Psalm 119:82 – When wilt thou comfort me? Let us complain not of God, but to God. Complaints of God give a vent to murmuring; but complaints to God, to faith, hope, and patience. – Thomas Manton.

Psalm 119:34. Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law. This is the same prayer enlarged, or rather it is a supplement which intensifies it. He not only needs teaching, but the power to learn: he requires not only to understand, but to obtain an understanding. How low has sin brought us; for we even lack the faculty to understand spiritual things, and are quite unable to know them till we are endowed with spiritual discernment. Will God in very deed give us understanding? This is a miracle of grace. It will, however, never be wrought upon us till we know our need of it; and we shall not even discover that need till God gives us a measure of understanding to perceive it. We are in a state of complicated ruin, from which nothing but manifold grace can deliver us. Those who feel their folly are by the example of the Psalmist encouraged to pray for understanding: let each man by faith cry, “Give me understanding.” Others have had it, why may it not come to me? It was a gift to them; will not the Lord also freely bestow it upon me?

We are not to seek this blessing that we may be famous for wisdom, but that we may be abundant in our love to the law of God. He who has understanding will learn, remember, treasure up, and obey the commandment of the Lord. The gospel gives us grace to keep the law; the free gift leads us to holy service; there is no way of reaching to holiness but by accepting the gift of God. If God gives, we keep; but we never keep the law in order to obtain grace. The sure result of regeneration, or the bestowal of understanding, is a devout reverence for the law and a resolute keeping of it in the heart. The Spirit of God makes us to know the Lord and to understand somewhat of his love, wisdom, holiness, and majesty; and the result is that we honour the law and yield our hearts to the obedience of the faith. – C.H. Spurgeon.

Psalm 119:25…….. According to Thy Word. The Word removes deadness of conscience and hardness. Is not this Word a hammer to soften the heart, and is not this the Immortal Seed by which we are begotten again? Therefore David, finding his conscience in a dead frame, prayed, “My soul cleaveth to the dust; quicken Thou me according to Thy Word.” The Word is the first thing by which conscience is purified and set right. John Sheffield, in “A Good Conscience the Strongest Hold,” 1650.

Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?

Then how much more apt and apposite are these high praises to the Book of God, rightly called the Bible or the Book as if it were, as indeed it is, both for Fitness Of Terms and Fullness Of Truth, the only book to which (as Luther saith) all the books in the world are but waste paper. It is called the Word, by way of eminency, because it must be the butt and boundary of all our words; and the Scripture, as the Lord paramount above all other words or writings of men collected into volumes, there being, as the Rabbins say, a mountain of sense hanging upon every tittle of it, whence may be gathered flowers and phrases to polish our speeches with, even sound words, that have a healing property in them, far above all filed phrases of human elocution. – Thomas Adams.

“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith; and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” —George Müller

Next Thursday -  21 May 2009 – is Ascension Day. The very name holiday means “holy day.” Most holidays have religious significance. The events that a society chooses to centre its holidays around speak volumes about the religious worldview and value systems of that society.

For example, Ascension Day used to be a holiday in South Africa. Yet few of us ever appreciated its significance, until the government abolished it as a public holiday. It has been replaced with days that celebrate mankind, such as ”Human Rights’ Day”; ”Women’s Day”; “Workers’ Day” and ”Youth Day” – yet another indication that our government has rejected Christianity and embraced Humanism.

This is far more serious than we may at first suspect. Along with these secular ”holy days” have come the abolition of prayer in Parliament and the legalisation of abortion, homosexuality, gambling and pornography.

History is HIS Story

The Christian view of history is linear. Unlike the pagan and Eastern religions which hold to reincarnation and have a circular view of history, or the atheists who believe that ”you came from nothing, you’re going nowhere, life is meaningless,” Christians believe that history is His story.

God is sovereign over time and space. At the beginning of history, God created the world. Later He judged the world by the flood. At the appointed time, Christ came and died for our sins. Three days later He rose from the dead. Forty days later He ascended into Heaven. Ten days after that He sent the Holy Spirit upon His disciples at Pentecost. One great Day He will return to this earth and judge the nations.

History has a goal. Time has meaning. Our calendars should reflect that.

A Christian Calendar

It is appropriate that the biggest and most important holiday event of our calendar year is still the one that commemorates the incarnation of Christ – when God took on human form and was born at Bethlehem. Christmas celebrates the greatest gift of all – the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is the reason for the season. We need to put Christ back into Xmas. Wise men still seek Him.

