Apologia! Every word of God is tested… Proverbs 30:5

The Church As Evidence Of The Resurrection The very existence of the church of Christ is evidence of the resurrection. Because the preaching that established the church was filled with references to the resurrection of Jesus. In fact, the resurrection is central to all gospel preaching.

After Ascension – Before Pentecost Acts 1:21-22 – “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us – beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us – one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

Sermon On Pentecost Acts 2:23-24 – “…this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. 3,000 were baptized

Contained In OT Scripture Acts 2:31-32 –[David] looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.

In Peter’s Second Sermon Acts 3:14-15 – “But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses.”

Again In Acts 4:10 “…let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead – by this name this man stands here before you in good health.”

To Cornelius Acts 10:39-41 – “We are witnesses of all the things He did….They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible…to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God….”

On Paul’s First Journey Acts 13:29-39 – “…[They] laid Him in a tomb. But God raised Him from the dead….And we preach to you the good news….in that He raised up Jesus….but He whom God raised did not undergo decay….”

On Mars Hill Acts 17:30-31 – “…God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead”

The Church Is Historical Fact The church only existed in the first place because first century people believed in the resurrection. Christianity is based upon Jesus as the Messiah. A dead Messiah is not Messiah at all. The church would not exist unless she believed Jesus resurrected from the dead.

The First Day Of The Week Evidence Furthermore, the church’s decision to hold the first day of the week sacred is evidence for the resurrection. Christianity’s first adherents were Jews – trained for centuries in the observance of the Sabbath. Exodus 20:8 – “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”

Would They Break The Sabbath Easily? Numbers 15:32-36 Man gathering wood on the Sabbath was stoned to death by the commandment of the Lord. Exodus 31:14 – “…everyone who profanes it will surely be put to death….”

What About The Communion? “…these men observed the Lord’s day, a weekly memorial of the resurrection, instead of the Sabbath. On that Lord’s day they celebrated the holy communion, which was not a commemoration of a dead Christ, but a thankful remembrance of the blessings conveyed by a living and triumphant Lord.”

And What About Baptism? Colossians 2:12 – “…having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.” Romans 6:3-4 -- Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.

Insurmountable Evidence! Jesus claimed He would rise from the dead. Jesus claimed He DID rise from the dead. Many people saw Him after His resurrection. Many saw Him ascend into heaven. Based upon that experience they were driven to preach of His resurrection, even in the face of terrible persecution. As the result of their preaching a mighty church grew up which has never been destroyed – believing in the resurrection of Jesus. We still observe that resurrection to this day.