Middletown transcript., 1916-04-22

fact that Jesus rose from the dead and
is as truly alive today as when walk.
ing the hills Of Galilee this repetition
OF the Easter story will not be in vain.
For the pupils to take notes of the
points of the argument and to recite
upon those notes at the end of the
class hour would greatly help to fix
the facts In their minds. This account
considered today is perhaps the old
est written record we have OF this
great fact, written about Sc A. D.,
hence the significance Of verse six.
1. The Triumphant Fact Tvs. 1-4). II
Christian workers would be more IA
miliar with this passage they would
more intelligently understand what
the term Gospel means. The fact of
the resurrection loomed larger in
Paul's mind than the virgin birth; the
former was and is the greater miracle.
This, one Of the supreme chapters of
the Bible, tells us what the Gospel Is,
and what its results are to be. ~
What it is. Not new cure for tuber-
culosis, nor a new social environment,
but the good news Of one who was God
incarnate paul does not use his earth
ly name Jesus), Christ the Amounted
One, who died for our sins Just as the
Scriptures had foretold, and was bur-
led. On the third day, according to
the Scriptures" He rose again and is
now and ever shall be alive. Any Cos
pei that ignores the incarnation, pas.
sion and resurrection of Jesus is false
to the Scriptures and a lie. (2) The
result of preaching or testifying to
this great program is twofold: first,
salvation, saved, restored to right
relations with God;" and second, per.
severance, wherein ye stand" The
"God-story," good news, evangel or
gospel-they are all the same-is "the
power Of God unto salvation" and the.
strong doctrine of the resurrection
will cause men to walk straight, to
stand upright Christ died for my
sins according to the Scriptures" Qso.
SO: 5-10).
II. Witnesses to tho Fact Tvs. 5-12).
Paul ". 81 received the resurrection
truth from many witnesses, whom he
proceeds to enumerate, for it was not
O matter of his own invention. The In
credulity of the disciples at the first
20 Pro ly11 1AI 4 al ~ =
sus did not appear first to John, Plate |
or the Sanhedrin, but to a woman, and |
the change of the apostles from O |
spirit Of despair to that of confident. |
joyous certainty was most astonishing. |
There are eleven recorded appear.
ances Of Jesus after his resurrection,
and not one Of them was made to his
enemies. Paul does not mention all
Of the appearances. He is probably
naming only those persons, witnesses
Of his appearances. with whom he had
conversed, or at least few from each
group. ~ Peter, referred to indirect.
ly in Luke 24:34; (2) the apostles, to
be exact, the first ten, Judas being
dead and Thomas absent; (3) the apos
ties with Thomas present; a. five
hundred, the only record of this great
company, though perhaps implied In
the brethren" of Matt. 28:10. "Hali
q thousand witnesses are enough t6
establish any case" OF these the
greater number were alive twenty-five
years after the event; (5) James. prob
ably our Lords brother, the honored
head Of the Jerusalem church; (6l
Then all the apostles" a larger cir.
Gle than the twelve (see Luke 2S:48,
Acts 1863. This may have been the
appearance in the morn at the Sea OF
CD me also" The winning
Of the prosecutor who had looked
upon this wild tale of crucified and
risen teacher as a sacrilege and a dis.
grace to his nation, is the most signal
and significant triumph Of the Chris
tian faith. The Damascus road VIC
tory was far more portentious than
any other battle of history. That vi
sion converted Paul and supported
him amidst the most astounding trials
and testings. "Out Of due season."
like an abortive child, like a child OF
birth, Paul was unworthy OF
the name of child. He had seen the
martyr Stephen die. he had prosecuted
hose who believed, and although for
given by God, yet he was filed with
! lifelong regret for his misused in.
1uence and misspent years. There
lore he terms himself, least of the
apostles" But he is saved and
through the grace Of God can ex
claim, Il am what / am" The evi
lence of the resurrection Is more pre-
oOnderant and definite than the his.
oric evidence we have that Caesar =
Augustus or Abraham Lincoln ever
ived. 1t is a greater strain upon hui e.
nan intelligence not to believe this
act than it is to deny the evidence OF :
wireless telegraphy.
III. The Fact Applied. Tvs. 1S-2O)
The Corinthians. to whom Paul was
writing. did not deny Christ's immor.
ality, but seemed to deny that the
ame power which had raised him
ould be applied to US who are only
luman. Paul answers this by present
ng four arguments:
QD The resurrection Of Christ '
roves the possibility of the resurrec
ion from the dead. If only Of Jesus
The Sadducees taught the contrary .
he Stoics taught that the dead were :
in God. To say Christ ID \
lot risen Is to claim death as annihila .
ion. to destroy faith in Jesus ". 14D :,
nd to lmpugn the testimony Of those \
Vho had seen him ". l5l. A dead :,
'hrist means dead Christians ". III