”For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” John 3:16.

We give gifts on Christmas Day to celebrate the official birthday of The King of kings, and out of gratitude for the great gifts He has given us.

The second most important holiday is Good Friday – when we solemnly remember the atonement of our Lord Jesus Christ, His great sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. He suffered, bled and died for our sins. He endured the punishment we deserved – so that we could enjoy the reward that only He deserves. We should be sombre, quiet and thoughtful on Good Friday as we meditate upon the love of God, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His justice and His atonement on the cross of Calvary. This should inspire us afresh to repentance, thanksgiving and consecration.

”In view of God’s mercy … offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God … ” Romans 12: 1.

The third great Christian holiday event is Easter Sunday. Resurrection Sunday is a joyous celebration of the victory of Christ over death, hell and the grave. Jesus is risen from the dead. He is alive forever more. Death is defeated. Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life. Christ Jesus was ”… declared with power to be the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead” Romans 1:4. All the founders of religions are dead. You can visit the graves of Mohammed, Buddha, Confucius and Lenin. But in Jerusalem there is an empty tomb.

”He is not here; He has risen!” Luke 24:6. He was “… raised to life for our justification” Romans 4:25.

The fourth most important event in the Christian calendar is Ascension Day. Forty days after Resurrection Sunday we celebrate the Ascension of Christ into Heaven. He is alive forevermore and He is exalted and enthroned at the right hand of God the Father, Almighty. He is above every other name and authority in Heaven and on earth. Jesus is The King of kings and The Lord of lords. We have an advocate in Heaven. He hears our prayers. He will crush all His enemies. He will come again. Therefore, we must go and make disciples of all nations.

The Ascension is about Authority

Our government saw fit to abolish the long-established Ascension Day as a public holiday Therefore we need to look at it in more detail. Its abolition is very significant because Ascension Day deals with authority. Christ ”has gone into Heaven and is at God’s right hand -with angels, authorities and powers in submission to Him” I Peter 3:22.

“…All authority in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations … teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…” Matthew 28:18-20

The Ascension proclaims the Lordship of Christ in all areas of life. Jesus has all authority. Jesus is Lord over the world of business, sport, entertainment, and government. Jesus Christ is Lord over the schools, the shops, the cinemas, the factories, the hospitals, the law courts and Parliament. There is no area of life that is outside of His authority. Every doctor, teacher, policeman, businessman, parliamentarian, factory worker, mother, father, magistrate and Supreme Court judge will have to individually stand before Almighty God on the Day of Judgement and give an account of his or her life. “When You ascended on high, You led captives in Your train…” Psalm 68:18.

The Ascension celebrates the vindication and victory of Christ. No doubt Caiaphas the high priest, King Herod and the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, thought that they were very important and powerful people. Yet these religious and political leaders are only remembered today because they arrogantly dismissed Christ Jesus. They didn’t recognise that they were condemning to death the Creator, the Giver of life, the eternal Judge before whom each one of us must stand. The Emperor Augustus who issued the decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world, requiring everyone to return to their town of birth, could not have realised at the time that the baby born to third class subjects in far away Judea would one day judge him.

”The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.’” Psalm 110: 1

The Ascension proclaims the ultimate victory of Christ. Jesus is The King of kings and The Lord of lords. Those who refuse to bow to Christ as Saviour and Lord today, in the day of grace when forgiveness is freely available, will one day be forced to bow to Christ as the eternal judge – when they will be condemned to Hell forever.

”…He will crush kings on the Day of His wrath. He will judge nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole Earth.” Psalm 110:5-6

The Ascension is a great comfort to believers who suffer persecution.

“Therefore, since we have a great High Priest Who has gone through the Heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the Faith we profess” Hebrews 4:14

We have an Advocate in Heaven. He hears our prayers. He ever lives to make intercession for us. He will come again. He will crush all His enemies. Therefore we should not fear governments, popes or councils. We must not bow before idols, nor should we compromise the essential principles of our Faith.

Though Christ is physically absent from the Earth, through His Holy Spirit He is spiritually present. He is all knowing, everywhere present and all powerful.

”For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet” 1 Corinthians 15:25.

The Ascension is a wonderful reminder and assurance to us that

“… the Earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” Habakkuk 2:14

”Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the Name that is above every name, that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow in Heaven and on Earth and under the Earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” Philippians 2:9-11

The Ascension proclaims Christ’s glorious triumph and His future return and Day of Judgement. Therefore we as Christians should return to observing Ascension Day as a holy day to our Faith. If something is important we need to work it into our calendar.

