Why is Good Friday Good?

Galatians 3:13-14 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

A few weeks ago someone asked me this question: Why is Good Friday Good?  When that question was posed to me, I began to reflect on what the scriptures explain concerning Christ's accomplishments on the cross.  As we endeavor to answer this question, we can find the answer by looking at Galatians 3:7-14.  The Apostle Paul lays out for us three reasons why the Friday that Jesus died on the cross was indeed Good Friday.

Salvation's Promises was completed
Let's consider the first "good" that was accomplished on God Friday: Salvation's promise was accomplished.  Galatians 3:8 states -  "The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.”  Over 2,000 years before Christ came, the grace of God came to a man named Abram.  God brought to Abram the promise.  The theme of promise runs from Genesis to Malachi.  It began with Eve and was re-articulated by God to Abraham. 

The Promises of salvation was carried out through the scarlet bloodline of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  By the time we come to the New Testament, the Gospel of Matthew lists 42 generations spanning from Abraham down to Jesus, wherein the "seed of promise" was carried.  The Promise became the Person.  God the Son, the Promiser, came to embody the Promise in the humanity of Jesus Christ.  When Christ in His humanity breathed His last on that First Good Friday, over 100 prophecies were fulfilled.  The Promise was completed. 

Sin's Curse was Broken
Why did Jesus Christ go to the cross?  Did it really matter how He shed His blood?  Why didn't Jesus come down on a weekend, go to a doctor, have the doctor prick His finger, put blood in a vial, and catch the next chariot back to Heaven?  It may very well had been easier, but not effective.  He had to experience the virgin birth and grow through all the stages of humanity to experience what we experience - yet without sin.  But there's something more.

You see, when Adam sinned - a curse was pronounced. (Genesis 3:15-19)  Adam ate from the wrong tree, and was barred from gaining access to the tree of life.  In order for man to ever gain access to the tree of life, a perfect man, a "New Adam" would have to be placed upon a tree of death.  Galatians 3:13 quotes Deuteronomy 21:23, which tells us "cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree". 

The curse of Eden was broken at Calvary - Christ accomplished it.  The Promise of salvation was completed - Christ finished it.  But notice the third thing that makes God Friday Good....

Saving benefits received by faith
Galatians 3:14 states - "in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith."   Now lets be clear - The Event of Good Friday must become an experience in your life.  Salvation is not automatic.  All that Christ accomplished on that First Good Friday was an objective event of History.  As the passage states - all this was done by Christ "so that the promise of the Spirit (could come) through faith."

That phrase "through faith" could be rendered "through the faith", meaning the Divine Gifting of faith wherein I believe and receive all who Christ is and His benefits.  When you by grace through faith believe, the benefits of Good Friday will make everyday of your life a Resurrection Day.  It is for these reasons that "Good Friday" is good.






That phrase "through faith" is in reference to "The Faith", "the gift of faith", wherein I choose Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord, Treasure. 

 

The Resurrection proves Jesus perfect humanity

1 Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

In yesterday's blog we saw how the resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates His identity as the Living God.  We concluded yesterday's thoughts with this simple logical argument:

1. Major Premise: The Living God of the Old Testament raises the dead
2. Minor Premise: Jesus Christ raised from the Dead
3. Therefore: Jesus Christ is the Living God

The Deity of Jesus Christ is a fundamental doctrine of the Christian faith.  Today we want to understand what the resurrection of Jesus Christ proves with regards to Christ's sinless humanity.

