Do you (really) believe in the resurrection of Jesus?

Introduction

Your presence here tells me that you believe in the Resurrection. But my question to you this morning is: "Do you really believe in the Resurrection?" I believe that there is a difference between believing in the Resurrection and really believing in the Resurrection? Let me make that point by two illustrations.

If my dentist asks me if I believe in dental flossing my teeth my answer is yes, I certainly do. But as soon as I open my mouth and the dentist sees my teeth he knows that I don't believe in dental flossing like I say I do.

If I am making an appointment with a new cardiologist and he asked me over the phone before the first visit if I believe in exercise, I will answer I believe in exercise. But as soon as I go to the first visit with the doctor and he walks in the door, he knows I don't believe in exercise like I say I do.

So I got to ask myself what is the difference between a person who really believes in the resurrection and a person who says I believe in the resurrection. Turn with me in your Bibles to:

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Point # 1

If we really believed in the Resurrection we would be investing a lot more of our time and energy right now in our future resurrected life.

I ought to be asking myself what I am doing now- how is it going to affect my eternity? Do I really believe how I live as a spouse is going to affect my eternity? Do I really believe how I conduct myself on the job tomorrow, will have value for me 2,000 years from now? Do I really believe how I spend my money in the here and now will have value for me 10,000 years from now?

The Apostle Paul describes it this way you can either be building in heaven a treasure of wood, hay or straw or one of gold, silver and costly stones. And I believe whichever one you are building depends on whether or not you really believe in the Resurrection.

How are you investing your time right now? Like you believe in the Resurrection or like you really believe in the Resurrection? If you really believed in the Resurrection your priorities ought to be shifting to your future home.

Point # 2

If we really believe in the Resurrection we should have a confident outlook about our future even when bad things are happening to us.

(NIV)

1 Peter 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! 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, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

Peter is saying that we ought to have a different perspective about the things that come against us if we really believe in the Resurrection. We ought to have this confidence even as bad things are happening to us. We saw that last week in the life of David even as he was fleeing Jerusalem- this confidence in God. We saw that in Ms. Pat as she battled her cancer. And we see that in Ms Patsy Huber as she battles her cancer. There is something different - a perspective some Christians don't have. It is difference between believing in the Resurrection and really believing in the Resurrection.

How do you respond when junk comes to your work? Do you have a bad attitude or do you have a different perspective? Examine yourself, it will tell you if you really believe in the Resurrection.

Point # 3

If we really believe in the Resurrection we are going to be sure where we are spending eternity.

(NIV

1 John 5:11–13 ESV

And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.

If I really believe in a Resurrection I am going to nail down, lock up, and make sure without any doubt where I am going to be spending it. I won't take any chances; no doubts for me; I only want to know for certain where I am going to spend the other side of eternity.

Now if I just believe in a resurrection then my response might be I will look into it when I get a little older; hope I am going to heaven; I would like to go heaven; I think I am going to heaven. You are not investing your energy in finding out because you believe in the resurrection but you don't really believe in the Resurrection. The really makes you dental floss; the really makes you exercise; the really makes you find the assurance of your eternity.

Conclusion

If you really believe in the Resurrection then these three things should be evident: Your priorities ought to have changed. Your perspective ought to have changed. Your assurance ought to have been made certain.