”But,” you may protest, ”how can we observe Ascension Day as a holiday when the official government calendar does not recognise it as a public holiday?”

People of minority religions often observe their own holidays and maintain their cultural identity in spite of official policies. The Jewish, Muslim and Eastern Orthodox adherents observe feast days and fast days and other holy days different to ours. We should have the courage of our convictions and the integrity to organise and structure our lives and work around what is important to our Christian Faith – not secular humanism with its ”Workers’ Day,” ”Freedom Day,” ”Women’s Day,” ”Youth Day” and ”Human Rights Day.”

In our ministry we go to work on those spurious humanist holidays. We observe as holidays Ascension Day, Pentecost and other Christian holidays. I would strongly recommend that churches schedule special services for these monumentally important events. If it is not feasible to hold a service on the actual Ascension Day, at least dedicate the nearest Sunday to proclaiming the significance of the Ascension.

Other Important Days

In addition, there are other days that Christians should observe, such as the 31st October - Reformation Day. This day commemorates the great rediscovery of Biblical teaching and the revival of freedom that followed after Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg on 31 October 1517.

Christians should also observe International Life Chain Sunday - 4 October 2009 – and make a public stand for the right to life of pre-born babies.

In South Africa, 1 February is A National Day of Repentance – the tragic anniversary of the legalisation of abortion upon demand. Africa Christian Action has also promoted the Sunday nearest to 1 February as Sanctity Life Sunday – on this day every pulpit in the land should proclaim the Biblical principles that life begins at conception, all life is precious and abortion is murder.

The International Days of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (IDOP) 8 November 2009, are observed to remember those believers who are persecuted for their Faith.

All these would be appropriate additions to any Christian calendar. The whole principle of annual festivals and celebrations is deeply rooted in Old Testament Israel. God commanded the Jewish people to remember certain events with annual celebrations.

Keep Sundays Special

Setting aside the first day of the week as The Lord’s Day, a special Day, is good for our body, mind and soul. We need time set aside for relaxation, reflection and restoration. It is a matter of rhythm and routine, but also a matter of revelation and remembrance of the Lord’s great work of creation and salvation (Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12- 15).

By ordering our week to set apart the Lord’s Day as a special day for the family to rest and worship the Lord, we proclaim to the world that Jesus has risen from the dead and He is Lord of our lives.

Does your Calendar reflect your faith?

Peter Hammond is the author of Biblical Principles for Africa and Reforming Our Families.

Peter Hammond
Africa Christian Action
P.O. Box 23632
Claremont, 7735
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 689-4481
Fax: (021) 685-5884
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Website: www.christianaction.org.za

"The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

All too often the cross is seen as the “national flag” of the church. But the cross was never meant to be the mere nostalgic symbol of a religious system. Neither is the cross a signpost. The cross was not meant to re-direct our lives, but to end them. The cross is not an ornament, but an instrument of death!

The cross was used by the Romans in the same way as we use the gallows, a gas chamber, an electric chair or a firing squad. The cross in the Bible is an instrument of death, yet out of it has come life. It was meant to be the sign of a curse, but it has become a symbol of God’s blessing. It should have signified defeat, yet through it Christ achieved a triumphant victory. Christ has turned that instrument of destruction into the means of salvation.

The Centrality of the Cross

When the Apostle Paul summarised the essential basics of the Good News, he put it this way:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3

The centre of the Christian Gospel is the cross, and the salvation that God wrought on the cross is the greatest act in all the history of mankind. It is no wonder that Paul could say:

“When I came to you, my brothers . . . I made up my mind to forget everything except Jesus Christ and especially His death on the Cross.” 1 Corinthians 2:1, 2

The Necessity of the Cross

Although God did not have to save anyone, consequent upon the fact that He determined to do so, it was essential that it involved atonement.

(1) God is Holy and He cannot overlook sin. His justice must be maintained.

“God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be the One who justifies the man who has faith in Jesus.”  Romans 3:25, 26

(2) God’s Law is immutable and His Holy Nature demands punishment of sin.

“God’s curse on anyone who does not obey all of God’s Laws and teachings.” Deuteronomy 27:26

(3) God had declared that the penalty for sin would be death.

“The soul who sins is the one who will die.”  Ezekiel 18:4

“For the wages of sin is death.” Romans 6:23

(4) Christ taught His disciples that the Atonement was necessary.