What if Jesus had remained in the tomb?
In order for salvation to be accomplished, Jesus Christ had to be a sinless Savior.  But what if He had remained in the tomb following His crucifixion?  As One writer notes - Christ could not had been both Just and Justifier, since His own righteousness (His ability to please God on His own merit) would had been in question.  If Jesus Christ had even a hint of sin, the work on the cross would had been rendered void. (compare Romans 3:26)

If Jesus had remained in the tomb, he would had been no different than any other man
The Bible states in Hebrews 9:27 - "And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment."  The overwhelming conviction of scripture is that those who die physically and remain dead do so because they were not sinless.  Unbelievers, sadly, when they physically die, go to Hell to await final judgment.  Even Christians, whose sins are forgiven by grace through faith, though going immediately into the presence of God at death, are awaiting for the resurrection of their physical bodies at the end of time. (2 Corinthians 5:1-6)  The curse given to Adam and Eve brought about the physical death of all people.  Unless a person is sinless, all others will not be resurrected until the end of time. (Daniel 12:2-3)

Jesus Christ did raise from the dead, showing He was a sinless man
But Hebrews 9:28 reveals concerning Christ - "so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him".   Peter points out that because God did not allow Christ's body to suffer corruption, the resurrection proved He was sinless, just as he had claimed. (Acts 2:27)

The Logic of resurrections proves Jesus Christ to be the sinless Savior
When we consider the Logic of scripture, as it pertains to the resurrection's implications about Christ's humanity, we can note the following:

1. Major Premise: Any person who had sinned even once remains physically dead until the end of history
2. Minor Premise: Jesus Christ raised from the dead
3. Therefore: Jesus Christ was a sinless human being

The Living God is Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 15:12-13 12Now 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? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;

In today's blog we will be centering our thoughts around what Paul argues for here in 1 Corinthians 15:12-13.  From these two verses the Holy Spirit is aiming to show the link between the Old Testament predictions of the General Resurrection at the end of history to that of Christ's resurrection over 2,000 years ago.  To deny one is to deny the other. 

How the Resurrection ties together the Old and New Testaments through the identity of the Living God
When we speak of the resurrection from the dead, were not just speaking about New Testament truth.  Resurrection thinking had its origins in the revealed expectations of Old Testament saints.  These expectations were based upon the very nature of God Himself as the Living God.  Once we understand how central God's identity as the Living God is in both Old and New Testament revelation, we will better appreciate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 

Deuteronomy 5:26 is the first reference we see to God as the "Living God":  26‘For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?   Other passages such as Job 19:25, Jeremiah 10:10 and Daniel 6:26 specify the significance of God as the Living God fulfilling history, prophecy and promises for His people and History.  In the great scene of David and Goliath, David told Saul that by God's strength He was going to kill Goliath "who has defied the armies of the Living God".   In all, over 15 Old Testament texts describe the God of the Bible as the Living God - who raises the dead, who is the source of creation and the source of the believer's faith-life.

The Living God of the Old Testament is the God who raises the dead
Asw we already noted, the idea of God as the "Living God" refers to God's inherent power to raise people from the dead.  This fundamental Old Testament assertion of God's unique, Divine quality is stated by Jesus Himself, about Himself.  In John 11:25 Jesus states - "I am the Resurrection and the Life, He who believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live". 

By biblical Logic Jesus Christ is the Living God of Resurrection
From the above passages and observations, we can take the New Testament's teaching here in 1 Corinthians 15:12-13 and state the following logic:

1. Major Premise - The Living God of the Old Testament Raises the Dead
2. Minor Premise - Jesus Christ Raised from the Dead
3. Therefore: Jesus Christ is the Living God

Evangelistic tool - Salvation's Event and Experience

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:10 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed

Salvation was an event that must become a present experience in your life
1 Corinthians 15:1-10 details for us two most fundamental truths about salvation: That salvation is an event, and second that this event must become an experience in your life.  1 Corinthians 15:3-9 details the event of salvation, whereas 1 Corinthians 15:10-11 tells us how this event is made an experience.

