Resurrection

Good morning!

He is Risen!

Alright!

John 2:18–22 ESV

So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

PRAYER

I want to speak to you for a shorter time than usual…That’s the plan.

Today as we celebrate the Resurrection of Christ, new beginning and new life, it makes sense to begin a new series.

Starting today we are walking through a series called Checkmate.

Over the next 4 weeks we will be discussing 4 of the big issues people have with Christianity. There amore, but we are dealing with 4.

We talk about the fact that we say we worship a Good God, but there is suffering.....checkmate.

You Christians say that God is patient and does not want anyone to perish, so how does Hell fit in with that fact …checkmate

You speak about a loving God, but so many Christians are unlike the God you claim to follow; there is so much hypocrisy....checkmate.

Those are some of the light topics we will be tackling over the next few weeks, and I’ve called in the crack squad to help me

Today we talk about the resurrection; in this day and age we don’t need myth anymore! Miracles don’t happen, they are just for explaining what we don’t understand. We have science and human ingenuity; we do not need miracles. Checkmate

As we walk though this series, just a warning, We can often fall into a concern with winning an argument rather than a person.

And when that becomes obvious to the person we care about, we will lose the person.

I was listening to an interview with John Lennox,

Northern Irish mathematician, philosopher of science, Christian apologist- debating Dawkins Christopher Hitchens before he passed away.

and he was asked why he was so likeable whenever he debates.

If I don’t make the person more important than the argument, I’ve lost before I start.

So as we approach each topic in this series, we do so with humility and from a love for people.

PAUSE

Today…we want to look at the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What we as Christians call the foundation of our faith.

And I would say that

I’m not sure how you walk into this place, but I would say this, “even if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you should want it to be true.”

When it comes to Jesus....

I. The Resurrection is not a secondary issue

As N.T. Wright says,

All that Jesus said about himself, all that God offers his creation, is confirmed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The only point in being a Christian at all is if this message continues to be the solid ground on which we stand.

All that Jesus said about himself, all that God offers his creation, is confirmed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

It is what proves the significance of the life, teaching, promises, and death of Jesus Christ.

How do we know that Jesus can forgive your sin?

How do we know that he was sent by God the father to show us the love of the Father?

How do we know that his promise of forgiveness, eternal life, and life after death is authentic?

It is the resurrection.

“Even if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you should want it to be true.”

A resent study published by the BBC says,

“The Resurrection did not happen, says a quarter of Christians.

A quarter of people who describe themselves as Christians in Great Britain do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus, a survey commissioned by the BBC suggests.”

So, we have a misconception right off the top.

By definition - if you do not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead....you are not a Christian.

It is not a set of beliefs. It is not a club of likeminded people complaining about the world.

Christianity is based on historical happening.

Romans 10:9 ESV

because, 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.

If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Reverend Dr Lorraine “Cavanaw” is the acting general secretary for Modern Church, which promotes liberal Christian theology.

She said: "I think [people answering the survey] are being asked to believe in the way they might have been asked to believe when they were at Sunday school.

"You're talking about adults here. And an adult faith requires that it be constantly questioned, constantly re-interpreted, which incidentally is very much what Modern Church is actually about.

"Science, but also intellectual and philosophical thought has progressed. It has a trickle-down effect on just about everybody's lives.

"So to ask an adult to believe in the resurrection the way they did when they were at Sunday school simply won't do and that's true of much of the key elements of the Christian faith."

Now her comments have a few distortions.

First of all as a Reverend she should now that Jesus never called us to an adult type faith. In fact he told us to approach him with the humility of children in

Secondly, she implies that science and intellect play no part in the Christian faith.

What I want to propose to you this morning (in light of the fact that the resurrection is no secondary issue to Christians) is that the resurrection is not a matter of faith.

II. The Resurrection is not a matter of Faith

Secondly, she implies that

In the age were have to categorize some news as FAKE NEWS this is important!

If we believed that the resurrection was a spiritual thing, that happened in a different realm it becomes a faith issue; and it means nothing.

When Christians propose the resurrection of Jesus as a truth to be accepted, we are proposing that something verifiable actually happened, in an actual geographical location, to a real person, witnessed by real people, proclaimed by them and recorded by them.

Not sure how you walk into this place, but I would say this, “You should want this to be true”

What are we asking when we ask that question.

What are we asking when we ask that question.

And that this happening changes everything.

Clarification

not simply a spiritual event

It what a physical event with spiritual implications

The Resurrection took everyone by surprise.

Resurrection simply does not happen!!

We agree.

It does not simply happen!!

That is why it is a big deal.

but THAT is different than saying it didn’t !

Saying that resurrections do not happen, is different than saying that it didn’t!

We cannot belittle what happened, simply by refusing to believe that it did.

To believe that the resurrection did NOT take place requires faith as well.

Christians do not believe the resurrection because of blind faith.

Scripture says that faith is…..

Hebrews 11:1 ESV

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

So, Faith is believing in something we hope for but have not seen yet.

The resurrection does not fit into that category.

11 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

In fact that is the exact opposite of what the apostles are trying to get through to us in their writings.

John who lived with Jesus, ministered with him, went to prison becasue he wouldn’t shut up about the resurrectiion said this....

1 John 1:1–4 ESV

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

That isn’t faith, that is sense perception!

It’s Scientific method.

systematic observation, measurement, and experiment

I mean what would it take for you having walked with someone for 3 years who said he would raise himself from the dead, who said he was the Son of God, if he was then publically crucified, what woiuld it take for you to spend the rest of your life persecuted, laughed at, exiled, imprisioned, when all it would take was a word saying it’s not true, we made it up. I will show you where we hid the body!!

