<\/p>\n
\nThere are \u201cmany infallible proofs\u201d given in Scripture for the resurrection of Jesus Christ\u2014yet many still do not believe. Why?<\/p>\n
The first article in this series explained the importance of the resurrection of Jesus to the Christian faith. Its centrality to Christianity is shown by the fact that believing Jesus rose from the dead is essential for salvation (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:12\u201321). So does belief in this all-important miracle stem from blind faith, or do Christians have good reasons for believing that the resurrection was a real event in history?<\/p>\n
When we start from God\u2019s Word, there is absolutely no legitimate way to deny the angels\u2019 words to the women who came to the tomb on that glorious morning: \u201cWhy do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen\u201d (Luke 24:5\u20136). The Bible repeatedly affirms the bodily resurrection of Jesus, even stating that he demonstrated it \u201cby many infallible proofs\u201d (Acts 1:3 NKJV). What are some of these infallible proofs? Are there any other good arguments consistent with this belief?<\/p>\n
In the \u201cprologue\u201d to the book of Acts, Luke told Theophilus that Jesus \u201cpresented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God\u201d (Acts 1:3 NKJV). The Greek word translated as \u201cinfallible proofs\u201d is \u03c4\u03b5\u03ba\u03bc\u03b7\u03c1\u03af\u03bf\u03b9\u03c2<\/span> (tekm\u0113riois), a technical term from logic1 that refers to that which causes something \u201cto be known in a convincing and decisive manner, proof\u201d (italics in original).2<\/p>\n After being crucified, Jesus showed himself alive by appearing to the disciples on several occasions.<\/p>\n So what are these infallible proofs of the resurrection? Before answering that question, consider what it would take to convince you that someone was alive again after dying. Of course, the best evidence would be an opportunity to spend time with that person again\u2014you could see him walk and talk, and you could eat with him. That\u2019s precisely what Luke is referring to here. After being crucified, Jesus showed himself alive by appearing to the disciples on several occasions. He walked with them, talked with them, and ate with them.<\/p>\n Combining the data from various New Testament books, we know that Jesus appeared to some of his followers on at least 10 occasions before ascending to heaven. Determining the order of the following appearances is beyond the scope of this article, so I have listed them according to Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell\u2019s article, \u201cThe Sequence of Christ\u2019s Post-Resurrection Appearances.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\n<\/ul>\n In most instances, Jesus did more than just appear before people. Christ\u2019s words in John 20:17 seem to imply that Mary Magdalene clung to him, indicating that he could be touched. The other women worshipped him and held him by the feet (Matthew 28:9). He broke bread in front of Cleopas and an unnamed follower (Luke 24:30). He showed his scars in his hands, feet, and side and then ate fish and a honeycomb before the gathering of disciples without Thomas (Luke 24:40\u201343; John 20:20). Later, with Thomas present, Jesus invited Thomas to touch his hands and his side (John 20:26\u201327). At the Sea of Tiberias, he performed a miracle, allowing the disciples to catch 153 large fish (John 20:6\u201311). He also cooked and ate some food (John 20:9, 15). Paul claimed that Jesus had appeared to over 500 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6). This may be an additional appearance, or it may be the same event as the one on the hillside in Galilee (Matthew 28:16\u201317).<\/p>\n The report in 1 Corinthians 15 is probably the earliest extant writing about the resurrection appearances, penned around AD 55. Paul claimed that he was writing what he had received. What was the source of the message that Paul preached? It could have been given to him directly by Jesus (Galatians 1:12), although here he was probably referring to his meetings with Peter and James in Jerusalem within five years of the crucifixion and resurrection (Galatians 1:18\u201319).3 Paul wrote that he went to \u201csee Peter\u201d (v. 18 NKJV). The word translated as \u201csee\u201d is from the root \u2018\u1f31\u03c3\u03c4\u03bf\u03c1\u03ad\u03c9<\/span> (histor\u0113\u03bf), which refers to inquiring for the purpose of coming to know someone or something,4 and from which we derive our English word history.5 So Paul told the Galatians that he not only received his message from Jesus<\/span> but also had it confirmed by Peter and James. Even the critical scholars acknowledge that Paul received this teaching within a few years of the death of Jesus<\/span>.<\/p>\n Some skeptics claim that the idea of the resurrection was simply a legend that grew for several decades before being written down. First Corinthians 15:1\u20139 smashes this objection. Not only is five years much too short a time for such a legend to develop, but Paul cites a bunch of eyewitnesses \u201cmost of whom [were] still alive\u201d (1 Corinthians 15:6). Essentially, he told the Corinthians, \u201cHey, if you don\u2019t believe me, then go ask one of these guys.\u201d The idea that the resurrection was the product of legend will be further examined in an upcoming article in the series.<\/p>\n So are the appearances truly \u201cinfallible proofs\u201d of the resurrection? According to Luke they were, and he wasn\u2019t alone. Paul told the Greek philosophers who gathered in the Areopagus in Athens that God had \u201cfurnished proof to all men by raising [Jesus] from the dead\u201d (Acts 17:31 NASB 1977). \u201cProof\u201d is from the Greek \u03c0\u03af\u03c3\u03c4\u03b9\u03bd<\/span> (pistin) and refers to \u201ca token offered as a guarantee of something promised.\u201d It is a \u201cproof\u201d or \u201cpledge.\u201d6<\/p>\n Jesus said on multiple occasions that his death and resurrection would be the one sign he would give to an unbelieving and wicked generation. When asked by the Jews to perform a sign, he predicted his resurrection by saying, \u201cDestroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up\u201d (John 2:19\u201322). Later, some scribes and Pharisees asked him for a sign, and Jesus replied, \u201cAn evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth\u201d (Matthew 12:39\u201340). He gave a similar response to such a request in Matthew 16:1\u20134 as well.7<\/p>\n In one of his debates with the Pharisees, Jesus said, \u201cIn your Law it is written that the testimony of two people is true\u201d (John 8:17). This oft-repeated concept refers back to Deuteronomy 19:15\u2014\u201cOnly on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.