Biblical Salvation was a Historical event
Whenever we speak of something being objective, we mean that it is true and real whether I agree with it or not.  It occured and exists independent of me.  Thus in 1 Corinthians 15:3-9 we see a summary of the event of salvation:

1. Christ died for our sins, acccording to thr scriptures. 15:3
2. Christ was buried. 15:4
3. Christ was Raised from the dead according to the scriptures. 15:4
4. The Risen Christ was witnessed by Peter and the Twelve. 15:5-6; Luke 24:36; John 20:19
5. The Risen Christ was witnessed by 500. 15:6
6. The Risen Christ was witnessed by James. 15:7
7. The Risen Christ was witnessed by Paul. 15:8-9

In short, we see Christ's death, burial, resurrection and eye-witness appearances.  This is the event of Biblical salvation.

Biblical Salvation went from an event to an experience in the lives listed in 1 Cor. 15
A quick run-through of the people listed here in 1 Corinthians 15 will reveal that the events of salvation went from the realm of facts to faith.  Paul and James, just to mention two examples, were both at one point unbeliever's and skeptics of Jesus Christ.  Yet by the early chapters of Acts, we see James (the Lord's own half-brother according to the flesh!) functioning as a leading figure in the early church.  The Apostle Paul has a dramatic conversion experience while on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians. (Acts 9).

How did this series of events become an ongoing experience in the lives of these men?  Paul lays it out for us in 1 Corinthians 15:10-11 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.  It was by grace through faith that these men believed and began to experience biblical salvation. (John 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:23)  

Sharing the Gospel of salvation - Event and Experience
How would one go about sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with these two main thoughts of salvation as event and experience?  By using 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 (which is the short-list on the chief events), spell out to the person what and who the Gospel is about - an objective event that took place and is true whether that person believes it or not.  Then by using a passage like John 3:16, you can demonstrate how and why the person must take the event in by faith in order to make it an experience.  1 Corinthians 15 and other passages like John 3:16 gives you a simple two-fold approach to evangelism - Salvation the event must become an experience in a person's life by grace through faith.   

Effective Good News

1 Corinthians 15:1-2 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

In today's blog we want to look at the Gospel's Living Message.  In other words, what specific elements of the Gospel make it the Living Message?

1. The Living Gospel speaks about the Living Effects of Salvation
When we speak of the Living effects of salvation, we refer to the particular graces flowing from the event of the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Two particular living effects are mentioned here in 1 Corinthians 15:1-2:

a. Persevering faith.  1 Corinthians 15:1 notes - Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand. That phrase "which also you stand" could also be translated "which also you have stood", meaning that what took place at the commitment of faith still has abiding, ongoing effects.  To "stand in one's faith" means to be continuously established, affirmed and reinforced by God.  Those who are in Christ by faith cannot ever lose their salvation nor will they ultimately want to leave the Savior and Lord who purchased them. (please compare 2 Timothy 1:12; John 10:27-29; Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 5:12; Jude 24-25)

b. Converting Faith.  1 Corinthians 15:2a tells us: "by which also you are saved".  The Divine Gifting of faith given by the Holy Spirit becomes a decision of the Human will.  The Living Gospel carries within it the inherent property of resurrection power, made possible by the event of the cross and resurrection, made transferrable by the living scriptures in their communication and made reality by the Holy Spirit's convicting work.  Persevering Faith is the fruit of this root of converting faith. (Please compare Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 8:11, 10:8-10; Acts 16:31; Romans 5:9).

2. The Living Gospel delivers the living effect of Good News
When we speak of the Gospel, we are talking about "Good news".  The term "Good News" comes form a Greek word from whence we derive our English word "evangelism".  It came from the context of ancient warfare, when messengers would come with news to a city about the latest victory or casualties.  Whenever that runner would come through the city gates, officials and people would be waiting.  The first question asked of the messenger would be: "Do you have any "euangellion" (evangelism)? That is - "Do you have any good news"? 

