Resurrection Realities Part 3: Victory

Introduction

Nearly 2500 years ago, the Persians under the command of Darius the Great, were invading Greece. The Persians landed at Marathon and were immediately met by thousands of Greek soldiers who were miraculously able to hold back the larger Persian army. Because of the significance of this win and the lack of technology like we have today, legend has it that the general asked a young man, Pheidippides, to run from Marathon to Athens. The soldier did as commanded and ran for over 25 miles, arrived in Athens, and as loud as he could yelled “NIKE” or Victory, and then collapsed from exhaustion and died on the spot - which is reason enough for us to know that we are not meant to run marathon’s, right?!

Think about that Greek word, “Nike” our mind goes the the company with the iconic black swoosh… but that word is translated to the English word “Victory.” We like that word, don’t we? We typically think of that word in a context of sports - like when the Chiefs were victorious and won the Super Bowl a year ago. But we also know that victory is something that we can experience in our personal lives as well. Last month during March Madness some of us completed brackets and had contests and one person won. (like my wife!) We can think of victory in terms of winning. Winning in a competition. Winning a game. Winning at life! We love to win and, if you’re a competitive person like me, you’d would much rather win than lose!

Here’s our fundamental problem as humans - we face a foe that is undefeated. A foe that is not popular, but who travels every part of the globe. A foe who visits the poor, the rich, the tall and the short. A foe who everyone fears and who most people hate. What is his name? Death. It seems like victory is an impossibility when we think about death. Death consumes. Death ends. Death conquers. Death wins. We need victory over death - and this is what we celebrate today because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We celebrate a moment that changes everything - light defeats darkness, light overcomes death. The tomb is empty and the throne is occupied. Jesus is ALIVE! This morning, if you have a copy of God’s Word we’re going to be in 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 as we see how the resurrection of Jesus Christ provides us with victory today and how this truth demands a response!

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 CSB

50 What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. 54 When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? 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! 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

“Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ!” There is hope, freedom, and life that is available to you today and it’s all because of what Jesus Christ has done. Have you responded to this resurrection story? Some of you have and you’re a new person today as a result. But maybe you’re here and you’ve heard this story a dozen times and you haven’t responded to it. Maybe you’re here today and this is the first time you’ve heard that Jesus rose from the dead and you’re trying to comprehend it! Hear me clearly, friend: Jesus loves you. He made you. He died for sinners like me and you. He rose to save sinners like me and you. He saves us and He changes us. Let’s pray and ask Him to help us experience His victory today!

What Has Jesus Done? (3-4)

We’ve all experienced a surprise or two in our lives - does anyone here enjoy surprises? Biting into a cookie and expecting chocolate chips and tasting raisins isn’t exactly a fun surprise in my book, but there are other surprises that are quite nice! A surprise birthday party - an unexpected bonus or present! A couple of years ago I saw a story of a family in Louisiana that noticed a pleasant surprise in their checking account as their bank accidentally deposited $50 billion into their account. Not $50,000. Not $50 million. $50 billion! Can you even begin to imagine? That’s a pretty cool surprise, at least until the bank took the money back! We’ve all experienced good surprises - children who allow you to get a good night of sleep. A body that behaves and doesn’t hurt. People who are kind to us. Things in life going our way for a change. These are wonderful surprises! Many people on Easter view the resurrection as something like this - a spectacular surprise! In Luke 24 we read about the women arriving at the tomb and seeing the stone rolled away and the angels ask a pointed question, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is risen!” We have to address the reality here: 2000 Years Ago The Tomb Was Empty!

So, how did this happen? There are 4 main explanations that have been thrown out there.

The Disciples Stole Jesus’ Body

The Disciples Sold a Big Lie

Jesus Didn’t Really Die

Christians Hallucinated What They Saw

Now, in our world we know that once you’re dead… you’re dead. It makes sense that people would look at the resurrection with some skepticism. Some believe that the disciples stole Jesus’ body. This implies that one of two things happened - either the disciples overthrew the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb, or they successfully bribed them. The Romans wanted to keep the peace in Israel. Jesus was a polarizing person - some loved Him and others couldn’t stand Him! The Jewish leaders wanted Him gone. Pilate went with the flow to keep the peace. The Romans needed Jesus gone to keep the peace. It doesn’t make sense that they would be bribed by a bunch of poor hillbillies from Galilee and they were no match to beat them in a fight. The body couldn’t have been stolen. If it was a lie, it would have been the easiest lie to debunk because all you’d need is to show people the dead body of Jesus! Also, think about how lies work. Think of a “fisherman” tale - what happens to that story over time? Does the fish get smaller and smaller? No! It gets bigger and bigger! It starts out that the fish was 6 inches, then 12 inches and then it was the size of a person! Lies make the person telling them look better… the disciples look like fools in this moment. If it were a lie, they would have surely told a better one, a more believable one. What about those who say that Jesus didn’t really die? Again, the Romans needed Jesus to be quiet and gone. They had perfected crucifixion. We read in John 19 that Jesus was pierced in the side by a Roman soldier. He really was dead. We read in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that Jesus appeared to over 500 people all at once in addition to many others over the span of 40 days. Many of which died for the message of the Gospel. None of these explanations hold much weight.

