blood of Jesus alone, that broken relationship can be reconciled whereby God can now call sinners his friends (Jn 14:15, Rom 5:7-8). Christ died so that sinners could be made “new creations” and not have their “trespasses counted against them.” Why would we hoard or hide the message? We must speak it on a regular basis to all who come into our path.

Are You a Good Ambassador?
To live as the best ambassador for Christ we must quit compartmentalizing our lives. We must consider ourselves as incarnational, that is that we are “little Christs” walking on this earth. We must represent Him and speak on His behalf every chance we get. We never take a break or a vacation. Since we have been entrusted with the “good news” of reconciliation, we must continually be looking for opportunities to speak with those in this foreign land, never forgetting our mission. Every moment we live and move should be to represent the King not only in deed, but most importantly in word!

Are you a Royal Ambassador? Are you doing your best to be a well-informed, responsible follower of Christ? Do you have a Christ-like concern for all people? Are you learning how to carry the message of Christ wherever you go? Are you keeping yourself clean and healthy in mind and body?

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/joseph-d-mello-618929-unsplash-e1537997446881 NULL.jpg)A young woman came into my office several years ago and conveyed to me that she had never been a part of a healthy church. Her father was a pastor and was mistreated and disrespected. She saw “church people” act very self-centered. She had come to the place where she never wanted to go to church again. She had never experienced strong biblical loving leadership and a congregation that honored and respected their pastors. Unhealthy churches can not only be stressful and unpleasant, but worst of all they dishonor the Lord and give a bad witness to the world. The Apostle Paul closes his letter to the Thessalonians and gives them instructions on how to cultivate a healthy church. His first and primary concern was to describe the expectations and responsibilities of how a pastor is to relate to the congregation and how the congregation is to relate to the pastors. Paul writes:

“We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)

The Shepherd’s Responsibility
The Shepherd Pastor is called by God to care for the sheep of the congregation. He has three responsibilities in his calling. He is responsible to 1) labor, 2) oversee, and 3) admonish the congregation.

Labor: The pastors and elder leaders of the church are called to labor diligently. The word here for labor describes great effort and exertion to the point of sweat and exhaustion. Contrary to what some jokingly say, the pastor must work more than “one day a week.” He is responsible for preaching, teaching, caring, admonishing, counseling and so much more. The pastor has a high calling to diligently minister in the church and work hard (acts 20:18-20). Every pastor must have a servant’s heart ready to pour out his life night and day for the sake of the Gospel (1 Thess 2:9).

Oversee: The pastors and elders also have the responsibility to oversee the congregation and the ministry. Paul says they are “over you in the Lord.” The New American Standard translates that phrase “have charge over.” According to God’s design, the pastor has authority in the church to preside, lead or direct the ministries in the way he sees will best accomplish the mission of the church. This does not mean he can do whatever he wants or fulfill his every preference. But the pastors and elders stand in the place of the Good Shepherd and must act as faithful representatives. This is what it means to be over others “in the Lord.” The authority of the pastor is not self-proclaimed. He only has the authority to lead as the Word of God directs.

Admonish: Shepherds are also called to admonish, or give instruction, to the congregation. This instruction is given for the purpose of correcting, and sometimes warning people (Tit 1:9). It is not popular today, but the pastor must speak directly and frankly with those in his congregation. Since he loves his congregation, he should admonish them to follow the Lord wholeheartedly. He must speak “thus sayeth the Lord” and if he is a good shepherd will always point his congregation back to the Word of God exhorting them not to obey him, but rather to obey the Lord.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/love-pastors NULL.png)The Sheep’s Responsibility
The sheep, or congregation, also have responsibilities in the church designed by God. They are called by God to relate to their pastors and elders in a particular manner that would bring honor to the Lord. They have three responsibilities toward their leaders: 1) respect their leaders, 2) esteem their leaders, and 3) submit to and be at peace with their leaders.

Respect: The congregation is called to understand clearly what God expects of their pastors and as a result they are to respect them. This means that they are to appreciate that God has given them a real human shepherd to watch over and care for their souls (Heb 13:17). Respect should extend to attitudes and words spoken. It is common for people to be unkind, critical, or indifferent toward their pastors. This is not honoring to the Lord.

Esteem: The sheep are also to “esteem them highly in love because of their work.” The congregation must have a loving attitude toward all their pastors. They must keep in mind what work they have been called to do. This might mean overlooking some of your pastors’ shortcomings (not sins). Pastors are not perfect and are also on the journey of sanctification, just like the congregation.

Submit & Be at Peace: The third responsibility of the congregation is to submit to and be at peace with church leaders. Since the pastors are “overseers” and have authority, the congregation must be willing to submit and be peaceable. Being peaceable with your leaders means that the congregation is quick to eliminate conflict, strife, and discord and promote harmony so that the church can be effective in fulfilling its mission.

