Ressurection Sunday

I was recently watching a b-level superhero movie where they were discussing the fact that these villains that they had disposed of previously kept coming back to life and in one of those discussions one of the characters kept saying Yeah, they resurrected and someone said they resurrected the other one said yeah, they resurrected another one person said hate you use resurrected like three times. Like they were freaked out by that word. It was such an unusual word that have in the midst of their conversation that these folks who were dead. Have now come back to life. And that use the word resurrected it is really a strange concept if we slow down and pause and think about Resurrection Sunday and we think about Easter and celebrating the resurrection. It is outside the norm of human thinking to think in terms of Resurrection, but it is itself the core and the Heart of our Christian faith Paul discusses this in 1st Corinthians 15, and one of his conclusions is if the resurrection isn't real if Christ didn't literally physically historically walk out of the Grave if the dead are not raised he says in verse 32, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. His point is that life is hopeless. If there's no Resurrection, sometimes we think of the inspiration of scripture and the authority of the Bible as the foundation of our faith. But the reality is what Paul is teaching here is the historical physical reality of Christ Resurrection. That's the foundation of our faith and because that is true everything else is true including scripture that describes Christ and the resurrection. In fact, we can be confident in the resurrection, even though it strikes us when it first hits our ears as something difficult to understand if you just look at history and the resurrection from a Skeptics point of view. You end up piling up so much evidence for the resurrection that you have to take it seriously, not simply as a metaphor or something. We religiously honor or celebrate on Easter but as an actual fact of history and therefore as a fact of our future if we believe in Christ. When you look at the evidence for the resurrection historically you have hundreds of eyewitnesses and those who hunt those hundreds of people who said we saw the Risen Christ that's confirmed not only in scripture but also outside of scripture in other historical documents that there were hundreds of people who said ain't that kind Jesus who was Dad I saw him alive and resurrected. Those are confirmed out times outside scripture and those reports that documentation that evidence that history is within the lifetime of the events and the witnesses themselves. Now think about the logical implications of that sometimes on on a popular level is the ideas thrown out that well the early church and Christians just made up this idea of Resurrection that holds no water historically. It doesn't match the actual evidence and it doesn't match logic to suggest that idea. If I begin to make up something within the lifetime of the actual dates of that event, then there will be others who would say. Hey no, no, no Robert. You said that happened in Lexington. I lived in Lexington during that time and that didn't happen. There would be opponents who came forward and said you're claiming something has as historically true and real that is not historically true and real and guess what? We don't have that in history.

When the Christians within 5 years of the crucifixion were preaching and proclaiming the resurrection and hundreds were saying I witnessed the resurrection. There is no historical record of other saying no no. No, you're making that up. This is just something that you guys are making up on your own. history validates the reality the Christians saw Christ resurrected or better said non-christians many non-christians saw him resurrected and because of that they ended up becoming followers of Christ because I saw that historical reality. The empty tomb is a second historical evidence to the reality of the Resurrection. It's verified by multiple sources, including the critics. When we do look at the history that time and say what were the critics of the early church or this new organization called The Church. What were the critics sang one of their biggest criticisms was hey you guys just stole the body. Now what is the implication or assumption within that criticism that the tomb was empty. You can't find credible historical documentation that the tomb was not empty. Even the critics of Christianity verify the fact that the tomb itself was empty and historically some have said well all this in the past 50 or 60 years. Some have said well, we think maybe Jesus wasn't actually dead and he went into the tomb and then he kind of resuscitated and came out, That's how this whole misunderstanding happened. There's no scientific or historic credibility to that. I did it's just Going out there with no actual evidence. Anyone that looks at the reality of a Roman crucifixion from a medical perspective. There is simply no way to avoid the fact that Jesus was crucified and died and all of history points to that. No actual documentation during that period points to something different is something thousands of years later that we start they will maybe this someone at the time would have pain of that and all the history that we have but all histories confirm that Christ was crucified and died and that there was an empty tomb. The fact that the first witness is recorded in the gospels were women testifies to The credibility of the Christian faith because in that culture women were not allowed to give testimony in the court, even the Magna Carta 800 years ago in England did not allow a woman's testimony to be counted as valid and so is the early church was making up their face by no means when they're said, oh, I've got an idea. Let's make the first Witnesses women that way no one will believe us.

