Summary: The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for our sins is a visible testimony of victory and the assurance from the LORD God Almighty that the curse of sin, death, hell, and the grave is conquered forever and that Jesus is LORD of all.

The evidence for the existence, ministry, influence, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ should be as plain as day to anyone who is willing to examine the facts, do their own research, quit letting other people do their thinking for them, and avoid the sophistry of so-called “authorities” on TV programs that denigrate and minimize the impact and influence of Jesus on civilization.

Self-appointed “scholars” glibly and condescendingly look down on true Bible believers as less “enlightened,” “narrow-minded,” and everybody’s favorite catchphrase, “intolerant.” The goal of unbiblical “Bible scholars,” the media, and the world is to “faith-shame” us into silence, try to force us to accept their opinions and one-sided “research,” and make us feel foolish for believing that what we have in our possession is the literal and inerrant Word of the living God (Psalm 119:105; John 17:17; Romans 1:16; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16-21).

I refuse to be bullied into any form of silence or compromise in order to appease a God-hating world system (Acts 4:19-20). As long as I have the ability and freedom to present the facts of Scripture, the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and His power to change even the worst of lives, as He did with a vile, zealous persecutor of Christians, Paul himself (Acts 9:1-6, 15-16; 1 Timothy 1:12-17), I will do so without fear or apology.

A “holy boldness” was grounded in the life and work of Paul. He was a living testimony of the power of Jesus to change lives (Acts 9:1-6, 15; 1 Corinthians 15: 8-11; 1 Timothy 1:12-17). He was not about to “water down” or back away from his commitment to see that the Gospel was spread throughout Judea, Samaria, and the end of the earth (Acts 1:8). He was not going to let the lie that there was no resurrection of the dead seep into the fabric of the church in Corinth.

This heresy had its roots in Greek philosophy (Acts 17:18, 21). It was also taught by the Sadducees, a group of materialistic “liberal” Jewish teachers who believed that there was no resurrection of the dead and dismissed any type of supernatural happenings. They had attempted to trap Jesus with a question about marriage after death. Instead, their entire belief system was openly rebuked by Him when He showed them in the Torah (the only Scriptures they believed) that there was life after death when God told Moses, “I AM the God of your forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob” (Matthew 22:23-33; Mark 12:18-27; Luke 20:27-40).

From the beginning of history, the devil and his hordes have made people doubt the Word, righteousness, and authority of God (Genesis 3:1). His schemes were at work in the minds of some members within the Corinthian church.

Paul presented the eyewitness testimonies of those who had seen the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-8) and the dystopian alternative if Jesus had not risen from the dead (vv.12-19). Now he turned his attention to what the resurrection of Jesus meant in terms of the final victory over the curse of sin and death and how He will place every enemy under His holy submission and judgment (Psalm 2:1-12; 1 Corinthians 15:20-28), giving all glory to God the Father at the end of history. Jesus’ resurrection gives those who have died in Him the honor of being the first to rise in order to meet Him in the air (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18).

We who are living at that time will be transformed into new creations, free from death and sin as well. His glorious resurrection eliminated the curse and grip of sin brought upon the world by the rebellion of Adam and Eve in Eden with its horrendous aftermath (Genesis 3; Romans 5:12-21). When we place our faith in Christ, He frees us forever from sin and the punishment of eternal death in hell (John 3:16). We have the promise of a new heaven and earth, dwelling with God and our redeemed loved ones forever (Revelation 21:1-7).

His resurrection was also the fulfillment of numerous prophecies (Numbers 24;17; Isaiah 9:1-6, 53:1-12). His act of mercy upon the cross for our sins is proof of His authority as the Messiah, or Deliverer, who frees us not just from national tyranny but from the tyranny of sin because He rose from the dead (Romans 10:9-10) and completed the work of redemption that had been planned before creation (Ephesians 1:4; Colossians 1:16-18; Hebrews 1:1-4, 7:20-28). His resurrection eliminates the works and schemes of the devil, his angels, and those who have followed the prince of darkness in one form or another since the fall of humanity (Matthew 25:41; 1 Corinthians 2:6-8; Revelation 20:7-15).

Those who have denied God’s existence, scoffed and ridiculed Him, and foolishly believed that their evil acts would never be discovered or reported will be exposed on the Day of Judgment (Numbers 32:23; Matthew 10:26). They will pay for their crimes for eternity in a literal and horrid hell (Mark 9:43-48; Luke 16:19-31). The enemies of God will be vanquished, and He will receive glory, honor, and praise from His people forever.

