TODAY ON TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM
YOU SEE IF JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, ITS GAME SET MATCH,
CHRISTIANITY’S TRUE, PERIOD.
THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN BY INDIVIDUALS
THAT HAD EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY,
THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO VERIFY
THAT THEY SAW THE RISEN LORD, THAT THEY SAW THE RISEN JESUS.
HAPPY EASTER, AND WELCOME TO TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM,
A PRODUCTION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES.
I’M PASTOR ROB PACIENZA.
EASTER IS THE HOLIEST DAY ON THE CHRISTIAN CALENDAR, AND THE
TRADITIONAL CALL AND RESPONSE IN CHURCH ON THIS HOLIDAY IS,
“HE IS RISEN. HE IS RISEN INDEED!”
ON TODAY’S PROGRAM, WE WILL FOCUS ON THE FACT THAT
JESUS CHRIST IS TRULY RISEN FROM THE DEAD
A TRUTH THAT CHANGES ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING.
AND WE’LL ALSO SHOW YOU WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU PERSONALLY.
WE BEGIN WITH A SURVEY OF SCHOLARS AND EXPERTS WHO’VE
DEEPLY INVESTIGATED THIS ISSUE OF JESUS RISING FROM THE DEAD.
AS YOU’LL SEE,
THE PROOF IS OVERWHELMING THAT JESUS WALKED OUT OF THE TOMB
ON THAT 1ST EASTER MORNING NEARLY 2000 YEARS AGO.
THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION GO TOGETHER TO BE THE CORE
OF WHAT CHRISTIANITY IS ALL ABOUT.
THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, PLUS THE NEW LIFE
AND THE SPIRIT THAT COMES OUT OF THAT FORGIVENESS.
HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION IS A FULFILLMENT OF
WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED IN THE OLD TESTAMENT.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT, IF WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THE
RESURRECTION OF JESUS THAT WE’RE CRYSTAL CLEAR ABOUT HIS BURIAL.
NOW IT USED TO BE NOBODY DOUBTED THAT,
EVERYONE SAID, WELL, OF COURSE HE WAS BURIED.
NOW WE HAVE THIS STRANGE SKEPTICISM IN SOME CIRCLES
ABOUT, WELL, MAYBE HE WASN'T BURIED AT ALL,
MAYBE THERE WAS NO TOMB. AND THAT'S AN ODD IDEA.
ALL FOUR GOSPELS PROVIDE THE SPECIFIC DETAILS
OF HOW THE DEAD BODY OF JESUS WAS LAID IN
THE GARDEN TOMB OF JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA
WHICH THE TEMPLE GUARDS SEALED AND KEPT WATCH AT.
YET, MODERN SKEPTICS IGNORE THE TEXT AS WELL AS
JEWISH CUSTOM WHEN THEY POSIT THAT JESUS WAS NOT BURIED.
THAT IS ABSURD BECAUSE THE JEWISH PEOPLE WERE VERY
CONCERNED ABOUT PROPER BURIAL NO ONE EXECUTED OR NOT,
WOULD BE LEFT UNBURIED OVERNIGHT.
THAT WAS A BIG NO-NO.
ANY ONE CRUCIFIED, WHETHER IT'S JESUS
OR THE MEN WITH HIM OR ANYONE ELSE,
IF THOSE BODIES ARE LEFT FOR DAYS HANGING ON A CROSS,
RIGHT OUTSIDE THE GATES OF JERUSALEM
ON THE EVE OF PASSOVER,
THERE WOULD'VE BEEN A RIOT.
PILATE, HE DOESN'T CARE, HE'S DEAD, IT'S CONFIRMED,
HE IS DEAD, THEN FINE, HE CAN BE BURIED.
ANOTHER BELIEF THAT SKEPTICS ADHERE TO
IS CALLED THE SWOON THEORY.
IT WAS SAID A LONG TIME AGO THAT JESUS SOMEHOW SURVIVED
HIS CRUCIFIXION AND WAS REVIVED IN THE TOMB AND
CAME OUT PROCLAIMING THAT HE HAD BEEN RAISED FROM THE DEAD.
