Many compassionate people have a difficult time accepting that believers of other religions will find themselves separated from God. Why shouldn’t Hindus, Confucianists, Shintos, Muslims, and adherents of all religions cults and isms have a place in heaven? Who’s to say that Christianity alone provides the exclusive key to eternal bliss?
The issue of Christ being the one and only way to heaven must be settled on fact, not wishful thinking or even empathy for others. One historical event distinguishes Christian faith from all religions. That fact is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Aside from Christ, the bones of every founder of all religions throughout history are to this day in an earthly grave or tomb.
But the body of Jesus, confirmed dead by Roman crucifixion and placed in a well-guarded and heavily sealed rock tomb, is nowhere to be found. Three days after his burial, his tomb is found to be empty; at first, even His followers were dumbfounded. Then they began to recall Jesus’ earlier predictions of both His death and resurrection (Matt. 16:21, Mark 9:31; Luke 18:33; John 10: 17-18)
Evidence that Jesus Christ rose from the dead is beyond rational dispute. Dr. Simon Greenleaf is widely acclaimed as the greatest authority on legal evidence in the nineteenth century and has studied the eyewitness accounts of the resurrection of Christ. Why did he focus on the eyewitness accounts? Because eyewitness accounts are the most admissible evidence in any court of law ascertaining truth. In the end, he concluded the eyewitnesses in this case were notable for their integrity, ability and truth. At least seventeen appearances of Christ after His resurrection are part of the historical record. Take a look at some of the eyewitnesses Greenleaf studied.
ü Mary Magdelene (John 20: 11-17)
ü The women (Matthew 28:9-10)
ü Simon Peter (Luke 24:34)
ü The disciples on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13
ü Eleven of the disciples (Mark 16:14
ü Eleven disciples a week after His resurrection (John 20:26-29)
ü Seven disciples by the
ü More than five hundred people at one time (I Corinthians 15:6)
ü James, the Lord’s brother (I Corinthians 15:7)
ü All the disciples (I Corinthians 15:7)
ü Eleven apostles on a mountain in
ü His disciples when He ascended from the
ü Stephen, prior to his martyrdom (Acts 7: 55-56)
ü Paul on the road to
ü Paul in the temple (Acts 22: 17-21)
ü Paul in a
ü The Apostle John on the Isle of
The resurrection of Jesus is one of the best documented historical events in all of history. The profound reality is this, the disciples in realizing that Jesus was alive, were willing to risk everything, including death, to spread His message. Their story is well documented not only in scripture but by Roman and Egyptian historians. Does all of that prove He is the only way to heaven? Let’s consider the following.
1. The resurrection of Christ validates not only His person, but his teachings as well.
2. The resurrection of Christ proves He is not an imposter but exactly who he claims to be-the divine Son of the Living God.
3. The resurrection of Christ authenticates the value of His redemptive work for lost people who place their faith in Him.
4. The resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of those who trust in Him.
5. The resurrection of Christ means He is our own source of power for Christian living, testimony, and service.
6. The resurrection of Christ means He is now above all principality, power, and dominion-the living leader of the universal body of believers known as the church-the body of Christ.
7. The resurrection of Christ means God the Father has given us an inheritance in heaven.
The question is this…either Jesus was a lunatic and the greatest liar that has ever lived or he is exactly what he says he is..the Son of God.
How does the resurrection of Jesus validate his claims?
Read I Corinthians 15
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