A Turning Point

The Turning Point Introduction • • • • Since the creation of the world, two events have come to define life – the Fall and the Resurrection. The Fall plunged mankind into death and decay – mankind blindly feels its way to an unknown deity. The Resurrection reverses it all – the risen Lord begins reclaiming the world to Himself. Today’s sermon – five words that drive home the importance of the resurrection: Vindication, Salvation, Power, Hope, and Judgment. Vindication – Proof that Jesus is the Christ “the Son of Man will be delivered … and he will be raised on the third day” (Matthew 20:18-19). “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption’” (Acts 13:34-35). “And [Jesus] 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” (Romans 1:4). Salvation – Grounds for our Deliverance “It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification’” (Romans 4:23-25). “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” (1 Peter 1:3). “Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence” (2 Corinthians 4:14). Power – Fuel for Life in Christ “For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.” (Romans 6:4-9). “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). “he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15). Hope – Encouragement in Everything “For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep” (1 Thessalonians 4:14). “that you may know … what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion” (Ephesians 1:20-23). Judgment – Certainty of Christ’s Rule “[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). “For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” (Romans 14:9). “I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:17-18). Conclusions “You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). “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” (Romans 10:9).