Friends, we believe that this is the good news that we call the Gospel that is found in a single sentence in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 CSB

3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

What do we see here? Christ died for our sins. Was buried. And rose on the 3rd day. This was the plan throughout Scripture. See, you and I live in a broken world. Have you figured that one out yet? Our world is broken. Our bodies break down. People let us down. And even we ourselves are guilty of this. We don’t always come through. We drop the ball. We are broken people living in a broken world. The Bible calls this sin - and we are all guilty! Yet, God provides good news to those in sin - as this passage reminds us, Christ died for our sins. Whenever you and I couldn’t get to God because of our sins, God came to us. Jesus didn’t come to save sinless people. He didn’t die for devoted people. He didn’t rescue remarkable people. He came to die for sinners… and that’s good news for who? Sinners. This is what the Bible is pointing us towards all along. We broke God’s command and are guilty… but God has a plan and provides for our greatest need by sending Jesus.

See, this really wasn’t a surprise. Jesus talked multiple times about what would happen! He said this to His disciples

Luke 9:22 CSB

22 saying, “It is necessary that the Son of Man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, be killed, and be raised the third day.”

So, Jesus told His followers what would happen and even those closest to Him didn’t fully understand it. Have you ever forgotten something important? Not little things like an item at the grocery store, but passwords, homework assignments, important dates. We sometimes forget important things… and there is nothing worse than forgetting what Jesus has done for us. How lost we were. How desperately we need Jesus. It’s been said that what one generation fights for, the next one assumes, and the next one forgets. If Biblical truth is not proclaimed from this pulpit, it will be assumed in the pew, and forgotten by our children. Friends, every Sunday at South Gate Baptist Church we remember the Gospel because we’re never to the point in our lives when we’re good enough to forget this good news. We remember WHO Jesus is and WHAT Jesus has done. He came to die for sinners like you and me and to raise from the dead - and this is exactly what happened 2000 years ago!

The Father planned it

The OT prophesied it

Jesus promised it

The empty tomb proved it

The Angels proclaimed it

Jesus is Risen!

Is anyone else thankful for this reality today? Charles Spurgeon once shared that as all roads in England lead to London, so does every verse in the Bible lead to Jesus Christ. The Bible is all about Jesus. The resurrection reminds us that our salvation is all thanks to Jesus!

Why Does Jesus Matter? (50-57)

CS Lewis, the famous writer, was a devout atheist for many years before eventually converting to Christianity. Lewis wrestled with many things before becoming a Christian. One of the things that Lewis struggled with was evil and suffering. We all know what it’s like to suffer. We suffer in little ways at times like whenever we trip and fall and bruise our knee. Some of us have suffered in harder ways like whenever we lose someone we love or whenever sickness effects our lives and doesn’t want to go away. Suffering is real and it’s hard! Eventually, Lewis began to really dive into what he believed was God’s injustice. He didn’t believe that God was being fair when it came to suffering, therefore He refused to believe in God. But it struck him… how can he define just and unjust? Take a crooked line - how do you know it’s crooked? Because you know what a straight line is. Lewis realized that without Jesus, there is no basis for morality other than us as individuals. You say this, I say that, who is right? We need something higher than ourselves. For Lewis this made sense that God was in fact this standard and He has given us His Word to guide us in this process. The fact of Genesis 50:20 encouraged Lewis to see that God takes things that are bad and uses them for good

Genesis 50:20 CSB

20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.

In a broken world, people do things that lead to more brokenness. Yet, God continues to bring good from evil. The greatest example of this is the cross of Jesus Christ. See, 2000 years ago Jesus Christ was crucified on a cross. The greatest evil thing to ever happen was the death of Jesus, who never sinned. But, God uses the greatest evil to ever happen to bring about the best of news for us today: The salvation of sinners! Lewis depicted this after his conversion in the Chronicles of Narnia in which his figure for Christ, the Lion of Aslan, willingly sacrifices himself in the place of a young boy Edmund, and, like Jesus, is raised from the dead! One of the humans asks if Aslan is safe to which he is told,

“Safe? Of course He isn’t safe. But He’s good!” Friend, the Destroyer of Death is not safe. But He is good. He is so good, in fact, that He takes care of our greatest problem: Sin.

