The Resurrection Matters

Victories: 1. Thanks to all who have helped put our Easter Celebration Together 2.

Prayer: Westview Wesleyan - Ryan Budde

Missionary Prayer: Tim & Sandy Hewitt - BEM - In Jesus’ Name I pray.

Intro

When I say that we are going to look at the Resurrection this Easter Sunday most of you would say, “Well Duh, that's kind of the point of Easter, right!” But what I mean is that we are going to look at why the Resurrection matters. Chances are you came here today because either you already come to church regularly and you are expecting to hear a sermon about Jesus and the Resurrection, or you came here today because you were invited and you aren’t sure exactly what to expect and then I stand up here and use words like resurrection and I may even throw out the word atonement at some point and you are already feeling a bit out of place. Quite frankly if you are a regular in church the word “Resurrection” might be problematic at best. Likely you have heard the word said and you might have a basic idea of its meaning but what does that mean for you? Here is the simplest definition of the resurrection: Jesus died on the cross and three days later He rose from the dead. That is pretty simple because it simply declares that Jesus didn’t stay dead he rose or was resurrected from the grave. As followers of Christ, we believe that not only did Jesus live again after He died but that he remains alive and because of this we too can join Jesus in a transformed life that starts now and continues on into eternity.

This is where most people are turned off by Jesus because while they can believe that Jesus was a good teacher and that His teachings were wise and caring and He can fill us with hope the unbelievable and frankly crazy-sounding notion that He rose from the dead is far-fetched at best. Add to the resurrection the belief by Christians that we too can be risen from the dead along with Jesus it can seem like you have just entered a fairy tale, a work of science fiction, or maybe even a zombie movie.

Let’s define the resurrection by answering 3 important questions: Why the Resurrection matters in history; Why the Resurrection matters to humanity: and Why the Resurrection matters to you?

Why the Resurrection matters in history

Jesus really came

Let me start by saying this book that I hold in my hand is pretty amazing. It is 66 books all rolled into one written by several writers some we can name some we can’t over several thousand years. Included in its pages are works of history, poetry, law, prophecy, and personal letters written to individuals and specific churches. The amazing thing about the Bible is that even with all these multifaceted characteristics it is all completely harmonious because while it was written by many writers the author was God.

Throughout history, some amazing books have been written, from Homer’s Odyssey to Beowulf, Grimm's Fair tales, Shakespeare's plays, Jane Austin’s love stories, great American novels, and even a few of my favorite Science fiction novels, but all of these stories have one thing in common. They are works of fiction they are all figments of the author’s imagination. Because of the imagination of these authors, it can be tempting to put the Bible in the same category as fiction. The Bible seems like a mix of heroism, legal jargon, religious fervor, poetry, and apocalyptic prophecy and therefore it can seem like a work of fiction. However, the Bible has been proven over and over again to be historical and historically accurate. The figures written about in its pages not only lived but their accounts outside the Bible fit the account of the Bible. We don’t have time to get into all of them so let’s just look at Jesus.

The census at Jesus’ birth historically happened, the leaders of Israel during Jesus' day, Herod and Pilot, are historically proven, and later accounts of what happened are both recorded in the Bible and non-Biblical tests. The works of the Jewish and Roman historian Josephus and the Roman administrator Pliny both give accounts of Jesus and the effects of Jesus’ life on the lives of His followers. And here is the most important proof that Jesus really came; You and I have heard of Him. Why else would this man who only lived 30-plus years and was a convicted criminal continue to be remembered eon after eon if He didn’t actually live? The truth is if Jesus' life wasn’t important or if He was just a work of fiction then very few of us would know His name and His effect on the course of history would be minimal at best. However, that is not the case. There are not many people on the face of this planet who have not heard the name of Jesus and that helps us to prove that Jesus really came.

Jesus really died & rose again

The truth is that Jesus’ life is a turning point in history. Up until around 2005, most textbooks in the world used the BC (Before Christ) and AD (After Death) to measure history instead of the designation of Common Era and Before Common Era that the history books now use. And as I stated before Jesus’ death and His resurrection were recorded in inside and outside the pages of the Bible. But more than just a dot on the line of history the work of Jesus has changed the hearts and minds of the worst of humanity; including me. The teachings of Jesus have softened hearts, broken the hardest of men, and given hope in the most hopeless of times. This is not because Jesus knew how to turn a phrase but because the hope of Jesus is not just for a better today but for a better eternity.

