Snellville Church of Christ: Online Resources

Foundations of Faith
An online correspondence course
Lesson 30: The Resurrection of the Dead

One of the great phenomena of history occurred a few weeks after the death of Jesus Christ at Calvary. When he was crucified his disciples were disillusioned. One had betrayed him into the hands of his enemies. The rest had forsaken him at his trial. When he was buried it was by the hands of others than his apostles. Apparently they had lost all hope because their Master had been taken away. Yet these same men, who shortly before were utterly discouraged, just fifty days later preached the gospel on the day of Pentecost with astounding success. In the months and years that followed they spread the teachings of the Galilean throughout the world with a rapidity unequaled in history. Eventually, if tradition may be relied upon, they all died as martyrs, except for John, the beloved apostle.

How shall we account for the amazing transformation of these men? What changed dejection into a burning zeal that knew no bounds? There is but one explanation -- the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Between the time of his death and Pentecost they had beheld in the flesh the one whom they had seen die on the cross.

The importance of the resurrection cannot be stressed too highly. Man has always been concerned about it. Job asked, "If a man die, shall he live again?" (Job 14:14.) The Pharisees and Sadducees of the time of Jesus were divided over the matter. The Pharisees contended for the resurrection, the Sadducees denied it. Our whole philosophy of life necessarily revolves around what we think of life after death. Paul believed in the resurrection, but he declared, "If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we die." (1 Cor. 15:32.) He summed the matter up correctly: If there is no hereafter, we might as well give ourselves over to enjoying life in the most carnal way. If there is a life after death, then preparation for that should be our primary concern.

The doctrine of the resurrection is in the realm of faith. It is not possible to demonstrate it scientifically. By the same token, it cannot be scientifically disproved. There are thousands of things which are not provable by science which we accept without question. Why? Because of the testimony of others. We cannot prove by science that Julius Caesar ever lived. Yet this is accepted as an unquestioned fact because of historical records that have come down to us. In the same way, we have abundant testimony of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from eye witnesses. Our faith, therefore, rests upon a firm foundation, not mere speculation.

THE RESURRECTION IS PLAUSIBLE. In support of the doctrine of the resurrection, Paul draws an argument from things familiar to every tiller of the soil. "But some man will say, How are the dead raised up and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened (made alive), except it die: and that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain; but God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body." (1 Cor. 15:35-38.) Whenever a seed is planted, it dies in producing a new plant. In order for there to be new life, there must first be death. Paul's reasoning is that if we die a physical death, it is possible for that death to produce a new life even as a seed produces a new plant as it dies.

EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION. Jesus Christ taught the doctrine of the resurrection. Of himself he declared, "Behold we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again." (Matt. 20:18, 19.) Of others he said, "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28, 29.)

Not only did Jesus teach the resurrection, but he proved it possible by himself arising from the grave. Since he arose it proves that his teachings relating to the resurrection are correct and that we also may arise one day. It is impossible to separate the resurrection of Christ from our future resurrection. Their connection is made clear by Paul when he says, "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is Christ not raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins." (1 Cor. 15:12-17.) It follows, then, that the resurrection of Jesus and our resurrection stand or fall together. If the former can be proved from adequate testimony, the possibility of the latter is established.

WERE THERE SUFFICIENT WITNESSES TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS? The resurrection of Christ has been called the best proved fact of ancient history. We know that he appeared to the following people between his resurrection and ascension: (1) Mary Magdalene -- John 20:11-17, (2) some women -- Matthew 28:1-10, (3) Peter -- 1 Corinthians 15:5, (4) Cleopas and a companion -- Luke 24:13-35, (5) all the apostles except Thomas -- John 20:19-25, (6) all the apostles including Thomas -- John 20:26-29, (7) seven disciples at the Sea of Tiberias (Galilee) -- John 21:1-24, (8) all the apostles on a mountain in Galilee -- Matthew 28:16-20, (9) five hundred disciples at once -- 1 Corinthians 15:6, (10) James -- 1 Corinthians 15:7, and (11) all the apostles at the ascension -- Acts 1:1-11. These people testified that they had seen Jesus. Therefore the number of witnesses is sufficient to establish the resurrection of Christ. Let us notice two other pertinent questions regarding their testimony.

