He Died

One of the greatest disputes carried on in the world of faiths is whether Jesus died and was raised from the dead. Jesus was raised a Jew and the Jewish leaders despised Him greatly. The early Jewish followers grew greatly because of the work of Jesus before His death and resurrection, and more so after His resurrection. The first Gentile followers also saw the power of God demonstrated and experienced great peace and joy from their new found relationship with God. Paul spoke against some of his day that seemed confused about the fact that Jesus rose from the dead.

Paul was very clear. He did not care who brought the gospel. As long as the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ was preached as the core message.

1 Corinthians 15:12-14
Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

Without the resurrection there is no salvation. We are back to the impossible position of having to become right with God with our own futile efforts. The power of the gospel is in the fact that Jesus died and rose again. Are you confused? You are not alone.

About 500 years after Christ there were Nestorian leanings in the Arabian desert that influenced the thinking that Jesus did not die on the cross. This is obviously impossible since there were so many eye witnesses and there are parallel non follower accounts of this event.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 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. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

It is clear. Without Jesus' death and resurrection, there is no perfect sacrifice for our sin and reconciliation with God. We need to receive this gift of salvation and be saved. No man comes to the Father except by Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Father, thank you for your gift. I am free!

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