Required reading
The Works (Vol 4) of John Newton (Available from Amazon or free here) - Read Sermon XL (The Lord is risen indeed).
My summary
This week Newton preaches on: 'But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
(1Co 15:20).
Newton affirms the truth of the resurrection by firstly showing that the disciples were competent judges of what they asserted because of:
(i) their numbers;
(ii) the nature of the fact.
Secondly Newton demonstrates that as competent judges, so the disciples were upright and faithful witnesses. This is seen by:
(i) their writings;
(ii) the lack of advantage;
(iii) their success.
What grabbed me
I enjoyed Newton's conclusion: 'If Christ be risen from the dead, according to the Scriptures, then all that the Scripture declares of the necessity and design of his sufferings, of his present glory, and of his future advent, must be true likewise. What a train of weighty consequences depend upon his resurrection ! If he rose from the dead, then he is the Lord of the dead and of the living — then he has the keys of death and hades — then he will return to judge the world, and you must see him for yourself, and appear at his tribunal— then, it is he with whom you have to do — and then, finally, unless you really love, trust, and serve him, unless he is the beloved and the Lord of your heart, your present state is awfully dangerous and miserable. '
If Christ rose, Christ will return.
Are you ready for his return?
Next week's reading
Read Sermon XLI (Death by Adam, life by Christ).
Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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