He Lives!

by Steve Hale

INTRODUCTION
If Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the third day, as claimed in Scripture, He is the Son of God as He claimed (Matthew 16:18). He is the Savior of the world (John 3:16, 17). You must submit to His will in order to go to heaven (Hebrews 5:8, 9).
If Christ's resurrection is a hoax, then Christianity, morality, and brotherly love are meaningless. The consideration of this tract is the centerpiece of Christianity!
It is the author's fervent conviction that Jesus lives! Even though the limited space of this tract keeps us from giving this awesome subject exhaustive treatment, the evidence in this tract is compelling. May the Lord bless you in your study.

-STEVE HALE-

ADMISSION OF ENEMIES
In any court, witnesses carry dynamic weight. Incredibly, even the enemies of Jesus admit he arose! Here are some examples:
1. The guards -- They told the chief priests that: (1) an angel of the Lord descended from heaven; (2) and rolled away the stone; (3) his garment was white as snow; (4) for fear of him, the guards became as dead men; (5) that the angel told the women Jesus has risen (Matthew 28:11; 27:1-6).
2. At Pentecost -- Some of the very ones that obeyed the gospel that day had just called for Christ's crucifixion (Acts 2:36-41). Though they had killed Him, they were convinced God had raised Him from the dead (Acts 2:22-24).
3. Paul -- No Jew ever opposed Christianity with more fervor than Saul of Tarsus (Paul). Of him, Luke said that he was "still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1). Yet, this former enemy became convinced of the risen Savior ( Acts 9, 22, 26)! He was baptized into Christ to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16). He even documented eyewitnesses of the resurrected Savior (I Corinthians 15:1-8)!

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BODY?
If Christianity is built upon a hoax, why did not the Jews simply bring the body of Jesus to the Temple Mount, and destroy the movement once and for all? They could not, because they did not have it! If they had, they surely would have brought it forth!
Instead of stealing the body, the enemies tried to guard it. They:
1. Sealed the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66).
2. Put the guard there (Matthew 27:62-66).
3. Roman guards, the greatest in the world, changed watches every six hours.
4. Falling asleep or losing the prisoner, was to be punished by death (Acts 12:19).
5. Some sixteen highly motivated soldiers (Acts 12:4) guarded the body of Jesus.
6. The disciples could not have stolen it from these guard, even if they had wanted to!
7. They could not have excavated through the other side: it was solid rock (Matthew 27:60)!
8. The disciples had no desire to steal the body:
a. They could not revive it.
b. They scattered after his crucifixion: Peter even went fishing (John 21:3)!
9. The enemies never confronted the disciples about stealing the body, because they knew they did not have it (Matthew 28:11- 15)!
So, what happened to the body? The enemies did not have it. The disciples did not have it. The enemies could not show it was still in the tomb, and destroy Christianity. The only explanation is that God raised Him from the dead! He lives!

EYEWITNESSES
The church at Corinth needed to be strengthened. The factions and controversies so prevalent were weakening the disciples.
Paul reminded them that Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He lists these eyewitnesses for them (I Corinthians 15:3-7):
1. Cephas (I Corinthians 15:5);
2. The Twelve (I Corinthians 15:5);
3. 500 brethren at once (I Corinthians 15:6);
4. James (I Corinthians 15:7);
5. All the apostles (I Corinthians 15:7);
6. Paul himself (I Corinthians 15:8).
Most of those 500 (I Corinthians 15:6) were still alive. Why could not the Corinthians find just one that would tell them it was all a hoax? How could all these eyewitnesses be so meticulously documented and available to the Corinthians?
Because Christ's resurrection is true! He lives!

CONCLUSION
We have not come close to exhausting the evidence. We could yet examine: (1) the fulfillment of prophecy; (2) the transformation of the disciples after the resurrection as opposed to them fleeing at the crucifixion; (3) the harmonious testimony of the disciples; (4) the New Testament's moral influence is without rival; (5) the New Testament's theological influence is without rival.
We could make this list longer. Jesus lives! He died, was buried, and resurrected (I Corinthians 15:1-4). Those that die, are buried, and resurrected with Him through baptism become His (Romans 6:3-7; Galatians 3:27). Are you His? Do you belong to Jesus? Are you a Christian?
Just for the record:
1. Confucius's Tomb.........occupied!
2. Mohammed's Tomb......occupied!
3. Buddha's Tomb............occupied!
4. Jesus's Tomb....................empty!

