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.”

1.Jesus died on the cross

2.He was buried in a sealed and guarded tomb

3.The tomb was empty on the third day

4.Jesus appeared to many after His resurrection

1.Jesus died on the cross

“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 the 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)

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 sealed and guarded tomb

3.The tomb was empty on the third day

The Jewish leaders and enemies The Jewish leaders and enemies of Jesus had no reason to move of Jesus had no reason to move the stone!the stone!

Matthew 27:62-66Matthew 27:62-66

The Jews had no purpose in The Jews had no purpose in stealing the body, but just the stealing the body, but just the opposite!opposite!

• If the Jews had stolen the If the Jews had stolen the body, they could have easily body, they could have easily produced it on Pentecost and produced it on Pentecost and contradicted the preaching of contradicted the preaching of Peter!Peter!

The Romans had no purpose in The Romans had no purpose in stealing the bodystealing the body

• Any soldier negligent in his Any soldier negligent in his duty would have faced the duty would have faced the death penalty (Acts 16:27).death penalty (Acts 16:27).

• The Jewish leaders paid them The Jewish leaders paid them a large sum of money for them a large sum of money for them to tell a lie. (Matthew 28:11-15 to tell a lie. (Matthew 28:11-15

The Disciples could not have The Disciples could not have stolen the bodystolen the body

• They could not have successfully They could not have successfully gotten past the guards. gotten past the guards.

• The Biblical text clearly indicates The Biblical text clearly indicates that the stone was removed that the stone was removed beforebefore the disciples visited the the disciples visited the tomb.tomb.

The Disciples could not have The Disciples could not have stolen the bodystolen the body

• They were not physically or They were not physically or psychologically able to do such:psychologically able to do such:

• They were in a state of They were in a state of shockshock & & griefgrief

• They were They were AFRAID!AFRAID! (John 20:19) (John 20:19)

1.Jesus died on the cross

2.He was buried in a sealed and guarded tomb

3.The tomb was empty on the third day

4.Jesus appeared to many after His resurrection

I Corinthians 15:3-8 – “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, 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 NOT Gullible men!These were NOT Gullible men!(Luke 24:9-11)(Luke 24:9-11)

• What would they have to gain What would they have to gain by fabricating such a story?by fabricating such a story?

• What was their motive in What was their motive in preaching such a message?preaching such a message?

• Would you die for a lie?Would you die for a lie?

The Apostle’s earth-shattering The Apostle’s earth-shattering news that set their hearts on fire, news that set their hearts on fire, changed the lives of millions, and changed the lives of millions, and

turned the world upside down, was turned the world upside down, was no “happily ever after” fairy tale no “happily ever after” fairy tale

ending appended to a tragic story ending appended to a tragic story of martyrdom. It was preached as of martyrdom. It was preached as

an historical fact certified by an historical fact certified by eyewitness testimony.eyewitness testimony.

“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!

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also and in which you stand, 2 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)See Acts 2:22-36

“And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18)

“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)

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.”

Obey The Gospel of Christ!Obey The Gospel of Christ!

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

It Is The Truth We Must Believe

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

It Is The Motivation For Repentance

““if you confess with your mouth the if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)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 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ as were baptized into Jesus Christ were were baptized into his deathbaptized into his death? ? Therefore we are buried with him Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that by baptism into death: that like like as Christ was raised up from the as Christ was raised up from the deaddead by the glory of the Father, by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in even so we also should walk in newness of life.”newness of life.” (Romans 6:3,4) (Romans 6:3,4)

It Gives Baptism Its Saving Power

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

It Gives Baptism Its Saving Power

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

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

Live a New Life In ChristLive a New Life In Christ

““But what things were gain to me, But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ..”rubbish, that I may gain Christ..”

Live a New Life In ChristLive a New Life In Christ

““and be found in Him, not having my and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the attain to the resurrection from the dead.”dead.” (Phil. 3:7-11) (Phil. 3:7-11)

Live a New Life In ChristLive a New Life In Christ

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

Rely Upon His Power To Rely Upon His Power To Transform UsTransform Us

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

Worship The Lord Every Worship The Lord Every First Day of the WeekFirst Day of the Week

The resurrection of Jesus is The resurrection of Jesus is one of the essential life-one of the essential life-

transforming truths of the transforming truths of the gospel. To truly gospel. To truly acknowledge the acknowledge the

resurrection of Jesus is to resurrection of Jesus is to live a totally different life live a totally different life from the world about us.from the world about us.

OUR MOTIVATION!OUR MOTIVATION!