Easter 2023: The Story of Assurance

Good Morning and Welcome to Confessor’s of Christ Church.

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

This is an incredibly special day for us as we set apart this day to celebrate our Risen Savior.

There is a special greeting that the early Christians used that spoke to this very event.

The first person would say, He is Risen, and return reply would be He is Risen indeed.

Let us continue that tradition this morning by responding with He is Risen indeed when I begin.

He is Risen, He is Risen Indeed.

This greeting dates itself back to the early church, but we see it used after Jesus’s resurrection in Luke 24.

First we see the angels greeting the women who came with burial spices to the tomb with the words, He is not here for He is risen!

Now, the women were astonished and went running back to the eleven to tell them what they just heard.

The response wasn’t He is risen indeed, at least not right away, there was still shock and awe at this point.

Next, Luke 24 continues and we see this incredible scene where Jesus supernaturally shields his glory and appearance as he walks with two of his disciples.

He interrupts their conversation to ask what they were talking about.

The two disciples were shocked at the question, and for good reason, too:

Everyone in Jerusalem knew what had just happened with the crucifixion of Jesus.

While everyone knew that Jesus had died, they shared that word was spreading that Jesus was not dead, but in fact alive!

That the stone had been rolled away, and angels declared to a group of women that the one they were looking for was no longer there.

It was then that Jesus declared to the disciples all of the prophesies and anticipation from beginning.

Jesus started with the first books of Moses up until that day about the purpose, meaning, and reason behind the resurrection.

Jesus then reveals Himself to the disciples and you can only imagine what that moment would have been like.

The disciples race back from where they came from to find the 11 remaining disciples of Jesus and as they find them shout these words.

Luke 24:34 (ESV)

“The Lord has risen indeed.”

This was certainly a life altering and supernatural event that these two disciples witnessed.

But, What does this event have to do with us today?

Why is it that this event has captivated countless people from all over the world?

What is it about this phrase that has compelled people from every nation, every language, and every race to worship?

What is it about this moment that has been an encouragement for believers for almost 2000 years?

These questions are incredibly important and they are not new questions, but still very relevant for this day and age.

It is discovering the answer of the resurrection that we will discover our purpose, meaning, and reason to this life.

The answer will also not only encourage us for this life, but it will also make it so we anticipate the next life as well.

——————-—

Our voyage this morning will begin with one who knows this answer better than any of us, today.

Last week Heather Brown, a member of Confessors of Christ Church, and a beacon of joy and love took her last breath here on earth.

Heather was only 50 years old, but she did more with those 50 years than most could do in twice that.

At the moment her eyes closed for the last time on this earth and she awoke in that same moment in Heaven.

We know this to be true because the Apostle Paul told us of this incredible reality.

2 Corinthians 5:8 ESV

Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

Scripture reminds us that death is not the end, only the beginning of life everlasting, with our Savior.

While Heather’s soul has departed from her earthly body it is now in the presence of Jesus’s resurrected body.

She is the first of us here at Confessors of Christ church to cast off the frailty and brokenness of this earthly body

And is now anticipating a resurrected body like that of her Savior’s.

The reason that Heather was captivated by her Savior is because she embraced the fullness of what Jesus accomplished on earth.

She embraced Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection. She knew that His life was now her life, to be conformed to His image.

She knew that His death is what would remove the great barrier between God and herself.

She knew that His resurrection would pave the way for her resurrection when the final enemy is defeated once and for all.

Heather not only believed these truths but were transformed by these truths.

What is amazing for us is that this truth wasn’t just reserved for Heather, this truth can also be realized and experienced by us.

It is this transformation and this hope that gave way to something truly incredible.

You see, her life wasn’t one that you would have expected to be so joyous and full.

One wouldn’t expect someone like Heather to being fully invested into the mission and glory of God.

Matter of Fact, Heather, could have been bitter, angry, and resentful. Not the complete opposite.

It was 20 years ago that she was diagnosed with MS or Multiple Sclo-roe-sis

A disease that would slowly take away the functions of her brain.

A year and a half later she was in the hospital and it was discovered that she had what is known as Crohn’s Disease,

Another disease instead of effecting the brain it effects the digestive tract and causes inflammation among other issues.

Then 3 years ago it was discovered that she had breast cancer.

She then had her breasts removed and went into intense chemotherapy.

Last year they discovered tumors on her ovaries and uterus and she had to have her uterus removed.

It was then announced that she was cancer free, and there was much to rejoice and celebrate, however this time was very short lived.

Then two months ago she began having pains in her stomach and they removed her Gal-bladder.

It was during that procedure that they discovered cancer had reappeared and was now in liver.

Over the course of her final two months Heather battled what would be the Last Enemy.