The reason the first Witnesses are women in the gospels is because the first witnesses to the empty tomb and the resurrected Christ for women. They simply recorded history has it occurred in shock themselves that Christ has risen that this is the way it was unfolding both full of fear and all at the same time at all of this points to the reality of the Resurrection. The birth of the church for the reality of the Resurrection which came first the resurrection of the church another historical kind of trick. That's that some professors in and around Easter all the news. Websites run old articles that have been discredited by all the scholars but on a popular level that it makes a headline and get the clicks. It's like stuff on Facebook. You don't spell or say there's simply no credible history to the idea that the church was some sort of existing organization before the resurrection that there were Christians in existence before the resurrection and they said hey, let's get together. Let's still the body or let's make up the story. Let's create this fiction. Let's spread it throughout the city, but somehow create this religion about Christ being raised the historical reality. Is that the resurrection occurred first? And the documentation to history from those outside the church who recorded this accursed within five years of the event itself within lifetime of the event and the witnesses until the resurrection of her first and then the birth the church was born out of that. So the idea that somehow the early church went back in created the idea that Jesus was divine or he resurrected. It just doesn't hold water. Now if you're desperately free committed to the idea that Christianity can't be true. Then you will you will jump at every theory that possibly make that the case but it doesn't really stand up to scholars in history and research not only that the lives and the deaths of the disciples testify for the reality of the Resurrection because most all ended up being tortured and dying for for claiming that Jesus Christ resurrected from the dead and was therefore Lord the one to whom every knee will bow every tongue will confess Chuck Colson and his own story about water Great Gate. If you're familiar with him, he was the president's right-hand man won the most powerful man in the world at that time and the scandal of Watergate got discovered and it didn't take any time at all before all the men with in that Scandal. We're turning on each other in prison sentences were being handed out and he said look one thing that testifies to me or the reality. The resurrection is all these men that had their own vested interest in that we couldn't keep a secret for 6 weeks and all that depend on it was our money or our career. And yet the early disciples the apostles they testified for the reality of the resurrection of Christ as they were being tortured to death. They never recanted her gave up and the only reason multiple people will do that. It's because they're absolutely convinced. It's true. Not because they made it up for it. Was this great Ploy. How long would it take if it was a ploy for them to say that's it. I'm not taking one more last we all made it up. He was his idea that in history instead Martyrs who gave their life for the sake of the Church of the message and their life for the sake of those who were torturing them. Even to their death they preach the love of God for every man and woman. Regardless of their own religion of that time regardless of their whether they are a man or a woman or the background they preach the gospel of Christ in his life even to the point of Their Own Death a non-Christian professor at Harvard Law School study the history for the resurrection and here's what he concluded. It was therefore impossible that they could have persisted the early church the disciples in affirming the truth. They had narrated have not Jesus actually risen from the dead and had not had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact. And as a result of his research originally as an atheist and a skeptic he converted to Christianity when he looked at that evidence and testify to the reality of the Resurrection the reality of the Resurrection validates Christ teaching which means we have hope that's a massive understatement. Let that sink in a little bit everything points to the reality of the Resurrection so we know historically this man Jesus came teaching and preaching and that Witnesses said not only that I saw him he'll somebody and I saw him do this other Miracle top things like this. I know our maker the one who created everything from the very beginning of the universe the father who created out he's my father and his son. I know him like I talk with him and not only that but if you if you kill me for overthrowing existing religion for preaching this controversial true that all of us can know God personally can walk with guts can be forgiven of RC. If you kill me for that, guess what my father will raise me from the dead. I'll be in the grave. I'll be dead. But guess what he will raise me out of the Grave with his power. If somebody comes teaching and preaching that sort of stuff you say this guy's crazy. This guy's a lunatic and many said that about Christ and then guess what happens? He came out of the grave.

If someone teaches and preaches that they know the way to eternal life and you all watch that person get crucified and put in the grave and three days later. They come walking out of the grave. Good morning.

