140-118 What’s So Great About Easter?
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Glorious morning to revisit the single most important event in human history-the Resurrection of LJC. Wouldn't you agree? Isn't that the greatest/most important event in the history of the world?
34 And Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and for a sign to be opposed—
23 but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
All history pivots on this one event. The title of my message…I’m not asking as a skeptic but for you to consider what is it about this day that makes it such a wonderful day? There are many traditions when it comes to this time of year. For many—it is merely secular (no spiritual significance). For others it might be seen as an important day to observe b/c you believe that somehow God thinks more highly of you if you do.
We believe that Easter is a privilege to exalt the LJC by speaking about, thinking about, reflecting on His resurrection. It has been the hallmark of Xn truth (and continues to be) that Jesus was crucified on the cross, was buried and on the 3rd day He rose from the dead and came out of the tomb in His physical, glorified and resurrected body. Whether you’re opposed to using the term “Easter” it is in our hearts to know that this day is extraordinary b/c it is the exaltation of Jesus b/c of His resurrection.
If we're honest with ourselves, sometimes we question whether God can really do something for us or in us. We're often tempted to doubt God, to doubt His power and His ability to accomplish His good pleasure.
We see the problems we face in life as too difficult for God to handle. How can He really help me in my job? Can He help me with problems in my family? How can God meet the physical needs that I have? What is the tangible display of God's power & ability if I can't even see Him?
Have you had those thoughts? If we're honest we all have. I want look at Easter this morning from the perspective of how the power of God is revealed in the resurrection of JC.
1) The Power of God
1) The Power of God
Eph 1:19-23
This is in the context of a prayer that Paul makes on behalf of believers in Ephesus. It is good for us to be reminded of the greatness of God's power.
11 Once God has spoken; Twice I have heard this: That power belongs to God;
13 ‘And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.’
1 After these things I heard something like a loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God;
One of the attributes of God is His omnipotence—all powerful. God's ability to accomplish His good pleasure—everything that He has planned and purposed from before the beginning of the world.
10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things which have not been done, Saying, ‘My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
God can say this b/c He is omnipotent. One of many names God reveals of Himself in Bible is Power.
61 But He kept silent and did not answer. Again the high priest was questioning Him, and saying to Him, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 And Jesus said, “I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven.
Paul uses 4 separate words in the Gk to emphasize God's power.
Dunamis- dynamic or dynamite. It refers to power, force, capability.
17 Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, 18 who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured. 19 And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.
This is the power that works wonders and is able to perform all that God purposes
11 strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience; joyously
God’s power is available to us—we need wisdom to appropriate it in our daily living. Paul highlights the "surpassing greatness" of this power. There is no comparison to God's power. It is simply observed.
Energeia-"energy" refers to the state of being active/working, energizing-power in operation
Kratos-ability to express inherent strength. The word speaks of the intensity of manifest power. Sometimes it is translated dominion and refers to ultimate power or sovereignty of God.
11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Ischus-ability to function effectively/perform
25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
This is a beautiful, comprehensive picture of the amazing power of God—just in those 4 terms.
God's power is ultimately manifest, displayed in (Eph 1) vs 20 ...
The Son's Glorification
The Son's Glorification
Taking Jesus from the cross, to the grave to the sky (heaven). “brought about" (energeo) working of God's power lit raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at Rt hand-place of privilege and
supreme honor.
Raising of Christ-His resurrection is a prominent theme in the Bible (as you might suspect). 60x the NT refers to His resurrection or being raised from the dead. The working of God's power/strength is seen, evidenced by the fact that Jesus is no longer in the grave-but was raised 3 days after His death according to Scriptures 1 Cor 15:1-7
Since then Satan has been working hard at deceiving people about the reality of Jesus' resurrection.
Really wasn't dead-just went into a coma
Disciples stole the body
People had a hallucination He didn't rise
Stolen identity-someone who looked like JC
Body of Jesus evaporated in 3 days
Doesn’t fit with logic
But from Paul's account—Jesus rose physically, literally in His body that was really dead and He is really alive today.
Because of the Power of God.
2) The Purpose of God
2) The Purpose of God
Romans 4:22-25
Let me describe the context for you in Romans 4. After the death of his father, Abram "father of many" left Haran at the age of 75. He was still childless at this point. But God promised that he would be the father of descendants that would be innumerable. He had no way of knowing how God would pull off such an impossible feat b/c of his old age and Sarah's barren womb. But Paul says vs 3. Abraham was declared right with God but not thru His obedience to circumcision or to the law since it had not yet been given-vs 13
Vs 16-18—hope against hope he believed .. Hope means looking forward to something with a reason for confidence. In hope, in confidence he looked for something that was from human perspective impossible. He hoped b/c God promised—vv17-22
Like all Scripture it is not just written for those in the time it was written-
5 For He established a testimony in Jacob And appointed a law in Israel, Which He commanded our fathers That they should teach them to their children, 6 That the generation to come might know, even the children yet to be born, That they may arise and tell them to their children, 7 That they should put their confidence in God And not forget the works of God, But keep His commandments,
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
The Bible was written so that you would have hope—not that you would read about those who had hope—but so YOU would have hope.
Vv23-24—in other words, Abraham was justified, saved by grace thru faith. Has God changed the way He saves people?
