If Christ Be Not Risen

Have you ever stopped to think what life would be like if an event in your life had been changed? One of my favorite movies at Christmas time is “It’s a wonderful life” a story about George Bailey who found out what it would be like if he had never been born.

This past year Nicolas Cage did a movie about what life would be like if he would have married a former girl friend of his.

Life certainly would be different if we hadn’t made some choices that we’ve made along the way.

This morning as we celebrate Easter, Paul was addressing the fact, what if Christ had not risen from the dead. Easter means a lot of different things to a lot of different people.

For some it means a day off, for others it means a time to get together with the family for a great meal, and for others it’s just another day.

But have you ever stopped to think what would it be like if Christ had not risen from the grave.

We get so use to everything the revolves around Jesus, like our calendar, Christmas and other events that we start taking His life and death for granted.

So I want us to look at this morning, what it would be like, if Christ had not been risen.

First of all, if Christ be not risen, we wouldn’t have a risen Savior.

There is a question that I’ve heard asked, How do we know which religion is right? The proof is in the grave!

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ would not be risen. If we don’t have a risen Christ we would be no better than any other religion.

Think about it, if Christ didn’t rise from the grave, He wouldn’t have been any different than any other religious leader. He wouldn’t be any different than the Buddha, no better than the Mohammed, no better than Joseph Smith the founder of the Jehovah’s Witness.

Our religion wouldn’t be any better than any other religious cult.

There is one major thing that separates us from them. We serve a risen Savior. Christianity begins where religion ends – with the resurrection of Christ.

Asoka, once emperor of India, distributed Buddha’s ashes, in minute portions, to eighty-four thousand shrines all over India!

Go to the grave of Muhammad, all you will find is the dust of his bones.

Go to the tomb where Christ was laid, and you will find it empty!

Luke 24:1-6 “Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulcher, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulcher. 3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: 5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen:…”

I heard a report this week that historians have said that there’s enough evidence to prove that Jesus Christ really did exist and rose from the dead!

I didn’t need a historian to tell me that, I’m so glad this morning that I haven’t put my faith and trust into some fable or factious character. I’ve put my faith and trust in a living Savior, Jesus Christ.

You ask me how I know He lives, because He lives within my heart. There may be some here this morning, that hasn’t experienced the power of the resurrected Savior, I’ve come by this morning to let you know, that the enemy has blinded you from the truth, and I command Satan to take those blinders off in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Next, Paul said if Christ be not risen, our preaching is in vain.

To a man of God, to think that all the hours they’ve spent in prayer, all the hours in preparation, and every time we’ve stood behind the pulpit was all in vain would be heartbreaking.

Men like D.L. Moody, John Wesley, Charles Finney, and Billy Graham spent their lives for nothing if Christ be not risen.

If Christ be not risen, I’ve never preached under an anointing, the preached word has never imparted life, and all we’ve done is given you some kind of motivational speech, week after week.

But no need to worry for He is risen, and the Words I speak to you this morning, are life changing, and more powerful than any stronghold of the enemy.

There’s power in the preached word this morning.