That means something that validates Christ teaching and his message that he was who he said he was could do what he said he could do that. He was indeed from God the father and the resurrection is not only true for him. But what he preached about the resurrection is true for us. It validates his teachings to fill the opposite of what Paul said look if there's no Resurrection. We have no hope and in that chapter in Corinthians 15, he goes on to do what I'm doing now to point out the facts and the reality of the resurrection and say therefore because the resurrection is true. We do have hope Jesus teachings are validated Christ was a real figure in history. This is the way the church and the early historians understood it all along the idea projecting back from this point creative ideas to get around. It. Simply doesn't hold any sort of credibility trips are understood Christ. That way first John says this we declare to you what we what was from the beginning what we have heard. And what we have seen with her eyes and what we have looked at and touch with her hands concerning the word of life. You see how they're making the points that Jesus was a real figure in history. This life was revealed and we have seen it and we testify do it. That word is the word you use in court for telling you this is true were swearing to its were testifying to it and we declare it to you the eternal life that was with the father and was revealed to we declare to you what we have seen and heard they say it again. It's like testimony in court. They're making it abundantly clear what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us and truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ. We're riding these things so that our joy may be complete. This one who came and proclaimed a way through death itself and was raised by the father out of that grave. We're telling you we saw him. We heard him. We know it's true and the joy of knowing this truth about God's the creator of the universe the joy of knowing that we can have this forgiveness. And this is eternal life. We we want to tell you because it makes our joy complete to give that testimony. It's interesting when Paul is in axis being kind of put on the spot by Agrippa confronted for his teaching and preaching here's what he says when I am not out of my mind most most excellent fastest, but I am speaking The Sober Truth Indeed the king knows about these things and speaking about Christ and the resurrection of the gospels what he's talking about these things and to him I speak freely for I am certain that none of these things have escaped his notice for this was not done in a corner. Paul is saying it is public knowledge. I'm not saying something that no one's heard. I'm not saying something to anyone in this port wouldn't say actually yeah, that's what the that's what happened in Jerusalem. Jesus was crucified then and there was like hundreds that said they saw him alive and now they're preaching this gospel that the one who came and talked and healed and preach and was crucified and put in the truth, but he was resurrected from that tune and then hundreds saw him and that their lives are completely transformed in their preaching the gospel like Paul that was a public historical reality and even two times when Paul ended up going to prison or taking a beating He refused to let go of that truth because he knew it was real and it was true. Look. If you saw the resurrected Lord like Paul, would you ever stop talking about it? Could you ever repent of what you know to be true? Ever ask the witness of the Apostles in the early Church in as witness that carries forward to us to this day Christ was God's message to humankind. Look at what scripture says in the beginning was the word that means logos to message the heart the idea from God himself. And that word was with God and that word was God. He was in the beginning with God all things came into being through him and without him. No not one thing came into being what has come into being.

In him was life and that life was the light of all people and so in the beginning was the word and the Word was God's heart his message to humanity. And that message came into being in the form of Christ when he says a few verses later and that word became flesh speaking of Christ and lived among us and we have seen his glory the glory as of the father's only son full of grace and truth. Jesus came as God's message to humanity. I've come to reveal to you what the father is like exactly. I wanted to spell misunderstandings and miss and Illusions about. God is like I am God in your missed. If you've seen me you've seen the father and he displayed this grace and truth of the father Christ Halt and demonstrated. But he had the power to heal that he was the son of God that he will come again to judge humankind that he is our example for living and the only way to God the Father those were the teachings throughout the gospel. The Christ visited again and again and again when you read the gospel that he had the power and authority to heal. So when religion would say no no, no, we've got all organized. We've got our rules and regulation boldly walk in and say what do you mean I can't do that on the Sabbath give me your hand and we take a broken and crooked into form hands and smooth it out into a straight and healed hand. Are you guys getting it yet?