The best news that a messenger could give was that "The war is over, we are now at peace".  Cheers would erupt, and the citizens would celebrate.  The Gospel in effect tells us that because of the accomplishment and resurrection of Jesus Christ, sinful man's war with God is over.  The war begun in the garden of Eden was effectively won at Calvary and demonstrated to had ended at the resurrection of Christ from the Garden Tomb.   When you receive such news as "Good News" by faith, you experience the freedom, forgiveness and life giving power of Jesus Christ.  Your own personal war with God is done. (Please compare Ephesians 2:1-10)

The Bible's Most Powerful Chapter

1 Corinthians 15:1  "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand."

The Living Gospel shines hope into a troubled church
As the Apostle Paul wrote the letter of 1 Corinthians to the church at Corinth, he was writing to a church that was troubled.  The thunderclouds of judgment and discipline hung over this church.  After reading through the first 14 chapters of 1 Corinthians, judgment and God's discipline seem imminent.  Yet the rays of mercy and hope flood in to break up the clouds in 1 Corinthians 15.  The sunshine of God's Living Gospel pours into the otherwise bleak future for this church.  No chapter in God's word spells out the implications of Christ's resurrection any clearer than 1 Corinthians 15.

The main point of 1 Corinthians 15 - Unfolding the Living Gospel
When I began to study this chapter years ago, I was blown away at the breadth and depth that it covered.  Every major Bible doctrine, every conceivable means of persuasion is used by the Holy Spirit to convince the reader of the power of the living Gospel in 1 Corinthians 15.  Below is a thumbnail sketch of this remarkable chapter:

1. The Gospel's Living Message. 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
2. The Gospel's Living Christ.       1 Corinthians 15:12-20
3. The Gospel's Living Doctrine    1 Corinthians 15:21-28
4. The Gospel's Living Power       1 Corinthians 15:29-49
5. The Gospel's Living Encouragements 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

1 Corinthians 15 is the Bible's most powerful chapter.  Those five major divisions are like the five smooth stones that David had ready to put in His sling to defeat the Goliath of Unbelief.  1 Stone from this mighty brook is all that necessary to topple any giant you might be facing.  The Living Gospel is not only revealed in its power - but in it's robust splendor. 

The Living Gospel is the remedy for every spiritual ailment
As we saw in yesterday's blog, The Great Physician Jesus Christ issues us the ultimate remedy to every spiritual ailment - The Living Gospel - which is all about Himself.  The Apostle Paul is like a pharmacist issuing a bottle that, when taken in full measure, heals the heart and revives the Christian, while bringing God's saving power to the lost soul.   

Why the Living Gospel centers on the Resurrected Christ
1 Corinthians  15 stands as the finest one chapter summary anywhere in God's Word in demonstrating the significance of Christ's resurrection to the whole of scripture and the whole essence of Christianity.  A quick overview of the New Testament will reveal the priority of Christ's resurrection to Christianity:

All Four Gospels catalogue the resurrection of Jesus Christ and His various appearances to His disciples following that event.  The Book of Acts, the record of the early church, features 16 sermons preached in the early church. The Apostles Peter and Paul preached all of them but one, and almost ten times we find the resurrection of Jesus Christ to be the central emphasis of their preaching.  Most if not all of Paul's letters, Peter Letters and most of the other New testament books make reference to Christ's resurrection.  The Book of Revelation presents the Post-resurrected Christ as ruling and reigning, worthy of all worship, due to the fact that He has over come death. Truly without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christian faith itself would be lifeless.  Thank the Lord for the Living Gospel - the heart of Living Living Christianity.   

A parable about Dr. Law and the Great Physician

Romans 8:3-4 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh

In today's blog I want to tell you a parable about two doctors: Dr. Law and The Great Physican. 

Once there was a letter sent out from Divine Grace Hospital to a man by the name of Adam.  Adam had been very ill for quite sometime.  His thoughts were that perhaps he had a bad flu or perhaps some type of virus.  In the letter Adam was told to come immediately to the Hospital where he would meet with a doctor to discuss his condition. 