Order Additional Tracts From:
Mt. Juliet Church of Christ
P.O. Box #248
Mt. Juliet, TN 37122
Phone: (615) 758-2274

June 26, 1992

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He Lives! by Steve Hale INTRODUCTION If Jesus Christ arose from the dead on the third day, as claimed in Scripture, He is the Son of God as He claimed (Matthew 16:18). He is the Savior of the world (John 3:16, 17). You must submit to His will in order to go to heaven (Hebrews 5:8, 9). If Christ's resurrection is a hoax, then Christianity, morality, and brotherly love are meaningless. The consideration of this tract is the centerpiece of Christianity! It is the author's fervent conviction that Jesus lives! Even though the limited space of this tract keeps us from giving this awesome subject exhaustive treatment, the evidence in this tract is compelling. May the Lord bless you in your study. -STEVE HALE- ADMISSION OF ENEMIES In any court, witnesses carry dynamic weight. Incredibly, even the enemies of Jesus admit he arose! Here are some examples: 1. The guards -- They told the chief priests that: (1) an angel of the Lord descended from heaven; (2) and rolled away the stone; (3) his garment was white as snow; (4) for fear of him, the guards became as dead men; (5) that the angel told the women Jesus has risen (Matthew 28:11; 27:1-6). 2. At Pentecost -- Some of the very ones that obeyed the gospel that day had just called for Christ's crucifixion (Acts 2:36-41). Though they had killed Him, they were convinced God had raised Him from the dead (Acts 2:22-24). 3. Paul -- No Jew ever opposed Christianity with more fervor than Saul of Tarsus (Paul). Of him, Luke said that he was "still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord" (Acts 9:1). Yet, this former enemy became convinced of the risen Savior ( Acts 9, 22, 26)! He was baptized into Christ to wash away his sins (Acts 22:16). He even documented eyewitnesses of the resurrected Savior (I Corinthians 15:1-8)! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BODY? If Christianity is built upon a hoax, why did not the Jews simply bring the body of Jesus to the Temple Mount, and destroy the movement once and for all? They could not, because they did not have it! If they had, they surely would have brought it forth! Instead of stealing the body, the enemies tried to guard it. They: 1. Sealed the tomb (Matthew 27:62-66). 2. Put the guard there (Matthew 27:62-66). 3. Roman guards, the greatest in the world, changed watches every six hours. 4. Falling asleep or losing the prisoner, was to be punished by death (Acts 12:19). 5. Some sixteen highly motivated soldiers (Acts 12:4) guarded the body of Jesus. 6. The disciples could not have stolen it from these guard, even if they had wanted to! 7. They could not have excavated through the other side: it was solid rock (Matthew 27:60)! 8. The disciples had no desire to steal the body: a. They could not revive it. b. They scattered after his crucifixion: Peter even went fishing (John 21:3)! 9. The enemies never confronted the disciples about stealing the body, because they knew they did not have it (Matthew 28:11- 15)! So, what happened to the body? The enemies did not have it. The disciples did not have it. The enemies could not show it was still in the tomb, and destroy Christianity. The only explanation is that God raised Him from the dead! He lives! EYEWITNESSES The church at Corinth needed to be strengthened. The factions and controversies so prevalent were weakening the disciples. Paul reminded them that Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He lists these eyewitnesses for them (I Corinthians 15:3-7): 1. Cephas (I Corinthians 15:5); 2. The Twelve (I Corinthians 15:5); 3. 500 brethren at once (I Corinthians 15:6); 4. James (I Corinthians 15:7); 5. All the apostles (I Corinthians 15:7); 6. Paul himself (I Corinthians 15:8). Most of those 500 (I Corinthians 15:6) were still alive. Why could not the Corinthians find just one that would tell them it was all a hoax? How could all these eyewitnesses be so meticulously documented and available to the Corinthians? Because Christ's resurrection is true! He lives! CONCLUSION We have not come close to exhausting the evidence. We could yet examine: (1) the fulfillment of prophecy; (2) the transformation of the disciples after the resurrection as opposed to them fleeing at the crucifixion; (3) the harmonious testimony of the disciples; (4) the New Testament's moral influence is without rival; (5) the New Testament's theological influence is without rival. We could make this list longer. Jesus lives! He died, was buried, and resurrected (I Corinthians 15:1-4). Those that die, are buried, and resurrected with Him through baptism become His (Romans 6:3-7; Galatians 3:27). Are you His? Do you belong to Jesus? Are you a Christian? Just for the record: 1. Confucius's Tomb.........occupied! 2. Mohammed's Tomb......occupied! 3. Buddha's Tomb............occupied! 4. Jesus's Tomb....................empty! Order Additional Tracts From: Mt. Juliet Church of Christ P.O. Box #248 Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 Phone: (615) 758-2274 June 26, 1992 Related Articles: Print this Article Discuss this Article Back to the Sermon Page	Mt. Juliet Church of Christ 1940 N. Mt. Juliet Road P.O.Box 248 Mt.Juliet, TN 37122-0248 (615)758-2274 Fax:615-754-2351 Email Worship Services: Sunday Early Worship: 8AM Sunday Bible Study: 9:15AM Sunday Late Worship: 10:15AM Night Worship: 6PM Wednesday Bible Study: 7PM