And wasn't created for the Sabbath we weren't created for religion or rules. Those things were created for us to help us know God and I'm here to make it clear. You can't you can't forgive sins. You told that guy his sins are forgiven. You can't you can't do those sorts of things. Yes. That's exactly what I can do. Jesus proclaimed in his teaching and is acting actually cuz I am from the father and I'm God's message to humankind that you can be healed that you can be forgiven. And I'm the example that God calls us to follow and one day I will come back and judge humanity and the only way to the father is through me he taught those things again and again throughout the gospels any top that he died for our sins. The ultimate expression of what the early church says later in 1st John that God's character is this God is love. Look all of human conception about power and therefore about God because that's the way humans think that's that if someone's going to be gone or something's going to be ultimate or something is going to got it has to be centered in power. That's the way human thinking exist. We always put power at the top and so if something is God or someone has got it has to be ultimately power has to be its identity. That's the way we think that's why other religions are all about. You better do these right thing in order to appease the God. You got to learn the right path and rice so certain level of knowledge or you got to obey the certain things on our way here in trouble or you're in trouble that human cut the human you can tell if a human concept of God right away when the formula is God is power and you had better behave. Because that's the way we think if I was going to form a human God, I got to be a corporation or it's got to be some superhero. There has to be this power that makes everyone else afraid and yet the scripture say that God is love.

And Jesus came and when they were dragging him to the Cross when they were unfairly giving him trials in the dark of the night to convict him when he could have simply broken loose and said, okay, you want to see Power he could have called on Angels that's even acknowledge in scripture self. That's the way it could have been done. But that was not the revelation of God the Father. Jesus died for our sins as a revelation of God the Father. Of the beautiful Gospel of the good news is at the heart of the universe is our maker who has made us and loves us and created us and has provided for our forgiveness for our restoration for our reconciliation through his own death. the beauty

John 3:16 right for God so loved the world.

But he gave his only son that whoever would believe. Should not perish. I would have eternal life and it's exactly what Paul is talking about in Corinthians. He says now would remind you Brothers and Sisters of the good news that I Proclaim to you which you in turn received in which also you stand through which also you are being saved. If you hold firmly to the message that I Proclaim to you unless you have come to believe in vain for I had it on to you as a person Horton's what I in turn had received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scripture and that he was buried and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures and that he appeared to see first then to the 12 then he appeared to more than 500 brothers and sisters at one time most of whom were still alive though some have died. He's offering that information to say if you don't believe me check this out most of those 500 I'm talking about are still alive. You can do your research. Which Loop does when he writes loose gospel. He writes to a leader because I know you're wondering about this. So I've taken the time to do the research and talk about this man Jesus if you read the beginning of the Gospel of Luke, so we have hope there's two big implications. I want to talk about as we move toward the end. This life is not all there is. That's a hopeful statement. Again, let that sink in a little bit. Look, there's two there's two categories is probably many but let me mention a couple categories you could be in. that would make it depressing if this life is all there is you could be in the midst of a life that is desperately depressing and unsatisfying.

and if this life is all there is Then like Paul, let's just eat drink and be merry for tomorrow. We die. It's just a short window. There's nothing to do. And so if that's the case, then we become desperate for our entertainment or our distractions or our egos. I've got to look good. I got to feel good. I got to succeed by this world's standards and I've got to do that. So desperately that I'll trample others or that I'll do a moral things because this life is all there is it can be this depressing reality and scripture injects into this world the resurrection breaks into this world and says this life is not all there is make sure something else to you know, what you could be someone who is amazingly Successful by this life standards. You could be fit and good-looking and have a bank account full of money and be at the top of your career and guess what? I just watched some of the documentaries on TV every now and then about Hollywood and celebrities in success. You can have all that success and still come to the conclusion. That is this life is all there is then what's the point? Because even those things that we have tabbed and marked as success end up being deeply unsatisfying as the ultimate meaning to life until the resurrection proclaims that this life is not all there is heaven will contain both comfort for us when we lived in hardships in this lifetime and they've not been resolved in this lifetime. We're Told part of what heaven will be is this place where every two tear will be wiped away. Everyone who is grieving will be comforted heaven will provide comfort for us a man because sometimes this life is so hard that that's what we look forward to. Getting out of this life and getting to the next life where there isn't cancer or hardship or abuse or corruption for Injustice. You know proverbs 30 talks about two dangers that can happen in our life. We can have the danger of not having enough and we're tempted to steal in order to have enough and also says there's a danger of having so much that we feel like we don't need anything. That's one of the dangers maybe in North America. Sometimes that we think will this isn't so bad. I can on myself with enough shopping and entertainment. Other items to just kind of slide through.

