WHY THE RESURRECTION?
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION:
INTRODUCTION:
Today I want to paint you a picture of the Hope we have in Christ!
A hope that sadly seems to be forgotten, or spiritualized.
We live in a materialistic world where science or evidence based practice has become one of the god’s of the Western pantheon. Joined of course to Scientism is Political tribalism - take care of your own for all we have is this life, Hedonism - You Only Live Once, and then the religion of Therapy and self care - For if this life is all we have, there is no long term hope.
Unfortunately the Church of Jesus lives in this environment, our kids are educated into it, our arts socialize it, and our politics enshrine it, and social media exports it like a social virus.
THIS HAS LEFT THE CHURCH FOR A GREAT PART EMPTY OF REAL HOPE AND THE SUPERNATURAL EXPEREINCE OF THE RESURRECTED LORD.
In the midst of our world the Church of the Resurrected Jesus has taken on a,
THERAPEUTIC, MORALISTIC, DEISM.
THERAPEUTIC, MORALISTIC, DEISM.
Deism -
God is distant, out there somewhere, we pray at times, we think of Him but usually only when we are in need. Very few today live a life that is fully centered on the reality of the Resurrected Son of God. We have in practice become deist - While our belief is in a personal God, our practice of life is as if God created this material world and stepped away from it, leaving us here on our own.
Moralistic -
Therefore, instead of a faith that is based on the reality of New Life, Eternal Life, and Supernatural in breaking of the world to come, Christianity has become another form of moralism. Jesus is the good teacher, He is the way to live in this life, He shows us how to be a better human, He forgave us, even delivered us so we can live rightly here and now towards Him and towards others. All of this is true but it is Biblically speaking only half true. And a half truth is a deception. This has led many to a faith that is based on them earning their way to a spiritual afterlife, where the reward is not a physical resurrection but a quasi spiritual afterlife based more in Greek Mythology than the Christian truth.
Therapeutic -
Lastly, instead of a Church of supernatural power the Church has become a coupling session where we teach you to have your best life now, rather than living fearlessly towards an Eternal Physically resurrected life. Instead of living from the power of the Resurrection we have become victims who seek therapy from the Scriptures, and instead of offering a Rebuke, we in the pulpits preach to your inching ears and offer you thin Gospel veneer word candy, that gives you a sweet taste but if we are honest leaves you empty without real hope.
MY GOAL TODAY IS TO SHATTER THAT GARBAGE AND TO INSTEAD OFFER YOU THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION.
MY GOAL TODAY IS TO SHATTER THAT GARBAGE AND TO INSTEAD OFFER YOU THE HOPE OF THE RESURRECTION.
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1. WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION WE HAVE GAINED NOTHING!
1. WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION WE HAVE GAINED NOTHING!
Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
Paul is arguing, if there is no promise of physical resurrection, then our preaching and faith is in vain!
Worthless!
The resurrection of Jesus is what secures our redemption, reconciliation, forgiveness.
who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord,
The resurrection of Jesus is the announcement of Justification
It vindicates Him as the Son of God!
It vindicates all He taught and promised - “I am the resurrection and life, who ever believes in me though he dies shall live.”
The resurrection of Jesus is God’s emphatic Amen to His sacrifice to set what Adam messed up right.
It is the evidence our faith in His salvation for us is anchored in.
PAUL DECLARES, IF OUR HOPE IN CHRIST IS FOR THIS WORLD ONLY, WE ARE TO BE PITIED.
2. JESUS IS THE FIRST OF MANY
2. JESUS IS THE FIRST OF MANY
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
Jesus died on the day of Preparation (Day before the Passover - around 9 am).
He rose from the dead Physically (Not spiritually) on the first day of the First Fruits celebration.
A tithe offering of the first fruits of harvest to God.
An offering of thanks for the complete harvest that is to come.
Jesus is the first but not the last. All who are in Christ will be Physically resurrected.
“Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.
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3. JESUS HAS BECOME THE FIRST OF A NEW HUMANITY.
3. JESUS HAS BECOME THE FIRST OF A NEW HUMANITY.
For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
So also it is written, “The first man, Adam, became a living soul.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
In Adam we have all inherited the sickness of sin.
Sin was cursed by God which led humanity into death, excommunicated from the tree of Life.
From the fall of Adam to you and I, sin has worked it’s ugly magic leading us all to the curse, death.
But in Jesus Humanity is offered a new start.
As in Adam we inherit sin and death, in Jesus we inherit resurrected life and His righteousness.
4. Victory Over the Vanquished
4. Victory Over the Vanquished
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Jesus is the slayer of death. And in Him we are a new kind of Human - Destined to Resurrected Life.
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THIS IS THE POWER WE ARE TO LIVE FROM AND LIVE TO.
THIS IS THE POWER WE ARE TO LIVE FROM AND LIVE TO.
Our Faith is not a Therapeutic, Moralistic, Deism.
No, the Christian faith is built on the power of the physical resurrection of the dead.
In Christ death has been defeated!
“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Allow me to close today by reading one more passage.
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.
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CONCLUSION:
A day is coming when Christ will return
The dead in Christ will rise first and those who are here at his return will be changed and transformed.
A new Heaven and Earth as one, no longer seperated.
A huge family reunion all across the globe -
Once broken bodies, now risen and running and playing.
Once diseased- now fully healthy and alive.
Mothers embracing their lost babies
Fathers fishing with their children in a new and unimaginable beautiful world.
Myself, 3 brothers who have died in Christ and a mom and dad who died in Christ.
My mom will hold and embrace her twins who passed at birth.
My dad will race his 4 boys - and I will win.
CHURCH - JESUS IS ALIVE
DEATH HAS BEEN DEFEATED THE GRAVE HAS BEEN DENIED.
JESUS IS ALIVE!!!!!!
CHRIST IS RISEN - HE IS RISEN INDEED.
