Easter Special—Why Is the Resurrection of Christ Unique and Important?

What is the resurrection of Christ, unique and important topical discuss this resurrection weekend right you are in the Christian worldview radio program. The mission is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christians and to share the good news of Jesus Christ on David Reed and the host website is the Christian worldview.thank you for joining us this weekend in the program and a special thanks to all of you who support the ministry of the Christian worldview. Nearly 2000 years ago. The most important three days in history took place when Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross on a Friday buried in a tomb and then rose from the dead three days later on Sunday, after which he appeared to hundreds of eyewitnesses. The reason these events are so consequential is that Jesus was prophesied to be claimed to be improved by supernatural miracles to be the son of God who entered our world and offered his life to pay the death penalty for our sin, so that those who believe in him could be made. Writer reconciled to God or a Scripture puts it in second Corinthians 521 God made Christ who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him. The climax of that weekend nearly 2000 years ago was the resurrection. Jesus rising from the dead, she is risen is the exultant proclamation of Christians around the world.

But why is the resurrection of Christ so important. What does it mean for the believer and why do so many not believe in Christ resurrection.

Despite 10 poster resurrection appearances and over 500 eyewitnesses seeing the risen Christ at one time. Our guest this weekend and the program is Greg Gilbert he is the senior pastor of 3rd Ave., Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky is also the author of several books including what is the gospel who is Jesus and why trust the Bible before we get to the interview with Greg.

I would just like to set the stage and read one of the gospel accounts of Christ's resurrection from the Gospel of John in chapter 20 it says this now on the first day of the week. I'll be a Sunday Mary Magdalena, one of the followers of Christ came early to the tomb while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb, so she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, Debbie, John, and said to them, they have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb. The two were running together on the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter. John got there before Peter and came to the tomb first and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb and he saw the linen wrappings lying there in the face cloth which had been on his head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple, who had first come to the tomb. John then also entered and she saw and believed that Christ had risen from the dead, for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise again from the dead, so the disciples went away again to their own homes, skipping down to verse 19 of John chapter 20. So when it was evening on that day the first day of the week and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their myths and said to them, peace be with you.

And when he had said this, he showed them both his hands and his side. The disciples and rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, peace be with you as the father has sent me, I also send you skipping down to verse 24. But Tom is one of the 12, was not with them when Jesus came so the other disciples were saying to him, we have seen the Lord. But he said to them, unless I see in his hands.

The imprint of the nails and put my finger into the place of the nails and put my hand into his side. I will not believe verse 8:26 days. His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them this time. Jesus came, the doors having been shot and stood in their myths and said, peace be with you. Then he said to Thomas reach here with your finger and see my hands and reach here your hand to put it into my side and do not be unbelieving, but believing Thomas answered and said to him, my Lord and my God.

Jesus said to him, because you have seen me. Have you believed. Blessed are they who did not see. And yet, believed in the chapter ends this way of John chapter 20. Therefore many other signs. Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. But these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name and that is the whole point of the Gospels to the point to Christ and say he is who he claimed to be the son of God, the Savior of mankind. He died on the cross and sheer.

Here's the evidence you the accounts of him rising from the dead and appearing too many know, of course, in our fallen world. The debate over whether Christ rose from the dead started immediately. Nonbelievers cannot have Jesus rising from the dead, that would mean that she is who he said he is that the son of God and the only Savior of mankind that would make unbelievers accountable to him. It says in Matthew chapter 28. Some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that it happened and when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together.

They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers and said you are to say, his disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep. If this should come to the governor's ears. We will win him over and keep you out of trouble and they the soldiers. The guard took the money and did as they had been instructed in this story was widely spread among the Jews and is to this day that Jesus body has been stolen by his disciples. So there you have it right from the very beginning. Christ is appearing to many, but the lie that he didn't rise from the dead had already been started and that's the exact same debate we see nearly 2000 years later today that without as a backdrop, let's get to the interview with Greg Gilbert, the senior pastor of 3rd Ave., Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky Greg, this is the eighth straight year you have been on this program to talk about a issue related to Easter.

