I Corinthians 15:14-19 – “if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.”

I Corinthians 15:3-4 “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.”

“when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.” (John 19:33,34) 1. Jesus died on a cross

“Pilate marveled that He was already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him if He had been dead for some time. 45 So when he found out from the centurion, he granted the body to Joseph.” (Mark 15:44,45) 1. Jesus died on the cross

2. He was buried in a sealed and guarded tomb (Matt. 27:62-65) “the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.”

1.Jesus died on the cross 2.He was buried in a guarded tomb 3.The tomb was found empty on the third day

“The fact that the body disappeared from the tomb is a matter of historical fact…” (Wilbur Smith)

The Jewish leaders and enemies of Jesus had no reason to take the body Matthew 27:62-66

The Jews had no purpose in stealing the body, but just the opposite! Acts 2: If the Jews had stolen the body, they could have easily produced it on Pentecost and contradicted the preaching of Peter!Acts 2: If the Jews had stolen the body, they could have easily produced it on Pentecost and contradicted the preaching of Peter!

The Romans had no purpose in stealing the body Any soldier negligent in his duty would have faced the death penalty (Acts 16:27).Any soldier negligent in his duty would have faced the death penalty (Acts 16:27). The Jewish leaders paid them a large sum of money for them to tell a lie. (Matthew 28:11-15The Jewish leaders paid them a large sum of money for them to tell a lie. (Matthew 28:11-15

The Disciples could not have stolen the body They could not have successfully gotten past the guards.They could not have successfully gotten past the guards. The Biblical text clearly indicates that the stone was removed before the disciples visited the tomb.The Biblical text clearly indicates that the stone was removed before the disciples visited the tomb.

They were not physically or psychologically able to do such:They were not physically or psychologically able to do such: They were in a state of shock & griefThey were in a state of shock & grief They were AFRAID! (John 20:19)They were AFRAID! (John 20:19) The Disciples could not have stolen the body

There is NO OTHER EXPLANATION for the empty tomb, except for the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead “according to the scriptures”.

1.Jesus died on the cross 2.He was buried in a sealed, guarded tomb 3.The tomb was found empty on the third day 4.Jesus appeared to many witnesses after His resurrection

I Corinthians 15:3-8 – “5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”

These were eyewitnesses!These were eyewitnesses! “to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs…” (Acts 1:3) “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” (Acts 2:32) “we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled…” (I John 1:3)

These were NOT Gullible men!These were NOT Gullible men! “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.…” (Luke 24:9-11)

These were NOT Gullible men!These were NOT Gullible men! “And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe. After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either. Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen..…” (Mark 16:10-14 )

These were NOT Gullible men!These were NOT Gullible men! “Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.…” (John 20:24-25 )

What would they have to gain by fabricating such a story?What would they have to gain by fabricating such a story? What was their motive in preaching such a message?What was their motive in preaching such a message? It costs them everything!It costs them everything! Would you die for a lie?Would you die for a lie?

“and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

 Confucius' tomb – OCCUPIED  Buddha's tomb – OCCUPIED  Mohammed's tomb - OCCUPIED  Jesus' tomb – EMPTY! Comparison of World Religions

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you - unless you believed in vain.” (I Cor. 15:1-4)

I Corinthians 15:13-19 CONSEQUENCES if Christ is not risen: Preaching is in vainPreaching is in vain Faith is in vainFaith is in vain Apostles are false witnessesApostles are false witnesses Still in your sinsStill in your sins The dead are perishedThe dead are perished All most miserableAll most miserable

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (I Peter 1:3)

Obey The Gospel of Christ! I Corinthians 15:1-4

“to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:23-25) “to whom it will be reckoned, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” (Romans 4:23-25) It Is The Truth We Must Believe

“And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteous- ness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31) “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commands all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteous- ness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31) It Is The Motivation For Repentance

“if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10) It Is The Foundation For Our Confession

It Is The Imagery For Our Baptism “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3,4) “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:3,4)

It Gives Baptism Its Saving Power “…eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:20-21) “…eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism (not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 3:20-21)

It Gives Baptism Its Saving Power “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you (not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...” (1 Peter 3:21) “And corresponding to that, baptism now saves you (not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience) through the resurrection of Jesus Christ...” (1 Peter 3:21)

“that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection..” (Romans 6:3-4) “that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection..” (Romans 6:3-4) Live a New Life In Christ

“For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” (I Corinthians 13:4) “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” (I Corinthians 13:4) Rely Upon His Power To Transform Us

“Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” (Acts 20:7) “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.” (Acts 20:7) Worship The Lord Every First Day of the Week

The resurrection of Jesus is the essential life-transforming truths of the gospel. To truly acknowledge the resurrection of Jesus is to live a totally different life from the world about us.