Thursday 2 November 2017

Unique to Christianity

Unique to Christianity
One of the most unique beliefs in Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus. Luke’s Gospel records this incident when the resurrected Jesus appears to his disciples,
“While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 
They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost.  
He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds?  
Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.  
And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?”  
They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence. 
He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  
He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  
You are witnesses of these things.  
I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:36-49.
Here is one of the key beliefs of all who call themselves believers in Christ Jesus. Jesus who was crucified and died, rose from the dead.
In this incident Jesus appears to his disciples who were actually talking with some other believers who had seen and spoken to Jesus after His resurrection on the road to Emmaus.
The reaction of the disciples is a very human one. At first they didn’t understand and thought they were seeing a ghost.
To quell their fears Jesus allowed them to touch him. He even asked them for something to eat all to prove that he had indeed risen from the dead.
Luke then records Jesus said to them,
“He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 
Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  
He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  
You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:44-47.
Luke goes on to tell us, while the disciples would wait briefly in Jerusalem on the orders of Jesus, these men would be the first of many to take the message of forgiveness from sin through Christ Jesus to all the world. A message that is as relevant today as it was back then.
A message expressed by the apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans this way,
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.  
Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die.  
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Later in his Letter Paul states,
“That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.  
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.  
As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”  
For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,  for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." Romans 10:9-13.
Please think about it.

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