When Adam arrived, he came upon an office with the words written above: "Dr. Law".  As Adam stepped into the main waiting areas, he was immediately taken back.  A high desk was in the room, along with ten charts, depicting the results of Adam's test.  Dr. Law told Adam to sit down, as he had some news to share with Adam.  The news was far worst than Adam thought.  He had through carelessness contracted a fatal disease called "S-I-N".  It was in its final stages, and its rate of mortality was 100%.  Furthermore the disease was genetic and was guaranteed to infect all of Adam's loved ones. 

At first Adam tried to ignore Dr. Law's diagnosis, but a still small voice urged Adam to listen, since Dr. Law's tests would show the true picture.  As hour upon hour past, Dr. Law was relentless in his presenting of the test results.  Alas Adam blurted out: "Doctor, what can I do? Is there anything you can do for me? Is there a remedy?"  With hands folded and elbows resting on his desk, the Doctor told Adam that there was nothing he could do. All he could do was report the results.  Doctor Law told Adam: "Our office doesn't prescribe medicine, we just report test results and make referrals."    The message was clear: Adam was going to die!

Adam buried his head in his hands.  No comfort was available.  Realizing the nature of his disease, he got up to leave.  Dr. Law told Adam: "By the way, there is a Great Physican down the hallway.  I refer all my patients to him.  The choice is yours".

As Adam left the office, he headed down grace hallway and stood in front of a doorway marked: "The Great Physician".  As he looked back, he noticed other patients, like he, coming out of Dr. Law's office.  Some were stumbling behind him, while others headed in the other direction.  Adam could not ignore the diagnosis.  Dr. Law's chilling diagnosis made him desperate for answers.  He regretted his careless decisions.  "Dr. Law was right", he thought, I'm going to die!"

As He opened the Great Physican's door, a gracious nurse came to Him and asked if Adam needed anything.  With barely a whisper, Adam said: "I'm dying, I need help".  Without hestitancy he was wisked into The Great Physician's office.  In came The Great Physician.  For a long time they sat in silence.  Unlike Dr. Law, The Great Physican's walls were bare.  Adam suddenly got on his knees and begged the Great Physician for help.  He said: Doc, I've been diagnosed by Dr. Law as having the S-I-N virus.  I have no hope.  I'm going to die.  No medicine that I take can cure me.  He referred me to you.  Great Physican, you're my only hope!

With that admission, the Great Physician stretched out His hand, with a scar of a nail print, and with a voice that shook the entire building He said: You are healed! You are Forgiven! Live!

1 Peter 1:3   Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

The difference between skepticism and faith

Luke 24:24-25  24“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Contrasting Living Living Christianity and Dead Christianity
We noted yesterday that dead Christianity and Living Christianity are two mirror opposites.  We can call the Living Christianity of Luke 24 "Living Living Christianity", since in the face  doubt and skepticism it lives the living essentials of the implications of Christ's Resurrection from the dead. 

Dead Christianity is centered around a "dead Christ", whereas living living Christianity's theology and experience is centered around the Risen Christ who overcame death.  Dead Christianity operates out of human opinion, whereas living living Christianity works from the living scriptures.  Dead Christianity has no message while living living Christianity has a living message - the proclamation that He is Risen.  Then finally, dead Christianity has no testimony, only long faced religion - a shell of what it was or ever could be.  Living living Christianity has a robust testimony of how the Risen Christ of scripture is central to the conversion and ongoing Christian's life. 

Skeptics' claims of insight leads to their own blindness
As you follow the conversation these followers of Jesus had between themselves and the disguised Jesus in Luke 24:13-24, you can gather how much the bias of unbelief informs these disciple's conclusions.  Unbelief sees what it wants to see, despite the evidence.  Faith sees what it is able to see, because of evidence.  In Luke 24:16 the text states: "their eyes were prevented from reocgnizing Him."  As you go down through the text, Luke 24:19-21 reveals their view of who Jesus was:
1. He was a Prophet
2. He was a Mighty teacher
3. He was Crucified.  Despite the claims of resurrection, it is most likely He is dead

It is no wonder Jesus made His blistering indictment of these disciples in Luke 24:25 "O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!"

