The resurrection of Christ is the central event of the Christian faith and, indeed, of all world history. If Jesus did not bodily rise from the dead after three days, Christianity is false and all people remain dead in their sins (1 Cor. 15:14–17).

The resurrection of Jesus Christ lies at the heart of the Christian faith. This is why the Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15 that if Christ was not raised from the dead, we are a people most to be pitied. Yet, we live in a time when the claims of the resurrection are often considered impossible, irrational, and ignorant. Is our faith in vain? Can the Christian have certainty that Christ is risen from the dead? In this teaching series, Dr. Gabriel N.E. Fluhrer examines the many challenges to the resurrection and sets before us sound reasons to be confident, courageous, and filled with an everlasting hope in Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

We live in a world filled with sickness, pain, and the inevitable—death. Because of this, we are continually looking for ways to comfort and ease the suffering. Along with the Christian faith, there are other worldviews and religions that teach charity to our fellow man; performing acts of mercy to those who are poor, sick, and suffering. In that regard, the Christian faith shares much in common with the world. Yet the inevitable remains. So what is it that the Christian faith has to offer to a dying world?

How can Christians be so confident that there is life after death? What gives us such assurance? The Apostle Paul makes it perfectly clear for those who have any doubt. In this message entitled "The Resurrection of Christ," Dr. Sproul explains the greatest hope for those who have placed their faith in Christ.

This message will defend one of the central claims of the Christian faith – the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

We live in a day when it’s common to hear individuals describe themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” The rapid rise of scientism has made many skeptical of claims to the supernatural. Yet the vacuum left in its wake has left many asking whether there is anything beyond the natural world. What happens when we die? Do our lives have meaning? In this lesson, Dr. Gabriel Fluhrer introduces us to the problems of our present age. He shows us that the gospel record of the resurrection not only is true but restores us to a hope that stretches beyond the grave.

Without the resurrection of Christ, our hope of eternal life is vanquished. Since we know that Christ has risen from the dead, we have reason for faith and motivation for ministry. The resurrection testifies to the victory of Christ on the cross and the power of the gospel over sin and death. In this session, Dr. Michael Reeves describes how the resurrection of Christ provides the basis for our faith and gives hope for new life.

Today we conclude our brief look at the work of Christ with a short study of His resurrection. Since our study has emphasized the work of Jesus as a man to merit righteousness for us and to atone for sin, let us first remind ourselves of the connection between our Lord's resurrection and those aspects of His work. As we noted in our examination of Romans 4:25, that Jesus was "raised for our justification" is proof that His life and death were acceptable to God. Our Lord's resurrection is His vindication, the declaration that He indeed was perfectly righteous and was therefore a suitable offering to turn away the wrath of God and also the firm basis upon which we can be declared just before the Father. If Jesus had stayed dead, it would have proven that death had a rightful claim over Him, and since death has a rightful claim only over sinners, Jesus' remaining dead would have meant that He was a sinner and not our Redeemer.

In 1 Corinthians 15:20–28, Paul considers other benefits of our Savior's resurrection, namely the defeat of death and His being raised to life as the firstfruits of the resurrection of His people. Here we see the Christus Victor motif of the atonement and resurrection—Christ as the conqueror of our enemies death and sin. Operating under the sovereignty of God, death is our foe. It is even God's foe as well, for He is the Lord of life. By our sin in Adam, we granted the right for death to claim us as part of the divine curse. By His righteous life, Christ destroyed any claim that death had over Him and those who are united to Him. Death threw its worst at our Lord, killing Him. But our Father was working in the midst of all that, using death as His instrument to pour out His wrath on our sin and raising Christ to life to prove that this wrath had been satisfied. By defeating the power of death, Jesus rendered it powerless over His people.

Thus, Jesus is the "firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep" (v. 20). Jesus was raised from the dead for our justification, yes, but He was also raised for our own resurrection. In other words, because Christ was raised from the dead, we will be raised as well. One day, our physical bodies will be resurrected, and we will be glorified, just as Jesus was. We have been united to Christ, having died to sin, and that union means that we are also united to Him in the resurrection (Rom. 6:5). Our bodies will not remain in the grave forever. At the last day, our spirits will be reunited with them to live forever in the new heavens and earth.