In a world where everything breaks down because of sin and brokenness, Jesus offers a solution. He offers a new world. An eternity where sickness doesn’t happen. Where cancer doesn’t come. Where heartbreak doesn’t happen. Where kids run around and don’t get hurt. Where autism isn’t a thing. Where depression is destroyed. Anxiety is annihilated. Does that sound a little too good to be true?

Revelation 21:4 CSB

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.

This is the promise that God Himself makes! How does it come to pass? The resurrection. See, Jesus will return one day and whenever He does, some will still be here. Others will have passed away. But all who repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus will be with Him forever! And when that time comes, Paul reminds us in our passage this morning, that we will all be changed. You can’t have a broken body in a perfect world… so God promises to provide us with a perfect, glorified, resurrected body. How do we get this? It’s not by working harder. Eating better. Working out. Becoming smarter. No, Paul says that this will happen in an instant whenever our bodies are raised and transformed and what used to be broken and mortal will be imperishable and immortal and death will be destroyed.

This is certain. It’s not wishful thinking. It’s assured for Christians that we will be raised and that death is not the end - in fact, Paul quotes from Isaiah 25 and Hosea 13 to mock death. How is he able to mock death? Because of verse 57

1 Corinthians 15:57 CSB

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Victory is assured and won because of the work of Jesus! It is ours. There is nothing that you as a sinner can do to defeat death, but Jesus has already defeated is for you. Do you see how important Jesus is here, friend? So often we think that we can change things or that we can earn our own way or save ourselves. The Bible reminds us, though, that we all fall short of the mark. We can’t win this battle ourselves and that’s why God sent His Son to substitute Himself on the cross in our place to give us what we could never deserve! Let’s look at 6 things the Resurrection changes:

6 Things the Resurrection Changes

Your Past

We all have a past that is less than stellar… but because of Jesus, your past no longer defines you. Because of Jesus, you are a new creation. You can look to the cross and see 3 words “PAID IN FULL!”

Your Present

Not only does Jesus save us, but He also changes us. He gives us hope today. We are living in the most anxious, depressed, and confused age in human history and if you look at all that people face in the present, there are many things that can cause us to worry. But because of Jesus, we can have peace in the present because we have a new purpose that provides us with satisfaction and joy.

Your Future

Because we have a new purpose and a peace that surpasses all understanding, and because Jesus was raised, we have hope for tomorrow because we know that one day we’ll be with Jesus forever!

Your Identity

Many of us place our identity in what we do. If your identity is in being a spouse, and you try to be the best spouse that you can be, you’ll fail because one day you’ll forget to get your pregnant wife her pregnancy craving at the store. If your identity is in what you do, you’ll fail because what you do will change in this life as sports stop, jobs change, and the people around us aren’t always here. If your identity is in self, you’ll be sorely disappointed because the Bible tells us that our heart is wicked and impossible to understand. If self is the problem, self cannot be the solution. We need outside help and that is what Jesus provides as He changes our identity. He changes your jersey to where you stop caring as much about your last name on the back of the Jersey and more about the Team name on the front. Your identity changes to 2 words: In Christ!

Your Reality

Because we are in Christ, the way that we view the world changes. We have hope in difficult situations. We are able to help those around us and provide encouragement to people who are struggling. We see in color, not black and white.

Your Eternity

Again, on earth we know that we face the pain and stain of sin… but because of the resurrection we have a better hope and a better home that is awaiting us and it’s all because Jesus won for us the victory over sin and death. We have an eternal home and we will be with Him forever and it’s all because of Jesus!

Because Jesus walked out of that tomb alive, the sting of death is declawed, disarmed, destroyed, and demolished - Jesus says it is finished! The debt we owe because of our sin is paid for at the cross and we have assurance of this because Jesus took the doom out of death and the gloom out of the grave whenever He walked out of it alive.

One day we all will stand before God - the Bible says that every knee will bow. What will you say on that day? If God asks you, “Why should you enter heaven?” What will you say? Alistair Begg references the Thief on the Cross. What did Jesus tell him? Today, you’ll be with me in Paradise. The thief dies and enters glory and is asked, “Why are you here?” He says, “I don’t know!” He didn’t memorize the Bible. He wasn’t baptized. He didn’t go on mission trips. But he made it! How? The thief says, “Because the Man on the middle cross told me I can come!” Hear this, the basis of our salvation is “Because He” not “Because I.” So often we want to say that we’re good because of what we have done. I have faith. I prayed a prayer. I walked an aisle. I raised my hand. Jesus matters so much because HE is the one who saves us. He is the true and better Passover Lamb whose blood completely saves those who trust in Him. It’s not the intensity of our faith that saves us, it is the Object - our salvation is dependent wholly on Jesus! He matters!