Today, she is victorious.

Now, that may seem strange to say such a thing, especially knowing that she has been separated from us here on earth.

This isn’t the win most of us would imagine

If you struggle with this reality you are in good company.

The disciples, 2000 years ago didn’t grasp the magnitude of what they just experienced, either.

They were deep in sorrow, confusion, pain, and disbelief.

How could this be good? How could this be celebrated? How could the death of Jesus be the goal?

2000 years ago the crowd yelled crucify to the only one who was truly innocent.

How could this be the plan, the disciples worried.

2000 years ago the Romans whipped and beat the only who could rescue them from the wrath to come.

How could this bring forth the renewal and victory, the disciples questioned.

2000 years ago military officers hung upon the cross the one who’s death would be the only way to bring us to life.

How could this defeat the great enemy, the disciples lamented.

2000 years ago Jesus said, “It is finished,” and died a sinner’s death, to defeat sin, and be the propitiation we desperately needed.

But again, the disciples thought their life and purpose was finished.

Then, 2000 years ago, celebrated on this day, Jesus did more than just defeat sin, Jesus also defeated death. (Pause)

The problem though, was the disciples and those around them didn’t understand.

How could the Son of God die? How could this be a good thing?

The 11 remaining disciples from the original 12 were sitting together in mourning.

Two other followers of Jesus left Jerusalem and were heading out of town.

This just doesn’t seem right, this doesn’t feel right, this doesn’t look right.

But, the only reason it feels this way, is because they did not understand as they should have.

Our mood could be similar as we engage with this reality as a congregation in remembrance of Heather.

Our hope and dreams could be shattered as we mourn the loss of someone so vital and important to our community.

Where most people would give up, and many would have denounced God, Heather knew that the issue wasn’t God.

She recognized that the issue was that her body and this world were broken and shattered due to sin.

Ever since Adam and Eve came into this world and first rebelled against God, their sin meant their death.

Yet, their sin didn’t end with them, it also spread to you and I, and Heather, and the rest of the world.

The curse that entered into humanity also entered into this world.

What God made good, What God made beautiful, What God made everlasting, was detoured when man rebelled against God.

Though Adam and Even began the rebellion, every one of us have continued in that rebellion and will continue in it unless God rescues us out of it.

This means we are not victims but the perpetrator.

Yet, this did not catch God by surprise, remember, it was God who put the tree in the Garden in the first place.

God does not sin, nor does God do evil, but God would use sin and evil and man’s participation in it, to bring our rebellion into an ultimate good.

But, this ultimate good meant that what was corrupted by man, would need to be dealt with first.

In the 3rd Chapter of the very first book of the Bible, after sin enters the world, the first prophecy of Jesus is revealed in the 15th verse.

This wasn’t just a plan that God put together last minute, but was the plan from before the creation of time.

This is what leads us to Christ’s death and his resurrection.

Jesus would die on the cross and be imputed with Heather’s sin.

and not just Heather’s sin but the sin of all who embrace the gift of grace given to us by God

and place the gift of faith upon Jesus and His finished work.

This is what has lead Heather from being someone who would could have been angry with God,

Someone who could not have understood the plan and purposes of God,

To one who would engage with praise and worship of her God.

The reason that Heather was able to endure the suffering on this world, is because she realized this world was not her home.

We should not desire to live forever in a world that is broken and cursed.

She realized that her body was going to show the effects of a fallen nature, as does your body and as does my body.

The truth of diseases, ailments, fatigue, injury, and ultimately death, point to the reality of a world that is not right.

We can blame God or we can blame ourselves.

Heather chose something altogether different from these two choices.

All who put their faith and trust in Christ have a different option before us.

You see, despite the rebellion of man, God chose, in his infinite love and amazing grace to do something miraculous.

God chose to rescue, redeem, ransom, and restore, what has gone astray and bring them into something truly remarkable.

God chose to take what were his enemies and make them children.

To take what was in rebellion and make them into family.

This wasn’t done by anything we could do or accomplish in and of ourselves.

No, this was done by Jesus, through Jesus, because of Jesus.

This is why Jesus is not just a way......but Jesus is the way.

There is no other Savior who can deal with the sins that separate us from God.

But, Jesus made himself the payment that we owed.

The debt we couldn’t pay was paid by the one who could pay for it.

Jesus’s death was the means in which all of our sins were imputed to Him and He bore the wrath reserved for us.

But, death was not the final answer. Death was not the end, but death was only the beginning.

Because 3 days later Jesus would not only defeat sin, but would defeat death as well.

Jesus would conquer the grave and not just provide an atonement for our sins but provide a path to God.

