Not only did the apostles preach the resurrection to the Jews in Jerusalem, but Peter preached the message to the Gentiles in the house of Cornelius. He told the assembled household: “We are the witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead” (Acts 10:39,41).

Later, Paul reminded some who were doubting whether the bodies of the dead saints would be raised again, that in the Gospel which he preached; the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was the very center. He re-affirmed to the Corinthians the various appearances to the Apostles and even to five hundred disciples, and lastly to himself as one “born out of due season.” He was so certain that they unreservedly accepted the resurrection of Jesus that he argues that Jesus, in like manner will raise others by God’s power. He says: “As in Adam all die; in Christ shall all be made alive” (1Cor. 15:22).

Paul then makes the argument that Christianity is false if the Resurrection is false. “If Christ has not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we witnessed of God that He raised up Christ… If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain. You are yet in your sins” (1Cor. 15:14-17). Here is undeniable evidence that Paul preached as the Gospel that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1Cor. 15:3,4). Paul regarded the supernatural fact of the Resurrection of Christ was the chief proof of the truth of the deity of Christ, the Son of God.

What is the value for us today in viewing the evidence for Jesus being “the Christ” by his resurrection from the dead? It provides the approach we have for living the Christian life. With this fact being at the very center of our lives, God took the time to provide this proof for us as surely as He did the virgin birth of our Lord. In the resurrection we find consolation in the midst of despair. The resurrection is the pivotal point of the value of man’s redemption from sin that we might inherit eternal life through the one who died and arose from the dead to become the sacrifice for our sins and the example for our life beyond the grave.

The apostles preached the subject of the Resurrection with great power. In the early days of Christianity it was the great influence and motivating power that led many men and women from all walks of life to obedient faith. Even though the evidence of the Resurrection was challenged by man across the years, their efforts were unsuccessful because of the veracity of the original witnesses. They were accused of being frauds, but the alternatives of the accusations had the greater weight of evidence in the hearts of men for centuries. Very few living leaders today believe that these witnessed formed a confederation of evil and suffered and died for what they knew to be untrue. Such is contrary to human nature. The true test is to apply it to yourself.

-Gene A. Ellmore-