< Matthew 28 >

After three days in the tomb, Jesus awoke from the sleep of death and his body was changed into a glorious body. Certain women among his disciples came to his tomb finding it empty and were informed by an angel that he had risen. Later the same day, the first day of the week, Jesus met with his disciples, giving them overwhelming evidence and absolute assurance that it was he himself alive again. This was not an illusion or wishful thinking on their part, but the real experience of being in the company again of the same man who had been crucified three days earlier.

Many theories have been proposed by unbelievers to undermine this fact of Christ’s resurrection, and people are often confused by false ideas of ghosts and spirits and immortal souls. Nevertheless, there were a great many individual witnesses to the fact that the very same Jesus, whose daily company they had enjoyed for more than three years, was alive again and with them. They talked with him, ate with him, and touched him, and were with him for forty more days before he left them again Acts 1:3.Waiting for response for Acts 1:3 The Jews tried to explain away Jesus’ resurrection by planting a story that the disciples had stolen his body, even though they themselves had set a guard to prevent that very thing happening. This and many other false theories have been spread to undermine the truth of Christ’s resurrection but it is a first principle of Jesus’ teaching and, while even Christian professors may say “There is no resurrection of the dead”, true disciples of Jesus rejoice in the word of God, saying: “Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept”. 1 Corinthians 15:12,20Waiting for response for 1 Corinthians 15:12,20

Jesus commanded his apostles to go to all the nations of their world and teach them the gospel, to baptize believers, and instruct them to observe his commandments. Accordingly, the consistent teaching of the apostles throughout the New Testament is that those only will be saved from sin and death who believe the gospel of the kingdom of God, are totally immersed in water, and thereafter live lives of obedience to Christ’s commandments.