The Resurrection of Christ

The Doctrine of Christ - Lesson # 10

Joel Stephen Williams

 

    I. Definitions

       A. What is meant by "resurrection"? In what ways is Christ's resurrection different from a mere resuscitation?

       B. Rom. 6:9; 1 Cor. 15:35-49; Rev. 1:18

       C. Discuss the difference in resurrection and reincarnation - Heb. 9:27; Jn. 5:29

       D. Discuss the significance of Christ's "bodily" resurrection.

  II. Evidence for the resurrection

       A. Mt. 28:1-15; Mk. 16:1-18; Lk. 24:1-49; Jn. 20:1-29

       B. The empty tomb - Acts 2:29; Mt. 28:13

       C. Witnesses - Acts 1:8; 2:32; 3:15; 4:33; 5:32; 10:39-41; Jn. 20:27-28; 1 Cor. 15:3-11

       D. Changed lives - Acts 1:14; 9:1-22; 22:1-16; 1 Cor. 15:8-10

       E. If time permits, discuss some of the theories which attempt to explain away the evidence for the resurrection of Christ, e.g., theft of Jesus' body, the swoon theory, and various vision theories.

III. Appropriate responses to the resurrection

       A. Faith - Rom. 10:9-10

       B. Worship - Mt. 28:8-9, 17; Jn. 20:28

       C. Joy - Mt. 28:8; Jn. 20:20

       D. Hope - Rev. 1:17-18

       E. Sharing the good news with others - Mt. 28:7, 10, 19; Acts 4:20

IV. Significance of the doctrine of the resurrection

       A. How central was the resurrection in the early preaching of the church? - Acts 2:24, 31-32; 3:15, 26; 4:2, 10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30-37; 17:31; 25:19; 26:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:3-5, 14, 17

       B. As a fulfillment of prophecy - 1 Cor. 15:4; Lk. 24:46; Acts 16:22

       C. For the person of Christ - Rom. 1:4; Acts 2:36

       D. For the work of Christ - 2 Cor. 13:4; Phil. 2:5-11; Rom. 4:25; 1 Cor. 15:14, 17

       E. For the church - Col. 1:16-18; Eph. 1:20-23

       F. For the mission of the church - Mt. 28:18-20

       G. For the worship of the church - Acts 20:7; Rev. 1:10

       H. For the Lord's Supper - 1 Cor. 11:26

       I. For baptism - 1 Pet. 3:21; Rom. 6:3-5

       J. For the giving of the Spirit - Jn. 7:39; 20:22; Acts 1:4-8; 2:16-21

       K. For the Christian life - 2 Cor. 5:17; Col. 3:1-2, 10-17

       L. For Christian hope - Jn. 11:25; 14:19; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:5, 18; Rom. 8:11, 29; 14:29; 2 Tim. 1:10; Phil. 3:10-11; 1 Pet. 1:3

  V. Conclusion

       A. List some gospel songs which celebrate Christ's resurrection

       B. Memory verses - Phil. 3:10-11