So thank you for your generosity.

Over the years and in spending some time with us on what I know is a busy week for you getting ready for your own Easter services at 3rd Ave., Baptist Church in Louisville Kentucky and this year were actually in a focus on why is the resurrection of Christ, unique and important, and the apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthian church. First Corinthians 15 much about the resurrection of Christ and talk about how important business want to start out with a a few verses he writes the starting in verse 12 of first Corinthians 15. He says now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead, but if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain. Your faith also is vain.

Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised in the Christ is not been raised, your faith is worthless.

You are still in your sins than those who have fallen asleep or died in Christ have perished last verse, verse 19 first Corinthians 15. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied now.

Greg, the apostle Paul really doubles down on on the resurrection of Christ saying it look as if this didn't happen. All I'll be the first to admit that we are just the most foolish of all mental why is the resurrection of Christ so unique, but even more so important.

Paul lays it out for you pretty clearly there existed the resurrection is the linchpin of Christianity. It's it isn't anything that has to be there in order for Christianity to be true and if it's not there. If it didn't happen you know is time magazine Newsweek like they do every every Easter actually stumble into one year proving that there some tomb that actually has Jesus bones in it, then it's over� All the home but is five if Jesus really did get up from the dead.

Everything is changed because it means that we need to listen to him because everything he said about himself is is true. Going back earlier in first Corinthians 15. It talks about the evidence or's eyewitnesses. Paul writes in first Corinthians 15 starting in verse three, 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 or Peter, then to the 12 disciples. Verse six. After that, he appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep.

Verse seven. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles and last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared to me also. With so many post-resurrection appearances and even so many eyewitnesses mean literally over 500 people saw the risen Christ at one time that will stand up in any court of law. Why is there so much skepticism about Christ being risen from the dead with a couple of things.

One is the idea of resurrection is so unprecedented to us from none of us none of us really have that in our experience in certain it's not.

It's on a daily thing that we see is not even like a century thing that we see so you know any time. If I think if you were to see her resurrection with your own eyes. You would probably be be skeptical of it right, you can go to YouTube and type in you know resuscitation's and that religious events around the world, you'll find a few and I promise you, you can see them on YouTube at your first inclination in that videos can be that I wouldn't dead in a or something.

It's not to be allow that guy just got up from the from the dead, so skepticism is the natural response to to something like that and you're not also necessarily just cannot believe an eyewitness right is gotta be more to it than that. Somebody could come up to you and swear up and out to 200 people could come up to you and swear up and down they saw a guy get up from the dead, and you're gonna be skeptical of that. I think that there was some no Hollywood magic that went on that convinced all these people all the same time that that something happened and and you believe it just based on based on eyewitness testimony soaked to the gotta be more to it than that.

I think all those things together. Just just make us at the beginning of the question skeptical about it and is kind have to ask more questions from their so what are those questions for the believer listening today who wants their faith more grounded in the resurrection, that actually happened.

What do you look to emboldening your confidence that Christ did rise from the dead.

I think if you just take the New Testament documents as as historical writings and and you have to start with them is the word of God. I obviously think that they are in fact the word of God, but just discount pause that first second and just put yourself in the mind of a skeptic and just take them as listings, historical documents, I think you can do the work of history on them to determine if the reliable determine if they look like a trick or a hoax. Determine if these guys are in no intending to write legend instead of instead of truth ask all these questions of it determine that those documents are in fact reliable in the historical sense then start asking questions that historians do about how unlikely it is that this event there, swearing up and down happened resurrection. Whether that really happen and I think you can actually get really, really solid historical confidence that the resurrection of Jesus really did happen. I think you can start there. You know, and then it's a matter of your heart be regenerated to trust in that residence, check it off the box. I was trained as a historian you know II know those tools of the trade and I think you can get to historical confidence that that Jesus really did rise from the dead demeanor Christian that point but the sort of jump from there is an is is I think a small one to say yeah and now I'm in a believe in the sky Greg Gilbert with us today here on the Christian worldview radio program. The special Easter program.