\u201d This same idea is at the heart of the American judicial system. Witnesses appear in trials to help establish the truth of the matter. Prior to the use of modern forensic experts and recording devices, reliable eyewitnesses were essential. People believe in the historicity of many past events because of eyewitness testimony without ever seeing photographic evidence for those events.<\/p>\n Multiple reliable eyewitnesses testified that Jesus<\/span> was alive after being dead and buried. Some of these eyewitness accounts have been preserved for us in the Bible, and because this is the inspired and inerrant Word of God, Scripture is actually another infallible proof of Christ\u2019s resurrection. Nevertheless, many people still refuse to believe because the hardness of their heart.<\/p>\n The problem is not with the infallible proof of Scripture, nor is there a problem with the evidence from history or archaeology. The main problem is with humanity\u2019s stubbornly rebellious heart.<\/p>\n Some may wonder how a proof could be called infallible when so many people refuse to believe it. In the case of the risen Jesus, the problem was not with the evidence. After all, he was standing in front of them and could be touched and heard.8 Even today, the problem is not with the infallible proof of Scripture, nor is there a problem with the evidence from history or archaeology. The main problem is with humanity\u2019s stubbornly rebellious heart. Jesus also spoke to this issue when talking about the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19\u201331). The rich man in Hades pleaded with Abraham in glory to send Lazarus back from the dead to warn the rich man\u2019s brothers about the torments that awaited them if they didn\u2019t repent. He claimed that \u201cif someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent\u201d (v. 30). Abraham\u2019s response alludes to Christ\u2019s resurrection and illustrates the stubbornness of the sinner\u2019s heart: \u201cIf they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead\u201d (v. 31).<\/p>\n This willful rejection of the truth is well illustrated by a series of quotations from atheist philosopher Michael Martin concerning the evidence for Christ\u2019s resurrection.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not inconceivable that on very rare occasions someone being restored to life has no natural or supernatural cause\u201d; \u201cI admit that some events could occur without any cause\u201d; \u201cEven if the resurrection of Jesus was justified by the evidence, it would not support the belief that the Christian God exists and that Jesus is the Son of God.\u201d9<\/p>\n In an effort to escape the implications of the resurrection, Martin is willing to reject one of the fundamental principles of scientific methodology: cause and effect. Instead of bowing the knee to his Creator, Martin would rather believe in a causeless effect by which, out of all the people who have ever lived, the one who just happened to come back to life for no reason at all was Jesus, the man who had fulfilled numerous Old Testament prophecies, lived a sinless life, performed countless miracles, and predicted his own resurrection (Matthew 20:18\u201319). This is special pleading at its worst.<\/p>\n Martin\u2019s statement provides a great example of how a person usually interprets the data according to his worldview. As an atheist, Martin is prepared to believe just about anything on this matter except that God raised Jesus from the dead. When a person desires to remain in his skepticism, he will develop excuses to disbelieve the obvious. Although the resurrection of Jesus Christ was proven by \u201cmany infallible proofs\u201d and has been recorded in God<\/span>\u2019s Word, atheists like Michael Martin will continue to reject the free gift of God<\/span>\u2019s grace and cling to their irrational humanistic worldview.<\/p>\n Christians can have the utmost confidence in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus since God\u2019s Word accurately tells us about these historical events. These central truths of the Christian faith were also witnessed by hundreds of people. Jesus was publicly executed on a cross, buried in Joseph\u2019s tomb (Mark 15:42\u201347), and seen alive again by more than 500 people at the same time. The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus are infallible proofs that he conquered death and that God\u2019s Word is the infallible proof of the event in our world today. Our next article in the series will look at several other pieces of evidence related to the resurrection, which will be followed by several articles examining many of the alternative views developed by critics and skeptics to explain away the resurrection.<\/p>\n By raising Jesus from the dead, God demonstrated his affirmation of Christ\u2019s work and ministry. Since he is the only way to the Father (John 14:6) and those who deny Jesus also deny the Father (1 John 2:23), it is essential that you consider what your response to Jesus will be. If you have not done so already, will you repent of your sins (Acts 3:19, 17:30), \u201cconfess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,\u201d and be saved (Romans 10:9)? Or will you continue in your rebellion, rejecting the only one who can save you from your sins? He is \u201cthe resurrection and the life\u201d and the one who believes in Christ, though he may die, will live eternally with him (John 11:25).<\/p>\n There is no middle ground when it comes to your relationship with God<\/span>\u2014either you belong to him by personal faith in Jesus<\/span> Christ or you do not.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are \u201cmany infallible proofs\u201d given in Scripture for the resurrection of Jesus Christ\u2014yet many still do not believe. Why? The first article in this series explained the importance of the resurrection of Jesus to the Christian faith. Its centrality to Christianity is shown by the fact that believing Jesus rose from the dead is<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26372,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36],"tags":[232,8799,481,8800,480],"class_list":{"0":"post-26371","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jesus","8":"tag-christ","9":"tag-infallible","10":"tag-jesus","11":"tag-proofs","12":"tag-resurrection"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26371","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26371"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26371\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26371"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26371"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblelon.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26371"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/p>\n
The Heart of Unbelief<\/h2>\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n