IF THAT WAS EVEN POSSIBLE, JESUS WOULD'VE BEEN ABLE TO
CONVINCE HIS FOLLOWERS THAT HE WAS ALIVE.
YEAH, OF COURSE.
BUT RISEN AND HAVING A RESURRECTED BODY THAT THEY WERE
TO HOPE FOR WHEN THEY WERE RAISED, WELL, OF COURSE NOT.
THE UNANIMOUS VIEW AMONGST SCHOLARS IS THAT
JESUS WAS CRUCIFIED AND DIED AS A RESULT.
I THINK MY RESPONSE WOULD BE JUST READ
THE ACCOUNTS OF WHAT'S INVOLVED IN A CRUCIFIXION,
AND YOU WILL UNDERSTAND HOW THAT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE.
NO ONE SURVIVED A ROMAN CRUCIFIXION.
JESUS DIED AND ALL THE PRECAUTION WERE TAKEN
TO PREVENT ANYTHING FROM HAPPENING AFTER THAT BECAUSE
THEY KNEW THAT HE CLAIMED THAT HE WOULD RISE FROM THE DEAD.
YET JESUS ROSE AND SHOWED HIMSELF TO HIS FOLLOWERS AND
TO MORE THAN 500 PERSONS AND THE WITNESS OF
THAT TRUTH IS CENTRAL TO THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.
THERE HAVE BEEN SOME SCHOLARS
OVER THE YEARS THAT HAVE WANTED TO SAY,
WELL, WHEN THEY SAID THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS,
THEY REALLY DIDN'T MEAN THAT HE ACTUALLY ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
IT'S JUST MORE LIKE HIS MEMORY OR
HIS TEACHING STILL LIVE ON TODAY.
BUT THIS SEEMS TO GO AGAINST WHAT THE NEW TESTAMENT
AND THE APOSTLES WERE PROCLAIMING.
NOW PAUL IS A VERY EARLY WRITER AND IN ROMANS CHAPTER 8:11,
PAUL WAS PROCLAIMING THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT
GAVE LIFE TO JESUS'S MORTAL BODY.
IT WAS A PHYSICAL BODILY RESURRECTION
THAT PAUL AND THE OTHER APOSTLES WERE PROCLAIMING.
IT WASN'T A MERE METAPHOR.
AND THEN WE ALSO HAVE TO SAY IF THE
EARLY CHRISTIANS WERE SAYING THAT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS,
THEY WERE ONLY USING IT IN A METAPHORICAL SENSE.
WHY WOULD PAUL CONVERT TO CHRISTIANITY IF HE BELIEVED
JESUS WAS A FAILED MESSIAH AND A FALSE PROPHET?
IN 1 CORINTHIANS 15 PAUL SAYS,
THE HOPE OF THE GOSPEL IS THAT
THE CRUCIFIED SAVIOR ROSE FROM THE DEAD
AND THE BIBLE DOES NOT PRESENT THAT AS A FAIRY TALE.
THE BIBLE PRESENTS IT AS HISTORICAL FACT
WITH VERIFIABLE PROOFS, NAMELY
THE WITNESS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS THAT
WE SERVE A RISEN SAVIOR WHO IS COMING AGAIN.
ANOTHER SCEPTIC PREMISE THAT HAS BEEN PURPORTED IS THAT
JESUS' TOMB WAS FOUND EMPTY NOT BECAUSE HE WAS RESURRECTED,
BUT THAT THE BODY WAS STOLEN OUT OF ITS BURIAL PLACE.
SKEPTICS AND UNBELIEVERS HAVE VARIOUS THEORIES
ABOUT WHAT DID AND DID NOT HAPPEN
IN THE PASSION AND RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
WE BELIEVE THE BIBLICAL RECORD IS THE HISTORICAL RECORD,
IS THE TRUE RECORD.
IN MATTHEW 28, BEFORE THE GREAT COMMISSION PASSAGE THERE'S THIS
WHOLE JERUSALEM CONSPIRACY THAT THE DISCIPLES STOLE THE BODY.
