The Good News!

He Is Risen

Christianity stands or falls on one historical claim: that Jesus, having truly died, rose bodily from the dead three days later. All four Gospels record it. Visitors to His tomb found it empty; an angel told them He had risen; and soon Jesus appeared, in person, to His disciples and many others.

Why Believe It Actually Happened?

1. His death was witnessed publicly. Jesus faced open trials and crucifixion before hostile crowds — this was no secret event. Even the theory that He merely swooned and later revived in the tomb has been dismissed by scholars: a half-dead man crawling out of a cold grave could never have convinced His followers He had conquered death.

2. His tomb was guarded. Roman soldiers stood watch, making a staged theft implausible — and it doesn’t explain why His own disciples would later weep at finding the tomb empty. Nor did the authorities, who had every reason to expose a fraud, ever produce the body or point to an alternate grave.

3. Many people saw Him alive. Jesus appeared to more than 500 people at once (1 Corinthians 15:4-7) — many of whom were still alive, and could have disputed the account, when it was first circulated. Paul says he had already received this report from the other apostles within about a decade of the event — too soon for legend to take root.

4. His disciples were transformed. Frightened men who scattered and hid at Jesus' arrest became bold preachers willing to die for what they’d seen — nearly all of them were eventually martyred for it. Fear does not produce that kind of courage; conviction does. Peter, who denied even knowing Jesus out of fear, later stood fearlessly before the very council that had condemned Him.

5. The day of worship changed. Jewish believers, fiercely loyal to the Saturday Sabbath, began worshipping on Sunday instead — the day Jesus rose. It would have taken an event of the deepest significance to move a whole community to break with that tradition.

6. It was foretold. Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection in advance (John 2:19), fulfilling centuries-old prophecy. Even His accusers recalled Him saying it at His trial (Matthew 26:61).

“Because I live, ye shall live also.”John 14:19

These points only scratch the surface. For the fuller case — including why legend and hallucination theories don't hold up, and why the authorities never simply produced the body — see legal scholar Sir Norman Anderson's classic essay "The Evidence for the Resurrection".

Why the Resurrection Changes Everything

If Jesus had stayed in the grave, Christian faith would be empty and we would still be in our sins (1 Corinthians 15).

By His death — all who believe on Him and accept Him as Saviour have their sins paid for and are declared righteous before God.

By His resurrection — all who believe on Him are promised eternal life, since Jesus has demonstrated His power over death itself.

The Question Death Forces Us to Answer

We spend most of our lives avoiding the subject of death. But it comes to everyone, without exception — and it puts everything else in perspective. Would that next promotion matter if you had only months to live?

“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment.”Hebrews 9:27

What Happens After We Die?

People have answered that question in very different ways. Here are five of the most common:

The Bible teaches the third: Heaven and Hell. Revelation describes a real, eternal judgment (Revelation 20:10), and Paul writes of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord" for those who reject Him (2 Thessalonians 1:9). This isn’t a minor side-detail of the Christian faith — it’s exactly why the news of what Jesus has done is called good news.

“What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?”Mark 8:36

There are only two outcomes after death — the Bible says nothing, or something. And if something, Scripture is clear it is either everlasting joy with God, or everlasting separation from Him, based entirely on how we’ve responded to Jesus in this life.

“I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.”John 11:25

How Do You Respond?

Becoming a Christian isn’t about knowing facts — it’s about trusting a person.

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”Acts 16:31

It means admitting we are sinners who cannot save ourselves, believing Jesus died in our place and rose again, and choosing to follow Him from here on — even when that costs us. Jesus put it plainly: “Whoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Mark 8:34). If you have never done this, we warmly invite you to. It’s the most important decision you will ever make — and there’s no better time than today.

A Simple Prayer

“Fear not: for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name; you are mine.”Isaiah 43:1

If you’ve just prayed this for the first time — or you’d simply like to talk more about any of this — we would love to walk alongside you. Visit lifebpc.com to find out more about Life B-P Church. You might also consider starting to read the Bible for yourself, perhaps beginning with the Gospel of John.