The resurrection is a fundamental cornerstone of the content of Christianity.  No resurrection or no belief in the resurrection = no salvation, no eternal life, and no freedom from sin and its sentence of death.

1 Co 15  Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

Post Edited (Reader) : 3/8/2005 3:59:59 PM (GMT-6)

Mark,

While there certainly are charlatans, I do believe that there are spiritists that can perform supernatural signs.  This is also documented in the book of Exodus in which the magicians of Pharaoah did miracles.  Paul mentions this in Timothy, "always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith."  These men opposed Moses with miracles wrought by their gods.  The battle was conclusively won as Moses demonstrated greater miracles, including sending death upon all of their firstborn while the Israelites were protected by the blood of the lamb as a type of what we ourselves hope for.

All the 'holy men" and spiritists die.  Jesus overcame death and ascended to heaven in bodily form.  That is something beyond levitation - it is the ultimate levitation into glory and the presence of the Father.  This miracle of the resurrection and ascention was performed in front of many credible witnesses who were willing to give up all their possessions and even their lives to testify to its validity.  I will be very interested to witness the spiritist or occultist who has so much faith in his supernatural power that he will allow himself to be killed and then resurrect from the dead.  This miracle is something that they cannot do.  Satan may bring death but he does not give life.  Only Jesus is the life and His promise was made certain by His resurrection - a historical and factual event.  He is now sitting bodily in heaven awaiting the time that He will come to gather His own and to execute the wrath of God on all those who refuse to believe in Him and His resurrection.

Post Edited (Reader) : 3/9/2005 8:34:29 AM (GMT-6)