WHICH SHOWS US FROM THE VERY BEGINNING,
THIS IS NOT JUST SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED OVER TIME,
BUT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THESE MONUMENTAL EVENTS
UNBELIEVERS HAVE TRIED TO EXPLAIN AWAY
WHAT HAPPENED AT THE CROSS AND WHAT HAPPENED AT THE EMPTY TOMB.
IT DID NOT WORK THEN AND
IT HAS NOT WORKED THROUGH THE CENTURIES.
IF THE DISCIPLES DID IT,
THEY WOULDN'T HAVE DIED FOR SOMETHING THAT
BASICALLY THEY MADE UP AND CREATED.
AND THERE'S NO GOOD CREDIBLE REASON FOR ANYBODY ELSE
TO REALLY HAVE STOLEN THE BODY EITHER.
THAT'S NOT WHAT YOU HAVE IN MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE, AND JOHN,
YOU HAVE TWO FRIGHTENED WOMEN SHOWING UP AS THEY SHOULD.
ALL OF IT CONSISTENT WITH JEWISH BURIAL TRADITIONS,
BUT THEY COME TO THE TOMB AND
THE STONE IS PULLED ASIDE AND THE BODY'S GONE.
WELL, IF YOU'RE GOING TO WRITE FICTION, YOU CAN DO BETTER.
HAVE THE MEN SHOW UP, HAVE ENEMIES SHOW UP
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
SO IMAGINE THE MEETING WITH THE DISCIPLES
AFTER JESUS BEEN CRUCIFIED,
WHERE THEY'RE GOING, HOW DO WE KEEP HOPE ALIVE?
GIVEN THAT OUR MESSIAH HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED?
AND SOMEONE RAISE THEIR HAND. I HAVE A GREAT IDEA.
LET'S PROMOTE AN UNPOPULAR IDEA, RESURRECTION.
AND THE WAY WE'RE GONNA PROMOTE THAT UNPOPULAR IDEA IS WE'RE
GONNA PICK OUT AS OUR FIRST WITNESSES, WOMEN WHO CULTURALLY
DO NOT COUNT AS WITNESSES IN THE FIRST CENTURY.
WHEN THE WOMEN REPORT THAT THE TOMB IS EMPTY,
THE CHURCH LEADERS DON'T BELIEVE THEM.
THEY COULD EASILY GO ON BELIEVING THAT
JESUS SUFFERED UNJUSTLY.
JESUS IS NOW IN HEAVEN.
SOMEDAY WE’LL BE IN HEAVEN WITH HIM.
YOU DON'T NEED TO MAKE UP A RESURRECTION STORY.
AND THE UNUSUAL FEATURES PRESENT IN THE STORY ARE PART
OF WHAT SHOWS THE CREDIBILITY OF ITS HAVING TAKEN PLACE.
PERHAPS THE MOST COMMON ALTERNATE EXPLANATION
TO THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS HALLUCINATIONS,
SOMETIMES CALLED VISIONS.
JESUS NEVER REALLY APPEARED TO THEM.
THEY WERE HALLUCINATING THE WHOLE THING.
THE PROBLEM WITH THIS, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
POPULAR ALTERNATE EXPLANATIONS, IT'S ALSO ONE OF THE WEAKEST.
MULTIPLE STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE ON HALLUCINATIONS
OVER THE PAST CENTURY.
AND THEY HAVE FOUND THAT ONLY ABOUT 7% OF THOSE
WHO ARE GRIEVING THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE,
EXPERIENCE A VISUAL HALLUCINATION OF THAT LOVED ONE.
NOW CONTRAST THAT WITH REPORTS THAT NOT 7%,
BUT AN UNTHINKABLE 100% OF JESUS FOLLOWERS,
HIS DISCIPLES EXPERIENCED VISUAL APPEARANCES OF JESUS.
HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD TRIUMPHANTLY
WITH ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH GIVEN TO HIM.
HE ASCENDED TO THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER
WHERE EVEN NOW HE LIVES TO MAKE INTERCESSION FOR US.