Do Christians place their hope in a lie? Is the resurrection of Jesus simply an ancient hoax invented by the church? Many people hold that view today. But those who reject the empty tomb fail to make sense of the unavoidable evidence from both Scripture and history. The verdict is in: Christ is risen, and our lives will never be the same. In this teaching series, Dr. Gabe Fluhrer makes a compelling case for Christ’s victory over the grave. Not only is His resurrection a historical fact, but it presents the true answer to our deepest questions and provides every Christian believer with undying hope.

Did Jesus Christ really rise from the grave? The credibility of the Christian faith rests on this claim, and Jesus‘ own disciples laid down their lives to defend it. However, the resurrection of Christ is often dismissed as fantasy by those who assume that miracles are a scientific impossibility. Is faith in the empty tomb nothing more than blind belief? In Alive: How the Resurrection of Christ Changes Everything, Dr. Gabe Fluhrer demonstrates that Jesus‘ defeat of the grave is no mere myth-it is a historic reality supported by overwhelming evidence. To deny Christ‘s resurrection is an indefensible position, but by God‘s grace, to embrace the reality of the risen Lord is to have our lives changed forever. Endorsements “If Christ is not raised from the dead, then our faith is worthless (1 Cor. 15:14). However, Christ is risen and lives today! Surprisingly, few good books have been written on the vital subject of Christ’s resurrection, so Dr. Gabe Fluhrer’s work is all the more welcome. This gripping, well-written book argues from the Holy Scriptures and from careful reasoning that Christ’s resurrection is both true history and the ground of our hope both objectively and subjectively.” —Dr. Joel R. Beeke “The resurrection of Jesus Christ sits at the very heart of the gospel. What does it mean that Jesus was raised from the dead? How do we know that the resurrection is true? How does the resurrection help me face death? How does the resurrection help me to live my life today? With the mind and heart of a pastor and theologian, Dr. Gabe Fluhrer deftly walks us through the Bible to see the centrality, beauty, and glory of the resurrection. Indeed, he rightly says, ‘For believers, the reality of Jesus’ resurrection means that everything has changed.’ Take up Alive and begin to see with fresh eyes what a difference the resurrection makes.” —Dr. Guy Prentiss Waters

Do Christians place their hope in a lie? Is the resurrection of Jesus simply an ancient hoax invented by the church? Many people hold that view today. But those who reject the empty tomb fail to make sense of the unavoidable evidence from both Scripture and history. The verdict is in: Christ is risen, and our lives will never be the same. In this teaching series, Dr. Gabe Fluhrer makes a compelling case for Christ’s victory over the grave. Not only is His resurrection a historical fact, but it presents the true answer to our deepest questions and provides every Christian believer with undying hope.

"We live in an age of compromise, but if we stand on the bedrock of God's truth, we will not bend with the winds of relativism and faithlessness." -R.C. Sproul Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, R.C. Sproul, and Cal Thomas considered the theme “No Compromise: Standing for the Truth of God's Word” at our 2013 National Conference. Together they examined what the Bible says about standing firm for bedrock truths such as the resurrection of Christ, the trustworthiness of Scripture, God's plan for the family, our need to show mercy, the importance of theology, the primacy of preaching, the exclusivity of Jesus and much more.

Many Christians reflect upon the purpose and consequences of Jesus’ resurrection only at Easter. This is distressing because the resurrection, as the event upon which Christianity stands or falls, should occupy first place in our thinking and living.This fall, Ligonier Ministries will explore the resurrection at our West Coast conference in Seattle, Wash. Alistair Begg and Michael Horton will join me on September 25–26, 2009, in examining the significance of the resurrection of Christ for worship, preaching, apologetics, and other issues. Following the conference, Mike Horton and I will speak on the doctrine of the church on a separate Pacific Northwest cruise, September 28–October 2.A firm understanding of the resurrection is essential for confronting false teaching and looking forward to our life in the world to come. Many Christians reflect upon the purpose and consequences of Jesus’ resurrection only at Easter. This is distressing because the resurrection, as the event upon which Christianity stands or falls, should occupy first place in our thinking and living.In Ligonier Ministries' 2009 West Coast Conference held in Seattle, Wash., "Is There Life After Death?," R.C. Sproul, Alistair Begg, and Michael Horton examine the significance of the resurrection of Christ for worship, preaching, apologetics, and other issues. A firm understanding of the resurrection is essential for confronting false teaching and looking forward to our life in the world to come.