Why is the resurrection of Christ, unique and important. He is the senior pastor of 3rd Ave., Baptist Church in Louisville Kentucky. You can go to their website third Avenue.org to find out more your sermons. Greg is also the author of what is the gospel who is Jesus. Why trust the Bible, Greg.

Are there any nonbiblical sources that write about the resurrection of Christ, like Josephus or someone like him. Yeah there are a couple but there's nothing that that sort has the detail in the color that the biblical Gospels did and that's not surprising you know it's it's not like the Christian church went to Matthew Mark Luke John sort of commissioned them and said they were putting the Bible together and we need you guys to write lives of Jesus. They just wrote it in the church recognize them as yet those are true and so they gathered up all the writings that that were authoritative funeral from apostles are people who knew the apostle's eyewitnesses and and said what they all knew to be true from the and of their own experience in the oral tradition that have been handed down soon and they got all those things together and they sort of got them all in on so if if if overriding met all the criteria all for the main criteria that they were looking for. They put it in the they put in the can so they got them all to gather them all up so it's not that surprising that there's not one that's perfectly orthodox and perfectly detailed with hanging out there outside of the king, so that's not surprising, but there are a couple couple of the sources that sort head nod toward the resurrection. So Tacitus, the Roman historian has this this tiny little passage worries talking about Nero fastening the blame for the Roman fire in the 60s on Christians and you telling the story and he says that Pontius Pilate eating names and punches Pilatus is what he calls and keep he killed this Jesus God is Christus guy causing with the most extreme penalty and with that, he says they put down they managed to wipe out a most mischievous superstition within really interestingly he says but the mischievous superstition was only checked for a moment and then it broke out again and we haven't been able to contain it. Since the interest is so that the question the hair would be so interesting as so they killed the sky as a criminal in the most extreme way they thought they had put down the mischief but the mischief broke out again in so what caused that to happen and and that's what you really get at the question. You know what could cause that you know could mass hallucination of Christians because that could wishful thinking among the Christians because that could could a hoax have caused that our ally and individually just come down to the to the conclusion, historically speaking that night and the only thing that could cause that is it Jesus really rose from the dead. That's what would cause that quote unquote mischievous superstition to break out again in an uncontrollable way like it's exactly right.

In all these apostles were also much of their death were martyred because they believed they had seen him die over things and how they don't believe in the Christian worldview returns in just a moment. I struggled with my identity all the way through my life lived eight years is Laura Jensen, until I found the Lord Jesus Christ is unavoidable legislation now in our school queen story even our churches nations were talking about people the proceeding is from in his image, a 103 minute documentary film that biblically and compassionately addresses the issue of transgender is in order the DVD for a donation of any amount to the Christian world, 888 646-2233 right to Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331 Christian worldview.that's one AAA eight 646-2233 or the Christian worldview.org David we hear host of the Christian worldview for over 15 years. Our mission has been to sharpen the biblical worldview. Christians claim the good news of Jesus Christ pursue that mission on their radio programs in person. Hosting events and online through A/V imprint resource. You're an all volunteer ministry have monthly operating expenses. The most significant being the cost of airtime on the station website or at what you hear the radio program you're looking for monthly partners so that each station website supported by its own listeners. The level of financials for a given out as a key decision point whether we continue paying the broadcaster to become a monthly any amount one AAA 646-2233. The Christian worldview.org. Thank you for listening to and supporting the Christian worldview. Welcome back to the Christian worldview sure to visit our website Christian worldview.org you can subscribe to a free weekly email an annual print newsletter resources for adults and children and support the ministry.

Now back to today's program with host David Wheaton looking regular with us today in the Christian will be the senior pastor of 3rd Ave., Baptist Church in Louisville, Kentucky all the Gospels have an account of Christ's resurrection. Here's what the Bible says. In Luke's gospel in chapter 24, but on the first day of the week at the early dawn they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared and they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. The men said to them, why do you seek the living one among the dead.