Promoting a Healthy Church
We all desire to have a healthy church. An unhealthy church is a black eye to the glory of the Lord and brings shame on the Gospel. We can be sure that Satan desires more than anything to destroy the Church. He will attempt to put animosity between church leaders and the congregation. The responsibilities that God has given both to pastors and the congregation are difficult. Without the power of the Holy Spirit and much prayer, it would be impossible to accomplish our Lord’s directives. We must all be aware of what the Lord expects of each of us and encourage one another for the Lord’s sake. Let us pray that God would continue to keep our church healthy and strong. I’m thankful for such a wonderful congregation here at Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church who continually “highly esteems” their pastors and elders. Please pray for us as pastors and elders that we will be faithful to our calling. We will pray for you as well.

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/sunrise-1756274__340 NULL.jpg)There are many significant events in history that changed the world. Some of the most significant events might include major world wars & revolutions, the printing press, the industrial age, the reformation, discovery of medicine, and so many others. It is hard to contend that events like these have not had world-wide impact physically, economically, and socially. But the question at hand is what was the “most significant” event in all of world history. It is not difficult to determine this event. While the world has their long list of speculations, we know for certain that the most significant event in history was the day that Jesus Christ was “lifted up from the earth” (John 12:32). Many in the world would say that the death of Christ on the cross was an immediate defeat, not a victory. But when we hear directly from the lips of Jesus we understand that the cross was the very central and most significant event in all of world history. Jesus tells us three decisive victories in John 12:31-32 that would result from Him being lifted up.

“Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

The World is Judged
It is clear that Jesus came into the world to save the world and not judge the world (Jn 12:47). But something decisive was happening when Jesus was “lifted up.” The cross became the very event that would determine every person’s destiny. The cross became the main issue in every person’s life (whether they even know about it or not). What every person in the world believes about the cross determines their judgment. In a positive sense, those who receive Jesus will be forgiven through the atoning work of the cross. But in a negative sense, everyone in the world who rejects this atoning work will be judged and condemned. It is ironic that the world thought they were passing judgment on Christ by killing him. Quite the contrary! The cross was passing judgment on them. And the cross continues to draw a line in the sand even today. Every person who rejects the cross will ultimately be judged and condemned.

Satan is Cast Out
A second victory of the cross was that the ruler of this world will be “cast out.” This certainly speaks of Satan who is the god of this world (Eph 2:2, 6;12). We might think that the cross was a victory for Satan, but it was actually his defeat. And the result of this defeat was that Satan would be “cast out.” At first glance we might think that this casting out never occurred. We certainly know that our “adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is alive and well on planet earth. So, we must understand this casting out as something gradual, in stages. The first stage happened literally at the cross. Satan’s hold over this world was broken. Colossians 2:15 teaches us that Jesus on the cross “disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them.” In that first stage of casting out, Satan was disarmed, dethroned and disgraced. While he still currently has residual power, it is curtailed by the Holy Spirit (John 16:11). The next stage of casting out will be in the future when Satan is “cast out of heaven into the earth” (Rev 12:10). The next stage will occur when he will be cast into the bottomless pit (Rev 20:3). The final and ultimate stage of His casting out will be when Satan is cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where he will be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev 20:10). (A.W. Pink, Exposition of the Gospel of John, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing. Pg 681).

The People of Jesus are Drawn
The third and most glorious result of Jesus being lifted up is that He will “draw all people” to Himself. A dead savior could do nothing, so this certainly speaks of the work of the living and resurrected Christ. He personally will “draw” people unto Himself. Once crucified and resurrected Jesus would become a great attraction to many people.

A major question is, what did Jesus mean when He said “all people?” Certainly “all” doesn’t mean every person in the world. If this were true then we would all be universalists. The scope of the word “all” here is exactly the same as in John 6:45 when Jesus says, “And they will all be taught by God.” It is clearly a reference to the elect and is described in John 6:37, “All that the Father gives me will come to me.” Once Jesus is raised, He will begin calling those whom the Father has given Him and they will come to Him. His sheep will be drawn from two different folds, both from Israel and Gentile folds (John 10:16). When Jesus calls, they hear His voice and they follow Jesus (10:25-26) and He gives them eternal life. Jesus will irresistibly call out people from every nation and tribe and tongue! Just as Peter drew his net to the land with a great number of fish (Jn 21:11), so Jesus will draw his net through this world and bring God’s elect to the shore (Matthew 13:47-50).

If you have trusted Jesus Christ as your savior, then you are the recipient of this great promise. Do you remember when you were called? Do you remember when you were drawn by the Holy Spirit and shown your sinfulness and need of a Savior? Do you remember when you cried out to the Lord Jesus to save you? All of this happened as a result of Jesus being “lifted up.”

Our Work Continues
We should expect that the Church will grow as Jesus draws His sheep to Himself. Jesus intends to use us to reach His people (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). We must never cease from our work as long as it is daytime. The night is coming when no one will be able to work (John 9:4). Our work consists of two things: walking in the light (Jn 12: 35-36) and making disciples (Matt 28:18-20). Since we have been called we must live holy lives, pleasing to the one who called us and we must conduct ourselves with fear throughout the time of our exile on this earth (1 Peter 1:14-18). We must be focused on living lives that reflect the glory and goodness of our Savior (Titus 2:11-14). But we must also be concerned about the souls of the lost. We must compel others to come to Christ. It is not our work to “draw” them. Only Christ can do that work. But we must use the means Christ has given us, and that is faithful proclamation of the person and work of Jesus. We must never be ashamed of Christ. And we should expect to see the Church expand as we see the promise of Jesus fulfilled even in our day!