Jesus didn’t just live, He was God and yet chose to live as a man. He was both a man and God John 1:14 “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” and while Jesus was alive on this earth He taught us who God is and the need for a relationship with God. John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:”

Jesus didn’t just die He willingly sacrificed His life for those who hated and loved Him. This unbelievable truth is given by the Apostle Paul in Romans 5:7–8 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Jesus didn’t just rise from the dead He rose to prove that He had defeated death itself. Jesus’ resurrection was given to humanity as a means for us to defeat death. 1 Corinthians 15:21–22 “For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” That death and resurrection was and is the greatest act of sacrifice in all of human history and despite being Good News it is also like a medical triage unit for our souls. Our lives are forever changed by this Jesus who really lived.

Why the Resurrection matters to humanity

Sin really exists

Why is the resurrection like a medical triage unit for our souls? Because we are wounded, we are damaged, and we are without hope. A man-made catastrophe has gone off and the effects of it have touched every being that has ever walked on the face of the earth and we call this catastrophe SIN. You can try to deny it exists as just a means for the religious to control the masses but the truth is we know all too well that sin exists.

We see the effects of sin every single day. When we use our words to lie to others to get our way. When we desire something that isn’t ours and we don’t care what it takes to get it. When we think lustful thoughts or have moments of horrendous anger in our hearts over perceived wrongs. These things, words, actions, and thoughts cause us jealousy, hatred, anger, lust, deceit, disobedience, and evilness; these are sins and we know deep down inside all of us that they are wrong. Yet, since we know that our lives are filled with sin and everyone else’s lives are filled with sin there must not be any problem with it, but our consciences never seem to be convinced by that argument.

Sin really deserves death

This is because our sin is deserving of death and the word death has a weight to it. Death is final, death is the end and it is our sin that brings us death. So why in the world would God use death as the punishment for Sin? How can God say that He loves humanity if He uses death as a punishment? The truth is death was never God’s intention for the end of our lives God never intended for us to have to face a physical death.

We choose death, and we continue to choose death every time we sin. Because sin is disobedience to God. God doesn’t want to put us under the punishment of death, however, our sin-filled lives choose death over life with God every single time. Sin and death are a incurable disease a poison with no antidote, and we have all every one of us drank the vile. Romans 3:23 tells us “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” and Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death,”

Why the Resurrection matters to you

His death paid for your sins

However Romans 3:23 ends with an incredible truth. “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see Jesus’ gift to humanity is that He gave up His life so that your sin-filled life could be forgiven. Romans 5:8 continues in this when it says, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Our sin brings us death but Jesus’ resurrection from death brings us life. Our sin is an action of rebellion against God and Jesus’ sacrifice is an action of God because of God’s love for humanity. The big name for this is substitutionary atonement which just means that the in place of the death we deserve because of our sin Jesus substituted His own life for ours.

The Apostle Paul said this about our sin and Christ’s payment for it. 1 Corinthians 15:54b–57 “ “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our victory is won because Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross and earned that victory in the resurrection.

His resurrection brings you life

This cross that hangs behind me is a universal symbol that pretty much every person in the world recognizes as meaning that we are a Christian Church filled with Christian people, but I want you to notice something that is missing from the cross. Jesus is no longer hanging on it. Jesus is not dead, Jesus is alive and Jesus continues to this day to offer you forgiveness, mercy, healing, joy, love, and the promise of an eternity with Him.

Gospel

1 Peter 1:3–4 declares us to be born again to a new hope, “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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” The promise of Jesus is that you can have this living hope, you can receive this inheritance and it is all because of the RESURRECTION of Jesus. All of this can be yours if only you will ask for it.

It is just that easy but this is only the beginning because if you accept His forgiveness and you surrender your life to God He will start the process of transforming your life. It all starts with confessing Him as your savior. If that is your desire today you can say this prayer with me. Bow your heads.

Dear Lord, I know that I’m a sinner. I’m sorry for my sin, and I ask you to forgive me. I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead. I repent of my sins and I ask you to come into my life and take control. I make a commitment to follow you, and I trust you as my Lord and Savior.

Friend if you prayed that prayer today I ask that you come and speak to me after the service.

‌Benediction: Romans 11:36 “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”