He is not here, but she has arisen. Remember how he spoke to you while he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful man and be crucified in the third day rise again and they, the women remembered his words and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the 11 into all the rest verse 10. Now they were Mary Magdalena and Joanna and Mary the mother of James, also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. Verse 11. But these words appeared to them as nonsense and they would not believe them. This is the disciples and those who knew Christ to Hudak. She heard him talk about the fact he was a meat diet and in rise again. Talk about the nature of unbelief and why this characteristic of unbelief is so strong inside each and every person will, there's a good side of that and there's a bad side of it right the bad side of it is because all back to the Garden of Eden where Satan introduced skepticism into eaves and the man in Adam's hearts. When he said, did God really say that that's the that's the bad side of unbelief which is just a a now you know inborn skepticism in our hearts because of sin, to disbelieve the word of God that that's the bad side of skepticism. The good side of unbeliever skepticism is that it just wouldn't serve as well if we believed everything that anybody ever told us right and it's it's it's actually good life lesson.

Don't believe everything you hear. Don't believe everything you see on Twitter read on the Internet. You know that's that's a good kind of skepticism when it comes to the resurrection.

You know it's interesting to me and you and I and it's kind of assuring to me. Actually, that Peter and the other disciples didn't believe it at first. You know that was just that that natural sort of good skepticism about wild events coming in and defending them against believing something that's that's just not within you know that skepticism gives way when they see Jesus face-to-face or when they see a little bit more evidence eventually. It's not invincible skepticism. It's one that can be affected by evidence so it's interesting because I think people look at the apostles and think about them and I think all these guys are over 2000 years ago first century Judeans as gullible as to believe everything that's that's told to them. You know, so it's not surprising that they got duped by this crazy claim of a resurrection of Jesus because they were primed to believe anything and everything that was told to them because her gullible people and just read the Gospels and he realizes oh no no no, they weren't.

This is not something they believed quickly. It took them time to get there and and and it wasn't just a kind of wishful belief like they were solidly convinced by evidence that Jesus got up from the dead, which is why they they took that conviction to the grave.

Every single one of Greg Gilbert with us today in the Christian worldview.

The senior pastor of 3rd Ave., Baptist Church. Do you find as a pastor that the general Jos� societal the non-regenerate society.

The response to Easter like this weekend or Christ's resurrection, you find it different today than, let's say 20 or 30 years ago, when would need a different stage.

And in this country. I don't think so.

I think I think the societal response to Jesus's resurrection has been pretty solid for about 2000 years now.

It's that skepticism, but in certain ways the world around us has been willing to almost kidnap and co-opt the idea of Easter for material gain and same with Christmas right but but for us as Christians in its it is a day in the and this ought to be happening every Sunday. In fact, but it's a kind day in the year when we specially focusing on thinking about the resurrection of Jesus for the world around us there to be skeptical. Their attention might be drawn to it a little bit but you know Satan has worked out a strategy of distracting everybody with bunnies and colored eggs. So that's what they think about with Easter instead of Christmas got turned into a winter festival. Easter got turned into a spring festival and all that was just tells strategy of distracting from what what really matters. Let's go down a little further, the passage in first Corinthians 15 says what Paul writes but now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who are asleep.

For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive in Paul sets up this this comparison be quick between the first man Adam and that the last Adam, which which is Christ is all these comparisons he makes for the rest of the chapter in first Corinthians 15 so let's transition from the actual resurrection of Christ into now what it means for the believer's future. What does Christ resurrection mean for the believer. Not that it actually just happened.

We can have faith that we serve a risen Savior, but what is it mean for the believer, and I think this is a critical question.