A paradox is a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement which upon further investigation is deemed to be true. The Bible is full of paradoxes (2 Cor 12:10, James 4:10) and Jesus often spoke in paradoxical language (Matt 23:11, Mark 9:35). He spoke in shocking language in order to emphasize the most important truths regarding spiritual things. The teaching method was designed by Jesus to stir the heart and the mind causing His listeners to think deeply and soberly and to give them an image that is not easily forgotten.

The Seed Principle:  Death Precedes Life
Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”  It shouldn’t surprise us that Jesus uses this agricultural image which would have been well known in a predominantly agrarian culture. Not only Jesus but the New Testament authors used the “seed” imagery many times (1 Cor 15:36-38, Mk 4:3-9, Mat 13:24-30).

Jesus oftentime began his most solemn teaching with the phrase, “truly, truly, I say to you” (Jn 1:51, 3:3,5,11, 5:19, 6:26, 14:12). This phrase indicated that the teaching of Jesus was of vital importance. And the important truth Jesus taught was modeled by the seed, namely that death is the necessary condition for the generation of life. Every seed planted in the ground must undergo decay in order to give birth to a plant. When a seed dies in the ground its shell is opened and new life comes forth producing many more seeds. It is amazing that a whole forest is wrapped up in one single seed. When the seed dies, it produces a tree, and the tree produces more seeds and more trees.

The First Seed to Die: Jesus on the Cross
(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/crucifixion NULL.jpg)This seed analogy was first applied to the Savior Himself. In this particular passage Jesus was teaching a group of Gentile Greeks who had traveled to Jerusalem to “see Jesus” (Jn 12:22) and to learn from Him. Jesus taught them that, “The hour [had] come for the Son of Man to be glorified.” It is possible that they had thought, like most Jews, that Jesus was going to be a physical deliverer and bring back Israel to a glorious state and particularly raise up a Kingdom on earth. But Jesus directly tells them that he came to be glorified and that glorification involved death, not coronation. The hour had finally arrived for Jesus to undergo death that would provide the necessary condition for the generation of life. J. C. Ryle explains it clearly,

“This sentence was primarily meant to teach the wondering Greeks the true nature of the Messiah’s kingdom… Our Lord would have them know that He came to carry a cross, and not to wear a crown. He came not to live a life of honour, ease, and magnificence, but to die a shameful and dishonoured death. The kingdom He came to set up was to begin with a crucifixion, and not with a coronation. Its glory was to take its rise not from victories won by the sword, and from accumulated treasure of gold and silver, but from the death of its King,” (J. C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels:  John, 3 vols. Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1999, 2:376)

And indeed, Jesus did go to the cross and die. And as a result, He was the “first fruit” of a great harvest (1 Cor 15:20). He died and was buried and then rose again! And all who follow Him will be His harvest, and the “much fruit” that He will bear!

Other Seeds Must Die: His Followers
Not only was Jesus to die, but His followers must also die. Shockingly Jesus says, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life” (v. 25).  Jesus actually uses two different forms of “life” here which helps us

distinguish what He is trying to teach. Those who love their psuche (life) in this world will forfeit eternal zoe (life) in the next world. Psuche refers to the human personality that thinks and plans for the future. This is what Jesus says must die. “The independent will of man must die, so that the follower of Christ actively submits his will to Christ” (James Boice, The Gospel of John, Grand Rapids:  Zondervan Publishing, 1985, 817). Unbelievers love their life to the point where they are unwilling to turn it over to another master. This kind of love of self is ultimate idolatry. But true believers in Christ are willing to “take up their cross daily” dying to self and giving themselves over to Christ’s Lordship (Matt 10:38).

Hating our life sounds extreme. But Jesus uses this hyperbolic language to show us a major contrast. Becoming a follower of Jesus means that in this world we are to love Christ and follow Him more than we love our own lives, to the point where it looks like we actually “hate” our own lives. In order to help us understand, Jesus tells us that hating our lives means we are willing to do two things. In v. 26 Jesus says, “If anyone serves me, he must follow me.”  Here is the essence of hating our own lives. Hating our own lives means that we serve Christ and follow Him. It means that we recognize that He is Lord. It means that we recognize that we are no longer the masters of our own lives, but are willing to submit and obey whatever Christ commands of us! It means that the Bible and God’s Word become the focus of our lives and we strive to obey it through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Hating our lives means that we no longer do what we want, but we now have an allegiance to do what Christ wants us to do!

Glorious Promises
Jesus gives two glorious promises to those who hate their life in this world by serving and following Christ (Jn 12:26). First, followers are guaranteed the eternal presence of Christ. Jesus promises “where I am, there will my servant be also.”  This promise includes being with Jesus eternally forever (Jn 14:3). Jesus is with the Father and all those who serve Him will also be with Christ and the Father in heaven forever. The second promise is that followers are guaranteed that “the Father will honor” them. God the Father will treat Christ’s followers with glory and delight and praise.

