DAVEH: I really don't want to argue with your comment in a way that you
might think I'm denigrating it, Perry. But, I will give you my short
view in contrast.
The guards were put there by those who feared Jesus' friends would
steal his body (in the middle of the night, I would think) in order to
make Jesus' prophecies appear to be true. The fact that his body did
disappear does not in itself mean he arose from the dead. (Please don't
think I'm minimizing the resurrection....I'm merely trying to consider
how the Romans would have thought about it in a logical sense.) So...an
empty cross in itself did not indicate a resurrection. Not even an
empty tomb would indicate it either, as the Romans would have just
thought his body had been removed.....and, that is the story they would
have concocted in an attempt to convince others that the disappearance
of Jesus' body was a natural, though contrived, event.
Their attempt to prevent the disappearance, failed though. Have
you ever thought about what excuse the guards might have given for the
missing body? Since Jesus appeared to his disciples shortly thereafter,
the Biblical account really doesn't pursue this line of thinking. But,
had Jesus not appeared to his followers, the guards would have had to
contrived some story saying that Jesus' friends had stolen him away,
even though they had valiantly tried to stop them. There is no way they
could have admitted the resurrection of Christ, without revealing the
error of their ways. (Which they could have done if they had repented,
but then they probably would have been subject to death for their
incompetence.)
I guess I'm rambling a bit here, Perry...sorry. What really gave
the resurrection power, so to speak, was the appearance of the
resurrected Christ to his believers. And...some of them weren't so
convinced of his resurrection, until they actually saw AND FELT the
prints of the nails. Once that happened, no excuses by the government,
or guards or anybody could overrule the fact that they had seen and
talked to the Risen Christ. I just don't think the empty
sepulcher....which we know meant he had risen.....had (or would have
had) nearly the same effect as his personal appearance.
Charles Perry Locke wrote:
From: Dave <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
BTW....Please don't understand my above comment to mean that I
agree with your statement.
Don't worry, Dave. From past experience, I did not expect you to agree
with my statement.
But, I'm not trying to argue with you about it....I just want to
understand why you made it, and what you meant by it.
I think it is pretty clear...my statement merely sunmmarizes the
scriptures I cited.
So, after you have taken the time to read the references in context,
if you then do not agree, please let me know where we differ.
Perry
Charles Perry Locke wrote:
From: Dave <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
/*_*The gospel didn't even have POWER until he was rose from the
dead. *_*/
DAVEH: Wow! I'd never heard that before, Perry. Is that
something you just made up, or is that commonly believed by many
Christians?
*Dave, I take it you do not believe that statement, thinking I made
it up, right? *
Jesus had prophesied on many occasions that he would be raised up on
the third day (Mat 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 26:61; 27:63; Mark 8:31;
9:31; 10:34; Loke 9:22; 18:33; 24:6,7; 24:46). Had he not been
resurrected on the third day, that would have made him a false
prophet, and all that he said and did would have been for naught. (1
Cor 15:13).
Why did you think the guards were placed at the tomb? Why do you
think the seal was placed on the tomb? (Mat 27:62-66)
Everything Jesus did and said was ultimately hinged on the
resurrection. So, yes, the resurrection is what gives the gospel
it's power.
Paul taught the resurrection: Acts 17:18
Power by the resurrection: Romans 1:4
If not risen, preaching and faith in vain: 1 Cor 15:13
The power of His resurrection: Phil 3:10
Begotten unto a lively hope by His resurrection : 1 Pet 1:3
*
Dave, do you still think I was making it up? *
Perry
----------
"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL
PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to
join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