AND HE IS COMING AGAIN TO CONSUMMATE THE KINGDOM
AND TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD.
AND THAT'S WHY PAUL IN ACTS 17
WILL SAY HE HAS APPOINTED A DAY
IN WHICH HE'LL JUDGE THE WORLD BY THIS MAN, JESUS.
AND AS A PROOF FOR THAT, HE RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD AND
TO BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD AFTER THREE DAYS, LITERALLY SO
THIS IS THE ABSOLUTE PROOF THAT THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO GOD.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO HEAVEN EXCEPT
THROUGH THE ONE WHO ROSE FROM THE DEAD.
YOU SEE IF JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD, ITS GAME SET MATCH,
CHRISTIANITY’S TRUE, PERIOD.
AS YOU’VE JUST SEEN, THE HISTORICAL PROOF OF THE
RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST HOLDS UP AGAINST THE SKEPTICS.
THAT’S BEEN TRUE SINCE THE VERY BEGINNING.
RECENTLY I SHARED AN EASTER MESSAGE WITH
OUR CONGREGATION HERE AT CORAL RIDGE,
LOOKING AT THE FIRST SKEPTIC WE HAVE ON RECORD.
THOMAS WAS HIS NAME, AND HIS EXPERIENCE WITH JESUS
WOULD CAUSE HIM TO MAKE AN EXCLAMATION
THAT PROVIDES THE TITLE FOR THE MESSAGE:
“MY LORD AND MY GOD!”
THIS MORNING WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT A MAN WITH THE MOST
INFAMOUS NAME, DOUBTING THOMAS.
THOMAS WAS A FOLLOWER OF JESUS CHRIST, ONE OF THE APOSTLES,
AND WE READ ABOUT HIS DOUBT AND
HIS SKEPTICISM AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
IN JOHN CHAPTER 20, THE GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 20.
THOMAS IS THE PATRON SAINT OF ANYONE WHO'S EVER DOUBTED BEFORE
THOMAS HEARS ABOUT THE RESURRECTION,
BUT DOESN'T WANT TO JUST HEAR ABOUT IT.
HE WILL NOT BELIEVE UNTIL HE SEES THE RESURRECTED LORD, AND
HE IS FULL OF DOUBT AND SKEPTICISM UNTIL
HE BEHOLDS HIS LORD FACE TO FACE.
THE GOSPEL OF JOHN CHAPTER 20:24-31.
WE BELIEVE HERE AT CORAL RIDGE THAT THIS IS THE WORD OF GOD,
EVERY SINGLE WORD OF IT SPOKEN TO GOD
THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT TO US THIS MORNING.
IT IS INERRANT, IT IS INFALLIBLE, AND IT IS TRUTH.
WE HEAR GOD SPEAKING TO US THROUGH HIS HOLY WORD HERE
IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 20 BEGINNING IN VERSE 24,
NOW THOMAS, ONE OF THE TWELVE, CALLED THE TWIN,
WAS NOT WITH THEM WHEN JESUS CAME.
SO THE OTHER DISCIPLES TOLD HIM, “WE'VE SEEN THE LORD.”
BUT HE SAID TO THEM,
“UNLESS I SEE IN HIS HANDS THE MARK OF THE NAILS,
AND PLACE MY FINGER INTO THE MARK OF THE NAILS AND
PLACE MY HAND INTO HIS SIDE, I WILL NEVER BELIEVE.”
EIGHT DAYS LATER, HIS DISCIPLES WERE INSIDE AGAIN,
THOMAS WAS WITH THEM AND ALTHOUGH THE DOORS WERE LOCKED,
JESUS CAME AND STOOD AMONG THEM AND SAID,
“PEACE BE WITH YOU.” AND THEN HE SAID TO THOMAS,
PUT YOUR FINGER HERE AND SEE MY HANDS;
PUT OUT YOUR HAND AND PLACE IT ON MY SIDE.
DO NOT DISBELIEVE BUT BELIEVE.”