I think it's I think affected Christians don't have a great answer for it or don't, don't think about it very deeply is probably why in when I do membership interviews when people want to join our church here we ask him to tell us the gospel in about 30 seconds or minutes and I would say probably half the people that do it in the bleeding out the fact that resurrection happened in all aspects of the like. In Jesus, still dead. No, no, no, no, there are no easy rose from the dead on the third day, but theologically, we generally can have this idea that the gospel of Jesus Christ would work even if Jesus were still dead right. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins dead. He's in the ground. What's the problem like the transaction is done, but if you if you understand what Jesus means when he talks about his people being united to him like the branches are united to live in when you understand what Paul means and Peter means all the rest of the talk about being united to Christ in that way, you start to see that the resurrection is absolutely critical to our future. Because what happens to the fine also happens to the branches, you're only saved because Jesus lives and has all the blessings of eternity. He earned them all for for himself right so she's the one who is justified by God. He he gets declared righteous is righteous, and therefore those who are united to him like the branches to align are also declared righteous. Jesus is seated in the heavenly's ruling raining now, and that's why Paul can say you as a believer are also seated in heavenly's crises, not just he's not just like paint in the metaphor. There he saying your united to Christ. What happens to Christ happens to you, and therefore because he's in heaven seated and that really so therefore you will. Same thing with resurrection.

If the if the fine had remained dead and all the branches united to the vine would remain dead to so it's only if the vine lives that the branches that you will will live in in the same way so it's it's critical right, the machinery of the gospel and of eternity just doesn't work. If the one to whom we are all united is dead because world we'd all be dead to.

That's incredibly important to to understand. Thank you for explaining that Greg Greg Gilbert with us today in the Christian worldview.

The senior pastor of 3rd Ave., Baptist Church in Louisville Kentucky.

We also carry several of his books. What is the gospel is an excellent book will who is Jesus.

Why trust the Bible, you can find these at our store@thechristianworldview.org okay, a difficult theological question here, or maybe an interpretive question in first Corinthians 15 starting in verse 29.

What will those do who are baptized for the dead. If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them wire. We also endanger every hour. My firm brother and by the boasting in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily from human motives. I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus. What does it profit me if the dead are not raised. What is eat and drink, for tomorrow we die not, I think that last sentence there, eat, drink, and Marley.com represents the worldview of today.

If you don't believe in God you don't believe in Christ in a believer's resurrection.

There is no this is although all the life there is to live so I think that's pretty understandable boards that first part mean about what will those do who are baptized for the dead. If the debtor not raised at all, than why then are they baptized for the Mets kind of a challenging passage understand what is that mean Greg yeah it is. It throws people and the folks of your melodic guesses as to what it means. At first reading, especially if you only read that verse 29 what what you think is that there's some ritual right where living Christians are letting themselves be baptized on behalf of other people who have died so maybe there thinking that you know it helps those people out in some way I don't some some of the grosser Roman Catholic rituals and doctrines, grew out of that idea so that was part of Martin Luther rebelled against like you know you can't. You can't buy somebody out of out of help in what is not working can't just put a coin in the in the coffer and the soul from hell Springs. You know that doesn't work like that.

So that's how people are have a read it.

A lot of times I think that's how it's to be read, and I think there are some tipoffs in here once you get to verse 30 and 31 that shows that Paul is talking in metaphorical language.

There in verse 29 so what it means it and 30 each shifts to talking about being in danger and in 31. He shifts to himself, dying daily so that that starts to tip you off that overweight. He's actually talking about about a metaphorical dying is talking about suffering you look at 30 to write as if from human motives. I fought with wild beasts. So that's the kind of things talking about and then you'd be sure to pull us together and start asking questions like why is he in danger. Why is he dying daily.

Why is he fighting with with wild beasts and the answer of course is to it is so that he can proclaim the gospel and bring people to know Jesus right okay so that's the best assortment you that your working in there. It's not some ritual so back up to 29 and then you look at those words baptized in dead and start thinking about metaphorical ways that those two words are used. So, for example, baptized in Mark 10. Forget the verse that there's a place where Jesus asks are you able to drink the cup that I drink, or to be baptized with the baptism with which I'm baptized right and what he means there is about to suffer about to go to the cross so baptized can have this meaning metaphorical meaning of suffering right so real like that. Otherwise, what will those do who are suffering for the and there's the dead thing so dead in the Bible can also be used metaphorically for people who don't know Jesus who are spiritually dead. Jesus says to the guy, follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead. In other words, let the spiritually dead bury the spiritually dead, you follow me, so you take those metaphorical meanings of words that are well attested in the Bible and backed up by verse 3031 32 and what you get is otherwise what will those do who are suffering the loss. In other words, Jesus is, what the heck am I doing out here preaching the gospel is so that I think Christian worldview returns in just a moment.

