Sermon Tone Analysis

Intro:

Everyone knows that when it comes to empty promises, politicians have a monopoly.

A couple months ago, I pointed out a few from the Obama campaign like how Obama promised that he would "Allow Americans to buy their medicines from other developed countries if the drugs are safe and prices are lower outside the U.S." An empty promise.

And then I mentioned a couple outlandish claims from our current president’s inaugural speech like “America will start winning again, winning like never before.

... We will bring back our wealth.

And we will bring back our dreams.”

Only time will tell with Trump’s promises, but we might do well to bank on it being one of many empty promises in a long standing tradition of presidential unfaithfulness.

Today, I stand here to tell you of an “empty” promise.

In fact, it is the greatest “empty” promise ever made!

Unlike with our presidents, this is a fulfilled promise—the empty tomb promise!

Last week and on Wednesday night, we followed the account given in the Gospel of Luke so let’s start this blessed morning with Luke 24:1-12

My goal today is to celebrate with you what Christ's resurrection means to us.

I want to explore with you some depth to the magnitude of the Resurrection with the result that you leave here shouting out in joy (or t least almost shouting) and in happiness over Christ's wonderful work.

Also, I want to remind you of how critical Jesus' bodily resurrection is to us.

I sincerely hope that at the end of this service, you'll have no other reaction but rejoicing and praising God with authentic happiness and gratitude.

To help show the incredible weight and glory of the Messiah’s resurrection, let’s take a look back to the passage we read together in the congregational reading in 1 Corinthians 15.

We read vv.1-8 already, but Paul did not address this specifically to Grace Baptist Church, originally he wrote to a troubled church.

They had many problems in the Corinthian Church:

Divisions (1:10-Ch.

2)

Carnality (Chs.

3-4)

Immorality & Arrogance (Lawsuits against other believers) (Chs 5-6)

Self-Centeredness (Ch11)

Doubt (Ch.

15)

Their Theological Problem they faced was a society discarding the foundations of the Gospel.

Chapter 1 - Christ's Crucifixion powerless to the mighty Greco-Roman Empire

Chapter 15 - Christ's Resurrection was, not only rejected, but actually repulsive

Some in the Church of Corinth were into the popular Greek philosophy of their time which taught that the body (being Physical) was bad (everything physical was bad) and the best solution is to shed the physical body with death, so the idea of Christ's physical resurrection and eventually the believers' physical resurrection did not sit well with pop culture.

Take note how in any point of history, there is a tenant (or more) of the Gospel that the mainstream society rejects.

But the resurrection is what Paul says is important now for their church, but why?

Why is it so important?

Liberal Theologians are quick to throw out the resurrection because it is so hard to believe and the world cannot fathom an actual dead person coming back to life.

Should we de-emphasize or even forget the Resurrection altogether for the sake of better reception of Christianity—to make it more believable?

NO! but why?

Now look to verse 12

1 Corinthians 15:12–15

1The "vain" word there in Greek is kenos meaning foolish, without purpose; or untrue (Louw-Nida)

Paul obviously thinks the Resurrection is very important to believers!

Okay then, what exactly happened at Christ's resurrection?

Well…First,

The Resurrection Happened

It was preceded by suffering and death -- The Cross

It took place on the first day of the week (all 4 gospels confirm)

It was announced by angels (Mt 28:5-6 pp Mk 16:5-6 pp Lk 24:4-6)

The disciples were reluctant to believe it (in all 4 Gospels)

The disciples saw the evidence and were ultimately convinced to the point of giving up their lives!

The risen Christ appeared to many people-- as we saw with the congregational reading today

The resurrection was followed by Christ’s entry into glory (1Cor 15:24-29)

Transition:

It happened!

now let’s us consider some other aspects of the resurrection.

The Resurrection had to Happen

First the resurrection had to happen because…

Christ’s resurrection fulfilled many promises

Promises By the OT Prophets-- look back at verse three in 1 Corinthians 15:3- "in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures"

What Scriptures? Luke agree with Paul and answers this in the Book all about the impact of Christ's resurrection: ACTS Acts 2:25-35 (Peter's sermon at Pentecost; he quotes from Ps.16:8–11 & Ps 110:1) “For David says concerning [Jesus]...

God cannot break His promises to David and so He must raise the Messiah from the dead to fulfill them.

Acts 13:34-35 (quoted from Isa. 55:3 and we see Psalm 16:10 again)

Again, God cannot break His promises to David and must raise the Messiah from the dead to fulfill them.

Then in Acts 26 Paul on trial before King Agrippa and testifies that he is saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen: "that the Christ must suffer and that, by being the first to rise from the dead, he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles.”

Promises By Jesus himself concerning his resurrection

Mark 10:32-34 Jesus telling the disciples the third time already in Mark’s account (cf.

Mark 8:31 & 9:30) about His Death AND promises his resurrection

John 2:18–19

then John explains that the temple is Jesus' body therefore promising He will be resurrected.

With these promises, the resurrection had to happen.

Next the resurrection occurred because…

The Resurrection had to Really have Happened

Christ’s resurrection demonstrated God’s power

Romans 1:4 “and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,”

The power of Christ is demonstrated by resurrecting others

Lazarus John 11:40-44

Christ at the Cross in Matt 27:50-53 “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

The tombs also were opened.

And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”

We could turn to even more passages of Christ's resurrection power: Luke 7:22 pp Matt 11:4-5 See also Matt 9:23-25 pp Mrk 5:38-42; Luke 7:14-15;

So we see that the resurrection is promises fulfilled and as a demonstration of God's power.

Additionally let us explore how…

Christ’s resurrection is central to Christianity

As the foundation of our faith

Romans 10:9 which I am sure most of you know "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

Then in our passage this morning (1Cor 15:14) Other passages: Acts 3:15; 4:33; 2 Timothy 2:8; Hebrews 6:1-2

As the basis of our justification

It is the bases of our right standing before God!

Romans 4:25 “who was delivered up [Jesus] for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

Romans 8:34 “Who is to condemn?

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

As the core of our hope

Acts 24:15 “having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust.”

This Hope is that we all --both believers and non believers--will be resurrected in a physical body, except the non believer won't be rejoicing at this time!

Think of how this BLESSED Hope carries us through in times of a death of a loved one which unbeliever cannot share.

Look further down in our passage in 1 Cor.

15:54-57

Then, going back to Peter at Pentecost in Acts 2:24, Peter says:

JESUS IS GREATER THAN DEATH not even death can stop our Savior!!!

As the proof of believers’ resurrection

our physical bodies will receive life after death!!

Transition:

Not just promises fulfilled, a powerful demonstration, and the foundation of Christianity, but finally, we'll look at how…

The Resurrection Really, Really Happened