But the reality is globally. There's some for whom Heaven is this long for relief of the suffering in this life and scripture teaches. There will be that comfort in heaven, but also teachers there's another thing that comes in heaven teaches that full understanding will come in heaven. Full understanding about some of the things that we didn't understand in this life some of the things that seemed unjust in this life some of the things that seemed hard to predict some of the pain that we've gone through or some of the questions. We couldn't get answered scripture teaches. Not only will there be Comfort because this life is not all there is there will be eternal life with Christ scripture teaches. Not only will there be comfort in that moment, but they'll be full understanding. cause us to go I see now. I see now scripture says that some of that understanding one of the illustrations is child labor. We know in the moment of of child labor in that moment. My mom could easily say this is insane. This is this is crazy. Especially if there wasn't full understanding never had a child before maybe so much lack understanding not sure what's going on. What's going on since of this is unbearable. This is crazy. This is what happens on the other side of that childbirth. There's an experience and a perspective and a knowledge and understanding that says I get it now.

I went through that but it was for this and it was beautiful. Even when we get to heaven. They'll be new moments of understanding and helps us look back at pain in this lifetime and understand it more fully. But that's not all this life can be redeemed and eternal life can begin now. So it's not simply that the Hereafter awaits us and we will receive consolation both in the form of comfort and understanding that is true and good as I just said but it's also the case that the eternal life that God gives us through the death of Christ can begin right now. That's the language that Jesus used in John 10. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy I have come so that they may have life and have it to the fool some translations talk about have eternal life. The original language is the idea of having the life God intended for us that eternal life and having it start right now when we hear the gospel when we believe it when we understand it. We begin that eternal life that God has marked out for us one of Jesus teachings validated by the resurrection is this look I'm standing at the door knocking if anyone of you hears me calling and opens the door. I will come in and share a meal at that person side Jesus offering and promising fellowship with us because of his work on the cross. Because of his work on the cross. Because of his work on the cross. Don't let the adversary slip into your thoughts when I say that Jesus offers Fellowship to you. Don't let him went right in there will not Me. Maybe you preacher cuz your preacher and she's pretty like you better relax other people or maybe something sweet little lady that I see around me that I know must be the sweetest Christian went around but not me I've got sin and I've got evil in my heart and I've made selfish decision. I've got regret in my life. I've done that. I'm involved in stuff right now that breaks my heart. Yes.

And Jesus because of his righteousness because of his blood shed invites you to know him. It's on his tab. You don't have to think about your tab to do your tab and do the math and every Sunday for the next 5 years and maybe make you don't have to think about that. Look it's like thinking that you could jump the ocean. Maybe you could get ten feet and somebody else could get five and nobody jump in the ocean. Okay, so just let go of that all together. There's no righteousness among Humanity. We are dependent upon Christ until Christ did the work and offers to us this invitation behold. I stand at the door and not if you will simply open the door, I will come in and have fellowship with you.

I think part of way that Fellowship kind of manifest itself is a resurrection State of Mind knowing that that's true that Jesus invites us to fellowship with him that he knocks on the door and ask us to open it so that he can come and be in fellowship with us part of that. There's a half a dozen ways. At least we can talk about I'll talk about 1 this morning briefly part of that is when we go into scripture itself, and we let God speak to us and recreate our own thoughts are on heart our own mind thinking about herself and thinking about others and a Genesis chapter 1. It talks about how God spoke and his word created things out of nothing. He created the so let there be light and God's word is so powerful that there was this formless Darkness upon the face of the Earth and he said let there be light and there was light that sort of power and James chapter 1 the author uses that same sort of language and says that God the father because of the work of Jesus Christ that he wants to speak his word into our hearts again. And that that's going to recreate who we are. So the design Jesus knocks on the door of my heart and I open my heart and I let him into my life one way that happens is when I go before the war of god with a submissive spirit and I allow God to speak to me. It has power. It is the authoritative word of God and those true sin scripture can speak into my heart in such a way that it recreate who I am. And I'm less a product of this culture that's desperately concerned about my appearance or my bank account or my social status and I've become more of who God created me to be and is recreating me to be a child of God loved redeemed forgiven. Holy because of Christ. I become a saint and then people who know me go.

