He is Risen!
Notes
Transcript
Welcome- Prepare hearts and Worship
Call to Worship see Eph 1
Prayer
Worship through Song
Sermon
Let us pray this morning.
Introduction
Introduction
It is Sunday morning, a tension and a heavy burden resides over the disciples of Jesus. Feelings of fear, confusion, guilt, sadness, anger, and many other emotions fill their minds. One week ago on the previous Sunday they followed their friend, teacher, Lord and who they believed to be the Messiah into the city of Jerusalem. They watched in wonder and anticipation as the crowds shouted Hosanna, Hosanna. How they pronounced him as King.
Early in the week they saw him perform miracles, cleanse the temple, weep for the people, confound the religious leaders. They watched and waited in great anticipation of Jesus taking his place as King.
As Thursday rolled around they spent there time preparing for the Passover meal and enjoyed the passover meal. During the meal, he washed their feet, predicts his betrayal and that they will be scattered and prays for them. Jesus breaks bread with them and speaks of the new covenant that is in his blood. Concern and confusion starts to set in as Jesus speaks in ways that they are not understanding. He goes to pray and is arrested by the Religious Leaders and he willingly goes with them. Peter denies Christ for the first time.
Through out the night the trials of Jesus begin and at dawn Peter is broken as he denies his Lord for the third time before the rooster crows. As Good Friday continues they watched from a distance as Jesus is taken through the remainder of 7 different trials. They ask for information speak amongst themselves to understand what is going on. They see their friend scourged and beaten and hurt in unimaginable ways. They see the city turn on Him and yell Crucify Him. They know he is innocent “How can this be happening?”
While many of the discipled flee to hidden places, few watch in horror as Jesus and his cross go to the place called the Skull. With each bang of the hammer, each scream of pain their hearts sink deeper and deeper. They watch the brutal torture of Jesus as he hangs on the cross. Earth quakes, darkness come and then he breathed his last breath.
His body is taken down wrapped in linen and buried.
Saturday comes, it is the Sabbath.
I can only imagine what went through their thoughts as they honored the Sabbath and sought God. As they prepare what what the next week will bring. As hope isn’t in the front of their minds any more. Then Sunday comes.
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’8 And they remembered his words.
He is risen!!! Three simple words with profound impact. He is Risen!!!
And they remembered his words. He is everything He said he was. He is the Lord, the Messiah. He is Jesus the Christ. They run back to the rest of the disciples to tell them what they have found. Their savior lives.
Jesus will appear multiple times that day. Reveal himself to his followers and he will continue to do so over the next couple of weeks.
3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.
God’s Glory
God’s Glory
Who here has heard the account of the Resurrection of Christ before. Most of us have come to an Easter Service before and most have been going to them for years. We proclaim that Jesus lives today.
See Jesus is not an imaginary character. He is not and was not a myth or a legend. See history records this man Jesus. Came and did what the world calls crazy things. He flipped the world upside down in many ways. We sit here today not because he lived. No one can claim that he did not live. Because they would be a fool. We sit here today because this man claimed to be the Son of God. Claimed to be the fulfillment of the Old Testament Prophesies. Claimed that he would give eternal life to those that would follow him.
We sit here today because we believe that God’s redemptive plan was executed through a man that claimed to be fully man and fully God. So what was God’s ultimate purpose in sending sending his Son into the world to save sinners.
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Was the ultimate purpose to save man?
Ephesians 1:3–13 (CSB)
3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
Everything God does is for his Glory. Creation is for his Glory and salvation is too.
While God was bringing the 10 Plagues on Egypt he says
15 By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with a plague, and you would have been obliterated from the earth. 16 However, I have let you live for this purpose: to show you my power and to make my name known on the whole earth.
And after the Pharaoh had released them and they made it to the Red Sea.The Psalmist writes in PS 106
6 Both we and our ancestors have sinned; we have done wrong and have acted wickedly. 7 Our ancestors in Egypt did not grasp the significance of your wondrous works or remember your many acts of faithful love; instead, they rebelled by the sea—the Red Sea. 8 Yet he saved them for his name’s sake, to make his power known.
The parting of the Red Sea and the removal of Isreal from Egypt was an Example of His Glory of His Character. God would continue to use Isreal to show his Glory to the nations even though they would continue to turn their back on him and he would promise to use them to demonstrate His character.
22 “Therefore, say to the house of Israel, ‘This is what the Lord God says: It is not for your sake that I will act, house of Israel, but for my holy name, which you profaned among the nations where you went. 23 I will honor the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations—the name you have profaned among them. The nations will know that I am the Lord—this is the declaration of the Lord God—when I demonstrate my holiness through you in their sight.
As Isreal had turned completely against God. They had compromised every aspect of worship and honor to God They worshipped pagan gods of fertility, of harvest of the sun and many other. All of which profane the worship of God. And God acts when glory is ascribed to another
11 I will act for my own sake, indeed, my own, for how can I be defiled? I will not give my glory to another.
Even with all of this. When His people would continually break their covenant with Him. He even restrains Himself for his own Glory for His names sake.
9 I will delay my anger for the sake of my name, and I will restrain myself for your benefit and for my praise, so that you will not be destroyed.
From before creation existed it was determined that God would send his servant Jesus to be a covenant to the people.
1 “This is my servant; I strengthen him, this is my chosen one; I delight in him. I have put my Spirit on him; he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not cry out or shout or make his voice heard in the streets. 3 He will not break a bruised reed, and he will not put out a smoldering wick; he will faithfully bring justice. 4 He will not grow weak or be discouraged until he has established justice on earth. The coasts and islands will wait for his instruction.” 5 This is what God, the Lord, says— who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk on it— 6 “I am the Lord. I have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will hold you by your hand. I will watch over you, and I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, 7 in order to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the dungeon, and those sitting in darkness from the prison house. 8 I am the Lord. That is my name, and I will not give my glory to another or my praise to idols.
