The Hope of the Resurrection

1. 1 Peter 1:3 “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,”

A. How does the resurrection of Jesus (2000 years ago!) give me, a 21st century Christian hope? And not just a “maybe” hope, but a LIVING (definitely!) hope!

2. The BAD news

A. Romans 5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—”

B. Adam’s SIN of DISOBEDIENCE introduced DEATH (the righteous wages of sin)

I. We ALL sin and we ALL die

3. The Good News

A. Jesus is the only man who NEVER sinned (Divine nature)

B. But…He willingly DIED for humanity’s sin!

I. God PUNISHED His own Son for OUR sins!

C. That wasn’t the end of God’s plan!

I. Acts 2:24 “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

II. As a consequence: Revelation 1:18b “I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

a. Keys=AUTHORITY

D. God’s plan is still continuing:

I. 1 Corinthians 6:14 “And God raised the Lord and will also raise us up by his power.”

II. ALL BELIEVERS will ALSO have a resurrection in which we, too, will receive a GLORIFIED body like Jesus did!

a. No more: death, sin, tears, pain, disappointment, shame, etc!

III. THAT IS OUR HOPE!

a. Even when this life gives us difficult circumstances, we have HOPE!

4. Application:

A. “I don’t have ANY hope.”

I. “All I see is sin. I feel trapped. There is no future. Tomorrow doesn’t seem to have anything to offer me.”

a. That’s because all you have to look forward to is DEATH and then an eternity in God’s wrath for your sin.

II. “So what needs to happen for me to have that hope?”

a. Peter wrote: “…BORN AGAIN to a living hope”

b. John 3:3 “Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.””

III. What a person must do:

a. Repent (confess your sins and turn 180 degrees from them)

b. Place your trust in the PERSON and FINISHED WORK of Jesus Christ.

Lord AND savior

Did EVERYTHING necessary for my salvation

Trust: Let go of ALL other hope in salvation and trust ONLY in HIM as your Savior!