How Does the Resurrection Impact Us? (58)

Whether you know it or not, the resurrection has impacted your life today. It’s impacted your life because you have had to make a decision on what to do with the resurrection. There are times in our lives where we are forced to make a decision - do you ever struggle with making a decision? Last year, Lindsey and I were in that boat. I was pastoring a healthy, growing, and Christ-Centered church hours away with no reason to leave and no problem to run away from. Whenever people reached out about other churches, it was easy to look at what God was doing and say in those situations, “There’s no way I’m leaving this!” But what do you do whenever you have no peace about something? Eventually you have to make a decision and you have to do it after it’s been soaked in prayer! I trust that you’ve been there before a time or two. Robert Frost called this a fork in the road moment. Life brings you to a place where you have to either go left or right.

Church, this is what the resurrection leads us to. Either on the one hand, Jesus is Who He said He was - in which case nothing else matters… Or on the other hand, Jesus is not Who He said He was - in which case nothing matters. The empty tomb forces you to make a decision. There can be no neutrality about an empty tomb. Either you believe or you reject. Many say, “Well, I’ll do business with Jesus later.” To delay is to decide. To not choose is to choose! We must do business with Jesus and that business must be done today!

In a world where we all face suffering, loss, brokenness, death, disappointment… Jesus offers something better. He provides peace to the hurting. Hope to the hopeless. Rest to the restless. Satisfaction to the searching. Purpose to the aimless. Friend, Jesus made you. He came for you. He died to save you. He rose to provide you and I with the hope of eternal life. This is incredible news! But what have you done with it?

Has the resurrected King resurrected you? See, this news of victory is terrific news for those who trust in Jesus… but it’s terrible news for those who trust in themselves. It’s terrible news for those who reject Jesus and believe in any other path to salvation. For there to be victory, it means that someone lost. The resurrection is proof that Jesus wins and sin and death lose. There is a temptation to think that we are neutral in this - that we are the victim, Jesus is the good guy and Satan is the bad guy, and we are neutral agents caught in between. I love you enough today to tell you the truth, this isn’t the case. The Bible tells us that we all have sinned. We all fall short of God’s standard of perfection. That’s why Jesus had to come in the first place. Fully-God and fully-man. To live the life we couldn’t live and die the death we deserved to die. All like sheep have gone astray, each has turned to His own way, yet the Lord punished Him for the iniquity of us all. This is the good news that we celebrate, not that you and I are perfect and have it all figured out, but that Jesus was perfect in our place and that through Jesus, there is hope and life and forgiveness because Jesus WINS! Because of the resurrection, it’s like watching your favorite team play a game that you know they’ve already won. Whenever they’re losing, you’re not afraid, you’re actually excited to see how they come back and win. This is how we live as Christians and it’s all because of Jesus - we don’t fear tomorrow, we don’t lose hope when things don’t go our way, because we know how the story ends.

Do you have that hope today? If you don’t, then friend, you need Jesus today! You need to turn away from your sins and trust alone in Christ for salvation and I’d love to pray with you about that very decision! But if you do know Christ, you are here on a mission and that mission is given to us in 1 Corinthians 15:58

1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Because of the resurrection, we are

Constant - be steadfast/immovable

Committed - always excelling in the Lord’s Work

Confident - our labor in the Lord is not in vain

As a Christian (brothers/sisters), we aren’t guaranteed earthly success, but we are guaranteed eternal success as we labor for the Lord. That work is not in vain. It accomplishes God’s good purposes!

Because He Lives, I can face tomorrow

Because He lives, all fear is gone

Because I know, He holds the future

And life is worth the living, just because He lives

Your life has purpose. Your life has value. You are loved. Trust in the Victory of Jesus, trust in Him for salvation, turn from sin, and be changed forevermore!

Because of the resurrection, there is hope, life, and victory available today that will last for eternity!

The empty tomb forces you to make a decision. What you do with the empty tomb determines what God will do with you for eternity. What is your response to King Jesus today? He’s alive. He is still seeking and saving. If you are lost - if you have not yet placed your faith in Jesus - don’t delay… do business with Jesus today. We’re going to pray. Our praise team will come forward and we’ll sing about the hope we have in Jesus. If you don’t have that hope, the altar is open. I’ll be standing right here and I’d love to pray with you.