It does not matter one whit what the world says, denies, or thinks when it comes to the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Anybody or any institution that attempts to confirm atheism’s definition of wishful thinking will crumble into dust before the Holy, Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Ever-Present Sovereign of the Universe who holds everything together and will bring all things to a conclusion on His terms.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our assurance that not only do we serve a Living Savior but a Conquering King who will bring evil to an end and who will rule with a rod of iron over the New Creation and the Restored paradise forever. This promise of grace, mercy, and eternity with the LORD is for you just as much as it was for Paul, the apostles, and all who have followed Him throughout history.

The present world system and its worthless treasures of mud and dung are not worth missing out on the promise and reality of eternal life (Matthew 16:26). The riches of Christ await you. All you need to do is come to Him today (Matthew 11:28-30). Glory to His name.

donaldwhitchard@outlook.com

www.realitycityreverend.com

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One of the greatest privileges that I enjoy as a church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry is that I get to preach in—and be in—lots of churches.

For the most part, these churches are quite similar in terms of their understanding and interpretation of Biblical truth, and, of course, they find common ground with our ministry when it comes to the core issue of the importance of God’s plan for Israel.

Often, of course, these churches have different backgrounds, traditions, practices, standards, convictions—sometimes even distinct doctrinal teachings that set them apart in one way or another. But I’d like to set those differences aside for a moment and focus on all that we have in common—indeed, all that we should take time to celebrate!

You see, I’ve come to believe something, especially as we’ve witnessed the many deleterious blows that have rocked our beloved United States of America to its foundation in recent years.

But before I share this persuasion of mine, let me ask: Where does the real power lie in this nation? Is it found in the White House? No, it’s not there. Is it in all the myriad of three-letter agencies that dot the skyline of Washington, D.C.? No, it’s not there either. Then—you might say—it’s in the deep state, the swamp! No, not even there. Finally, then—it must reside in the gathering of global leaders who convene in Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum! Nope—not even close.

Jesus, in fact, said that such people “could have no power at all … unless it had been given … from above” (John 19:11). The Apostle Paul teaches us “the wisdom of God … which none of the rulers of this age knew” (1 Cor. 2:7-8). Paul also referenced the deluded soul who “thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing” (Gal. 6:3). I believe this to be an apt description of many among the so-called elite of our society, who must remember that “there is no authority except from God” (Rom. 13:2).

No, I believe that the real power in this nation—the engine that makes it run, to the extent that it still does, and the skeleton that continues to hold it all together—resides in the pulpits and pews of our faithful churches.

Many of these are smaller churches. Some are country churches. Most of them are not flashy. They conduct their business with little to no fanfare. And, of course, they still have all the problems that we, as church people, know all too well.

But these congregations also have a lot going for them. As I travel and speak in them, I find lots of people who still care deeply about “the Book, and the blood, and the blessed hope.” It’s an honor and a privilege, even a thrill, to shake their hands as they exit the church house, and to serve as the recipient of their testimonies of faith and gratitude.

Now, we fully acknowledge that these are imperfect people—each and every one of them. But we also realize that they give rides to the elderly, take meals to the sick, invite neighborhood kids to church programs, and give of their limited funds to keep missionaries on the field. And many of them fill those pews every Sunday, rain or shine.

And they have some even bigger things going for them. Consider this—together, they form local manifestations of “the body of Christ” (1 Cor. 12:27)—”the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Tim. 3:15). They also have access to the ultimate power in the world today—”the gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16).

Sadly, our nation will only fathom the full extent of such power once it is absent. That will occur at the moment of the pretribulational rapture—when the greatest force in the world to inhibit evil and sin “is taken out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:7). In that instant, I believe that the nation we have loved so dearly will quickly disintegrate. It will be a complete and total collapse.

There is an old term in our language which has fallen out of favor and is rarely used today—but I think it is worth reviving. It is churchman.

If you are a believer in Jesus Christ today, your very identity is not tied even to your earthly ancestry but to your place in Christ’s body, with your brothers and sisters in Him (see 1 Cor. 10:32). You, dear friend, are a churchman!

Dear churchman, this is your time to shine. Yep—it’s game time, time to give it everything you’ve got! If I may say it like this … it’s time to take a little bit more pride in the lofty place that you hold in the only program God is building in the world today. It’s time to grasp how much power you really hold in your hands!

I conclude with the words of Paul in Eph. 3:20-21:

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”

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Paul J. Scharf (M.A., M.Div., Faith Baptist Theological Seminary) is a church ministries representative for The Friends of Israel Gospel Ministry, based in Columbus, WI, and serving in the Midwest. For more information on his ministry, visit sermonaudio.com/pscharf or foi.org/scharf, or email pscharf@foi.org.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version.