Resurrection Sunday: The Saving Heart of God

We are here today to celebrate, to celebrate the risen savior, the empty tomb! When we celebrate something it’s because we understand the victory. We have victory in Jesus, but what exactly is that victory???

Victory Over Death

There is a real battle, a battle that Jesus has already won. Easter is beautiful. It is full of joy, celebration, and life. But we cannot fully understand the power of this day unless we understand the reality behind it.

Scripture makes it clear: there is a real battle, there is a real enemy, and our souls are at stake. Sin is not harmless, we have an enemy that is not passive. This world is not neutral. There is a war for our hearts, our minds, and ultimately our eternity! Hope you didnt come for bunnies and fluff this morning :) Welcome to the Hub lol.

1. Without the Resurrection, We Have No Hope

In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Paul shared

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:14-26 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. 22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. 23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.

24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. 25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. 26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.

If Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile. Without the resurrection: sin still owns us, death still wins, the grave still has the final word. We are still stuck. Still bound. Still lost. This is what was at stake.

2. But the Tomb Is Empty

Luke 24:1-12–  But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man  must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

He is not here. He has risen. Everything changes here. The war is real, but the outcome is decided. The enemy is real, but he is defeated. The resurrection is not just a moment in history. It is a declaration of victory.

3. The Resurrection Is Power

Romans 8:1-13 – So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. 2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death. 3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent his own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin’s control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins. 4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. 7 For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. 8 That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

9 But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you. (And remember that those who do not have the Spirit of Christ living in them do not belong to him at all.) 10 And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life[d] because you have been made right with God. 11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 

The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you. Sin no longer has authority over you. Shame no longer defines you. The enemy no longer owns you. You are not fighting for victory. You are living from victory! The thing is..… we can celebrate the Resurrection each year. We can remember the power of life that came from the death of our savior and the rising KING! He defeated death. BUT what good is it if one day a year we celebrate the victory and power of the resurrection if the other 364 days we allow ourselves to be enslaved by sin, worry, anxiety, and fear, and do not live in the POWER HE DIED for us to have? Giving us HOPE JOY PEACE and LOVE??? and a has called us to share this freedom and gift and power of the gospel with others.

4. The Resurrection Is Promise

John 3:16 – For this is how God loved the world: He gave  his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Whoever believes. This is about eternal life. Because of the resurrection: death is not the end, the grave is not permanent, eternity is secure. Our future is not uncertain. It is promised. BUT JUST like any gift we must receive it we must accept it! We talked a couple months ago, that its only if gift if you understand the necessity of it. If you’re on an airplane and I tell you to sit with a heavy backpack on that has a parachute, its uncomfortable, it’s heavy, and you’ve been on a plane several times without it, the backpack parachute seems ridiculous, but what if I tell you, I know the plane only has gas for 200 miles, and we can not land before 300… the plane is going to go down. Your only hope is in the parachute. This “gift” now seems more valuable, one that you are going to clutch, no matter the weight, no matter the cost, and I also imagine, you’ll do everything you can to ensure all your family that’s on that plane with you, your’e gonna to make sure they also have a parachute, then you’re going to start looking at all the people on the plane differently, knowing, unless you tell them, unless you share they will lose their lives! Our salvation is no diffferent! There is a judgement day, there is a day every knee will bow. Judgement will be made, we have a God that is merciful, and full of grace, but we also serve a God that is just. He has paid our penalty, He has given us His Spirit to overcome this world, but if we are not going to accept the gift of Jesus Christ, then we bring judgement upon ourselves. Being a good person on that plane doesn’t save you- sin has entered the world and not one of us is without sin, not one person will survive the plane crash! BUT TDOAY WE GET TO CELEBRATE THAT THE RESURRECTION IS PROMISE, as long as we accept it!!

5. This Is Why We Celebrate

We are here because the grave is empty, the stone is rolled away, Jesus is alive. Because He lives: we have hope, we have freedom, we have life. This is victorious hope. This is overcoming faith. Because of Jesus: sin has lost its grip, fear has lost its hold, death has lost its sting, the enemy has lost the battle. You may have walked in feeling heavy, stuck, ashamed, or overwhelmed. That is not your identity anymore. The same power that walked into a grave and walked back out is alive today. You are not defeated. You are not forgotten. You are not too far gone. Because Jesus did not stay in the grave, and neither will your hope. The tomb is empty. Death is defeated. Jesus is alive. We have victory. This is why we sing. This is why we celebrate. This is why we lift our voices. Not because life is perfect, but because the grave is empty. He is risen.

RESPONSE TIME

So here’s the reality This gift of salvation—it has to be received. It’s not enough to know about it…It’s not enough to be around it… it has to become personal.

Scripture is clear…There is a day where every knee will bow. There is a reality of eternity. But hear this clearly…God’s heart is not to condemn, His heart is to save, His heart is that none would perish! And that’s why we’re here today Because we are not standing in fear of judgment… we are standing in the victory of the resurrection! Because the tomb is empty…

the price has been paid, the way is open, and life is available! Jesus paid the price for your parachute! His very life.

Invitation

Today is not about religion. It’s not about getting your life perfect. It’s about receiving the life that Jesus already paid for and proved through the resurrection.

(Worship team, you can come)

You don’t have to walk out of here the same way you walked in.

If you came in: feeling stuck carrying sin weighed down unsure where you stand with God…today is your moment to step into life.

This is what the empty tomb means: You don’t have to stay dead in sin, separated from God, you don’t have to stay where you’ve been! Because Jesus is alive…new life is available right now.

So I want to give you an opportunity right now…

If you’re ready to say:

I want that life I want that forgiveness I want a relationship with Jesus

I’m going to ask you to respond by raising your hand.

And maybe you’re here today…and you’ve already said yes to Jesus before…but if you’re honest—you’ve drifted you’ve grown distant you’re not fully surrendered right now

This is not about shame. This is about life.

Because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead… can raise your faith back up again.

So whether this is your first time…or you’re coming back and fully surrendering again… on the count of three, lift your hands.

I’m not asking you to lift your hands to embarrass you but the Word says: Matthew 10:33 But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven

So let us live openly with Him—not living hidden, silent, or ashamed—but stepping forward in faith. So if you have not already risen your hand as a first time believer please do so now and leave them up, if you are ready to pick your backpack back up and hold on to it, and share the gift with others and recommit your life to doing this, raise your hand. Let us all stand to together and pray this prayer together-

PRAYER

Jesus, I believe You are alive. I give You my life—fully, completely.

Forgive me, restore me, make me new. I choose to follow You with everything I have.

From this day forward, I will walk in the life You’ve given me.

In Jesus’ name, amen.

Come on—this is what Easter is all about! People stepping out of death…and into life!

The tomb is empty Death is defeated Jesus is alive

Now let’s celebrate together…He is risen!

CHURCH LET US CELEBRATE!! THIS SONG THAT