“These are the very things I told you about while I was still with you: everything written about Me in the Law of Moses, the writings of the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true . . . this is what is written: the Messiah must suffer and must rise from death three days later.” Luke 24:44-46

The Major Theories of the Cross

The Ransom theory. Origen (185–254 A.D.) maintained that through our sin we were slaves of the devil (1 John 3:8), and that Christ paid His life as a ransom to the devil in order to set us free.

The Satisfaction theory. Anselm (1033–1109) developed the idea of Christ voluntarily discharging man’s obligation to God in order to satisfy God’s honour, which had been offended by our sin.

The Moral Influence theory. Abelard (1079–1142) argued that Christ’s birth, passion and death reveal God’s infinite love for mankind and awaken in us a reciprocal love and gratitude, which leads us, back to God.

The Example theory. Socinus (1539–1604) held the view that Christ’s death provided us with an example of unselfish martyrdom, and if we followed His teachings and example then our problems would be over.

The Governmental theory. Grotius (1583–1645) saw the Lord’s death on the cross as the manifestation of divine justice. God’s gracious pardon of offenders had to be accompanied by some exhibition of the high estimate that God sets upon His law, and the heinous guilt of violating it.

The Penal Substitutionary theory. Calvin (1509–1564) presented the atonement as an act of redeeming love whereby God takes on Himself in Christ the judgement and penalty of our sin, so obtaining for us pardon for all guilt and the free gift of righteousness before God through faith in Christ as our sin-bearer.

All of the above views have elements of the truth, but – with the exception of the last theory – they may be considered to be inadequate in varying degrees. Christ, by His death on the cross, did give His life as a ransom for our sins, but He did not pay it to the devil. Christ did make full satisfaction for our sins, but “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself.” God was the initiator; it was because He “so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.” Christ’s death does reveal His infinite love for mankind and awaken in us a reciprocal love (2 Corinthians 5:14), but that is not the basis of our acceptance before a Holy God. Our Lord did provide us with a perfect example to follow by His obedience even unto His death on the cross (Philippians 2:8; 1 Peter 2:21), but we are saved by His vicarious sacrifice, not by His example. It is also true that Christ, through His death on the cross, overcame the world (John 16:33); disarmed the powers and authorities; making a public spectacle of them; triumphing over them by the cross (Colossians 2:15); that Christ destroyed the work of the devil (1 John 3:8); and set us free (Hebrews 2:14, 15). Yet we were not only victims of Satan needing deliverance and liberation, we are also guilty sinners needing forgiveness.

The Work of the Cross

“As it is written: ‘there is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one . . .’ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:10-12, 23

All men are guilty sinners, abiding under the wrath of God, alienated from God and in bondage to sin and Satan. Yet, all these problems were solved by Christ in His death on the cross.

By Christ’s perfect obedience to the whole moral Law and to all the commandments He fulfilled the just requirements of a Holy God. In His passive obedience to God’s Will, Christ submitted to the penal sanctions of the Law and willingly endured all sufferings for the sake of His people.

There are four New Testament words which express distinct facets of Salvation in Christ: Sacrifice, Propitiation, Reconciliation and Redemption.

1. Sacrifice

Throughout the Old Testament redemption is connected with the shedding of blood and with a form of substitution.

When Abel killed the firstborn of his flock as a sacrifice (Genesis 4:4), he symbolised several important truths:

(a) sin must be judged;

(b) a price must be paid for sin;

(c) the innocent must die for the guilty; and

(d) without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

When Abraham had to kill his only son, God provided a substitute to die in place of Isaac (Genesis 22:8). This foreshadowed the time when God would show His love for us by sending His own beloved Son as a sacrifice to die in our place for our sins.

At the Passover God delivered His people from both the bondage of slavery and from the danger of death through the shed blood of the sacrificial lambs (Exodus 12). In this powerful picture of God’s redemption of His people, we can see a type of the Lamb of God. For “Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed” 1 Corinthians 5:7, in order to deliver us from the bondage of sin and from the sentence of death.

The prophet Isaiah described in detail the future sacrifice of Christ:

“He was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities,

the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him,

and by His wounds we are healed . . .

the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all . . .

For the transgression of my people He was stricken . . .

and the Lord makes His life a guilt offering . . .

My Righteous Servant will justify many, and

He will bear their iniquities.” Isaiah 53:5-11

The New Testament era begins with John the Baptist pointing to Jesus and proclaiming:

“Look, the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29

Jesus is our Passover lamb (1 Corinthians 5:6-8); our sin offering (Romans 8:3); our atonement (Romans 3:25). When Christ, the perfect Son of God, a lamb without spot or blemish (1 Peter 1:19) shed His precious blood on the cross it was a substitutionary death. He died for us, in our place (1 Peter 3:18), the innocent for the guilty, the just in the place of the unjust.