THOMAS ANSWERED HIM,
“MY LORD AND MY GOD,”
JESUS SAID TO HIM,
“HAVE YOU BELIEVED BECAUSE YOU'VE SEEN ME?
BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE.”
NOW, JESUS DID MANY OTHER SIGNS IN THE PRESENCE OF
HIS DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK;
BUT THESE ARE WRITTEN SO THAT
YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD,
AND THAT BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?
BY BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME.
AND THE GRASS WITHERS AND THE FLOWER FADES,
BUT NO, NOT THE WORD OF GOD. IT STANDS FOREVER. AMEN.
HAVE YOU EVER MISSED A BIG EVENT,
MAYBE A BIG SPORTING EVENT?
GO TO THE WORLD SERIES BOTTOM OF THE NINTH
AND YOU JUST HAPPEN TO GO TO THE CONCESSION STAND,
WALK OFF HOME RUN,
MAYBE A 70 YARD TOUCHDOWN TO END THE GAME.
MAYBE IT WAS A CURRENT EVENT
AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THAT YOU JUST HAPPEN TO MISS.
THAT WAS THOMAS.
THOMAS MISSED THE GREATEST EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD,
THE RESURRECTION.
BUT JESUS GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS, OVER AND OVER AGAIN,
JESUS GOES TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PURSUE THOMAS
BECAUSE HE DOESN'T WANT THOMAS TO MISS THE RESURRECTION.
I'M HERE THIS MORNING TO TELL YOU
I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS THE RESURRECTION EITHER.
IT IS THE GREATEST EVENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD.
AND I WANT TO ASK A VERY SIMPLE QUESTION THIS MORNING,
WHAT WOULD CAUSE THOMAS TO GO FROM A DOUBTER TO A BELIEVER,
BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT MIGHT CAUSE
YOU THIS MORNING TO GO FROM A DOUBTER TO A WORSHIPER OF GOD?
LET'S FIND OUT TOGETHER AS WE STUDY JOHN CHAPTER 20,
WHAT WOULD CAUSE THOMAS TO DECLARE MY LORD AND MY GOD?
THE FIRST THING I WANT TO POINT OUT
IS THE EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION.
THE EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION IS KEY
TO TURNING THOMAS FROM A SKEPTIC TO A BELIEVER.
YOU SEE, IT'S THOMAS THAT IS WANTING THE COLD HARD FACTS.
HE SAYS, I WILL NOT DEPEND JUST ON YOUR TESTIMONY
BUT I WANT TO SEE JESUS.
I WANT TO, I WANT TO SEE THE WOUNDS
AND I WANT TO SEE THE SCARS.
IN FACT, THOMAS SAYS,
I ACTUALLY WANT TO PUT MY HANDS ON THE SCARS.
I WANT TO PUT MY HANDS ON THE WOUNDS.
AND BEFORE YOU LOOK DOWN UPON THOMAS,
WE ACTUALLY SHOULD BE GRATEFUL.
WE SHOULD BE GRATEFUL THAT THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH
WAS NOT FOUNDED ON HEARSAY BUT ON EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY.
YOU SEE, THE ENTIRE NEW TESTAMENT WAS WRITTEN BY
INDIVIDUALS THAT HAD EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY,
THAT THEY WERE ACTUALLY ABLE TO VERIFY THAT
THEY SAW THE RISEN LORD, THAT THEY SAW THE RISEN JESUS.
AND BECAUSE OF THEIR EYEWITNESS TESTIMONY,
THEY WERE ABLE TO PUT DOWN THIS TESTIMONY
INTO WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE NEW TESTAMENT.
YOU SEE, WE'RE NOT HERE
CELEBRATING SOMETHING BASED ON HEARSAY.
WE'RE NOT HERE JUST CELEBRATING SOME FABLE OR SOME STORY
THAT HAS BEEN PASSED ALONG FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
BUT WE ARE HERE CELEBRATING SOMETHING THAT EYEWITNESSES
SAID WE SAW AND WE VERIFIED WITH OUR OWN EYES.