Keeping our Life
The world teaches that there is nothing after death, so we are to “eat, drink and be merry.” But this is farthest from the truth. The afterlife is coming for every person. Those who loved their life in this world by living for self will lose eternal life. But whoever serves and follows Christ will gain an eternal life full of joy (Ps 16:11).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/U-Turn NULL.jpeg)Apostasy means to “fall away.” Apostates are those who identify themselves with Christ and the Church and then subsequently renounce Christ. This falling away is not the loss of salvation, but the proof that these individuals were never truly converted. The greatest illustration of apostasy is the disciple Judas Iscariot. He spent three years under the care of Jesus, listening to the truth of Jesus’ words and seeing the miracles of Jesus firsthand. And yet, Judas having the devil in him (John 6:70) fell away from Christ showing a hatred toward him (Jn 12:4-6, 17:12). From an outward appearance Judas had all of the disciples fooled. One could argue that Judas was very trusted among the disciples being the one who was in charge of the moneybag of Jesus’ ministry. And yet Judas did not persevere in faith, but fell away ultimately rejecting the truth of Christ.

Clearer Understanding
While apostasy is illustrated clearly in Judas, it is adequately explained in Hebrews 6:4-8. The writer of Hebrews explains that apostates who have “fallen away” are people who were closely related to the Church. Apostates are those who particularly experienced the blessings of the church in a superficial way but not in a life changing manner. The writer of Hebrews says,

“For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.”

Five advantages or blessings are listed that this particular group of apostates experienced: 1) they had once been enlightened, 2) they had tasted the heavenly gift, 3) they had been partakers in the Holy Spirit, 4) they tasted the goodness of the word of God, and 5) they tasted of the powers of the age to come. It should be noted that the passage in Hebrews makes no reference at all to salvation. None of the normal terminology of salvation is used in this passage. Rather all of these descriptions are superficial at best. First, the apostate had been enlightened. This means that the individual came to a certain knowledge and had an intellectual perception of biblical truth. These individuals heard the Gospel and understood it naturally. They saw Christ and even heard his message (like Judas) and yet their lives were not permanently affected by the message because they did not believe it. Second, they only tasted of a heavenly gift. The gift is probably a reference to Christ himself (2 Cor 9:15) and the salvation that He brought (Eph 2:8). This gift was only tasted, but not feasted upon. It was only examined and then determined not to be worthy of ingesting and internalizing. Third, the apostate was only a partaker of the Holy Spirit. Partake has to do with association and not possession. These apostates never did possess the Holy Spirit but only shared with the congregation the joys and influences of the Holy Spirit. They never did receive a permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Fourth, the apostates only tasted the Word of God. They heard it and tasted it, but did not deem it worthy of ingesting. They may have tasted the word with enthusiasm and appreciation, but it did not taste good to them, so they stopped eating. Last, they also tasted the powers of the age to come. It is possible that these particular apostates had seen some of the very miracles of the Apostles and yet they still did not receive the truth. Their eyes marveled, but they did not receive and believe in the message of the Gospel.

Apostates are those who are closely related to the Church in a superficial way and have experienced some incredible advantages. But they never truly ingest and receive the truth of Jesus. They never have truly been converted and been anointed and receive the Holy Spirit. From an outward appearance these people seem to be attached to the Church which makes it difficult to discern their true spiritual condition. But after a period of time, their true colors and the true condition of their heart is revealed when they fall away (Mark 417). John the Apostle explains why some had left his congregation, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us” (1 John 2:19).

The Warnings from Scripture
Some have been very confused about the warnings particularly in the book of Hebrews. The writer continues to warn believers not to fall away, but to persevere in their faith. Some advocate that this proves that believers can lose their salvation. But this doesn’t square with the rest of Scripture. Scripture is clear that those who have been given eternal life are secure (Phil 1:6, Rom 8:30, John 10:26-30). So, then what is the purpose of these major warnings in the book of Hebrews (2:1-4, 4:11-16, 6:4-8, 10:26-31, 12:25-29)? These warning passages are used as a means to exhort true believers to continue in the faith! The Holy Spirit uses these warning passages to prompt and push believers to faithful living and godly living.

The Need for Perseverance
It is clear that every true believer will be preserved by the power and the promises of the Triune God (Jn 6:39, 44, 54, Rom 8:35, 37-39). But this does not exempt every true believer from their responsibility to persevere in faith throughout their lives. Scripture issues numerous calls to persevere in faith indicating that failure to persevere will result in a failure to lay hold of final salvation (Matt 10:22, 24:12-13, Jn 8:31, 2 Cor 11:26, Gal 2:4, Heb 3:14). And indeed, every true believer will persevere in faith and obedience. Scripture calls all those who profess faith in Christ to examine themselves (2 Cor 13:5, 2 Peter 1:10).