1 Corinthians 15:53–57 ESV

For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

While Heather’s soul is with her Savior in Heaven because of the great and mighty resurrection of Jesus, there is another aspect of the resurrection still to come.

Paul tells us here that while our body will perish, it will not stay that way.

Because the resurrection also secures for us our own bodily resurrection.

This is still to come for Heather and still to come for you and I.

When our bodies will be reunited with our soul and will be imperishable and immortal.

The final blow to death will be complete and life everlasting will be celebrated.

In the end, it wasn’t about what was so special about Heather that made it so that she could be such an inspiration.

She would tell you the same thing, she wasn’t about all the attention.

It was what was so special about her Jesus that made what Heather displayed as so special and amazing.

It was in the midst of the pain and sorrow she knew and believed in what Jesus could do instead of what she couldn’t do.

In the midst of the disappointments and failure of her earthly body, she had confidence that Jesus’s resurrection would lead to her resurrection.

While Heather is no longer physically present with us she is present with Jesus.

While Heather’s earthly body is no more, she will one day be reunited with a resurrected body and we will be united physically once again.

And this is the journey that we find ourselves on today as well.

We are still in this fallen, broken, and cursed world.

We are still feeling the effects of a culture that is in rebellion against God and if we are honest with ourselves, we wrestle with our participation in it as well.

Just because we were rescued from this world, doesn’t mean we don’t still deal with the effects of it.

Yet, for us who are in Christ, we have the same hope that Heather experienced.

We have the same supernatural power given to us in the Spirit that was given to Heather.

We have the same encouragement that sustained her that sustains us.

It is because of the resurrection that we are captivated by the love of God.

It is because of the resurrection that we are compelled to tell others and share with them the good news.

It is because of the resurrection that we are now encouraged to engage in this world for as long as God will have us here.

It is because of the resurrection that even when we die, we will live.

John 14:19 ESV

Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.

Because Jesus lives, we live.

Today, we have the assurance of the Gospel and the confidence of Christ.

For those of us in Christ, who trust in the finished work of Jesus. Who rest in the accomplishments of the Resurrection.

For the Christian, death is still difficult, sad, and hard. We are still separated from the ones we love.

But the believer has a hope that the unbeliever does not have.

For the unbeliever, this world is as good as it gets.

For the unbeliever, this is their best life now, no matter how good or bad it is.

But for the believer, we know this is just the beginning.

Heather’s husband Ned, shares it best when he shared with me one of his final conversations with Heather, while she was still laying in bed at the hospital.

He shared to Heather that it was ok for her to go home, because he will catch up, soon.

This is the reality for all of us who are in Christ who have loved ones that are in Christ.

We too, will catch up soon.

The reason we will be able to do this is because Jesus was resurrected.

Jesus died in order to remove the barrier that separated us from God.

Then Jesus was resurrected to defeat the final enemy. Death itself.

This morning, I want you to know that Jesus is the hero of not only Heather’s story, but every story.

Jesus is the hero of my story, and everyone who puts their faith and trust in Him.

If you joined us this morning out of tradition, then I want you to know that this is just the beginning, there is so much more to Jesus than a tradition.

I hope you would give us the opportunity to walk with you on your faith journey and share with you the wonders and glories of our Savior.

If you joined us this morning because you heard we are having a breakfast potluck after our service,

I hope you are hungry, but know that what unites us isn’t food, it isn’t politics, it isn’t background, our love for Disney, or race.

It is because of Jesus and we would like to invite you to be join in to something greater than a one time feast, but a lifetime of discovery.

If you joined us this morning because you were curious what Christianity is all about, then let me tell you that you have found the right place.

I’d love to answer your questions and share with you the glories and wonders of what is called the Gospel or the good news.

So what is next? Well, that is now before you.

John 11:25–26 (ESV)

Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

If you believe in Jesus and you put your faith in trust, not in your abilities, but in Jesus’s accomplishment, then this promise is for you, too.

Your next step is to join in with other believers like us here to pursue God’s mission and purpose for your life here on earth.

I’d love the opportunity to get to know you and your family and begin this incredible journey together.

If you are unsure or confused about God, then this is also a great place to get your questions answered.

and there are answers.

I’d love the opportunity to sit down and share with you.

There is no greater purpose or greater pursuit than this. I’d love to join you in this endeavor.

Please do not leave before filling out a connect card with us.

This is resurrection Sunday.

The pinnacle of the Christian Faith and the assurance of our Salvation.

The great mountain top of our hope and the victory of everlasting joy.

We are so glad to have you here to celebrate it with us.

May God illuminate your eyes and quicken your heart to embrace the wonders and glories of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords,

The resurrected Jesus.

He is risen. And yes He is risen indeed!

Let us pray.

Hebrews 13:20–21 (ESV)

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.