The servant will come and he will bring forgiveness of sin. The forgiveness of sin for his names sake. Not ours.
25 “I am the one, I sweep away your transgressions for my own sake and remember your sins no more.
12 I am writing to you, little children, since your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.
His Plan Jesus
His Plan Jesus
Ephesians 1:1–13 (CSB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God’s will: To the faithful saints in Christ Jesus at Ephesus. 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him. 5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he lavished on us in the Beloved One. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace 8 that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding. 9 He made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ 10 as a plan for the right time—to bring everything together in Christ, both things in heaven and things on earth in him. 11 In him we have also received an inheritance, because we were predestined according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, 12 so that we who had already put our hope in Christ might bring praise to his glory. 13 In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed.
Predestined
Predestined
Each and every believer is chosen before the foundation of the world. Before there were mountains, animals, stars the Triune God chose each individual person to be holy and blameless in HIM. Not of their own works and merit but because of the works of Christ that would come at the right time.
9 He has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.
11 This is according to his eternal purpose accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The death, burial, and resurrection were God’s plan for the redemption of fallen man from the beginning. It was by his love and for his glory that this is the will of God.
His Love
His Love
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
God is love. His redemptive plan of Jesus came from his perfect love. See God doesn’t love people like men do. We love because we are loved. When you love me, treat me nice, meet my needs and desires. Then I will love you in return. See that is not God. God loves and everything he does is motivated by love. and the ultimate expression of this love is the crucifixion.
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
We are loved in ways we cannot comprehend but we sit here on Easter Sunday looking at the physical manifestation of perfect love. Today we like to focus on his love and we should but we must not forget why God purposed to send Jesus. His chosen were redeemed by the blood of Jesus. So why did man need to be redeemed.
Atonement
Atonement
As Adam and Eve ate in disobedience to God, man fell from fellowship with God. Separation between man and God took place. They became spiritually dead. From that moment forward all of humanity has been in need of salvation.
The Jews wanted a saving King. The savor they wanted would just over through their oppression and they would be on top again. It would just transfer power and oppression. It was not what they truly needed. They needed to be reconciled to God. Man is so corrupt in his own nature that he cannot comprehend the need to be in fellowship with God. This reconciliation is called atonement. As separation from God came from one man and reconciliation would also come from one man.
19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile everything to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated and hostile in your minds as expressed in your evil actions. 22 But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through his death, to present you holy, faultless, and blameless before him—
10 Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Jesus is the atoning sacrifice. The perfect offering that covers the sin of man, past present and future.
His Justice
His Justice
Each and every sin that has ever been committed has a consequence. The wages of sin is death. Every time in the past present of future that a person lies, cheats or steals. They incurred the wrath of God. This must be payed for. Jesus while hanging on the cross took in all sin. As Jesus hung there each and every sin we committed was imputed or assigned to him. The penalty was then given to him. Every sin will be punished. Either by the one who committed the sin as in a unbeliever or on Jesus on behalf of each believer.
25 God presented him as the mercy seat by his blood, through faith, to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his restraint God passed over the sins previously committed. 26 God presented him to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so that he would be just and justify the one who has faith in Jesus.
24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree; so that, having died to sins, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
21 He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Today more people will be in church or other religious activities than any other day and maybe Christmas. But in reality many will teach and worship either a false Jesus. They will believe in the parts of scripture that will help them deal with the world they live in.
They will remove scriptures that contradict their beliefs, they flat out teach false teachings by not believing that the bible is infallible.
Others will add to the bible with many worldly ideas because scripture isn’t sufficient. We will be coming to the table. To the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper where Jesus will take the cup and states that this is the new covenant in his blood. The covenant that God promised that would take place. So today we want to know what really took place on the cross and unfortunately we will spend the rest of our lives seeking to gain better understanding of everything that took place in the days surrounding the cross.
29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
God’s word says that each person will be shown enough through God’s general revelation, his creation to believe in God. But due to the unrighteousness and depravity of man they will reject it. But there are the called that will be presented with the Gospel of Jesus. The Good News that we can be saved from our sins and that Jesus died on the cross to do just that.
Through the working of God something will stir in them. There will be a desire to know who God is. There will be an uncomfortably with sin. With parts of our lives that we used to not even think about. They will want to know who God is and who Jesus is because he has called them to himself. If this is you today I would you stick around after church and I would love to talk with you about Jesus.
By grace through faith a person will come to believe in salvation through Jesus and repent of their sinful ways. They will be justified in front of God. They will be adopted as his children. and be sealed for eternity. To be given eternal life. To receive the joy of salvation.
We will be forgiven of our sins. They will be remembered no more. Removed from sight.
13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Then the believer will walk in obedience for the rest of their lives. Growing and being made new conforming to the image of Jesus. Being set free from the bondage of sin. Through the work of the Holy Spirit they are transformed. Day by day they seek to do the will of God and they will in the end be Glorified into perfection in eternity in heaven with our Lord and savior as King. The good Shepard and his chosen people.
5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
Prayer
Call To Worship
Call To Worship
16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Jesus Invites
Jesus Invites
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Jesus Declares
Jesus Declares
35 “I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to me will ever be hungry, and no one who believes in me will ever be thirsty again.
37 Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out.
Institution
Institution
23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
Prayer
Worship through Song
Benediction
Romans 15:13 (CSB)
13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.