Why faith requires God's supernatural power to see the evidence
As I said earlier, skepticism sees what it wants to see despite the evidence.  However Faith sees what it is able to see because of the evidence.  As Jesus began to explain and unfold the scriptures, Luke 24:31 states "Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and he vanished from their sight".  The scriptures are God's instrument by which the persuasion of the truth comes to convert the heart. (Psalm 19:7; 1 Peter 1:23).  Hebrews 11:1 tells us - "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen".  Thus what Christ did through His word was bring the "persuasion" of grace to bear on the "proof" that was before their eyes - Himself. 

Dead Christianity is made into living living Christianity
Remarkably, as a result of the Divine gifting of faith, these disciples made a genuine decision to belief the testimony of the women. (Luke 24:34)    In addition to acknowledging the events of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, they had an experience of such through faith.  They had a living testimony whereby they could related "their experiences" in Luke 24:35.  Then as Christ appeared to the disciples in Luke 24:36-49, we see that He was not some mere vision or mass hallucination, rather His resurrection was a bonified physical event. 

In Luke 24:53 we see all the disciples "continually in the temple praising God".  Clearly living living Christianity acknowledges what the resurrection demonstrates - that this Jesus who raised from the dead as a sinless man is and always will be very God of very God.  Living living Christianity abides and goes forward in the supernatural resurrection power of Jesus Christ. (Romans 8:11)

Living Christianity vs Dead Christianity

Luke 24:11 But these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.

Yesterday we began looking at the most important doctrine of the Christian faith - the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  We discovered that from it issues four essential elements vital to Christianity:
1. Living Christ
2. Living Christ revealed in Living Scripture
3. Living Scripture leading to Living Proclamation
4. Living Proclamation that results in Living testimony

Ingredients for a dead Christianity
As exciting as the women's testimony was, Living Christianity came in contact with a cold reception.  Peter and the disciples gathered in Jerusalem, as well as some disciples traveling on a road to a town called "Emmaus", were operating in unbelief.  In stark contrast to the living Christianity of the women, the dead Christianity of the rest of the disciples contained four elements:

1. A Dead Christ, who had not risen (in their understanding)
2. Dead Human Opinion
3. Dead Message
4. Dead Testimony

A Dead Christ means a crisis to Christian faith, and thus the death of Christian hope
From Luke 24:11-24 we see a group of Christ followers who were sorrowfully convinced that their Master was still in the tomb.  When Peter and the disciples heard the women's living proclamation, they took it as nonsensical. (Luke 24:11)  The rest of those traveling on the road to Emmaus concevied of Jesus as a Prophet and a mighty teacher in Luke 24:19.  In Luke 24:20 they noted He was crucified, and was hoping in Luke 24:21 that He would had been "The One".  Yet their Jesus was still in the tomb.  Faith was in crisis and hope was lost.

A Dead, unrisen Christ, is based upon dead human opinion
Not one time do you find the skepticism of the Apostles nor these other followers rooted in scripture.  Living scripture knows nothing of a Christ who remained in a tomb, never to be risen from the dead.  Instead, all those who have argued against the resurrection, or who have not had it in the realm of the supposed Christian faith, are arguing from sources other than the scripture.

Dead Human opinion leads to a dead message
As Jesus, in veiled form, questions these disciples concerning there conversation.  In Luke 24:17 the NASB states that these men "were standing, looking sad".  The word for "sad" in the Greek corresponds to an inner turmoil in which one's emotional world is in a state of chaos.  When we trace the meaning of this word back through Jewish thought, it characterizes those who are unbelievers. 

When a person is in this particular state like these disciples, they have nothing to say, since no hope, no positive outcome for the future can be seen by them.  Dead versions of Christianity are like the beautiful cathedrals dotting the countrysides of Europe.  Christianity became a museum when 18th and 19th century versions of Liberal Christianity ravaged the faithwalks of Germany, England and France.  A Dead Christianity with no message is no Christianity. 