He became like us – that we might become like Him.

He was rejected – that we might be accepted.

He was condemned – that we might be forgiven.

He was punished – that we might be pardoned.

He suffered – that we might be strengthened.

He was whipped – that we might be healed.

He was hated – that we might be loved.

He was crucified – that we might be justified.

He was tortured – that we might be comforted.

He died – that we might live.

He went to hell – that we might go to heaven.

He endured what we deserve – that we might enjoy what only He deserves.

2. Propitiation

While the “Sacrifice” aspect of Christ’s work on the cross deals with our guilt, this aspect of “Propitiation” refers to Christ’s covering of our sin in order to remove the divine wrath which our sin evokes. God’s Wrath is that Holy revulsion of the Godhead against all sin and evil. Christ’s propitiation is none other than God Himself taking upon His own holy and eternal heart the implications of His own wrath.

“He is the propitiation for our sins.” 1 John 2:2

“This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10

Through His death on the Cross, Christ removed the wrath of God, which was abiding over us, by covering over our sins. By removing our guilt, Christ saved us from God’s wrath.

3. Reconciliation

Reconciliation means the abolition of enmity between two parties who have quarrelled.

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him! For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.” Romans 5:8-11

On the cross, Christ’s love dealt sacrificially with the implications of our sin and gave us “peace with God”. Romans 5:1

“For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things . . . by making peace through His blood, shed on the cross.” Colossians 1:19, 20

Reconciliation is God’s work: “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself” 2 Corinthians 5:19. Our sin had made us enemies of God and it was necessary that Christ should make peace between us by dealing with the cause of the enmity, our sin, on the cross.

4. Redemption

Redemption is the language of purchase and ransom. Because of our bondage to sin, Christ died to set us free. Christ gave His life “as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). A ransom is the price paid in order to secure a release. The sinner has been bound to the law of sin and death.

“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us.” Galatians 3:13

Christ has redeemed us from the necessity of keeping the Law as the condition of acceptance before God.

“For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the One Man the many will be made righteous.” Romans 5:19

Our redemption from sin embraces several aspects:

† JUSTIFICATION Colossians 1:14

We were redeemed from the Penalty of our sins. This deals with our guilt. We are fully forgiven for our sins.

† SANCTIFICATION Titus 2:14

We are being redeemed from the Power of our sin. This deals with our natures. We are progressively delivered from our sins.

† GLORIFICATION Romans 8:23

We shall be redeemed from the Presence of all sin. This deals with the very presence of sin. We shall be eternally freed from sin.

“We wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our Great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness.” Titus 2:13

“God our Saviour . . . wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth . . . Christ Jesus gave Himself as a ransom for all men.” 1 Timothy 2:4-6

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” 1 John 2:2

“You are worthy . . . because You were slain and with Your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.” Revelation 5:9

Dr. Peter Hammond

Africa Christian Action
PO Box 23632
Claremont
7735

Cape Town

South Africa
Tel: 021-689 4481
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Web: www.christianaction.org.za

The audio CD of this message is available from:

Christian Liberty Books, admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za; Tel. & Fax: 021-689-7478; P O Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa.

“And declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the Resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:4

In 1815 all of Europe agonized in suspense waiting for news of the impending battle between the Duke of Wellington and the French emperor Napoleon. For over 25 years Europe had been convulsed by the French Revolution, the mass executions of French nobles, the guillotine, and two decades of Napoleonic wars, which had turned all of Europe into a battlefield. And, just when they had thought that the threat was over, with Napoleon defeated and in exile on Elba, Napoleon had returned, mustered a huge army and marched to destroy the British Army under the Duke of Wellington. People waited in great anticipation for news of the critical battle, which would decide the future of all of them.

A sailing ship semaphored (signaled with coded flags) the result of the decisive battle. A signalman on the top of Winchester cathedral decoded the message from a ship in the channel: “Wellington defeated…” then fog obscured the ship and the message was sent out throughout the British Isles: “Wellington defeated!” Shock and depression spread with the devastating news. Then several hours later, when the fog lifted, the signal was completed: “Wellington defeated the enemy”! As the full message of the decisive victory at Waterloo was proclaimed throughout the land there was tremendous rejoicing. Wellingtons’s victory at Waterloo ushered in 99 years of peace in Western Europe.

