What a beautiful sunrise crested the trees today.
Today is the day that we just want to feel the statement the angel made to Mary and the others - He is Risen! That is what Easter is all about - celebrating a risen Savior.
I am thrilled that you are here today but as we look at the Easter story I want you to think about why you are here. If you are not a regular church attender why do you come out on Easter? Is it because you feel an obligation to attend this day? I don't know what your motivation was but I am glad you are here because God has a word for you today. So please don't sit there and think "when will this be over" so you can get back to your life lived satisfying the desires of the flesh.
God has brought us all here today to hear the glorious story of the resurrection of his son - Jesus Christ.
What is Easter to you? What does it bring you? Excitement to be with family? A chance to buy that new outfit? Easter is a lot of things to a lot of people but as Christians Paul tells us that there are 3 primary implications of Easter - It's what Easter gives us.
Read Romans 1:1-4

Easter Gives Us Confirmation of Christ's Identity

It's important for us to see the passion event (Christ's death) in light of the fact that Jesus was fully man

as Jesus was agonizing in the garden the sweat that poured from his head as blood - those were real drops of blood
the crying out in anguish - please father let this cup - that was real fear.
When they beat him, pushed a crown of thorns on his head, then nailed him to a tree - that really hurt.
He was a man. Look at what Paul says - a descendent of David

We also have to look at the passion event in light of the fact that Jesus was completely divine.

The Bible tells us that Jesus could have called down 10,000 angels but he didn't
In the OT God rained down fire and brimstone on Sodom and Gomorrah - he could have done that now - but he didn't
As Jesus was being crucified he was completely God - look at what Paul says v. 4.

So as Paul describes who Jesus is in light of Easter (resurrection) we see Scripture being applied to Christ. John 2:19 "Destroy this Temple and I will raise it up in three days". Jesus is now raised. Matt. 12:40 "For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."
You see what Easter did was fulfill these promised and validate Jesus claim of divinity.

We serve a risen Lord, He is the only way to Heaven, He is the one who conquered sin and death.

Easter Gives Us The Cancellation of Sin's Penalty

Read Rom. 4:24-25
Why did Jesus have to die on that cross? Maybe we can answer that question by asking this question - Who was responsible for putting Jesus on that cross? - You and me.

v. 25 - delivered over because of our transgressions (anything we've done wrong)
But look at what this verse also says - we put him there but it was also for us that He was raised. Raised for our justification. That's a big theology word so i'm going to give you something to relate it. Justification makes it "just as if" we never sinned. Only through Christ can we be found innocent of all the wrongdoings we are guilty of.

why? to pay the redemptive price for the sins of all people. why? So God could bring us close to Him.

Jesus' resurrection was the proof of God's acceptance of Jesus' sacrifice. The transaction was approved.
Because we serve a risen Lord, God can credit His provided righteousness to the account of every person who responds by faith to His offer. (illustrate wiping all credit clean)

Read Rom. 8:11 - This verse talks about God giving life to our mortal bodies and Paul goes on to explain that this life continues on into eternity.
When Jesus came out of the tomb this was the first resurrection and these disciples witnessed it. Now, those who know and follow Christ have certain hope of a resurrection of our own, when Christ brings eternal life.
John 11:25-26 "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
What do you believe? Do you believe Christ's identity. That he is who and what the Bible says He is? That He is the only one who can make you right before God? That He has cancelled sin's penalty? That by believing in Him you can have eternal life? This is exactly what Easter brings us.
Where are you at today? If you have not made a decision to follow Christ - please don't harden your heart - because if you continue to harden your heart there will come a time when God will quit knocking. You don't have forever to play around with this decision. You have all the evidence you need. You have all the proof you need. Now you just need to have the Savior living in You.