Scripture gives many different ways to determine whether or not we are truly believers. First, we have fellowship with God through the presence of the Holy Spirit in our hearts (1 Jn 1:3, 1 Jn 2:27, 4:13, Gal 5:22-23). Second, we have assurance of our salvation by answered prayer (1 Jn 5:14). Third we have assurance if we truly long for heaven (Phil 3:20). Fourth, we have assurance if we are able to discern between truth and error (1 John 4:1-3). Fifth, we have assurance if we are acutely aware of our own sinfulness and God’s holiness (1 John 1:8-10). Sixth, we have assurance if we see a decreasing pattern of sin in our life (1 Jn 3:9) and an increase in obedience (1 Jn 2:3). Seventh, we have assurance if we have a rejection of this world and its system that dominates life (1 Jn 2:15, James 4:4). Eighth, we have assurance if the world hates us (1 Jn 3:13). Ninth, we have assurance if we see an increase in love for our fellow brother and sister in Christ (1 Jn 3:10). (MacArthur & Mayhue, Biblical Doctrine. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2017, pg 649-653.) 

“Am I an Apostate?”
Some have become very concerned that they may be an apostate! Just to set the record straight, apostates are not typically concerned about this issue. Apostates, having hard hearts toward Christ and the Word of God, are typically not too worried about their spiritual condition. Apostates have comprehensively turned and rejected Christ and His Word. To be concerned about one’s condition is a good sign that the Holy Spirit is bringing about the necessary conviction of sin. If we encounter someone who may be struggling with assurance of salvation, we must point them back to the evidences above that gives us assurance.

The Need for the Community
Apostasy is real. It happens on a regular basis. This is why the writer of Hebrews says clearly, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering for he who promised is faithful. And, let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Heb 10:23-25). Coming together weekly to worship is a means of God’s grace in our lives to help us persevere to the very end.

 

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/Unbelief NULL.jpg)Inevitably all of us are going to come face to face with many people who do not believe in God, nor in Jesus Christ and His Gospel! Some people may be hostile toward the Gospel, while others are simply passively indifferent. Regardless of their emotional stance, both kinds of unbelievers are in the most dangerous position possible, having their souls in danger of being lost and separated from God for all eternity. It is tremendously helpful to think theologically about unbelief and why unbelievers are in their present state. Considering this topic should produce worship and gratitude for us who have believed, realizing the mercy of God on our lives. Furthermore, it should equip us in understanding how to evangelize those who are in a state of unbelief.

Foundational Theology of Unbelief
Even when the evidence is clear many people do not believe. This is clearly illustrated in the Gospel of John after Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. Contrary to unbiblical thinking, belief is not the product of environmental conditioning, education, financial success, good parenting, etc. This becomes very clear when we allow the Bible to speak particularly about the spiritual condition of all of humanity.

The devastation of sin: Scripture teaches that every human being is born in sin (Ps 51:5, Rom 3:23, 5:12), and has a sinful nature that has tremendous ramifications. Sin has so tainted every person that their minds are darkened to spiritual truth to the point that they “are not able to understand” (1 Cor 2:14). Sin has so depraved every human being that they are driven by their own sinful desires. Everyone without Christ is governed by the “desires of the body and the mind” (Eph 2:3). Jesus made it clear when he said, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.” (John 3:19-20). The lost world who is still in their sin not only loves the darkness, but also hates the light. The Apostle Paul teaches that those lost in their sin are held by the “snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Tim 2:26). These are all devastating consequences of sin which give us the insight into why people do not believe. Unbelief is the product of the sin nature, the devil, and a love for sin!

The need for an outside intervention: To put it biblically, unbelievers are “dead in their sins and trespasses” (Eph 2:1). They cannot help themselves, nor are we as believers able to help them. We can and must preach the good news to them, but only God can open their heart (Ez 36:26-27, Acts 16:14) to receive Christ as Savior. They must have a direct help from God. He is the one who must “make them alive” (Eph 2:4). This is clearly illustrated in the life of the Apostle Paul. He was very religious and yet was hating Christ and killing followers of Christ. It wasn’t until Jesus Himself “called” him by name on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:4) that his eyes were opened and He came to faith in Christ. In the same way, Jesus calls those who are dead in their sins and they hear His voice and are made alive.

Expecting Conversions
We might become discouraged about the state of unbelievers, except that God has promised that the mission of Jesus will not be thwarted. Jesus came to the earth with a mission to save those “whom the Father has given Him” (Jn 6:37). Jesus knew clearly that His sheep would hear His voice and come and follow Him (Jn 10:27). In the same way we can have confidence that we will see unbelievers come to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We should expect to see God’s Kingdom being moved forward as the Church preaches the Gospel to an unbelieving world.

Response to Unbelief: Preach & Pray!
How should we respond to those who are in a state of unbelief? The most important thing to do is to have mercy upon all men and to live peaceably! When we understand the theological reasons for unbelief, this should move our hearts to have mercy upon all men. This mercy is shown best by extending love to them. We must continue to share the Gospel with them in a loving manner. Ultimately, we must pray for them, that God would soften their hearts and open their minds. And we must be ready and expect the Lord to use us to “plant & water” knowing that only God is the one who gives the “increase” (1 Cor 3:6-7). Here are several ways we should respond when we experience the rejection of unbelievers:

1. Expect hostility & rejection. (1 Pet 4:12)
2. Don’t fear. (1 Pet 3:14)
3. Love your enemies. (1 Pet 3:9)
4. Trust God. (1 Pet 4:19)
5. Be respectful. (1 Pet 3:15)
6. Be prepared to make a defense. (1 Pet 3:15)
7. Find comfort with your church family. (1 Pet 5:9)