The bodily Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is tremendously important. Death is man’s greatest enemy, and it has conquered all men – but Christ. Cities and nations, like people, are born and grow for a season, and then fade away. Homes, clothes, even vehicles, wear out and eventually go back to dust, just as do their owners. The Bible describes this universal reign of decay and death as “the bondage of corruption” (Romans 8:21). In science it is recognised as the Second Law of Thermodynamics – the Law of Increasing Entropy. Left to themselves, every system tends to become disordered, to run down and eventually die. All the founders of great religions and movements have died and you can visit their graves. Zoroaster, Confucius, Buddha, Muhammad, Marx, and Lenin. They are all dead and decayed in the grave. But Jesus Christ is alive!

So, what difference does that make? You may ask. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is vitally important because it demonstrates Christ’s victory over death, it gives hope to all mankind, it shows that eternal life is available to believers, it points to the ultimate triumph of God over all evil, and it provides an indisputable proof that the message about Jesus Christ, as both Judge and Saviour, is true. “Because He has appointed a Day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man Whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:31

THE RESEARCH OF SKEPTICS

The Resurrection is so important and foundational to Christianity that it has been targeted for the most relentless attacks. Frank Morison, a lawyer, determined to disprove the Resurrection and thereby undermine Christianity. The result of his exhaustive investigations was his conversion to Christ and the publication of his book: “Who Moved the Stone?” which decisively demonstrates the overwhelming evidence for the Resurrection.

A skeptical university lecturer, Josh McDowell, determined to disprove Christianity by investigating evidence against the Resurrection. The result was his conversion to Christ and publication of the monumental: “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” which exhaustively and conclusively presents documentation and evidence upon evidence substantiating the historical truth, factual accuracy, archeological evidence, manuscript evidence, fulfilled prophecies, transformed lives, and other indisputable evidences which support the fact of the Resurrection of Christ from the dead and the truth claims of Christianity.

Thomas Arnold, Professor of History at Oxford University, one of the greatest historians of the 19^th Century wrote: “I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better, fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair enquirer, than the great sign which God has given us that Christ died and rose from the dead.”

Simon Greenleaf, recognised as one of the most skilled legal minds ever produced, developed the Harvard Law School. He is recognised as the top authority on what constitutes sound evidence. Simon Greenleaf made a thorough and exhaustive examination of the objective evidence and the testimony of the four Gospel writers, Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. In his book: “The Testimony of the Evangelists” (Baker, 1874) he concluded: “It was therefore impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually risen from the dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact.”

Simon Greenleaf declared that any court of law, if presented with the evidence of the Resurrection, would have to give a verdict in favour of the integrity and accuracy of the Gospel writers and the fact of the Resurrection.

One of the most popular books ever written, and most successful films ever produced, Ben Hur, was a result of a skeptical challenge to General Lew Wallace to the authenticity of Christ’s Resurrection, and a careful examination of the evidence.

What are the facts? The religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had campaigned and conspired to have Christ arrested and executed on trumped up charges, had a compelling interest in disproving any claims of the Resurrection. They had presumed that the execution of Jesus would eliminate this threat to their religious power base and silence His supporters. These Jewish religious leaders had great concerns about the corpse of Jesus and they approached the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, for a military detachment to secure the tomb (Matthew 27:62-64).

The Roman governor’s priority in the volatile province of Palestine was to preserve peace and stability. He recognised the political problems that would ensue if anything happened to this religious Teacher whom he had three times declared innocent, and ultimately washed his hands in front of the crowd declaring, “I’m innocent of this Man’s blood” (Matthew 27:24). His wife had warned him: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of Him.” (Matthew 27:19)

Pilate was only too aware that a travesty of justice had taken place, and the last thing he needed was a review of his shameful conduct and dereliction of duty in this case. Ensuring that the victim’s corpse remained buried was definitely in Pilate’s political interests as well. “‘Take a guard’, Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how’. So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.” Matthew 27:65

THE ROMAN GUARD

As the chief priests had approached the Roman governor, and as the Greek word Koustodia is used to describe the detachment of soldiers, it was evidently a Roman guard. If only a temple guard had been used, there would have been no need to approach Pilate to issue the order. Additionally the concern of the guards after the Resurrection to be protected from consequences from the governor (Matthew 28:14) confirms that those guarding the tomb were Roman soldiers. The detachment would have consisted of at least sixteen soldiers with four men placed directly in front of the entrance of the tomb, on duty, at any time. Under Roman military law any guard who deserted his post, or who fell asleep on duty, would face crucifixion. Typically, if Roman soldiers allowed a prisoner to escape they would face the same sentence as the prisoner – in this case crucifixion.

