Day 19
Read: Acts 25
Introduction: Have you ever wondered if you would be found “guilty” for believing in the resurrection of Jesus if your friends were the witnesses? And if the verdict was “guilty,” what would they say about your faith? Many believers talk about going to church, or bible studies they are in, but forget to talk about the cornerstone of our faith—the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In Acts 25, Paul is on trial before the new governor, and he is found guilty of one thing in particular—believing in the resurrection of Jesus.
Acts 25:18-19
“When the accuser stood up, they brought no charge in his case of such evils as I supposed. Rather they had certain points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus, who was dead, but whom Paul asserted to be alive.”
Take away: What makes a Christian? Is it going to church every weekend and sometimes during the weekdays? Is it having a quiet time in Scripture and praying? Are you born into it depending on your family? A Christian is someone that believes that Jesus is the Son of God and that he has risen from the grave and is alive today. Paul says in Romans 10:9, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” It is better to talk about the resurrection of Jesus than anything else when sharing your faith. If a specific church’s name comes up more than the resurrection of Jesus, then we are missing it. If a translation of the Bible comes up more than the resurrection of Jesus, then we are missing it. Make it a point to talk about the resurrection today.
Take away: The resurrection of Jesus Christ is at the foundation of the Christian faith.