Reflecting Back
When we think back to our own state of unbelief, it should cause us to be full of gratitude for God’s present mercy in our lives. If it were not for the grace & mercy of God, we would still be in an unbelieving state. Reflecting back should cause us to be the grandest of worshipers, giving praise to God for the incredible love that He has lavished on us (1 John 3:1, Romans 12:1).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/raising_of_lazarus__catacomb_of_sts_peter_and_marcellinus1359682854221 NULL.png)While Jesus raised two other dead people (Mark 5:35-43, Luke 7:11-17), the raising of Lazarus is certainly one of the greatest miracles recorded for us in Scripture. The man whom Jesus loved died in order that the glory of God may be revealed pointing to the deity of Christ (John 11:4). With just His voice, Jesus created life in a man who had been dead for four days! This seventh “sign” in the book of John is meant to compel everyone to believe in Him.

An Analogy of Salvation
But the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead also serves as a precise picture of salvation. Salvation is the sole work of God whereby He grants life to those who are dead in their sins. Unable to help themselves, sinners have no ability to grant themselves life. Instead, life is granted by the mercy of God. Salvation comes to those who are dead, when the powerful voice of Jesus calls them and they hear His voice (Jn 10:27-28) and Jesus grants them eternal life. Jesus alone has the ability to grant life. He alone is the resurrection and the life (Jn 11:25).

A Real Dead Man
It was very important for Lazarus to truly be dead. Jesus actually stayed two additional days where He was ministering so that there would be no doubt that Lazarus was truly dead (Jn 11:6). When the tomb was opened, Martha declared that surely there would have been a very strong odor, because Lazarus had been dead for four days.

In the same way, sinners are spiritually dead in their sins and trespasses (Eph 2:1). This has significant theological importance. Every sinner is born spiritually dead with no ability or power to make any significant contribution to their salvation. Just like Lazarus we could not see since we were blind (2 Cor 4:4), we could not understand spiritual things (1 Cor 2:14), we had no volition to do anything toward God (Romans 8:7). Sin had left us all totally depraved so that none of us sought after God or had any merit before God (Rom 3:10-18).

An Effectual Calling
Lazarus, being dead, was only revived when the powerful voice of Jesus called him out of the grave. This is certainly a beautiful illustration of what happens when sinners are saved. Salvation begins in eternity past in the sovereign election of God (Eph 1:4). But in time, salvation begins with a calling! This is a very technical term which describes the voice of God calling His sheep specifically (1 Cor 1:2, 9, 24, 26). This call comes through the preaching of the Word of God. When the Gospel is shared, those who are the sheep of Christ inevitably hear the voice of God. Jesus said clearly, “All that the Father gives me will come to me….Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me” (Jn 6:37, 45). This calling is an effectual calling. This means that those whom the Father calls will inevitably come to Christ. The powerful voice of Jesus does not fall on deaf ears! It was not possible for Lazarus to remain in the grave. When Jesus called Lazarus by name, he was made alive and walked out of the grave. A question that we might consider is, “Was it possible for Lazarus to remain in the grave?” And the answer to that question is an emphatic “No!” The reason is that the purpose and plan of Jesus cannot be thwarted. All who are His sheep “hear” His voice and come and follow Him!

Made Alive
Those who are called are also immediately awakened from the dead and “made alive” (Ephesians 2:5). Life was granted to Lazarus immediately. The power of Jesus recreated everything that Lazarus needed immediately: new blood, new muscles, new organs, a new brain and so much more. The same is true spiritually of those who are saved. When sinners are “born again” they are granted new hearts, opened eyes, a freed will, and an understanding mind. In a word, all new believers are “new creations” (2 Cor 5:17).

Promise of Future Resurrection
The resurrection of Lazarus was a foreshadowing of a future permanent resurrection. While Lazarus was not completely made perfect, the promise of Jesus is that all who have believed in Him will be made perfect in the future. We call this glorification. Not only Lazarus, but all who believe in Christ will be given perfect bodies, bodies that are powerful, perfect and everlasting. The Apostle Paul summarized this whole salvation process when he stated, “Those whom He predestined, He also called, and those whom He called He also justified, and those whom He justified He also glorified” (Romans 8:30).

Our Response
Just like Lazarus, every true believer was dead in the grave of sin and Jesus called them out by His mercy. Immediately Jesus told those around watching to unbind Lazarus from his grave clothes and let him go. Lazarus needed initial help to unbind himself from the clothes that bound him in death. But once he was set free, Lazarus was to live again for the glory of God. While not stated it is certain that Lazarus gave praise to God since He had no room for boasting (Eph 2:9). The only response we have to our salvation is praise to our sovereign savior who grants life. But also, just like Lazarus, we are to throw off our grave clothes and “live to the praise of His glory” (Eph 1:6, 12), since we are “God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10).

The story of the raising of Lazarus is also our story of salvation. Those who are true believers were dead, heard the voice of Jesus, were raised to life, and now strive to walk in a manner pleasing to the Lord.

PHOTO: The Good Shepherd Catacomb of Saints Peter and Marcellinus, Rome, showing Jesus raising Lazarus from his tomb.