WERE THEY COMPETENT? If it could be shown that the witnesses were neurotic or mentally incapable it could be argued that their testimony is unreliable. But the gospel narratives establish that neither of these suppositions is true. Thomas, for example, was extremely hard to convince. He refused to believe that Jesus had arisen, even when ten other men declared that they had seen him. But when he saw him with his own eyes, he believed. The gospel records show these witnesses to be dispassionate and not likely subjects of hallucinations. That they were of high mentality is demonstrated in the writings of the New Testament, several of the writers of which were witnesses to the resurrection. These books are not the babbling of incompetent or deranged minds as even the disbelievers in the resurrection must admit. Therefore, they were competent.

WERE THEY HONEST? If it could be shown that the witnesses were deceivers, the resurrection story could be discredited. Four reasons which might prompt a witness to testify falsely are fear, avarice, ambition, and pride. Fear could not have been the motive as their declaration of the resurrection only endangered their own lives. Desire for gain did not prompt a lying testimony since preaching Jesus could not benefit them materially. In fact, the opposite was true. And certainly ambition and pride were not motives since their teaching of Christ only resulted in their being ostracized by their own people.

Furthermore, their honesty in their writings is demonstrated by their relating matters to their own discredit, such as the apostles forsaking Jesus. And perhaps above all is the fact that they suffered immeasurably for what they believed. They were willing to die rather than renounce Christ. Only an honest man will die for what he teaches. Therefore, the testimony must be accepted since (1) there were sufficient witnesses, (2) they were competent, and (3) they were honest.

The proof of our future resurrection depends upon the promise of Jesus that we will arise from the grave. Since his own resurrection has been established, we may accept his promise as trustworthy.

NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION. There are things relating to the resurrection which we do not understand. However, of some things we may be certain. We will arise from the grave when Christ returns again. "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thess. 4:15-17.) We know that the unrighteous will also be resurrected at the same time. "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation." (John 5:28, 29.) While both the righteous and the unrighteous will arise at the same time, their fate will be vastly different.

We also know that in the resurrection we will possess a body, but not a physical one. "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." (1 Cor. 15:50.) We will have a spiritual body. "It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body." (1 Cor. 15:44.) We do not know exactly what this will be like, but we are assured, "Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2.) Our spiritual bodies, therefore, will resemble that of Jesus Christ.

Our resurrection will signal the defeat of the last enemy -- death. This is beautifully expressed by Paul when he avows, "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Cor. 15:54-57.)

SEARCHING THE SCRIPTURES

The 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians is the great resurrection chapter. Read it and fill in the blanks:

1. Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day.
2. The number of appearances of Christ mentioned by Paul is six.
3. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ did not rise.
4. The last enemy to be destroyed at the resurrection is death.
5. In death, man is sown in corruption, but is raised in incorruption, he is sown in dishonor, but is raised in glory, he is sown a natural body, but is raised a spiritual body.
6. While today we bear the image of the earthy, in the resurrection we shall bear the image of the heavenly.
7. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.
8. We shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye.
9. The sting of death is sin.

True or false:

F		1. When Jesus was crucified, the disciples were not discouraged.
F		2. The resurrection can be scientifically proved.
T		3. When a seed is planted, it dies in producing a new plant.
T		4. If Christ has not been raised we are still in our sins.
F		5. Christ made no more than eight appearances between his resurrection and ascension.
F		6. The witnesses to the resurrection were extremely neurotic.
T		7. Four motives which lead men to give false testimony are fear, avarice, ambition, and pride.
T		8. Their willingness to die rather than renounce their faith demonstrates the honesty of the New Testament writers.
F		9. The dead will be resurrected before Christ returns.
T		10. The righteous and unrighteous will be resurrected at the same time.

Read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20, 21 and answer the questions:

Luke	1. In which gospel is Cleopas mentioned?
the gardener	2. When Mary Magdalene first saw Jesus, who did she suppose he was?
"My Lord and my God"	3. What did Thomas say when he saw Jesus?
angel of the Lord	4. Who rolled the stone away from the door of the tomb?
soldiers or guards or watch	5. What men were paid money to say that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus?
a spirit	6. What did the disciples at first suppose they saw when Jesus suddenly stood in their midst?
fishing	7. What were the seven disciples doing when Jesus appeared to them at the Sea of Tiberias?
Mark	8. Which gospel specifically states that Jesus arose on the first day of the week?

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