Denials of a resurrection:
Hugh DeLong
Sadducees: Acts 23:8; Acts 4:1-3; Matt. 22:23f
Acts 23:8 For Sadducees say that there is no resurrection—and no angel or spirit; but the Pharisees confess both.
Acts 4:1-3: Now as they spoke to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came upon them,2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
Athenians: Acts 17:32
32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked, while others said, "We will hear you again on this matter."
Corinthian Christians! - 1 Cor. 15:12, 35
12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?"
Paul's accusers: Acts 24:14-15; 25:18-19; 26:6-8
Acts 24:14-15: 14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.15 "I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.
Acts 25:18-19: 18 "When the accusers stood up, they brought no accusation against him of such things as I supposed,19 "but had some questions against him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who had died, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.
Acts 26:6-8: 6 "And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers.7 "To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.8 "Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?
Hymenaeus and Philetus: 2 Tim. 2:17-18
17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort,18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
1940's, L.R. Wilson reported survey made among some 700 'ministers' of various religious bodies in US.
12% rejected as unreliable the resurrection of Christ
33% - disavowed any belief in the resurrection of the body
A different study was done in the 60's - comparing the 'older' ministers with the 'younger' -
|
Older 84% believed in res. of Christ 62% believed in res. of the body |
Younger 42% believed in res. of Christ 18% believed in res. of the body |
In 1960's, Louis Harris and Associates conducted a survey among youg men who were in ministerial training - a 'scientific study of 'divinity' students in some of the leading theological schools of our nation. (As reported in the Memphis Press-Scimitar, July 21, 1961)
1% were convinced of a 2nd coming of Jesus.
2% - "regarded the immortality of man as a major tenet of their faith."
Another report from the late 1960's by Jeffrey Hadden, sociologist of Western Reserve University of Cleveland Ohio, published in Christianity Today, Oct. 13, 1967. Questionnaire was sent to 10,000 Protestant preachers in the US, 7,441 responded.
Concerning the physical resurrection of Jesus:
Lutheran: 20% rejected it.
Episcopal priests: 30% rejected it.
American Baptists: 33% rejected it.
United Presbyterian: 35% rejected it.
Methodist: 51% rejected it.
1. Resurrections in the Bible - is possible because it happened.
A. - OT examples
1. Elijah, widow of Zarephath's son - 1 Kings 17
2. Elisha, son of the Shunammite woman, 2 Kings 4
B. NT examples -
1. Jesus - 3
a. Jairus' daughter - 'Damsel, I say unto THEE, arise." Mk. 5:41
b. Widow of Nain's son "YOUNG MAN, I say unto THEE, arise", Lk 7:14
c. Lazarus, "LAZARUS, come forth." Jn. 11:43
2. Peter - Dorcas, Acts 9
3. Paul - Eutychus, Acts 20:9-12
C. And of COURSE - JESUS ---
2. Simple affirmations of the scripture concerning such a general resurrection:
A. OT - though not as CLEAR, was there (for Jesus rebuked the Sad. For not believing)
1. Abraham concerning the offering of Isaac, Heb. 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,18 of whom it was said, "In Isaac your seed shall be called,"19 concluding that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead, from which he also received him in a figurative sense.
2. David concerning his son, 2 Sam. 12:23
23 "But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he shall not return to me."
B. NT -
John 11:25 -
25 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
John 5:28-29
28 "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice29 "and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Acts 4:2
2 being greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
Acts 24:14-16
14 "But this I confess to you, that according to the Way which they call a sect, so I worship the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and in the Prophets.15 "I have hope in God, which they themselves also accept, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and the unjust.16 "This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.
1 Cor. 15:20-23
20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.
3. Resurrection of Jesus - the foundation of OUR faith & hope. -
A. 1 Pet. 1:21
21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
B. 1 Cor. 15:1f
4. Resurrection of Jesus = the basis of believing in OUR resurrection:
A. 1 Cor. 15:20-23
B. Acts 4:2 - 'preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead"
C. Eph. 1:19f - to understand "what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead"…
D. 1 Thes. 4:13f - HENCE - no sorrow at death of loved ones AS they … not having hope as we do…
Robert Ingersoll, giving the eulogy for his younger brother, said at the grave:
"Life is a narrow vale between the cold and barren peaks of two eternities. We strive in vain to look beyond the heights. We cry aloud, and the only answer is the echo of a wailing cry. From the voiceless lips of the unreplying dead there comes no word; but in the night of death hope sees a star and a listening love can hear the rustle of a wing. He who sleeps here, when dying, mistaking the approach of death for the return of health, whispered with his latest breth, 'I am better now." Let us believe in spite of doubts and dogmas and tears and fears that these dear word are true of all the countless dead." (Quoted by Batsell Barrett Baxter, IF I BE LIFTED UP, Nashville: The Gospel Advocate Company, 1956, p. 110).
5. HOW THEN DENY?
Actually - is a small step from denying basics of scripture - baptism, obedience, morality issues such as homosexual, adultery, marriage / divorce -- to rejecting anything else that doesn't square with their thinking!