I struggled with my identity all the way through my life. Eight years is Laura Jensen, until I found the Lord Jesus Christ is legislation now in our school queen story even into our churches talk about people the proceeding is from in his image as a 100 documentary film that biblically and compassionately addresses the issue of transgender is you can order the DVD for a donation of any amount to the Christian world, 888 646-2233 right to Box 401, Excelsior, MN 55331 Christian worldview.that's one AAA 646-2233 the Christian world you.org.

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We had a listing of our store, including DVDs, books, children's materials and you can sign up for the weekly email an annual letter by visiting the Christian world.calling one 646-2230 through your email and mailing address will never be sure. Unsubscribe at any time: one AAA 646-2233 or visit the Christian world.thanks for joining us on the Christian world view, just a reminder that today's program and pass programs are archived at our website. Christian worldview.org are also available and be sure to share with others. Now back to today's program with host David. We deal with us today in the Christian worldview the last couple questions are, let's talk about what the believers resurrected body will be like this is a key part of Christ's resurrection of heroes and the dead. So will believers. Someday, after they physically die to it says in verse 42 of first Corinthians 15. So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised in imperishable body. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Verse 45 so also it is written, the first man Adam became a living soul. The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

Finishing verse 49 just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly Greg. The question is, what will the believers resurrected body be like what was Christ's post resurrection body like the only clue we've got is is Jesus, and I think I think what you can what you can get from that is the revised and glorified right so that so that that's part of it. Not exactly sure what that means but for Jesus, it meant that he could appear and disappear at will.

So maybe he can travel really fast.

I can walk through walls apparently release just ignore those walls so that there's a lot going on with him and his body ascends into heaven is a lot going on with with being glorified and yet it's not that your bodies can be changed so much that your unrecognizable you know I mean Jesus, it seems like he could he could hide his identity like on the road to Emmaus. It was up to him when he wanted those guys to recognize and but other times you know he appears in the all militant right so the nail scars are obviously still there. The wound in the silence is still there so I don't know exactly how to read that, but the other thing is these physical and he goes out of his way to prove these physical touch me had touched these wounds or no heat. The literally pizza pizza fish one day when he is with them to set disorder say no this is not some ghostly body is a real one that needs to eat fish, but he does show the can so you just don't get a whole lot super fun to speculate someone do it on a radio program. So I do think will be creating. I do think there will be things to do and work to be done in challenges to be overcome.

You know, I don't think life will go static and gray. All of a sudden in in heaven. It's can be with all the good things that we see in this life like challenging competition in this and that somehow all that can be there in an even greater fashion. And yet there will be no evil which I don't understand, but it will be really wonderful and fascinating. Certainly something incredible to look for to grant Greg Gilbert with us today in the Christian review final question for you on the program today go right back to the beginning of that chapter and first Corinthian 15 uses now I make known to you brother in the gospel which I preach to you, which also you received in which also you stand.

By which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preach to you unless you believed in vain, and skipping retro the end of the chapter he says when this perishable body will Paula put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory.

