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ACTS 26:8

"THE CREDIBILITY OF THE RESURRECTION"

Intro: Paul is making his defense before King Agrippa. Jesus had warned His disciples  that
       they would be brought before magistrates and kings, but that it would give  them a 
       chance to witness.

I. THE RESURRECTION WAS THE CENTRAL WITNESS OF THE CHURCH.
        A. When looking for someone to take the place of Judas.
                1. "To be a witness with us of the resurrection."
        B. First message ever proclaimed by the church to the world centered on
                resurrection.
        C. Christianity stands or falls with resurrection.
                1. If Christ is not risen.
                        a. Faith is vain.
                        b. Preaching is vain.
                        c. We are still in our sins.
                        d. Death conquered.
                2. If Christ did rise.
                        a. Death has been conquered.
                        b. We have hope.
                        c. The claims of Jesus are confirmed.
                        d. He is the Son of God.
                        e. He is the resurrection and the life.
                        f. He is the way, the truth and the life...
                        g. Whoever believes in Him shall be saved.
                        h. Those who believe not are damned.

II. WHY SHOULD YOU THINK IT A THING INCREDIBLE?
        A. Many do think of it as incredible.
                1. Modern day Sadducees.
        B. It is unique in history.
                1. He is the only one.
                2. Many have been resuscitated, but not to eternal life.
                3. Jesus is the first fruit of those who rise never to die again.

III. THAT GOD SHOULD RAISE THE DEAD.
        A. When God is introduced as the working agent, any thought of credibility
                gone.
                1. He created world out of nothing.
                2. He gave life to man in the beginning.
                        a. Formed man from the ground.
                        b. Breathed into man's nostrils and man became a living soul.
                        c. It should be no problem for God.
        B. It boils down to your concept of' God and where you received it.
                1. If you have made your own God in your image you've got a problem.
                2. If you have accepted God's revelation of Himself as recorded in Bible,
                        no problem.
        C. To believe in God is not incredible.
                1. To believe that there is a cause behind every effect.
                2. A designer behind every design.
                3. A Creator behind all creation.
        D. To believe otherwise is incredible.
                1. To believe that highly organized life forms arose by spontaneous
                        generation from inanimate matter is the story of resurrection 
                        preached by humanists -- totally unacceptable.
                2. To believe marvelous capacity for sight was gradually formed through 
                   millions of years of fortunate chance mutations is incredible.
        E. To believe in God, raising Christ from the dead is essential to salvation.
                1. Romans 10:9.
        F. The powerful witness of the martyrs.