Peter continued his gospel presentation to Cornelius by testifying to being with Jesus after he rose bodily from the dead.
...They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allowed him to appear, 41 not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. Acts 10:39-41 (NLT)
The assertion that Jesus rose from the dead is the heart of the gospel because it confirmed that God accepted his sacrifice as the Lamb of God and made him Lord of lords.
who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 1:4 (NASB95)
But in Paul’s day, as now, people denied that the resurrection ever took place. He wrote:
But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:12-17 (NLT)
Jesus “ate and drank” with the apostles after his resurrection. He talked with them. He allowed them to touch him.
We proclaim to you the one who existed from the beginning, whom we have heard and seen. We saw him with our own eyes and touched him with our own hands. He is the Word of life. 1 John 1:1 (NLT)
Admittedly his resurrection body is different from ours. He could walk through walls and appear or disappear. Nevertheless, it was a body. His bodily resurrection proved his claim to be the Messiah and Lord. It proved that Father God accepted his sacrifice for our sins. It validated Jesus’ promise that one day he will raise us up as well.
“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.” John 6:40 (NASB95)
The gospel boldly declares that Jesus rose from the dead bodily, which was verified by eye witnesses. Those who believe this in their hearts and declare his lordship with their mouths will be saved.
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9 (NLT)