THE ONLY THING THOMAS NEEDS FOR HIS CONVERSION TO HAPPEN
FROM A SKEPTIC TO A BELIEVER IS TO SIMPLY STAND AND
LOOK AT THE ONE WHO CLAIMED TO BE THE SON OF GOD,
STANDING THERE WITH SCARS ON HIS HANDS AND SCARS ON HIS SIDE.
IT'S IN THIS MOMENT THAT THOMAS IS LEVELED
BY THE UNCONDITIONAL SACRIFICIAL LOVE OF GOD.
YOU NOTICE THOMAS DOESN'T NEED TO TOUCH HIM.
ALL HE NEEDS IS TO SEE JESUS WITH HIS WOUNDS,
TO SEE JESUS WITH HIS SCARS.
AND IT IS ENOUGH TO TRANSFORM THE GREATEST SKEPTIC.
AND IT'S THE ONE THING YOU NEED THIS MORNING.
THERE WAS A MAN BY THE NAME OF TOM LIVING IN CENTRAL FLORIDA,
A CHRISTIAN, WITH A DEEP HOPE IN THE RESURRECTION.
HE WAS TERMINALLY ILL.
AND ON THE LAST DAY OF HIS LIFE, HE WAS SURROUNDED IN THE
HOSPITAL BY FAMILY AND FRIENDS, AND AS THEY WERE GETTING
READY TO LEAVE THE HOSPITAL, HIS FAMILY FOR THE LAST TIME,
THEY TURNED TO THE SEVEN YEAR OLD SON,
TOM'S SEVEN YEAR OLD SON,
AND SAID IT MIGHT BE A GOOD IDEA TO SAY GOODBYE TO DAD.
AND SO THE SEVEN YEAR OLD BOY GOES OVER TO HIS FATHER,
KISSES HIM AND HUGS HIM AND SAYS TO HIS FATHER,
“DAD, I'LL SEE YOU IN THE MORNING!”
HIS FAMILY JUST STOOD BY SHAKING THEIR HEADS IN PITY,
SAYING HE JUST DOESN'T GET IT,
DOESN'T GET THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION.
BUT IN FACT, I THINK THAT LITTLE BOY UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON
MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN THE ROOM THAT DAY.
YOU SEE, HERE IS THE TRUTH.
IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, YOU WILL EXPERIENCE
A GREAT RESURRECTION MORNING THAT WHEN YOU CLOSE YOUR EYES,
THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN, THAT WILL NOT BE THE FINAL DAY,
THAT WILL NOT BE YOUR FINAL MOMENT,
BUT THAT YOU WILL WAKE UP ON THE OTHER SIDE OF GLORY
WITH EYES WIDE OPEN, MORE WIDE OPEN THAN EVER BEFORE,
AND YOU WILL STAND BEFORE JESUS AND DECLARE MY LORD AND MY GOD,
IF I DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION,
IF I WASN'T CONVINCED OF THE RESURRECTION,
I WOULDN'T BELIEVE ANYTHING ELSE IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE.
BUT BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS TRUE,
THAT I BELIEVE WHAT CHRIST SAID,
BECAUSE I BELIEVE AND I'M
CONVINCED OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST,
I KNOW THAT THIS LIFE IS SIMPLY
A PRELUDE TO A GLORIOUS FUTURE THAT WILL HAVE NO END.
BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION, I KNOW WHERE I'M GOING,
BUT I WANT YOU TO BE THERE WITH ME.
I DO NOT WANT YOU TO MISS THE RESURRECTION.
I WANT YOU TO OPEN YOUR EYES AND DECLARE BECAUSE OF
JESUS CHRIST IN HIS LIFE AND HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION,
DECLARE AND MAKE PROFESSION, MY LORD AND MY GOD.
HELLO, AND HAPPY EASTER.
I’M JENNIFER KENNEDY CASSIDY.
JESUS ARISING FROM THE DEAD AND WALKING OUT OF HIS TOMB
ON EASTER MORNING NOT ONLY CONVINCED
THE FORMER SKEPTIC THOMAS, BUT ALSO A BAND OF DISCIPLES,
AND ULTIMATELY HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS AROUND THE WORLD.
