Rejecting the Truth
The Rev. Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
Another reminder is necessary. The reliability of the Bible has generally been agreed upon. This reliable book attests to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mark’s Gospel records the event of Jesus’ resurrection. Mark wrote that the resurrected “Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene” (Mark 16:9). Matthew, Luke, and John also recorded the events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection.
All the records detailed an empty tomb! The proclamation of the gospel was and continues to be grounded in Jesus’ bodily resurrection.
Centuries earlier, the Psalter foretold the person and work of Christ for example, Psalms 2, 3, 8, 16, 22, and 23. Isaiah wrote of the “Suffering Servant” who would bear the sins of His people and reign forever (Isaiah 40-66).
Ancient historians documented Jesus’ ministry, death, and resurrection, for example, Josephus, “the Antiquities”.
Jesus’ apostles all preached His resurrection. The church has continued to preach the resurrection of Jesus for 2,000 years. Persecution did not dampen or alter the message. It only served to spread it. As stated by Tertullian (AD 160-225), “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church”.
Yet, unbelief persists. People still reject this truth. The world has attempted every possible means to crush the truth of Jesus’ bodily resurrection, and men continue in their refusal to believe! Some have tried to diminish the truth by teaching that the fact of the bodily resurrection is secondary. What really matters is that one simply believes in some form of it.
Resurrection does not simply mean to be made alive again. As recorded in John 11, Lazarus was made alive again by Jesus simply commanding him to come out of the grave. Lazarus was resuscitated. He was made to live again as a mere mortal. Lazarus subsequently died as all men do. Jesus, however, was resurrected. He got out of the grave with a glorified body. He was seen as a man. He was recognized by those who knew Him. He ate with His disciples. Yet, He was able to pass through closed doors. He was able to move to another place in an instant. The resurrected Jesus ascended into heaven. The Lord of glory is physically in heaven. He rules all things from heaven. He is on the right hand of God, the place of power and authority. Jesus lives!
He is called the “first born among many brothers” (Romans 8:29). All who are in Christ will receive glorified bodies like His when He comes again to judge the living and the dead. If we remain alive when Christ returns, we “shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet” (1 Corinthians 15:51, 52).
The biblical and historical evidence is overwhelming for Jesus’ resurrection. In light of so great a body of factual documentation, it would seem unlikely that men would persist in unbelief. But unbelief is all around us.
Jesus said the reason is that men loved darkness rather than light (John 3:19).
Many visited churches for the first time on Easter Sunday. All churches welcomed visitors on that special day of celebration. Some of those visitors will only go to church on Easter Sunday and perhaps Christmas Eve. These rare visitors say all the prayers. They hear the Scriptures read. They may even thank the minister for an uplifting sermon . Yet their hearts may remain cold to the truth. They may not demonstrate any impact of the Resurrection of Jesus on their lives.
Yet, the Westminster Confession states that there is no ordinary possibility of salvation outside of the local church (WCF, Chapter 25, Par. 2). God has chosen the means by which He saves His people. The preaching of the word is the vehicle through which Christ is heard (Romans 10:14). God has given the ordinary means of salvation to the church. Therefore, He holds churches accountable to preach the gospel, grounded in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. God saves those whom He chose before the foundation of the world through His gift of faith alone which comes through hearing and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
I pray that your church welcomed many visitors and they heard the truth of life in Christ. May you invest yourself in a church that is committed to preach the whole counsel of God. May you see Him change many by His Word and Spirit working in concert.
I need reminders. This particular one is necessary to hold before you in seeking to live as becomes a follower of Jesus Christ.