Oh death where is your victory over death, where is your sting. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law and then verse the 57 he writes this but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

So Greg, as we conclude today what would you like to say to someone listening today to our conversation who has never believed who Christ is and what he did not cross, and how he rose again maybe thought it was some sort of religious myth or something just tradition or some young legend of man, what is your message to that person today. I think it would just be that that I want somebody in those shoes to understand that we we Christians don't think of the resurrection of Jesus as as just a nice religious story. It's not a myth is not a metaphor for spring springing or something like that we really think it happened like as much as Washington was the first president of the United States as much as Caesar crossed the Rubicon as a historical event. We think Jesus got up from the dead, and we think that that changes everything. So my message would be if you're if you're thinking about Christianity. I have to assume you are listening to a program like this. I don't get distracted by the stuff that is not at the heart of Christianity right in your never to disprove Christianity by raging about Christianity's no sexual ethics are the problems that you have with a particular person's doctrine of creation or this or that you never never did it use a look at the heart of Christianity and that is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Did it happen or not and and you'll either come to a conclusion that gathers really good historical evidence for this and that'll send you on a journey that you won't believe it is so amazing, or you look at all the evidence and you'll say no.

I reject Christianity because I reject that Jesus actually got up from the dead, but at least you'll have clarity and you will be raging around the margins at at Christianity can go right at the heart of it, by asking the question did Jesus rise from the dead, and once they come to that conclusion. What is the means of being of being saved of being forgiven right with God will at that point you know if you come to a conclusion. Yeah, I think it's actually really likely that Jesus really did get up get up from the dead. The journey that sends you on is then to realize. Okay, that's true. That's never happened to anybody else before and in fact, Jesus tied that resurrection to his identity as the son of God, like over and over again. He said I am the son of God in the way that can be proved is that on the third dam to get up from the dead, so sick, so since that happened. You know you back up and say okay guys, this is the son of God.

That's proven now by the by the resurrection, and if he's the son of God. He realizable I better listen to this guy I better listen to what he says and what he says is the world is sinful and fallen including you.

You need to be saved from the wrath of God's coming on the world and on human beings because of sin, and he says I'm the one who can save you. But by living the life you should live from the beginning by dying the death that you deserve for your sin. I'll do that for you and then when you are united to me by faith as I rise from the dead rise to a new life to so excited. It just becomes this understanding that Jesus really is who he says he is trying to listen to them and what he says is you coming faith. I'll save you from your sins. I'll save you from the wrath that's that's coming against the world bye-bye this righteous God, thank you Greg for explaining the key message. The most important message of Scripture not just that Christ died and rose again, but that there's application there's lots of meaning there for anyone listening today that God is offering us to become reconciled to him through who Jesus is and what he did in the cross and and rising again so thank you for explaining the gospel Greg and thank you again for coming on the Christian rule of you for the eighth straight year to discuss an Easter topic. We appreciate your Greg and we just wish all God's best, and grace to you and your family and 3rd Ave., Baptist Church. Thanks, David. Always a pleasure to be with. We are thankful to Greg Gilbert for coming on the program year after year on this Easter week to talk about an aspect of Christ's death and resurrection on this most important weekend to hear Greg sermons, you can go to his website third Avenue.org and as I mentioned earlier, we do carry a couple of his books.

What is the gospel and who is Jesus on our website. The Christian were.org just some follow-up comments I read a footnote in my study Bible that Jesus actually made 10 appearances after rising from the dead, number one, he appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb number two. He appeared to the women on the road. Number three. He appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, a member that account number four. He appeared to Peter, and 10 of the 11 disciples, with Thomas being absent. I read about that earlier in the program and then number five to the 11 disciples with Thomas present. Number six, he appeared to seven disciples by the shore of Galilee. Number seven, he appeared to more than 500 disciples at one time on a mountain in Galilee, number 80 appeared to James. Number nine.

He appeared to the apostles when he ascended into heaven. Remember that as he ascended there all staying there watching the risen Lord ascended to heaven in number 10. He appeared remember to Paul in acts nine. As Paul was going to Damascus to persecute Christians.

Christ appeared to him on that road and then it said the next time Christ appears it will be in glory. And that's what we as believers look forward to the resurrection is about more than appearances, though it's more than about just pure information. The resurrection of Christ.