The seal placed on the stone at the entrance to the tomb signified the administrative authority, and only an authorised officer of Rome would be permitted to break the seal. Anyone breaking a Roman seal without permission would be tracked down and executed.

Although the intention of the religious and political leaders had been to ensure that the phenomenon of Jesus ended at the tomb, their extraordinary security measures have only served to confirm the truth that they had murdered an innocent Man and that Jesus Christ was truly the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, “the firstborn from the dead, and the Ruler of the kings of the earth…the One Who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever more.” Revelation 1:5, 18

CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER DEATH

“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, Who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold I have told you’. So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold Jesus met them, saying ‘Rejoice!’, so they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.’” Matthew 28:1-10

ATTEMPTS TO AVOID THE TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION

To explain away the empty tomb, the enemies of the Gospel have had to resort to some desperate deceptions. The first was to suggest that the disciples had stolen the body. This incredible theory suggests that those same disciples who had slept in the garden, fled at His arrest, denied Him before a young woman, were hiding in fear behind locked doors, could have unitedly overcome sixteen professional Roman soldiers, dared to break a Roman seal, moved a two tonne tomb stone, just to steal a corpse! A dead Messiah would have served absolutely no purpose for the disciples. What possible motivation could they have had, even had they possessed the ability to overcome the military, political and logistical obstacles? They had nothing to gain and everything to lose. Everyone of the disciples suffered severe persecution, most dying as martyrs for the Faith. Would you die for a lie?

DID JESUS REALLY DIE?

Others have questioned whether Christ had really died on the cross. Perhaps He only fainted? This swoon theory would have us believe that the Roman soldiers, who were professional killers, (the centurion in charge, would most probably have supervised dozens if not hundreds of executions), had failed to ensure that this high profile political prisoner was not actually dead. Considering the vicious flogging which the Lord had already endured, the excruciating torture of crucifixion, and the spear thrust into His side, with blood and water flowing out, all provide convincing evidence of death.

Yet, those advocating the swoon theory would have us believe that One Who had endured such savage flogging, crucifixion, and a spear thrust to the heart, could not only have survived the legendary Roman military efficiency, but that He was revived on a cold slab in a cold tomb. Further that He somehow disengaged from the grave clothes, and one hundred pounds of spices, ointments and wrappings which had effectively mummified Him, rolled away the two tonne stone, overpowered, or eluded, the Roman soldiers, and somehow found and impressed the disciples with His Deity? These suggestions have only to be mentioned in order to be dismissed as unbelievable.

THE EMPTY TOMB

Another desperate attempt to explain away the Resurrection of Christ has been that they went to the wrong tomb. All of them. Mary Magdalene, Peter, John, the other women, all went to the wrong tomb. And somehow neither the Pharisees, nor the Sadducees, nor the Roman soldiers, nor Joseph of Arimathea, whose tomb it was, thought to point out that the tomb was in fact still occupied! However, this theory is also impossible, as the tomb was not in a cemetery, but in a garden privately owned by Joseph of Arimathea. There was no other tomb in that garden.

THE ABSENCE OF THE BODY

And all that the Roman and Jewish leaders had to do in order to end Christianity forever was produce the corpse of Jesus. But they couldn’t do it. Even when the Apostle Peter stood up on the day of Pentecost and proclaimed: “Therefore, let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” Acts 2:36. “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” Acts 4:33. And many thousands in Jerusalem, including many Pharisees, came to faith in Jesus Christ.

THE CRISIS OF CREDIBILITY

To the Jewish religious leaders, this was their worst nightmare, a disaster. The proclamation of the Resurrection of Christ undermined their power and credibility. Thousands of their followers now believed that they had condemned an innocent Man, the Messiah Himself. The new religion of Christianity was undermining the power base and credibility of the Pharisees and Sadducees. If the body of Jesus could have been found, Christianity could be stopped dead in its tracks and the threat to the religious status quo would have ended. Since they desperately needed Jesus’ corpse, the Jewish leaders would have used every means at their disposal to hunt it down and find it – if that was possible.