YOU’VE JUST SEEN A SHORT EXCEPT FROM
DR. ROB PACIENZA’S EASTER MESSAGE,
AND WE’D LIKE TO SEND YOU THE WHOLE THING,
ALONG WITH ANOTHER KEY MESSAGE AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS
DONATION TO THE CONTINUING WORK OF THIS MINISTRY.
THE DVD IS CALLED:
INVINCIBLE: THE RISEN JESUS AND HIS UNSTOPPABLE REIGN,
AND IT FEATURES TWO STIRRING MESSAGES
ABOUT THE POWER OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION,
WHICH WILL ENCOURAGE YOUR OWN FAITH,
AND IS ALSO A GREAT WITNESSING TOOL TO SHARE WITH OTHERS.
THE TRUTH OF THE RESURRECTION AND WHAT IT MEANS
FOR YOU AND ME TODAY ARE THE MOST
POWERFUL DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH.
DIG INTO THEM MORE DEEPLY AND BE ENCOURAGED
IN THESE MESSAGES FROM DR. PACIENZA.
AND IF YOU’RE ABLE TO GIVE A DONATION OF $50 OR MORE,
WE’LL SEND YOU THE TWO-MESSAGE DVD, INVINCIBLE, PLUS THE BOOK,
12 REASONS WHY I BELIEVE,
BY MY FATHER, D. JAMES KENNEDY, AS THANKS
MY DAD WAS DEVOTED TO THE CHRISTIAN FAITH BECAUSE IT’S
TRUE, AND IT WAS HIS PASSION TO SHARE THE EVIDENCES AND
HISTORICAL PROOFS OF THAT TRUTH.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS ISN’T JUST SOME RELIGIOUS IDEA
IT’S SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN REAL HISTORY
IN JERUSALEM ABOUT 2000 YEARS AGO.
IN THIS BOOK, 12 REASONS WHY I BELIEVE,
MY DAD SETS OUT THE PROOF FOR THAT EVENT,
AS WELL AS DEALING WITH OTHER TOPICS, LIKE
“HOW I KNOW THERE’S A GOD,”
“HOW I KNOW JESUS IS GOD,”
AND “HOW I KNOW HEAVEN IS REAL.”
DR. ALBERT MOHLER OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST
THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY SAYS,
THIS IS A BOOK THAT SHOULD BE READ BY EVERY BELIEVER.
SO, CONTACT US RIGHT AWAY.
WE’LL SEND YOU THE TWO-MESSAGE DVD,
INVINCIBLE: THE RISEN JESUS AND HIS UNSTOPPABLE REIGN
FROM DR. ROB PACIENZA, AS THANKS FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION.
AND THE DVD PLUS THE BOOK, 12 REASONS WHY I BELIEVE,
BY DR. D. JAMES KENNEDY,
AS THANKS FOR YOUR DONATION OF $50 OR MORE.
YOUR DONATION IS HELPING US CONTINUE BY DAD’S MISSION
OF PREACHING THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD THROUGH ALL AVAILABLE
MEANS, AS WELL AS PROVIDING THE BODY OF CHRIST WITH
A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE ON KEY CULTURAL ISSUES.
SIMPLY WRITE TO US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES:
OR CALL TOLL FREE:
OR GO ONLINE TO:
ON EASTER SUNDAY, WE CELEBRATE
THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST FROM THE DEAD.
BUT IT’S NOT ONLY AN EASTER EVENT.
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS THE CENTER OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH,
THE MOST IMPORTANT TRUTH IN HISTORY,
AND THE FACT THAT MAKES CHRISTIANITY TRUE AND RELEVANT.
IF JESUS DIED AND WAS BURIED AND MERELY LIVES ON TODAY IN MEMORY,
THEN HE’S NO DIFFERENT FROM ANY OTHER RELIGIOUS FIGURE.
AS THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS,
BUT WHAT WE CELEBRATE ON EASTER IS
THE VERY DEATH OF DEATH ITSELF.