 

 

There is no greater nor important celebration in the Church than the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection there is no Christianity. One of the most common questions asked is, “Who actually raised Jesus from the dead?” Scripture is clear that Jesus was raised not only by God the Father (Rom 6:4), but He also raised Himself from the dead (Jn 2:19, 10:18).

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Resurrection3 NULL.jpg)Impossible for Death to Hold Him
Peter said in his first sermon that “it was not possible for Jesus to be held by death” (Acts 2:24). It was impossible for Jesus to remain in the grave for three reasons. First, Jesus had the divine power of God to defeat death. Death was powerless to hold Him in the grave because Jesus truly was the “resurrection and the life” (Jn 11:25). Second, death could not hold Jesus because of the divine promise. Jesus promised the religious leaders, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn 2:18-22). Third, death could not hold him because of the divine purpose of God. It was the Father’s purpose that His Holy One not undergo decay! (MacArthur, Acts 1-12, pg 65)

Prophesied in the Old Testament
Over and over the Apostles validated their claim of the resurrection by quoting the prophecy made 1000 years earlier by King David in the Psalms. David, being a prophet, wrote in Psalm 16:8-11 very specific messianic prophesies concerning the resurrection of Jesus. Peter actually quotes this passage in his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost giving proof that the resurrection of the Messiah should have been expected. “For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption” (Acts 2:27). Peter makes it clear that this was not David speaking about himself, because David was actually buried in a grave and he was still there. But Jesus was raised up by God just as David prophesied.

Over 500 Witnesses
Furthermore, Jesus had appeared to all the Apostles and over 500 people in a period of 40 days (1 Cor 15:3-8). Being a witness of the resurrection was actually a requirement for being an Apostle (Acts 1:22). Jesus confirmed his defeat over death with His inner circle of disciples so that they could spread the good news to every corner of the earth.

Apostolic Witness
And the good news did spread. When the Holy Spirit was poured out on the small band of Jesus’ followers, they changed from being cowards to being bold in preaching. Peter stood up and preached in Jerusalem specifically about the resurrection of Christ. And the Church was birthed that day on the Day of Pentecost out of the Apostolic witness that “God raised Him up” (Acts 2:24, 32). Before Jesus ascended into heaven, he told the Apostles that they were going to be “witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (1:8). They were going to be witnesses of his resurrection to the whole world. And in fact, when you study the book of Acts you see this very thing! The one thing that mattered most to the Apostles was that indeed God raised Jesus from the dead. Peter told Jerusalem about God raising Jesus from the dead (2:24,32, 3:14-15, 26, 4:10, 33, 5:30). Peter preached to Caesarea namely that “God raised Him up on the third day” (10:39-40). Paul preached to both the Jews (13:29-30, 33, 34, 37) and the Gentiles (17:3, 18, 31) compelling them with the resurrection of Jesus. And Paul specifically preached to the Roman governing officials that Jesus had been raised from the dead (23:11, 24:21, 26:23).

Does it matter?
It truly does matter that God raised up Jesus! The resurrection of Christ proves that Jesus truly was the Messiah for which all of history was waiting. It proves that death had been defeated. It proves that God accepted Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. It proves that Christianity is the one true religion and that Jesus alone is able to save us from our sin.

Our Response
The Apostle Peter called all of his listeners that day in his first sermon to “repent and be baptized” (Acts 2:38). First our response should be inward. Inwardly we must repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. We must acknowledge that we are sinners in need of saving! We must acknowledge that Jesus alone is the Messiah, the one who came to die for our sins (1 Peter 2:24). Second, our response should be outward. Peter called all of the first century Jews to publicly identify with Jesus in baptism. We do not believe that baptism saves anyone. But it is important to publicly identify with Christ. Baptism is important for this very reason. It would have been very difficult for the first century Jews to abandon their former religion of Judaism and be publicly identified with Christ. And yet this is exactly what Peter called them to do.

God’s Promise
When we respond in this way, God promises to do two incredible things (Acts 2:38-39). First, He promises to forgive all of our sins. There is no sin too great for God to forgive. All of our sins can be forgiven by the blood of Jesus. The second promise for those who have responded appropriately is that they will receive the Holy Spirit, who will permanently indwell every true believer and thus they will be sealed forever as Children of God (Eph 1:11).

Our Witness
Just as the Apostles gave witness to the resurrection of Christ, so we are also commanded to go into all the world and tell others about the resurrected Christ. If we have been called, and forgiven and have received the Holy Spirit, we also have a mission just like the Apostles. We have not personally seen the resurrected Christ, but we have the word of the Apostles and Scripture which gives us authority to speak. Just as Jesus sent the Apostles, so He sends us into the world to tell the good news that “God raised Him Up!”

 

 

(http://aplaceforyou NULL.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Fact_Fake_News NULL.jpg)Our world is full of “fake news” or at least extremely “biased news” in both liberal and conservative camps. News reporters are always tempted to twist the facts in order to bolster their position and try to win a broad number of people to their side. Due to this widespread practice, many have become skeptics of any and all news. Sources are questioned and doubted as reliable.

