A Biblical Vision, Part II: Mastering the New Testament Witness to Christ

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A B i b l i ca l Vi s i on, Par t I I : Mas ter i ng the New Tes tament Wi tnes s to Chr i s t

The Resurrection and the Appearances of Jesus

1 Cor. 15.12-20 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? [13] But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. [14] And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. [15] We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. [16] For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. [17] And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. [18] Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [19] If in this life only

I. The Centrality of the Resurrection to Christian Faith

A. What Christianity is not

1. We are not an ethical system of laws and rules

2. We are not a moral system of behaviors and prohibitions

3. We are not a community of religious practice

4. We are not an effort at escapism from the world’s evils

B. What Christianity is: a lived faith anchored in the person and work of Jesus the Messiah whom we hold to have lived, died, and raised from the dead

1. Christus Victum : Messiah Jesus died and rose to pay the penalty for our sins, Rom. 5.8-10 – but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. [10] For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.

we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be

pitied. [20] But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first

fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

2. Christus Victor : Messiah Jesus died and rose to defeat the powers of the enemy and transfer us from the kingdom of Satan to the Kingdom of God.

a. Heb. 2.14 – Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same