“Raised for Our Justification” (2)

The publicist for the late author and debater Christopher Hitchens asked Christian author Larry Taunton to arrange a series of debates between Hitchens, an outspoken atheist, and Christian thinkers. Over the ensuing years, Hitchens and Taunton developed an unlikely friendship. Hitchens stayed in Taunton's home, and prior to Hitchens' death from cancer, the two friends took two long road trips across America. Here's how Taunton describes what happened on one of those trips:

My mind goes back to the Shenandoah. The skies are clear, the autumn leaves are translucent in the early afternoon sun, and the road ahead of us is open … In a strong, clear voice, Christopher is reading from the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of John. Reaching the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth verses, his face lights up with recognition.

He stops. "I know this one too," he says. "I did not recall its connection with the resurrection of Lazarus."

"It's a great verse," I add, sensing we have reached a defining moment. "Yes, Dickens thought so," Christopher says, and then, taking his reading glasses off, he turns to me and asks: "Do you believest thou this, Larry Taunton?" His sarcasm is evident, but it lacks its customary force.

"I do. But you already knew that I did. The question is, do you believest thou this, Christopher Hitchens?" As if searching for a clever riposte, he hesitates and speaks with unexpected transparency: "I'll admit that it is not without appeal to a dying man."

- Of course, this is going to be about the resurrection

- I have two questions for you today… two questions that are important to answer on this day

- Do you believe that Jesus rose from the grave?

- Do you even care?

Romans 4:20–25 ESV

No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever.

I. Do you believe that Jesus rose from the Grave?

A. Barna research – 39% of the general population in America expressly denies that the resurrection actually took place

B. One thing that scientific evidence has shown us throughout history is that when people die that is it… there is no coming back

C. One thing that Logic and Reason has shown us throughout history is that when people die that is it… there is no coming back

D. But the stories and the witness are overwhelming… something must have happened – Jewish Historians and Roman Historians report…

1. Jesus was crucified as a Blasphemer under Jewish Law and as a troublemaker under Roman Law

2. Jesus died under the strict procedure of the Roman Crucifixion

3. He was placed in a tomb with Roman and Jewish guards to guard against theft

4. Three days after he was placed in a tomb, the tomb was empty

5. There was a widespread commotion in Jerusalem over the whereabouts

6. So… how about it? The Tomb was empty, and people saw Him

E. Well, Jesus wasn’t really dead… that’s why the tomb was empty

1. Jesus slipped into a coma like state (probably from the sponge of sour wine spiked with a narcotic) and awoke in the tomb and slipped passed the guards and appeared to the Disciples and dies a little later

2. Easiest to refute… The Romans knew how to kill and how to tell the difference between someone who is dead from those alive

3. Jesus who was horribly wounded whips beating, spear in the side, wounds in his hands and in his feet, loss of blood, body in shock, both physical and mental, figured out a way to leave a cold tomb, move the stone, slip pass the guards unnoticed and find his way to the place the disciples were hiding and say “see I told you, I said I was the Son of God and I would rise from the grave. I am the Lord”… then collapse

4. And the disciple would be so inspired to become fanatics for Him and would become martyrs for the cause of Christ

F. Well, they stole his body… that’s why the tomb was empty

1. The Roman soldiers were so frightened that they agreed to this knowing that it could cost them their heads

2. Also, because they would lose their heads for falling asleep it is doubtful that they did and let us not for get that the disciples were also frightened that any thought of them stealing the body would be unlikely

3. This is what the Pharisees wanted them to say… Matthew 28:11-15 - 11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

4. The logical impossibility… how could they know who they were if they were asleep??

5. And the disciple would be so inspired to become fanatics for Him and would become martyrs for the cause of Christ.

G. Well all you have is an empty tomb… this doesn’t prove anything

1. How about eyewitness accounts

2. Eye witness accounts serve us today and it is enough to convict

3. He was seen by individuals, two disciples, small groups of them, men and women, and crowds as many as 500

H. The Vantage Point – for the discrepancies

II. Do you even care?

A. Barna research – 35% of those who identify themselves as born again evangelicals deny that the resurrection actually took place

- This means that belief in Christ’s Resurrection is no more important to a little more than 3 out of 10 Christians than it is to non-Christians

B. Does it even matter to you? Will you say today… what difference does it really make whether He did or He didn’t?

1. Do we sit here today and say … look I’m not here to know or understand the resurrection or doctrine. I am here to find out what I need to do to get into heaven – guess what that is…

2. Do we sit here today and say … what does this have to do with anything? How is this going to help me get through the problems in my life?

3. Do we sit here today and say … Whether He rose or not, this is not going to help me deal with family issues or the people and my Boss at my place of employment

4. Do we sit here today and say … I have real problems today… real problems. What does it matter… I need help, I need relief, I need peace in my life

5. Ok fine… he forgives us of sin, great by what does his resurrection have to do with anything – why do I need to hear all this doctrine stuff

6. 1 Corinthians 15:16-17 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

7. Let us also not forget that we need to hear and understand… so that we don’t have the word of God snatched from us

C. Francis Schaffer – “Please, when you present the gospel present it first of all as true not as helpful”

D. This is why I don’t like the Gospel presentation like… try Him, give it a shot, you will see that it will change your life. If it is not true, then it will not be helpful.

E. Some may think …If you are a better person, if you are living with confidence, if you have success, and if you have many friends, then who cares whether it is true or not.

F. So what if you got it all

1. So what if you have all the success in the world

2. So what if you have all the money in the world

3. So what if you have all the love of everyone in the world

4. Mark 8:36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?

G. We think that our greatest problem is…

1. Rising gas prices, Having to pay more taxes, Politics and politicians, having to drive a clunker, not enough money

2. Sickness, Disease, Depression, Death, Darkness, or Disaster

3. Our greatest problem is the wrath of God. Dying and standing face-to-face with the living God and needing to give an account for what we have done.

4. And what have we done… James 2:10 - For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.

5. There is nothing we can do about it.

6. Rom. 3:10-11 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God.

7. Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

H. Is our goal right standing before god or is it success and bliss?

1. CS Lewis – aim for heaven and you get the earth thrown in for free, aim for earth and you lose them both

2. Mathew 6:33 - But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

I. It is the effects of the fall of man that we are lead astray and led into the realm of self-centeredness. Independence. Idolatry. And Unbelief

III. The question then remains… do we believe that Jesus rose from the grave?

A. This is not as easy and as obvious as it may seem

B. If we really believe it … then why do we worry?

C. If Jesus is really alive… then why do we despair?

D. If Jesus is really alive… then why do we fear?

E. Think and be honest… do you really believe it?

F. When you pray, how do you pray… do you believe it?

IV. Christ the Lord is Risen Today

A. His death on the cross paid the price for our sins and unbelief

B. His death on the cross paid the price demanded by God who is our holy and righteous Creator

C. His death on the cross accomplished the work that he came to bear

D. To know that his work was accepted… He was resurrected

E. To know that he truly is the Son of God… He was resurrected

F. To know that we have life and life more abundantly… He was resurrected

G. To know that we are justified … He was resurrected

H. To know that hell death and the grave has been defeated… He was resurrected

I. To know that we will have life and we too will be resurrected … He was resurrected

J. We have been forgiven and redeemed… for Christ the Lord is risen Today

K. We will be transformed and purified.. for Christ the Lord is risen today

L. We have reason to rejoice and be glad… for Christ the Lord is risen today