Resurrection did not happen, say quarter of Christians<\/a>,” BBC\nNews, 9 April 2017].\n D. Obviously, the source of the denominations problems is in their seminaries. Clem\nThurman once wrote about taking a course in a prominent “Christian University.”\nThe professor was a well-known denominational preacher. “He made no secret of\nhis lack of faith that Jesus had been raised from the dead, even suggesting that\ndogs probably stole and ate the body. But he said, ‘Whether or not Jesus was\nactually raised from the dead does not change the good life Jesus lived, nor the\ngreat ethical teaching He gave to the world.”\n E. This man could not be more wrong.<\/p>\n
1. The resurrection of Jesus is a major foundation of Christianity.<\/p>\n
a. If it were not true, we are followers of a bunch of liars.<\/p>\n b. If it were not true, then we have no hope of heaven because there is\nno evidence of a resurrection.\n
c. And as Paul concludes – I Corinthians 15:16-19<\/p>\n
2. Without this key fact, Christianity crumbles away.<\/p>\n
II. The assurance of eternal life<\/p>\n
A. Jesus spoke of life after death<\/p>\n
1. Mark 10:29-30 – There is gain both now and in eternal life<\/p>\n
B. Jesus’ audience understood that there was life after death – Matthew 19:16<\/p>\n
C. The apostles spoke of eternal life – Roman 6:22-23; I John 5:11-13<\/p>\n
D. It is a core belief, spoken of as a fact – I Corinthians 15:20-22, 42-44<\/p>\n
E. Hebrews 6:19-20 – An anchor that Jesus has entered into heaven<\/p>\n
F. Hebrews 5:9 – That Jesus is able to give it to us as well<\/p>\n
III. The knowledge of eternal life alters our view of this life<\/p>\n
A. The worldly-minded person only lives for the here and now.<\/p>\n
1. His morality reflects this belief. <\/p>\n 2. Personal comfort in this life is the primary goal, since this is all for which\nhe hopes.\n
B. How would it affect our lives?<\/p>\n
1. If we know that one day we will face judgement? – Hebrews 9:27<\/p>\n
2. If we realize that this world is temporary? – II Peter 3:11-14<\/p>\n
C. We live for the one who died and arose for us – II Corinthians 5:14-17<\/p>\n
D. Our life does not consist of our possessions – Luke 12:15<\/p>\n
E. Our treasure is in heaven – Matthew 6:20<\/p>\n
F. The Christian’s life is marked by his desire to be with Christ – Philippians 1:21-23<\/p>\n
G. This is what altered Moses’ life – Hebrews 11:24-26<\/p>\n
IV. Our hope becomes our incentive<\/p>\n
A. It causes us to purify our lives – I John 3:2-3<\/p>\n
B. It teaches us to live righteously – Titus 2:11-13<\/p>\n
C. It gives faith and love – Colossians 1:3-5<\/p>\n
D. Hopes sustains us through sorrows – I Thessalonians 4:13<\/p>\n
E. It gives us cause to be joyful – Romans 12:12<\/p>\n
F. It is a motivation to teach others – Philippians 2:14-16<\/p>\n
G. It helps us to continue on – Romans 8:23-25<\/p>\n
H. To gain the full assurance of hope – Hebrews 6:9-12<\/p>\n
V. Eternal life is the ultimate victory<\/p>\n
A. Knowing there is a life in the hereafter keeps us steady – I Corinthians 15:54-58<\/p>\n
B. It is the resurrection of Jesus that gives birth to this hope – I Peter 1:3-5<\/p>\n
C. Christ has left us an example to follow in his steps – I Peter 2:21-25<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I Corinthians 15:12-19 I. It is no secret that many ministers in the denominational world lack faith in the Bible. A. Methodists: 51%, Episcopalians: 35%, American Baptist: 33%, Presbyterians 30%, American Lutherans: 13% doubt Jesus’ physical resurrection [Jeffrey Hadden, results of a survey of 7,441 Protestant ministers published in PrayerNet Newsletter,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[119,32],"tags":[699,46,502,41,664],"class_list":["post-42286","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-audio","category-sermon","tag-eternal-life","tag-heaven","tag-hope","tag-life","tag-resurrection"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":67242,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jesus-alive-forevermore\/","url_meta":{"origin":42286,"position":0},"title":"Jesus, Alive Forevermore","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"by Doy Moyer \"Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades\" (Revelation 1:17-18). This is how Jesus described Himself after John saw the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":35745,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-hope-of-his-calling-2\/","url_meta":{"origin":42286,"position":1},"title":"What is “the hope of His calling”?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear brother, Thank you for your web site. It has been most helpful to me as I struggle to share with a person who believes in \"Once Saved Always Saved.\" Can you enlighten me as to what it means in Ephesians: \"the hope of His calling\"? Does it refer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":10553,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-hope-of-his-calling\/","url_meta":{"origin":42286,"position":2},"title":"What is “the hope of His calling?”","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"November 8, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear brother, Thank you for your web site. It has been most helpful to me as I struggle to share with a person who believes in \"Once Saved Always Saved.\" Can you enlighten me as to what it means in Ephesians: \"the hope of His calling\"? Does it refer\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":87546,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/i-love-having-hope\/","url_meta":{"origin":42286,"position":3},"title":"I Love Having Hope","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"June 6, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Terry Wane Benton Many people only see the present circumstances, dislike them, and despair of life. They wish things were better and different, but don't expect them to improve. I love having hope and confident expectations, because I know that circumstances change or they change us. With a fellowship\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":34844,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/life-beyond-the-grave\/","url_meta":{"origin":42286,"position":4},"title":"Life Beyond the Grave","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 1, 2010","format":false,"excerpt":"by Clem Thurman in via Gospel Minutes, Vol. 58, No. 23, June 5, 2009. The salient doctrine of Christianity is the teaching of Jesus Christ about life after death. Most religions have some kind of \"hope\" about life after death, but only Christianity offers real evidence of that hope and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/05\/grave-300x259.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":51832,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/why-should-you-think-it-incredible\/","url_meta":{"origin":42286,"position":5},"title":"Why Should You Think It Incredible?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 27, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"by Hugh DeLong The death of Jesus was a stumbling block. The resurrection of Jesus also causes many to stumble. In preaching to the Athenian philosophers, Paul testified that God had raised Jesus from the dead. \"Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked\" (Acts 17:34).\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42286","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=42286"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/42286\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42286"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42286"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=42286"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}