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THE BODILY RESURRECTION OF CHRIST This is the doctrine that “. . . that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” (I Cor. 15:3-4). The resurrection of Christ was foretold some one thousand years in advance (Psa. 16:10; Acts 2:24-32). Our risen Saviour is currently seated at the right hand of God as our High Priest (Heb. 10:12-13). The resurrection makes Christianity different from all other religions, because our Founder is STILL ALIVE. The resurrection of Christ is also pictured in the Old Testament on different occasions. The butler who was restored to his butlership after three days (Gen. 40) and Jonah spending three days in the whale’s belly (Jon. 2; Mat. 12:40) are both great types of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is important to note that the Bible speaks of a literal and physical resurrection of Jesus, although some teach that He only rose from the grave spiritually. According to the words of Jesus Christ Himself, He is NOT merely a spirit being. He is a literal and physical risen Saviour. In Luke chapter twenty-four, beginning at verse thirty-six, the disciples see the risen Christ and they suppose they had seen a spirit (vs. 37). Then Jesus cleared the matter up for everyone when He said, ". . . Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." (Luke 24:38-39) He then SHOWED them His hands and feet, and they believed. When Jesus appeared to Thomas He said, ". . . Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." (John 20:27) The risen Christ had the crucifixion scars in His body to PROVE that He had been physically resurrected from the dead. If Jesus didn't rise physically, then He lied in John 2:18-22 when He said that His "body" would rise in three days. He didn't say His spirit would rise. He said that His BODY would rise. When He arose His disciples actually remembered this prophecy and believed. The bodily resurrection of Christ is a fundamental Bible doctrine. The salvation of a person's soul rests upon this doctrine, because if Jesus didn't physically rise from the dead, AS HE SAID HE WOULD, then we're all lost and going to Hell according to 1 Corinthians 15:12-19. He AROSE, and because He arose, we can rise from the curse of sin and death and enjoy the abundant life that only Jesus Christ can give. If you don't know Him, there's no better time than right now . . .