What woudl it take??!! Something pretty convincing!!

Resurrection!!

_______

Thomas, one of the disciples who had followed Jesus for 3 years, doing ministry with him. Ate with him, prayed with him, camped out, stayed up late listening to him teach and answer his questions..

said, I will not buy this on faith, THIS IS TOO BIG!! IF I am going to give my life to this, I need to see his resurrected body. I’m a scientist!!

I will do my own observation.

John 20:25–28 ESV

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

John

So, we have this small group of disciples who say they touched, they witnessed. Couldn’t that be made up?

But he said to them, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”

28 Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

The Apostle Paul addresses this in

29 Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 ESV

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

So when Paul wrote this letter about 20 years after the resurrection.

There are close to 300 people who witnessed it, who are still living.

There is no shortage of witnesses to the fact.

On top of that Paul writes this in the midst of persecution and danger, because he is convinced. Not by faith, but by looking at the facts.

The only point in being a Christian at all is if this message continues to be the solid ground on which we stand.

In the decades before and after Jesus’ life and death, there were dozens of messianic movements in Israel. In almost every case the messianic leader was killed, in many cases by execution, and after the leader’s death each of these movements invariably collapsed. Everybody went home, and that was it. Of all those dozens of movements, only one did not collapse after the death of the leader. Not only did it not collapse, it exploded: In the course of about 300 years it had spread through the entire Roman empire.

Why? Why was it different?

Jesus had risen, just as He told them He would. After a criminal does his time in jail and fully satisfies the sentence, the law has no more claim on him and he walks out free. Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins. That was an infinite sentence, but He must have satisfied it fully, because on Easter Sunday He walked out free. The resurrection was God’s way of stamping PAID IN FULL right across history so that nobody could miss it.

He won’t be quiet because he wants to get the word out.

Jesus has paid what you and I owe for our sin.

Some ask the question…” Is Good love or is God justice”…..the cross says…..YES!!

The cross is where God justice is satisfied and at the same time, His love is proclaimed and made manifest.

On the Day of the Lord—the day that God makes everything right, the day that everything sad comes untrue—on that day the same thing will happen to your own hurts and sadness. You will find that the worst things that have ever happened to you will in the end only enhance your eternal delight. On that day, all of it will be turned inside out and you will know joy beyond the walls of the world. The joy of your glory will be that much greater for every scar you bear. So live in the light of the resurrection and renewal of this world, and of yourself, in a glorious, never-ending, joyful dance of grace.

III. The Resurrection Rewrites History

It rewrites history for the world and for you and I

This is what the death of Jesus does.

Jesus accomplishes.

Since death is the punishment for sin, Christ died willingly in our place to deliver us from the power and penalty of sin and bring us back to God. By his substitutionary atoning death, he alone redeems us from hell and gains for us forgive - ness of sin, righteousness, and everlasting life.

Colossians 1:21–22 ESV

And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,

Please hear those words

The cross accomplishes something amazing!! Something you cannot accomplish for yourself, and none but Jesus can accomplish for you.

All that would keep us from God alienates us from his holiness. All that taints us. All that keeps us from righteousness.

We are so different from God and through the death of Jesus all the mess that bars us from approaching him, all that would cause us to be burnt up by his holiness is thrown on the shoulders of Jesus on the cross. and it is killed there!! It is destroyed there!

That is the Gospel.

Jesus has paid what you and I owe for our sin.

Some ask the question… “Is God love or is God justice”…..the cross says…..YES!! And his resurrection says, Her is also a God of Power.

And what the Christian message is, is this. Stop trying to accomplish, what only Jesus can.

The cross is where God justice is satisfied and at the same time, His love is proclaimed and made manifest.And what the Christian message is, is this. Stop trying to accomplish, what only Jesus can.

Stop running from Him because relationship with God seems like an impossible option.

Stop trying to make things right with him on your own merit.

The Christian proclamation is that it is by grace we are saved. A free gift, where Jesus goes and does what we cannot, but gives us all the benefits of his work.

And this amazing transfer takes place. We become like Him!

He places his righteousness on us like a new clean suit so that we can approach God, unashamed, untainted.

Why because we have stopped saying I can do this, and have fallen on the love of God shown us in the cross

In 1989 James Cameron’s Abyss hit the theatre.

In the Abyss a submarine has been sunk in the Caribbean, and it is put on the shoulders of members of an underwater drilling company and some Navy SEALS to explore the wreckage; and really to interact with an intelligent being living far below the surface, out of reach.

The problem is that they have to go deeper than they ever could on their own.

Into the Abyss, into darkness where no human has the right to go. And in order to do so they are forced to be submerged and breathe in a kind of oxygen-rich liquid that makes them feel like they are drowning.

Jesus says, where you cannot go, I will go.

What you cannot do, I can do!

The

Let the burden be on me to go and recover what you cannot.

Through the cross Jesus does that.

And the proof of his success, his accomplishment, his acceptable sacrifice, is his glorious resurrection.

“even if you don’t believe in the resurrection, you should want it to be true.”

Because of the resurrection the promises of the bible have a solid footing:

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 8:31–34 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 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.

Romans 8:31 ESV

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

It is a free gift, it is for everyone, doesn’t matter how you arrived!

I’m going to ask you to bow your heads.

I’m not sure how you entered this morning. I’m not even concerned how you entered, what you think is unlovable, what you think is broken about you, the cross says God’s love and grace are greater than your sin.

-41

Whatever power you think your past has on you, the resurrection says that God is more powerful.