WE CELEBRATE WHAT THE DISCIPLE FORMERLY KNOWN AS
DOUBTING THOMAS DISCOVERED THAT JESUS CHRIST
HAD WALKED OUT OF THE TOMB IN HIS BODY.
THAT HE COULD BE SEEN AND TOUCHED.
AND THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS THE PATTERN FOR THE EVENTUAL
RESURRECTION OF ALL WHO PUT THEIR TRUST IN HIM.
IF YOU PUT YOUR FAITH IN JESUS, THOUGH YOU WILL EVENTUALLY DIE
IF HE DOESN’T RETURN FIRST, YOU WILL BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD,
NEVER TO DIE AGAIN.
ALL GRIEF, HURT, PAIN, AND LOSS WILL BE GONE.
AND YOU WILL LIVE IN BLISS- BODY AND SPIRIT-
IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS CHRIST, FOREVER.
SO ON THIS EASTER, WHERE ARE YOU AT?
DO YOU KNOW THAT YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN CHRIST?
IF NOT, LET TODAY BE THE DAY OF SALVATION FOR YOU.
NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU HAVE DOUBTED,
NO MATTER HOW FAR YOU HAVE RUN AWAY FROM GOD,
HE IS THE GOD THAT PURSUES,
DOUBTERS AND SKEPTICS.
THE ONLY THING YOU NEED TO DO IS BELIEVE AND CONFESS.
YOU CAN NAIL IT DOWN, RIGHT NOW,
BY PUTTING YOUR FAITH IN HIM AND PRAYING WITH ME SAYING:
“FATHER, I KNOW THAT I AM A SINNER
WHO DOES NOT DESERVE HEAVEN AND ETERNAL LIFE.
BUT I BELIEVE THAT JESUS DIED FOR MY SINS,
AND THAT HE PHYSICALLY ROSE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD.
YOUR WORD SAYS ‘IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH
THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART
THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD, YOU WILL BE SAVED.’
I BELIEVE TODAY, LORD,
AND I PUT MY FAITH IN CHRIST ALONE FOR MY SALVATION.
PLEASE FORGIVE MY SINS, BECAUSE JESUS DIED IN MY PLACE.
AND HELP ME NOW TO LIVE A LIFE DEDICATED TO YOU.
I PRAY THIS IN THE NAME OF THE RISEN ONE,
JESUS CHRIST, MY LORD AND MY SAVIOR. AMEN.”
IF YOU SINCERELY PRAYED THAT PRAYER WITH ME, FROM
YOUR HEART, THIS IS THE GREATEST EASTER OF YOUR LIFE.
PLEASE LET US KNOW ABOUT IT, AND WE’D LOVE TO
ENCOURAGE YOU WITH A FREE GIFT.
IT’S BEGINNING AGAIN, DR. KENNEDY’S BOOK
FOR NEW BELIEVERS TO HELP YOU GET STARTED
IN YOUR NEW RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS CHRIST.
CONTACT US TODAY AND RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY.
AND MAY GOD RICHLY BLESS YOU.
I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY,
AND ALL OF US AT CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES
WISH YOU A HAPPY EASTER!
WE WELCOME YOU TO JOIN US IN PERSON FOR WORSHIP
SUNDAY MORNINGS AT CORAL RIDGE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
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MEDIA AT FACEBOOK, TWITTER-X, INSTAGRAM, AND ON YOUTUBE.
AND NOW, HERE’S A LOOK AT THE NEXT TRUTHS THAT TRANSFORM.
MY FAMILY HAD A RADICAL RETURN TO CHRIST IN THE MID TO LATE
1980S THROUGH THE TELEVISION MINISTRY OF DR. D JAMES KENNEDY.
AND THE CHANGE THAT I SAW IN MY PARENTS WAS VERY TANGIBLE,
VERY REAL UNTIL THE DAY THEY DIED
THAT'S NEXT WEEK
THIS HAS BEEN A PRESENTATION OF CORAL RIDGE MINISTRIES