Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1917-04-20
The Resurrection of Christ.
(Sermon by F. d. Muse

Sometimes you hear discussed, what |
is the greatest battle in the history OF |
the world, and there is room for de-
bate upon the question.
But if the question be asked what
one event has influenced the world the
most, the answer would be the resur-
rection of Christ, and there is little
room for debate. This is true from
the revolution wrought by the res,
direction.
l. In the first place it revolution
lied religion. 1t was the deatl
knell of paganism. Full of the truth
of Christ's resurrection and embold-
ened by it, the disciples of Christ
went everywhere spreading their
message and paganism gave way be.
fore it.
1t also overthrow the Jews relig-
ion. Beginning in Jerusalem with
the conversion of the three thousand,
soon there were five thousand and null
titudes of people and priests who be-
came converts. All the first mis-
sionaries and Apostles were converted
Jews and they went everywhere
preaching the word. Judaism was no
longer the supreme religion but
Christianity took first place until the
whole Roman Empire finally adopted
it.
2. The Resurrection revolutionized
philosophy. With the introduction of
Christianity into Greece. the seat of
the worlds greatest PHILOSOPHERS and
philosophers, philosophical thought
and ideas were greatly changed and
modified by Christian thought.
Platoism took on decidedly differ
ent form and distinctly Christian
philosophy took it's place.
3. The Resurrection revolutionized
&c tn. Before the resurrection of
Christ, death was horrid monster
There was no hope. All was ended
at the tomb. Christ conquered death
by his resurrection. When the angles
rolled away the stone and flooded the
tomb with their heavenly light, it
meant the bsnishment Of the darkness
of death itself. ''Christ brought life
and immortality to light through the
gospel" of his resurrection, and we
say, 80 death where is thy sting, o
grave where is thy victory?"
The Resurrection revolutionized
life. Life took on an added meaning.
Twas not all of life to live, -
here alone, nor all of death to die.
Life was no longer bounded by time,
but as boundless as eternity. This
mortal was to put on immortality, and
we were to be changed into the like
ness OF Christ's own glorious body.
So life here must be lived with refer
ence to the other life, as only those
who live the Christ life can attain I'M
to the glorious resurrection life.
ii. Because Of the Revolutionary
tendency of Christ's resurrection, no
other doctrine has been assailed as
this one has.
l. The Jews fought it from the be-
ginning by bribing the soldiers to
say, the disciples had stolen the body
while they slept.
The falseness of this claim is so
self evident that it hardly needs re-
buttal. They themselves made it i'm
possible. They asked a guard of
PLATE and had it. The guard faced
death if they slept.
Delusions gradually died out, but
this constantly grew. Three thous-
and believe on Pentecost, then five
thousand, then the whole Roman
Empire, and since countless millions
have held the faith. The disciples
| could not have been deceived as to
Christ's person. They had been with
him for more than three years. He
was with them for forty days after
his resurrection. He gave them
every opportunity to prove his iden-
ity. He talked with them. He ate
with them. They handled him as
Peter says Nor is the Resurrection
an incredible thing. There always
have been doubters and scoffers, San
duces, who says there is neither
angel, nor spirit, no resurrection, but
this resurrection is capable of proof
to all ordinary minds. Men who
have examined the testimony say,
there is more evidence for the resur-
rection than any other single fact of
ancient history. We may admit that
it was extraordinary, a miracle,
wonder. 1t never had parallel. 1t
never will be repeated, yet it is cred
ible and fact.
We argue from the character of
Christ. He was an extraordinary
parsonage. His birth, his life, his
words, his deeds were all wonderful.
He was without parallel in history.
He was always doing the wonderful,
and saying the wonderful. He
spoke as never man spake.
He showed while alive that he had
power over dead matter. He caused