No-there is 1 way of salvation after the fall, before the law, after law, before N.C after N.C.-for by grace ... Abraham's faith/trust in the promise of God was the basis for his acceptance to God.
Abraham could believe God and anticipate the Savior despite the limited revelation that he had from God, how much more ought the people today, who have much greater, detailed revelation believe God who actually raised the Savior from the dead?
Vv25
2 purposes described in vs 25—one is the purpose of the death of Jesus the other is the purpose of His resurrection.
Purpose of His Death
Purpose of His Death
Why was He delivered-b/c of transgressions. Transgressions are the violations and offenses we commit against God. Paul tells us that Jesus was delivered over b/c of those offenses. “delivered" legal term that describes that transfer of one person into the possession of another. used 119x in NT is sometimes the language of handing a criminal over into the custody of police or the courts for the sentencing & punishment.
This word is used most often in the Passion account of the Lord to described the handing over of Jesus:
Jesus was handed over by
Judas who betrayed him to the chief priests (30 pieces of silver)
Sanhedrin to Pilate
Pilate to the people's will
Soldiers for execution
By God
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
The criminal is handed over to punishment and in the case of Jesus the punishment is death (even though not a criminal) why is He delivered over?
b/c of our transgressions. This explains the principle of substitutionary atonement. B/c I am a sinner-Jesus had to die. This makes His death very personal. My personal transgressions-every sin I (you) commit, have committed, will commit necessitated DEATH.
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The soul who sins will die.
Every sinner must die that is the payment for sin—the only thing that can appease the righteous anger of God toward offenses directed at Him. Jesus died in my place—my substitute and yours. You too need a substitute or you will die for your sin (eternal death). That is why Jesus died—He died the death that my/your sin deserves.
Now, the death of Jesus proves that He is man—but a dead Savior proves nothing. Everybody dies.
1 Cor 15:13-19
19th C theologian Charles Hodge "With a dead Savior, a Savior over whom death had triumphed and held captive, our justification had been for ever impossible. As it was necessary that the high priest, under the old economy, should not only slay the victim at the altar, but carry the blood into the most holy place, and sprinkle it upon the mercy-seat; so it was necessary not only that our great High Priest should suffer in the outer court, but that he should pass into heaven to present his righteousness before God for our justification. Both, therefore, as the evidence of the acceptance of his satisfaction on our behalf, and as a necessary step to secure the application) of the merits of his sacrifice, the resurrection of Christ was absolutely essential, even for our justification."
Purpose of His Resurrection
Purpose of His Resurrection
"Raised for our justification" The Resurrection of Jesus proves that He is God.
Justification is an important term/concept for you to understand. It comes from the same root word as righteous.
This word Paul uses in Rom 4 speaks of vindication or acquittal.
Thayer "the act of God declaring men free from guilt and acceptable to Him, acquittal which brings bestowment of life Romans 5:18 “18 So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.”
Justification—to be justified in God's sight can only come 1 way-by God declaring men to be not guilty. This is a “1 time” declaration made by God on the believing sinner, never needing to be repeated.
Now why is Justification necessary? Because every man is guilty. Rom 3:19-25
How is justification accomplished? By the death and resurrection of JC. By His resurrection he proves that His sacrifice is complete. Never needs to be repeated b/c it is sufficient to redeem humanity from their sins (Heb 10:10 once for all). His resurrection (brought about by the power of God) proves that it is propitious a term that actually means satisfaction…this is how God's anger is satisfied against the sin of those who believe. (not satisfied by livi9ng better than other people, going to church, giving money to the poor, helping others…)
Abraham's faith resulted in righteousness (justification). It was not his righteousness but that of JC, placed on his account (imputed). In the same way, God takes the perfect righteousness of JC places that on the account of everyone who believes and looks at them and now sees the righteousness of Christ in him/her. It is His righteousness that makes us acceptable to God. My righteousness is like a filthy rag (Is 64:6).
His righteousness can be put on your account b/c of His resurrection. That is the purpose of the resurrection—to result in justification of those who place their faith in Him.
What kind of faith is required (brings righteousness)? The “hope against hope” kind.
The kind that says-I'm out of options, I'm dead, I have nothing to offer, I can't redeemed myself, no one around me can redeem me either. . .I am impotent/without power, spiritually bankrupt and I need something outside of myself.
That’s God's power which saves me, not mine (I have none).
Example of the Rich young ruler:
Luke 18:18-27
God's limitless power is capable of doing those things that are impossible for men-one of which is accomplishing your salvation. It is by God's power alone—a power that goes forth in the Gospel:
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
By His power He raised J.C. from the dead so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.
As we close, I would invite you to bow your heads. If you’re sitting here and you’ve been convicted of your sin and recognize the reality of God’s wrath and your need for salvation, I urge to be reconciled with God. He has done everything necessary to deal with your sin but you must repent of your sin, believing that death and resurrection of JC is sufficient to save you.
Father, we thank you this morning for the joy of our Lord’s resurrection. We are thankful for the gracious provision of salvation/eternal life that is offered to everyone on the basis of your Son’s death on the cross and for the demonstration of your power. If someone is here who is not reconciled to you, I ask you to draw them and may your Spirit be at work in them so that they might enjoy everlasting fellowship with You. We thank you again for our time together and ask you to glorify yourself in Jesus name, amen.