Jesus promised that the world would be against us. Competing world religions, atheistic governments and academia, friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers oppose our message to some degree or another. But every so often, someone asks us to give a reason for the faith we posses. Are you prepared for such an occasion? Are you ready to explain and defend what you believe about God and matters of faith?In this series, Dr. R.C. Sproul answers some of the most common objections to the Christian faith. With clarity and examples from everyday life, Dr. Sproul addresses faith, reason, those who have not heard the Gospel, the uniqueness of Christ, the existence of God, and the resurrection of Christ.

It was not until she heard His voice that Mary Magdalene recognized the risen Lord. Today, Sinclair Ferguson contemplates the remarkable testimony of the first witness to the resurrection of Christ.

"We live in an age of compromise, but if we stand on the bedrock of God's truth, we will not bend with the winds of relativism and faithlessness." —R.C. Sproul

Alistair Begg, Sinclair Ferguson, R.C. Sproul, and Cal Thomas considered the theme No Compromise: Standing for the Truth of God's Word at our 2013 National Conference__, in Orlando, FL. Together they examined what the Bible says about standing firm for bedrock truths such as the resurrection of Christ, the trustworthiness of Scripture, God's plan for the family, our need to show mercy, the importance of theology, the primacy of preaching, the exclusivity of Jesus and much more.

Many Christians reflect upon the purpose and consequences of Jesus' resurrection only at Easter. This is distressing because the resurrection, as the event upon which Christianity stands or falls, should occupy first place in our thinking and living.

In Ligonier Ministries' 2009 West Coast Conference held in Seattle, Wash., "Is There Life After Death?," R.C. Sproul, Alistair Begg, and Michael Horton examine the significance of the resurrection of Christ for worship, preaching, apologetics, and other issues. A firm understanding of the resurrection is essential for confronting false teaching and looking forward to our life in the world to come.

Alistair Begg carefully explores the Pauline doctrine of the resurrection of the body, and looks at the nature of the connection between the resurrection of Christ and that of His people.

Alistair Begg examines the significance of the Gospel accounts of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. Why are the accounts of the resurrection of Christ so central in all four Gospels? What is the place of the resurrection of Christ in redemptive history?

Michael Horton looks at the connection between the resurrection of Christ and His ascension to the right hand of the Father. He also explores the kingdom implications of the resurrection.

world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:30–31).

Muhammad is dead. Buddha is dead. Confucius is dead. Moses is dead. Only One has been raised from the dead, because God has only one Mediator between Himself and human beings. He has one, His only begotten Son, and He has demonstrated to the world the One whom He has appointed to be the Judge of all the earth by raising Him from the dead—something that He didn’t do for Muhammad.

But Paul also tells us that Jesus was raised for our justification (Rom. 4:25). In one sense, Jesus was raised for His own justification because by the resurrection, God was declaring to the world, “This is my Son, and all the charges brought against Him for which He was executed are false.” He therefore was vindicated by the resurrection. But again, what God was doing was not simply vindicating and justifying Jesus.

He’s raised for my justification. He’s raised for your justification. Why? How can that be? Because in the resurrection, God not only was declaring that Jesus is the One whom He has appointed to be the Judge but was also saying, “I accept the sacrifice that He has offered.” Jesus offered Himself to satisfy the demands of God’s justice and righteousness.

Yet God said, “Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied” (Isa. 53:11) because the Father was satisfied. He was pleased with His Son and what He had accomplished. To show His Son and the world that He had accepted His perfect sacrifice given once and for all, He raised Him from the dead and exalted Him to the right hand of the Father as the King of kings and Lord of lords.

The King of kings and Lord of lords is not dead. He’s alive. And that’s why we can joyfully proclaim, “He is risen.”

of unbelief that inclined Him to keep Christ captive, to ensure that there would be no doubt He was dead and that the resurrection would not be mistaken for a resuscitation.

The resurrection sets Jesus apart from every other central figure of world religions. Buddha is dead. Mohammed is dead. Confucius is dead. None of these were sinless. None offered atonement. None were vindicated by resurrection.

If we stagger with unbelief before the fact of resurrection, we would do well to consider the plight of the two walking to Emmaus that weekend. Luke records the event for us (Luke 24:13–35.). As the two men were walking away from Jerusalem, Jesus joined them incognito. They presumed to inform Jesus about the events of the crucifixion and showed obvious impatience with His apparent ignorance of the matters. When they related the report of the women concerning the resurrection, Christ rebuked them: “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

When the two had their eyes opened and they recognized Jesus that night, they said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

A Christian is not a skeptic. A Christian is a person with a burning heart, a heart set aflame with certainty of the resurrection.