THE TESTIMONY OF EYE WITNESSES

However, we are not only dealing with the empty tomb, and the absence of the body, but the testimony of eyewitnesses. On at least twelve separate occasions Jesus Christ was seen after rising from the tomb. Mary Magdalene (John 20:11-18; Mark 16:9); the other women (Matthew 28:8-10); Peter (Luke 24:34); the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35); ten of the disciples (Luke 24:36-43; John 20:19-24); all eleven disciples, eight days later (John 20:24-29); seven disciples by the Sea of Tiberius (John 21:1-23); to five hundred at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6); to James (1 Corinthians 15:7); to all eleven apostles, and others, at the Ascension (Acts 1:3-12); Paul (Acts 9:3-8); and John (Revelation 1:12-18), all saw the Lord bodily raised from the dead.

To explain away the testimony of all these eyewitnesses, enemies of Christianity suggest that these were merely hallucinations, perhaps as a result of hypnosis or hysteria. However, while hallucinations tend to be unique psychological experiences of an individual, we are here dealing with a large number of individuals, who at different times, in different groups, in different places, both indoors and outdoors, on a hilltop, along a roadside, by a lake shore, all saw the Lord. They saw Him, they ate with Him, they saw the wounds in His hands and in His side.

And far from being gullible, it would appear that His disciples were very skeptical and slow to believe. Thomas declared that he would not believe that Christ had risen unless he personally placed his fingers in the nail prints in His hands and feet and his hand in the wound in His side.

THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE DISCIPLES

Not only do we have the testimony of the eyewitnesses, but the dramatic transformation of the disciples. The Resurrection of Christ from the dead transformed the disciples’ grief to joy, their cowardice to boldness, their skepticism to faith and their doubt to determination. It turned Saul, the persecutor of the church into Paul the apostle of the church.

It also transformed society and history. It changed the Jewish Sabbath into the Christian Lord’s Day. What else could explain the replacement of Saturday as the Jewish day of rest into Sunday as the Christian Lord’s Day? The Resurrection transformed a Jewish remnant into the worldwide Christian Church. Over 2-Billion people worldwide describe themselves as Christians who believe in the Resurrection of Christ from the dead. The very existence of the largest religious movement in the history of the world is another powerful evidence of the truth of the Resurrection.

Jesus Himself had prophesied His Resurrection from the dead. And because of His fulfillment of this, we can be absolutely certain that Jesus Christ is God with us, as He claimed. By His Resurrection we can know that our sins are forgiven through His blood sacrificed on the cross of Calvary: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that Whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:14-16

Because of Christ’s death on the cross we can rejoice that our sins are paid for – we are forgiven, justified by faith.

Because of Christ’s Resurrection from the dead we can rejoice in the prospect of eternal life.

Because of Christ’s Ascension we can know that He has all authority and that His Great Commission will be accomplished on earth.

Because of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost we do not need to trust in our own abilities, but in His power alone. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit says the Lord.”

William Sangster – the church leader and hymn writer – suffered from increasing paralysis which finally prevented him from even being able to talk. On his last Easter before he died, he wrote: “How terrible to wake up on Easter and have no voice to shout, ‘HE IS RISEN’, far worse, to have a voice and not to want to shout!”

We serve a risen Saviour! Death is defeated. Christ has risen – victorious over death, hell, satan and the grave.

Jesus Christ is the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in Christ, though he may die, yet shall he live (John 11:25).

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3

Dr. Peter Hammond

Africa Christian Action
PO Box 23632
Claremont
7735

Cape Town

South Africa
Tel: 021-689 4481
E-mail: info@christianaction.org.za
Web: www.christianaction.org.za

An audio CD with the PowerPoint of this message, as delivered to the Biblical Worldview Summit, is available from:

Christian Liberty Books, admin@christianlibertybooks.co.za; Tel. & Fax: 021-689-7478; P O Box 358, Howard Place 7450, Cape Town, South Africa.

The article is also available in a tract format and can be downloaded from www.LivingstoneFellowship.co.za

2 Samuel 9:1-13 … “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

Grace and mercy are the spearhead of showing kindness to those who hate and despise us.

Lessons we can observe from the life of Mephibosheth and his likeness to ours:

1. We are victims of a forfeited inheritance.
2. We are crippled and cannot stand in the presence of the King.
3. We are helpless and can do nothing about our condition.
4. We are unworthy recipients of God’s grace.
5. We received a message that was compelling and irresistible.
6. We have an audience with the King.
7. We have peace that calms our fears.
8. We have been adopted into the family of God and have received much more than what Adam lost.

1st March 2009 (Evening) – David Holdt

You can listen to or download the MP3 recording of the sermon here:

MP3 – How do you react to those who hate and despise you?