Yeah, but according to Jesus maybe I'm a sink his blood covers me and I become his beloved child because of his work in my life Romans 12:1 and to talk about this to have our minds renewed not conformed to this world but renewed because of our relationship with Jesus Christ knowing that part of the beauty of the Resurrection truth that we are not forgotten that we are on God's mine. The men are the scripture from the beginning to the end is God created us loves us and has sought Us in the form of Christ dying on RV. So you have never been unloved? You have never been forgotten. Our own clouded thinking are on selfishness this culture this worried world. The address here at times has blocked for that has put that out of her mind and tried to take that truth away, but the truth is The you have never been unloved. The God has never forgotten you. That from the beginning he's been seeking a way to reconcile with you you to him do the work of Christ.

and the walk is to get better and better keeping him on our mind knowing that beautiful truth that were on his mind. And so we strive to place him in our thoughts and keep Renewing Your Mind last thing and I'll buy the worship team to come Ford. Resurrection State of Mind means that life is deathless

if you thought about that.

We're going to live forever. Now I sound like the superheroes in it be right movie. I was watching you just said resurrected three times and it's freaking me out because that's just a weird word. And now I just said if you trust in the gospel of Christ, you're going to live forever.

Life is deathless. How should that Resurrection State of Mind change the way we think and live? How often do we let this gnawing fear of death shape everything about our lives? You know, I'm going to get second set of seat belt installed in my car. So there's not just the first one but then they could be like a second when I go into this patient over-the-shoulder lock it in.

That we lose the freedom to no joy to love others to take risk because our life can be consumed by fear because we're terrified of death and all its forms when it's a little bit of financial loss or relationship is broken. We can become so afraid of death that it rules our lives and the resurrection says guess what? Life because of Christ is now deathless. Now look there's hardship in their suffering and their Seasons away from one another because we do pass on from this body in this lifetime, but it is not Eternal and we are reunited with those loved ones. We've lost and they're reunited with us. So how would that shape your life?

Life is Tantalus.

God never stops working in your life. even if you slide into age 98 the last 2 minutes of your life and you and God score accounts, and he says well Robbie, you know, you've made about an inch of progress since I converted you when you're 18, you know, it's just it's what he never stops working. Come on Inn. Good and faithful servant. What you did you did? You trusted me you placed your faith. Not in you you place your faith in me. Never stopped working in our life. Could that for you up just a little bit to love others? What happened in the early church that started out as this weird group in the culture around them. What's up with these weirdos and suddenly within a hundred years the culture and said, I think they figured it out because the culture was so afraid they would regulate those with disease The Villages and simply let them die and the Christian said we can go to those villages we can help them out. We're going to live forever because of Christ if I go help someone in need and it cost me my very life. That's okay. Cuz guess what? I know the one who walked out of the grave. And one day he's going to call my name and I'm going to walk out of the Grave death is not the final word for me because of Jesus Christ. And so they took these wrist to love and care for those around them in ways that were amazing and ways that rebuild the heart of God and ways that revealed that God who revealed himself by dying on a cross. Until Christians were on afraid of dying on afraid of suffering because they understood the resurrection man that life is deathless because of Christ that we could take that risk that we can love others that we can send a small group and say okay. Here's the truth. I'm a Christian and I screwed up my life. Royally. I'm still Tangled Up and struggles and then sends and I don't do it very well. I am I am just a big mess. We can take that risk because of the Resurrection because of the love of Christ because it is his righteousness that is in part of do I was right. Just a thought I heard it so we can come to him just as we are and say, this is really I'm I'm sorry guys, I'm not doing very well. And when the church is what it's supposed to be a fellowship of the like-minded or maybe better said a fellowship of the Christ like-minded. We meet each other with Grace and encouragement and reminder of God's forgiveness and we continue to try to walk with that Resurrection mindset. Why We Gather and worship because it's all about Christ not about us If you're here this morning and you've never made a decision to accept Christ as your lord and savior As we sing this song. I'll be in the back. I invite you to come talk with me. I'd love to pray with you. I love to talk to you about getting to know Christ or if you just have two concerns or questions of any sort. I'm back there come and talk with me. They'll be folks in the front and the back for prayer concerns. If you simply have it for your concern don't hesitate to come to us and let us pray. I invite all of us to place our faith not in ourselves, but in Christ as we sing this song, please stand.