The Triumphant Tense 

                                                                                         Vol. XIX, No. 7, September 2007

R. G. Lee (1886-1978) pastored Bellevue BC, Memphis, for 33 eventful years from 1927 to 1960. He also served four annual terms as president of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, and three consecutive terms as SBC president. In his sermon, "The Triumphant Tense," he said:

"The triumphant tense testifies to the literal bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ as the distinguishing mark of Christianity. This sets it apart from all the man-made religions of the world. False religions must stop at the tomb. Christianity takes us to the throne.

"The founders of Brahmanism died and are dead. The founders of Hinduism died and are dead. Buddha died and is dead. Laotse, founder of Taoism, died and is dead. Confucius died and is dead. Zoroaster died and is dead. The founders of Shintoism died and are dead. Mohammed died and is dead. Mary-Baker-Glover-Patterson-Eddy-Frye died and is dead. "Pastor" Charles Tate Russell died and is dead. Joseph Smith of Mormonism died and is dead. Madame Helena Petrova Blavatsky died and is dead. Bahaullah, founder of the Bahai movement, died and is dead.

"Go to the tombs of Buddha, Lao-tse, Confucius, Zoroaster, Mohammed, and the other founders of false religions. The bodies of these leaders lie mouldering in the dust.

"Go to the tomb of Jesus Christ. Men and angels shout 'HE IS NOT HERE: FOR HE IS RISEN: COME, SEE THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD LAY!'

"Blessed thought! Death cannot keep his prey! The One who was dead is no longer there. He is no longer dead. He is alive."