The Coolidge examiner., 1939-04-06
PAUL breaches THE
RISEN CHRIST

hAoASAN SAAhAO4
LESSON TEXT-Acts 1916. 1881, 49,
80; l Corinthians 15:19-22.
GOLDEN TEXT-But now is Christ
risen from the dead. and become the
frstfruits of them that slept Corin-
thans 1920.
From time immemorial man has
stood questioning at the close of life,
somehow feeling that Gas Tennyson
expressed it,
Thou wilt not leave US in the dust;
Thou madest man. he knows not why:
He thinks he was not made to die:
And thou hast made him: thou art Just.
But nowhere in nature was there
written the assurance that death did
not end all. In fact it was not until
Christ won His victory over death
that there was any real certainty
that there was life beyond the
grave.
Christianity is the only faith that
rests upon the resurrection of its
founder. Other religions point with
pride to the monuments at the
graves of their founders. Christi
anity alone presents an empty tomb.
Since only God can give life and
Jesus by His own power raised Him
self from the dead, we have the
right to the glorious claim that
Christianity is the one true faith
victorious living faith.
Resurrection truth
1. Makes the Preacher Bold ".
16).
Barnabas and Paul had been set
apart by the Holy Spirit and by the
Church for missionary work, and on
their first journey had reached Anti
och in Pisidia. In the synagogue on
the Sabbath day they were asked to
speak to the people. Paul arose in
holy boldness and called upon them
to hearken to him. What is the i'm
portant message which gives this
preacher such assurance? The res
direction of Jesus Christ. 1t is true
that the sermon he gives presents
much other information as it log
ically and tactfully leads up to its
high point, but that point is the
resurrection and the redemption
which it assures.
ii. Makes the Gospel Clear wv.
1881. 38. 39.
Reviewing Israers history, Paul
declares that of the seed of David
God had according to his promise
raised unto Israel Saviour,
Jesus" but that they slew Him.
Now. if that were the end. we would
indeed be 'of all men most mis-
cradle" q Cor. 1919. Our hopes of
salvation, with IsraePs hopes, were
bound up in Christ. But a dead
Christ could save no one, not even
Himself. We must have a living
Christ Had Paul message stopped
there it would have been a hollow
mockery. But wait, what is it we
read? God raised him from the
dead ". 800. Blessed truth Clio
rious foundation for the proclama
ton of the gospel so aptly epito-
mixed in the words of verses 38 and
80. Now it is clear that we have a
victorious, living Saviour and Cos
pei to preach that is the power of
God unto salvation to everyone that
believeth' (Rom. 1:16).
Ill. Makes the Future Certain q
Cor 15:19-22).
Man comes to the years of matur-
ity and suddenly faces the shocking
fact that the life to which he gives
so much, for which he labors and
sacrifices, is but for a brief span of
years, perhaps at the most three
score years and ten, and if by rea-
son of strength they be fourScore
years, yet is their strength labor
and sorrow Cps. 90: 100. He sees
that friends and loved ones must
part at the grave. Is this the end?
The answer to that question comes
to us today from the empty tomb in
the garden through the words of
Paul. Listen to their majesty-re-
joice in their beauty and assurance:
But now is Christ risen from the
dead" Hallelujah! And that's not
all, He has become the first fruits
of them that slept" ". 20). which
means that all those who are asleep
in Jesus will be brought forth in
due season.
The resurrection of Jesus trans
formed the grave Gas friend of
mine expresses it, from a dark hole
in the ground where hope ends, to
highway, going down, it is true,
through the valley of the shadow,
but lighted by the victory of Jesus
over death, and bordered on both
sides by Easter lilies. Thus is
brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in
victory''-a victory that makes us
'steadfast, unmoveable, always
Astounding in the work of the Lord"
QCor. 1854, So. 1t is Easter. Christ
is risen! Let us rejoice!
Gods Garden
God Almighty first planted gar