Fgcniagara : Full Gospel Church of Niagara | Contemporary in Message, Biblical in Truth

Full Gospel Church of Niagara | Contemporary in Message, Biblical in Truth

2020,generosity,healing,thanksgiving

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our Christian faith. Without his bodily resurrection, Jesus' claims to divinity would be empty, and the gospel's claim to be the power of God for salvation would be false. This event, which occurred almost two thousand years ago, is probably the best attested fact in human history and experience. The resurrection of the Messiah was predicted in the Bible's Old Testament and in the New Testament by Jesus himself. During the forty days following his resurrection, Jesus showed himself to be alive from the dead by "many infallible proofs." Eyewitnesses tell that he was seen and heard at various times and places to many people. These people testified to others and a few wrote historical records of their encounters which we have in the New Testament Gospels. Benjamin C. F. Shaw says six facts support the credibility of the historical claim. First, death by crucifixion was so shameful it was not something that the followers of Jesus were likely to invent. Second, burial account fits with all historical evidence that we have. Third, the claim of the empty tomb was easily verifiable, there are no contradictory accounts. Fourth, the apostles claim to have met the resurrected Jesus face-to-face. Fifth, these apostles were willing to suffer and die for these claims. Sixth, those who were very unlikely to be converted to this belief were, nonetheless, converted by means of personal experiences of the resurrected Christ. (excerpted from 'The Bodily Resurrection of Jesus.' An essay byBenjamin C. F. Shaw) The resurrection of Jesus the Christ has been at the heart of the Church's message to humanity Day of Pentecost to the present hour. By rising from the dead, God vindicated Jesus. He demonstrated that Jesus had not died because of his own sins, but as a pure sacrifice for the sins of humankind. His sacrifice coupled with personal repentance and faith can cleanse the guilt of our past, present, and future and reconcile us to God. God offers all who choose to believe and follow a new life. When we humbly approach God for mercy and forgiveness, we open the way for him to help us in our daily lives. The resurrection of Jesus the Christ also assures us that if we wholeheartedly trust and rely upon Him our future is safe and secure. Without Christ's resurrection we would have no assurance of salvation from sin, and no hope for our own future resurrection. The empty tomb is proof of Christ's deity. That he is the Son of God who lived, died and rose as one of us guarantees the future resurrection of all who believe. The resurrection of the Christ also opened the way for God the Holy Spirit whose arrival was marked on the day of Pentecost to indwell believers and give them spiritual power to live as Jesus promised. The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ is evidence that God who has made a way for humankind to be reconciled and restored in relationship to him will one day judge the world in righteousness. Jesus, the Son of God, offers eternal life to all who will believe and make him and Lord and Master of their lives. He offers help, hope and eternal life to all who will follow him and eternal judgement for all who tragically choose to refuse his gracious offer. The Lord is Risen! He is Risen indeed!