Know For Certain (Easter 2024)
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Open Your bibles this morning to the books of Acts chapter 2. The words I would like to consider this morning are found in the 25th through the 36th verse… Acts 2… Starting with verse 25...
The resurrection of Jesus is the most critical aspect of Christianity today. Paul echos this in 1 Corinthians 15:17
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
In other words, if Christ has not been raised from the dead, Christianity doesn’t exist. Because Christianity is centered on the cross. The foundation of our hope is the death of Christ which paid for our sins, brings us peace with God by reconciling our relationship to the father. It is only through the blood of Christ that we have healing with God. Yet, Christ’s resurrection is the victory then. There is power in the cross, and there is power in the resurrection. Both are crucial to our faith. The resurrection of Jesus is the proof that Jesus is God, it is proof that he has the power and authority to forgive sin, it is the proof that Jesus is sovereign, and that he has power over life AND death. The resurrection of Jesus is our victory. A foretaste of our deliverance when Christ returns.
Now, I will attest that while this is one of the most critical aspects of Christianity, it is also one of the most denied, or criticized aspects from unbelievers, skeptics, or haters. The resurrection of Jesus is boiled down to a fairy tale. A myth. His resurrection is turned into a simple ancient parable to give humanity false hope. Furthermore many claim in their doubt that while people claim to have seen him after death, what they saw were hallucinations… What they saw were visions…
I would like to present to you this morning that the resurrection of Jesus was believed and proclaimed among Jesus’ disciples, and because they were the ones making this claim, Christ’s resurrection was not the result of myth making. His life and death and resurrection was not dramatized or exaggerated over time because we can trace the testimony of Jesus’ resurrection to the original sources. My friends, and if this is true, if this is enough evidence, we together can know for certain that Jesus is both Lord and Christ. If this is true, both you and I have to respond to this great hope.
So, lets go on a little investigation to hear from the witnesses… Lets read Acts 2:25-36
25 For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Now, Luke, the author of this texts records Peter’s first sermon ever preached. Yes, the the same cowardly lion Peter who ran for cover when Jesus was arrested and crucified. Peter is Preaching, after Jesus has ascended and the Holy Spirit has come…
Now, what we see in the text is a handful of witnesses to help our investigation… Peter mentions three… there is a fourth, AND a possible fifth… Lets hear from all of the witnesses…
I. The first witness mentioned is David (v25-31, 34-35)
Verse 29 says that Peter addresses the crowd with confidence. He is confident that King David, died and was buried and is still in his grave. Look at verse 34-35… David was not resurrected, he is dead. Unlike Jesus. The reason this is important is because we know from the old testament that God promised David that he would establish his throne forever through a family member.
Not only this, but David himself prophesied about Jesus. Look at verse 25-28. This is a quote from Psalm 16. Peter says that David is speaking about Jesus! Peter claims here that David is a witness to the resurrection of Jesus through the promises of God. You will not abandon his soul to hades. Meaning, he will not stay dead! You will not let your holy one see corruption. Meaning his body would not decay into dust.
David is a witness to the resurrection of jesus, some thousand years before Jesus was even born. Is prophecy enough proof for you? Because in the same way it was prophesied that Jesus would come… Did he come? Yes! All in all, there were over 300 prophesies about Jesus in the old testament. All of which have been fulfilled. As a gift of God, David knew about Jesus, and bears witness to the promises of God.
Secondly…
II. the Second witness is Peter (And the other Apostles) (v32)
Verse 32 proclaims that they all are witnesses. Who is they all? The apostles.
19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Jesus revealed himself to his disciples. They were witnesses to the resurrection. One of the greatest proof of Jesus’ resurrection from our vantage point is these men and women who were cowering in a locked room for fear of the jews killing them too. And now, after seeing Jesus resurrected and sending multiple days with him, are now boldly in the streets proclaiming his name.
They would not have done this is what they had seen was not real. They would not have done this to lie. They had nothing to gain. They were going to get rich. They were going to get power. They were going to be persecuted. All they had was a message. Jesus died because your sin separates you from God. Jesus died for the removal of sin! That you may know how much God loves you, that he would die for you, that he would forgive you even when he had every right to be angry and send you to hell away from his loving embrace.
He didn’t just die, but he rose from the dead. Making this message all the more powerful. They had nothing to gain. They had everything to lose. But they still bore witness, because what they had seen was true.
Third..
III. The Third Witness is the Holy Spirit (v33)
Verse 33, part of the prophecies of the old testament was that God was not going to pour out his spirit on people selectively as he did under the old covenant. But that he would pour out his spirit on all those who believe. That his spirit would be a gift to the nations. Well, it is proof that Jesus was raised from the dead, and seated at the right hand of the father. Because in doing so, the father sent the holy spirit.
