5 Assurances of the Resurrection

Greetings “He is Risen…”

Introduction: The Mother-in-Law

The resurrection is the focal point of nearly every truth Christ taught whether directly or indirectly. He taught

Christianity is in its very essence a resurrection religion. The concept of the resurrection lies at its heart. If you remove it, Christianity is destroyed.

John Stott

The Christian church is helpless and hopeless if it is stripped of the reality and historicity of the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.2

A. W. Tozer

The unbeliever is not sick; he is dead! He does not need resuscitation; he needs resurrection.

Warren W. Wiersbe

Need: Our greatest need is not to be better in our own strength but to be made brand new in Christ’s strength.

Interpretive question

“What does the resurrection mean to you?”

Transition statement

For some it is of little concern

for others it means noting at all.

For true Christians, it means absolute assurance! Everything of the Christian faith rests on this one historical event.

Please stand

1 Corinthians 15:1–11 ESV

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Prayer

Paul tells us we have 5 assurances of the Resurrection

The Church is Our First Assurance of a Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 ESV

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

Illustration Sanctity of marriage

On the one hand, the resurrection of Christ is a fact to be believed. On the other hand, it is an experience to connect with, not just that we believe in, but that we experience.

Timothy Keller

Argumentation The Church at Corinth, received the person of God, they stood on that relation and they are were being saved by His power

Illustration: “Last nights phone call, God saved him from decades in prison where he would be unable to provide for his family and watch them grow, start families.

It was not the principles of God that spoke to Him the Person of Jesus did.

Application

Thus we prove we are “being saved” when we rejoice in what Jesus rejoices in and we live to please Him.

The Scriptures are Our Second Assurance of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

Paul delivered which he received not what he designed. First importance (verses)

Mark 8:31 “Then He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, be killed, and rise after three days.”

John 11:25 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in Me, even if he dies, will live.”

“Our saviors resurrection is truly of great importance in Christianity, so great that his being or not being the Messiah stands or falls with it."

The New Testament insists that Salvation in Christ is only possible through the resurrection AND one cannot be a born again believer if one does not believe in the resurrection

Romans 10:9 “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

God is sovereign and He calls his own shot long before it happened

Application

Twice Paul stresses according to the Scriptures because He wants the church then to know the sovereignty of God who is not afraid to state what will happen but has yet too.

The Eye-witnesses of Others Assures us of the Resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:5–7 ESV

and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Illustration: Bigfoot

Argumentation: The testimonies of all these witnessed all add up

The wounds were heeled. His back His head, His side

John 20:25 HCSB

So the other disciples kept telling him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in His hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe!”

John 20:26–27 HCSB

After eight days His disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and observe My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Don’t be an unbeliever, but a believer.”

The Great Commission given as a victory (consider the injuries!)

Application

Often we find evidence to support what we want the outcome to be.

Have you ever looked to see if Jesus could have been raised from the dead?

Our Personal testimony is the Fourth Assurance of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:8–10 ESV

Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

Illustration People need more than a bumper sticker to change their minds.

Paul changed his entire worldview because He encountered the resurrected Jesus.

From Persecutor to Preacher that change was instant.

In one encounter, Paul’s pride and stubbornness was exchanged for humility and indebtedness.

Argumentation

Those of you here today who know Jesus personally can relate to Paul when he said “But by the grace of God, I am what I am.

The same power that brought Christ back from the dead is operative within those who are Christ’s. The resurrection is an ongoing thing.

Leon Morris

Application

Salvation through the resurrected Savior changes people.

His ways govern us and lead us when before we did it all independent of Him

The Evangelism Processes is assurance of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:11 ESV

Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Paul said whether I or they, people will believe based on the message and its power alone.

Illustration I do not need to be an inventor or paid to endorse a product t to tell you it works.

Years ago, someone turned us on to zinc and echinacea. When you first start feeling sick, take them together and it greatly reduces the symptoms.

I didn’t create the pills I don’t get endorsed , But it works and I tell everyone who says they feel the bug coming on.

People who have experienced the living, resurrected savior, share the gospel because they are assured of its truth and they know He is actively working within them.

Argumentation

You don’t need to be an eye witness or an apostle because the power is in the message not the messenger One singer captioned it like this

first your life is a Mess, then you hear the message, then you become a messenger

Application How do we Apply this? For the believer

When you are in times of discouragement you can be encouraged by

The Church (We worship together, which confirms) The Scriptures (teach us about our relationship to) The testimony of others (is a shot in the arm) Your personal story (testifies to His work in us) And by sharing the Gospel (Seeing God move in o)

When we are discouraged God has given us these things as reminders of his faithfulness and to help us remain in him.

How do we Apply this? For the unbeliever

If you are questioning could Jesus have really been raised from the dead? Consider

The Church. For 2000 years it has radically changed the world

(that is NOT to say those who believed in vain have not given the church a black eye!)

Those truly know Jesus have changed the world

The Scripture is powerful and able to change you. You go to read it and suddenly It’s reading you and you see your life before a living God. (Study John in April) Give it “first importance”

Testimonies of others. Some of you may be skeptics of the resurrection of people really change!

Consider the loved ones you know that are faithful to Jesus. They are compelled to live the way they do NOT because of Christian principles, but because a relationship with the living Savior Jesus.

Ask them about their relationship and encounters with God.

Personal testimony: look at your own life.

Does your life demonstrate that you live for a living God?

When we do not honor God we are honoring ourselves. We become our own God worshipping whatever we want.

We don’t feel God near so we say “he’s not real.”

The Bible says God hates sin and does not want to be in its presence. If He is real, and some people know Him and live for Him but others do not, could it be that you’re just not willing to hear from God?

The Message. Christ came to save sinners, those who reject him, deny Him, those who like Paul who live doing what they want thinking God is pleased when he is actually offended.

Christ has come to enter into a relationship with them, with you.

In order for Him to enter into a relationship with you, He first had to enter into the world as a man, and remove your sin so that you can be with God without condemnation

He was handed over according to the scriptures, to be beaten, crucified, and die the death we deserve for the sins we commit.

But He loves us so much that He wanted to gives us access to Himself.

When He was raised, His power over sin and death was complete. And now we can know Him; not His Scripture not His historical impact in ancient literature, but Him personally

Do you know Him? Are willing to explore the possibilities of Jesus being a risen savior?

Closing

I am going to close this way, when you leave here and go eat, I want you to ask those who are with you

Do you know Jesus personally?

Are you willing to explore the possibilities of a risen savior?

If your loved ones say yes, commit to reading the Gospel of John with them in April.