Project Description

2015/07

Pointless

What if there is no point in it all? As Christians in the 21st century, we are those who “have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29) What if we believe a lie? As Christians we follow Christ.  Such requires that a man “deny himself, and take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). What if such a life of faith has no point and brings no benefit?

The question is not unfounded.  Paul asserts that “if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17) Hence we can infer that if the resurrection is true, we have great confidence that our faith is not in vain.  The attacks on the resurrection of Jesus Christ have been consistent throughout the ages.  Such is the importance of the event that the devil has done all in his power to sow seeds of doubts.  From claims that He only swooned, to claims that the disciples stole the body, attempts have been made to undermine the faith of the Christian.

We must bear in mind that the gospels are historical documents that can be subject to examination. When we examine the facts presented we must see the only reasonable conclusion is that Jesus physically rose from the grave. All agree that Jesus of Nazareth was placed on a Roman cross. People didn’t survive such an ordeal. The centurion’s testimony and the blood and water prove His death. We must also state that the tomb was empty. The enemies of the Lord couldn’t produce the body to silence the movement in its early days.  They stooped to the claim of the stolen body (Matthew 28:13). Yet the disciples believed that He rose again. They were fearful and cowardly, but every sermon in Acts proclaims the resurrection.  The Apostles gave their lives for the gospel, and while people do die for lies they do not die for something they know is a lie. The Bible reports multiple sources claiming to be eyewitness accounts of the risen Christ (1 Corinthians 15:5-8) – different people, in different places, at different times – not the stuff of hallucinations and delusions!  What’s more, the sworn enemy of the gospel, Saul of Tarsus, was converted on the belief that he saw the risen Lord.

Most skeptics would agree with the above claims. Yet they do not see the obvious conclusion. A desire to believe a lie must not condemn the truth. The only reasonable conclusion is that Jesus died, rose and now lives. Therefore believe the gospel, be free from your sins, faith is not in vain!

Dr Stephen Pollock.