Tried With Fire

O GOD OF MY EXODUS, Great was the joy of Israel’s sons,    when Egypt died upon the shore, Far greater the joy    when the Redeemer’s foe lay crushed in the dust. Jesus strides forth as the victor,    conqueror of death, hell, and all opposing might; He bursts the bands of death,    tramples the powers of darkness down,    and lives for ever. He, my gracious surety,    apprehended for payment of my debt,    comes forth from the prison house of the grave    free, and triumphant over sin, Satan, and death. Show me herein the proof that his vicarious offering is accepted,                                           that the claims of justice are satisfied,                                   ...

We believe that the very best attested fact in all history is the Resurrection of Christ. Historical doubts concerning the existence of Napoleon Bonaparte, or the stabbing of Julius Caesar, or the Norman Conquest, would be quite as reasonable as doubts concerning the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus! None of these matters have such witnesses as those who testify of Him—witnesses who were manifestly truthful, since they suffered for their testimony, and most of them died ignominious and painful deaths as the results of their belief. We have more and better evidence for this fact than for anything else which is written in history, either sacred or profane! Oh, how should we rejoice, we who hang our salvation wholly upon Christ, that beyond a doubt it is established that, “now is Christ risen from the dead.”  But you may ask the question at the outset, “Why is it that the Resurrection of Christ is of so much importance?” Upon it we have said that the whole system of Christianity rest...

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.  For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.  But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:3-10