Why it's so important and unique is that it's really about who Jesus Christ is and whether she is who he claimed to be and what you do with him is the determining factor of whether you will go to heaven or hell. Here's what the Bible says John 336 he who believes in the son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him. It's really a binary choice what you do with Jesus Christ. Whether you believe in him or not you believe that he died for your sin and rose from the grave, victorious is the basis on whether God will save you or judge you mezzo Paul writes in first Corinthians 15 so important he starts off this chapter by saying, now I make known to you, brethren, talking to fellow believers, the gospel, the good news which I preached to you, which also you received in which also you stand.

By which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. I read an email newsletter recently from Todd Friel. He is the host of wretched radio and the television ministry. Here's part of what he wrote might I suggest we use the word gospel lasts and start using the name of Jesus more. The word gospel is used 25 times in the New Testament the name of Jesus is use 691 times. Perhaps that 27 to 1 ratio is an encouragement for us to talk more about our Savior and less about the term that describes his message and with that I like to play a soundbite from a sermon that Steve Lawson gave Steve is the head of one passion ministries and he recently preached a sermon where he concluded with an invitation for those listening to put their faith in Jesus Christ. So if you are listening today and have not put your faith your belief your trust in Jesus Christ. Listen to this portion of the message from Pastor Steve Lawson and respond in faith this Easter weekend.

Let me ask you for some personal questions as you would audit your soul that you would take inventory, not even born again that you come to faith in Jesus Christ.

Would you honestly say I'm still in the world. I'm still in another race going in another direction. And if you've never stepped into this race. I want you know it's open tonight, that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You don't have to go downward into the flames of hell.

You can be caught up Lord into the glories of heaven, but you gotta be in Christ, you've got to know Christ. You got to commit your life to Christ. Do you hear this, you must commit your life to Christ, you must entrust your soul to Christ, you must confess your sin to Christ, he must repent of your sin, you must deny yourself, you must take up the cross, you must step out of the crowd and out of the world and now become a follower of Jesus Christ.

If you've never committed your life to Christ, do so now do so this very moment� And pray about it. Do it now. Now is the accepted time day is a day of salvation. The Bible says he who hardens his heart being often reproved, shall suddenly be cut off, and that without remedy.

The Bible has both not yourself tomorrow, for you know not what a day may bring forth. God is brought you here tonight to hear these words respond to them tonight this very moment, commit your life to Christ that was Steve Lawson and there's really nothing for me to say. After all, he said in that portion of his recent message and there's a message here for those of you who have never believed this is the starting point of eternal life.

To believe in who Christ is that he's the son of God and what he did for you on the cross he he lived the life that you should've lived but didn't. Then he died the death that you should've died for your sin. He took your sin on his shoulders and paid God's required just penalty for it and then God accounts his perfect righteousness to you because all of your past, present and future sin has been forgiven and paid for by Christ believe in him there is a message for you this Easter weekend, but for the believer. There's a message as well to reflect and consider all that Christ has done for us and what that should impel us to do and to live for in this life that we shouldn't be distracted by all the various things of this world that so easily draw our eyes away from Christ.

Look to him, follow him, be obedient to him live for him. Have him is that the center of your life.

The center of your worship. Draw near to him in his word and prayer. Tell others about the glorious way that Christ saved you, and how they can be saved through repenting of their sin. Putting your faith in Jesus Christ. Thank you for joining us this resurrection weekend on the Christian will you. We hope that all of you have a meaningful time remembering the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He is the same yesterday and today and forever. So until next time think quickly live accordingly and stand firm on Christ and his word.

The mission of the Christian world you is to sharpen the biblical worldview of Christians proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. We hope today's broadcast encouraged for that and here we played today's program or to sign up for the weekly email to find out what must I do to be saved to your website. The Christian world.org, call us toll-free at 1-888-646-2233. The person will be as a listener supported ministry and furnished by the overcoming foundation, a nonprofit organization can find out more water resources make a donation become a monthly partner and contact us by visiting the Christian world.org bowling toll-free 188-864-6233 writing to Box 41, Excelsior, MN 55331 box 41 seltzer, Minnesota 5531. Thanks for listening to the Christian world.

Until next time think biblically and live accordingly