A dead message leads to a Dead Testimony
No wonder Jesus rebukes his followers in Luke 24:25 - "And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!"  It was the Risen Christ's indictment on an unbelieving church.  Nothing can kill a move of God quicker than the preachers and practitioners of the Christian faith who operate in unbelief.  As a pastor, I marvel at the times I exhibit lack of faith - allowing circumstances to determine how I live.  Thankfully, as Christians, it does not nor should ever have to be that way. 

We do not despair, for He is risen!
As the Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:20a "But now Christ has been raised from the dead." The Living Christ, of the living scriptures, issued a living proclamation leading to a living testimony compels me to tell my circumstances how I'm going to live.  As Christians, we have all the means of grace available to put forth a living Christianity.  The Living Christ will not tolerate a dead Christianity.  He lives so that we can.  Without Him, there is no life - neither physical nor spiritual. 

Christianity's Most Important Doctrine

Luke 24:6 "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee"

Today we are going to be talking about the most important doctrine and truth of the Christian faith - The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  In Luke 24 we witness the events surrounding the morning in which He had raised from the dead.  We know the resurrection to be the most important Christian doctrine, since without it, Christianity cannot exist. (1 Corinthians 15:19)  The Resurrection issues forth four essential elements that enable Christianity to be a living Christianity.    I will list them and then deal with them briefly one at a time:

1. Living Scriptures
2. Living Christ
3. Living Proclamation
4. Living Testimony

1. Living Christianity is built around the Living Christ
The Angel's assertion to the women who came to the tomb was "He is not here, He is Risen".  This statement constitutes the most fundamental truth of the Christian faith.  We assert the centrality of the crucifixion of Jesus - without which Christianity would be in crisis.  However without the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christianity is dead.  The Resurrection validates the identity and accomplishment of Jesus Christ. 

2. The Living Scriptures Center upon the Living Christ
Luke 24:1-12 shows us the episode of the women coming to the empty tomb.  What the angel spoke to them in Luke 24:6 constitutes the heart of the Christian Good News (the Gospel) - namely that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.  The angel was bring to their attention the living words of God.  These words that we have in written form are of course the Bible, from the Latin term scriptura meaning "those things written".  The Angel reminds the women that Jesus Himself had predicted His own, death, burial and resurrection.  Years later, when the four Gospels were composed, those very statements were recorded stated by Jesus on at least half a dozen occassions. 

3. Living Scriptures, about the Living Christ require Living Proclamation
In Luke 24:9 the women ran from the tomb and "proclaimed" to the rest of the disciples what they had seen and heard.  The idea of communicating God's truth has always been a central hall mark of true Biblical faith.  In the Old Testament the Prophets' preaching centered around Prediction and Explanation.  When Jesus Christ came preaching went from prediction to pronouncement.  The King and His Kingdom were not merely coming, He was here!

However there still was the element of anticipation, since the arrival of the King meant that He was going to achieve something significant in His realm.  When Christ raised from the dead, preaching and communication of God's word went from pronouncement to proclamation.  Proclamation is way different from the first two, in that there is no longer anticipation, but completion.  The victory has been won!  Jesus Christ demonstrated Himself to be both the living God and Perfect man!  Preaching or proclamation that lives centers its content around the victory of the cross demonstrated in Christ's resurrection from the dead. 

4. Living testimonies issue forth from living proclamation of the living scriptures about the living Christ
Luke 24:8-9 tells us the response of the women to the angels words: "And they remembered His words, 9and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest."  These women had a living Christianity that overflowed into the telling of their own personal experience - their testimony.  Like a testimony in a court of law, the value is confirmed by experience, tested by evidence and confirmes what took place.  Matthew 28:8, the parallel text to Luke's, records these details: "And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples."

A Living Christianity that centers itself around the Living Christ, Living Scriptures, Living Proclamation and Living Testimony is the only hope for a dying world.