Thoughts on Easter

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith .... And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:13-14, 17-22)

The Holy Bible: NIV. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1984.

Liberal theologians of the early 19th century really did more to create doubt in Christ than to share the historical legitimacy of the biblical text. They exalted their own minds and their cognitive reasoning ability as lord over sacred scripture. Somehow, they were able to do this and delude themselves into thinking that they were still Christians and God-fearers.

Paul addressed this old philosophy in new packaging when he shared with the church at Corinth, some 30 years removed from the event of Christ's resurrection. He gave many realities, such as the eyewitnesses. He also stated the necessity and the consequences of the resurrection. He clearly stated that Christianity itself rises and falls on the resurrection. If it is real, you must place your hope there. If it is false, you'd better look for another venue.

He had banked his life and message on it, and he shared the reasons why. Reasons that, in any court of law with objectivity (as opposed to pre-suppositional subjectivity), would validate as true.

Harvard professor of law Simon Greenleaf wrote in a book in 1965 these words:

"All that Christianity asks of men is that they would be consistent with themselves, that they would treat the resurrection evidences as they treat the evidence of other things, and that they would try and judge its actors and witnesses as they deal with their fellow men when testifying in human courts or human tribunals. The result will be an undoubting conviction of their integrity, ability, and truth."

If reasonable men would submit their reason to revelation, they too would see the hope of life, the resurrected Christ.