This is why the crowd is even listening to Peter preach at all. The Spirit of God came to the apostles and everyone in the upper room. And what happened? They began preaching the Gospel in many languages. They began preaching the gospel so that everyone in the city, from all tribes, nations, and tongues, could hear the good news. They had an opportunity to respond to the gospel, to be saved and reconciled to God because the Holy Spirit moved in power through the apostles.
Thus, the Holy Spirit is a witness. They were hearing him and seeing him move right then and there. Much like you are seeing him and hearing him this morning. He is moving among us because the gospel is being preached! The Holy Spirit of God, bears witness to Jesus being raised form the dead. More on this in a moment.
The fourth witness that isn’t as obvious,
IV. The fourth is Luke
Luke is testifying to what he knows to be true… he is the author of this text. He is giving an account the gospel of Jesus and the power he gave to the apostles through the testimony of their faith and the power of the holy spirit.
He not only has studied these account and collected all the data and eye witnesses as found in the gospel of Luke chapter 1. He himself knew the power of God because he spent time with Paul and the other Apostles. Colossians 4:14, Philemon 1:24, Acts 16, Acts 17, Acts 20, Acts 27, 2 Timothy 4 all mention Luke. He is presenting studied facts. Luke was not there when Jesus did all of the stuff he records. But he is not just presenting facts. He is giving a testimony.
From Acts 16- 27 Luke witnessed the power of the resurrection of Jesus in the mighty works the apostles did among the nations. Imagine that. From a locked room filled with fear, to the heathen nations where they would face dead. What changed? The resurrection of Jesus.
He bore witness and testimony of a past prestigious and pretentious pharisee name Saul. A Pharisee who hated Christians, imprisioned them and even killed them. He bore witness to the power of the resurrection in Paul as he became a humble, and bold, church planting missionary. What changed? The resurrection of Jesus.
My friends, If Christ has not been raised form the dead the apostles faith was futile. It was foolish. It was powerless. It was nothing but a movement. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. We have forgiveness of sin through the death of Christ, and victory over death and a promise of resurrection after death because of the resurrection of Christ.
Paul says, and we read it earlier, 1 Corinthians 15:56-57
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, I told you there was possibly a 5th witness here and as I close I want you to see what I mean.
V. The fifth is hopefully you… (v36)
Peter addresses his crowd. Let all of the house of Israel know...for... certain that God has made him both Christ and Lord, this Jesus whom you crucified. Let everyone who is listening know for certain. There were enough witnesses that Peter could give to say, listen, I am not lying. Believe me.
So I say the same to you this morning. First of all, if you believe that Christ has died for your sin, you are welcomed into the kingdom of God. You are a son or daughter of God. Amen and amen. However, if you believe he died for you, you must believe he rose for you. There is power in the cross, there is victory in the resurrection. There is no need to carry on with guilt and condemnation, your sin has been forgiven. And there is no need to carry on in fear of death, victory has been won. We are sharing and will share in a resurrection like his.
My friends, my hope for you this morning is that you believe with me in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was raised from the dead that you might had new life. That you might be consumed with his goodness. That you might eat, sleep, live, and breath the testimony of God. My friends, has the resurrection of Jesus transformed you from a hopeless coward in a locked room, into a bold witness of the goodness of God? This is the power and the message of the resurrection.
That you would know that Jesus is both Lord, and Christ. He was not just a good man. He was no ordinary sacrifice. He is God. Living, ruling, reigning today over all creation, and preparing his return. He has forgive every sin of those who believe, and defeated death itself. What more do you need to live boldly? What more do we need to welcome death rather than fear it? What more do you need to run and run and use every ounce of energy you have bearing witness to the magnificence of Christ?
Let me close with a personal illustration… When I was 19 years old I gave my first sermon ever. I left the church that night in great fear. Never wanting to do that again. I had no power or confidence in what I was saying. I was afraid. I was saved, yes. A Christian. But a coward. Not bold at all. But thanks be to God, for the resurrection power that transforms a man’s life. I hope many of you would testify that that is not true of me today. I didn’t fully believe and understand the resurrection power of the Lord Jesus Christ then. But God gives power to his people when they ask for it, he grows them bold in understanding as they seek Him. He builds them up!
So, do you believe? Will you believe him now? Do you have enough proof? Trust him today with the proof he has given you, and he will keep providing you endless proof day by day.
My Friends, how will you be found when Jesus returns? Hiding under your bed in fear? Or bearing witness in resurrection power to the victory he won for us ?
Lets pray.