It is no surprise that many have doubted the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is difficult enough to believe basic news, let alone supernatural events. For centuries skeptics considered the resurrection of Jesus a fictitious story that His followers fabricated. If this were true, it would be the death blow to Christianity. Even atheists agree that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central issue to Christianity. Without the resurrection of Christ, there is no Christianity.

The best way to determine whether an event is truly historical is to simply look at the evidence available and allow it to provide the best explanation for the events surrounding it. There are many evidences that point to the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus but following are three major proofs: the empty tomb, the resurrection appearances, and the explosion of the Church.

The Empty Tomb
It is interesting that the first witnesses of the empty tomb were women (Luke 24:1-12). In the Greco-Roman culture it should be noted that women were not particularly held in high esteem. In fact, a woman’s testimony wasn’t admissible in a trial and was only admissible in a Jewish court if two female witnesses were accessible. If the story of the resurrection was fabricated, the first eye witnesses would not have been women unless it were true.

When the disciples began preaching for the first time, they did so just a few days after the resurrection in the same city where Jesus died and was buried. It would have been foolish for them to preach about the resurrection if the claim could have been simply overturned by going to the tomb to find a body. Even the Jews hostile toward Christianity agreed that the tomb was empty, but fabricated the story that the disciples “stole the body” (Matt 28:11-15). To agree that the tomb was empty was not in their favor. And yet the enemies of Christ agreed that the body was gone.

The argument that the body of Jesus was stolen is easily refuted. The Jews or Romans had no motive to steal the body of Jesus. They both wanted to suppress Christianity not encourage it with an empty tomb. Furthermore, the disciples had no motive to steal the body. Preaching on the resurrection of Jesus only brought severe persecution, beatings, and even death. Why would they all endure severe persecution and even death for a lie? It is difficult to deny an empty tomb on historical grounds.

Resurrection Appearances
The second strand of mounting evidence is the resurrection appearances that Jesus made. According to scripture, the disciples had real experiences with the one whom they believed to be the resurrected Christ (John 20:19-29). The Apostle Paul records that both Peter and James along with over 500 others actually saw Christ alive (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Paul records a kind of creed that became popular, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time…”

Doubters will often say that the disciples were lying, or that they hallucinated, but these are really absurd arguments. Ten out of the twelve disciples actually died a martyr’s death for what they claimed. It is difficult to believe that they would have died for such a lie. Furthermore, hallucination is not an option because of the nature of the appearances. The disciples were able to touch the body of Jesus and eat with him. It might be feasible to say that one individual hallucinated, but it is difficult to believe that all twelve men actually were “seeing things” that were not real.

The Exploding Church
The third strand of evidence is the existence of the Christian Church. If the resurrection were a lie, the church would have died long ago. But it still remains the largest institution of any kind in human history. The church exploded immediately following the preaching of the disciples and continues to grow even today.

Does the resurrection of Jesus really matter?
Well indeed the resurrection of Christ does matter because every tenant of Christianity hinges on the resurrection. If the resurrection is not true, Christianity is a sham and an embarrassment. But since the resurrection is true, then the following are also true.

Jesus can be trusted
First, if the resurrection did not happen then Jesus is a liar. Jesus predicted his own resurrection several times in Scripture (Mark 8:31, Luke 9:22, Matthew 17:22). It is very difficult to trust a liar. If Jesus stayed in the tomb, it would be senseless to believe that He was truly divine as He claimed (John 8:58). The resurrection proves that Jesus is who He said He was, that His words are true, and that He can be trusted.

Our sins are forgiven
Second, if there is no resurrection then there is no forgiveness of sins. The Apostle Paul clearly states, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). The death of Christ on the cross was a penal substitution for those who would believe in Him. The resurrection proves that God the Father was pleased with the sacrifice that Jesus made on behalf of sinners. Had Jesus not been raised, then there could be no “justification” for sinners (Rom 4:25), faith in Christ would be vanity and every person would perish.

All other religions are false
Third, the unique resurrection of Jesus is what makes Christianity an exclusive religion. Everyone is looking for the right pathway to the truth. Sadly, the world considers there to be many paths to God. But this makes no sense in light of the resurrection. Since Jesus rose from the dead, then the absolute claim of Jesus eliminates all other claims. Jesus is the only leader who rose from the dead. All other religious leaders are still in their tombs which makes the exclusive claim of Jesus all the more important. We must accept the statement of Jesus when He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, except through me” (John 14:6). The evidence is clear. Jesus determines what is true and what is not true.

Believers can have hope
Last, since the resurrection is true, followers of Jesus are guaranteed real hope of eternal life for their future. Christ’s resurrection proves that Christ has power over death, man’s worst enemy, and that those who put their trust in Him will also one day be resurrected not to judgment but to eternal life (Jn 6:39-40). Since Jesus raised himself from the dead (Jn 10:17-18), He has the power to raise whomever He wills! We no longer have to fear death and judgment, but can rest in the promise and resurrection of Jesus our Savior.

We must believe
The resurrection of Jesus is reasonable to believe, but it is also necessary to be a Christian. The Apostle Paul says that in order for sinners to be saved they must “confess with their mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in their hearts that God raised him from the dead” (Rom 10:9). We must never doubt the resurrection of Christ.