Easter Service - 4-12-20 - Did He Rise, Or Was He Raised?

Easter Sermon 2020 – Resurrection – Did he rise, or was he raised? Music: the old rugged cross, what wondrous love is this, Ephesians 1:15–23 15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. 1 Corinthians 15:54–57 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Should we say Jesus rose from the dead or Jesus was raised from the dead? Did he rise or was he raised? Yes! Trinitarian Resurrection. -- Why it’s true: He was raised by God, the Father: Acts 2:32 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. John 10:18 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Ephesians 1:20 ...that he [v17 - the God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of glory] worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places… Romans 4:25 ...who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. -- Why it matters: Vindication of Christ – not cursed by God, rather approved and blessed by God! If this is true, then nothing else matters, this trumps everything. Everything Jesus did or said is true and authoritative. All other truth claims must bow to this. Also, Jesus’ vindication/justification is our vindication/justification. -- Why it's true: He was raised by God, the Holy Spirit: 1 Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. -- Why it matters? The same Spirit dwells in you. -- Why it's true: He raised Himself: ie He rose. John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 5:21–22 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, John 2:19–21 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up … he was speaking about the temple of his body. John 11:25–26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” -- Why it matters? Jesus is God, worthy of all blessing, honor, glory, power, trust, love, obedience. Ecclesiastes 7:13 Consider the work of God, for who is able to straighten what He has bent? -- Why it all matters: 1. To understand your own salvation better. Your salvation – Spiritual resurrection now and Physical resurrection to come is also a Trinitarian Work. The Father sends and gives, The Son accomplishes, The Spirit applies and secures – and this is all a Work of the perfect Triune God, planned from eternity past, carried out in the present world, consummated in eternity future - The Covenant of Redemption (John 17:1-5). -- 2. The surpassing worth and glory of Jesus: This is the unknowable, unapproachable, incomprehensible God! He has truly come down from the mountain to His people, willing to suffer His own justice to satisfy His own holiness to the praise of His glorious grace toward us. 2 Cor 4:6For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. -- 3. To believe, trust, and know Him and to find all of your comfort in life and in death in belonging to Him. Q1: What is our only comfort in life and in death? A: That I am not my own, but belong—body and soul, in life and in death—to my faithful Savior, Jesus Christ... Rom 14:7-8 For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s. -- 4. To worship Him as God objectively in your mind and subjectively in your affections. John 20:28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” -- 5. To obey Him because you believe, trust, know, worship him – You love Him! If you love Him, obedience follows. If you love me, obey my commandments. Seeing his surpassing worth, his goodness, his trustworthiness, his love, his mercy, his power, his wisdom … we love nothing in this world compared to Him, not even our own lives - Rev 12:11. Should we say Jesus rose from the dead or Jesus was raised from the dead? Did he rise or was he raised? Yes. Trinitarian Resurrection. Why it’s true: He was raised by God, the Father: Acts 2:32 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. John 10:18 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Ephesians 1:20 that he [from V17 - the God of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Father of glory] worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places… Romans 4:25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification. Why it matters? Vindication of Christ – not cursed by God, rather approved and blessed by God! If this is true, then nothing else matters, this trumps everything, all other truth claims must bow to this. Jesus’ vindication is our justification. He was raised by God, the Holy Spirit: 1 Timothy 3:16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. Romans 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. Why it matters? The same Spirit dwells in you. He raised Himself: John 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 5:21–22 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, John 2:19–21 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up … he was speaking about the temple of his body. John 11:25–26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Why it matters? Jesus is God, worthy of all blessing, honor, glory, power, trust, love, obedience. Why it matters: 1. To understand your own salvation better. Your salvation – Spiritual resurrection now and Physical resurrection to come is also a Trinitarian Work. (The Father sends, The Son accomplishes, The Spirit applies – and this is all of a Work of the perfect Triune God, planned from eternity past, carried out in the present world, consummated in eternity future) 2. The surpassing worth and glory of Jesus: The glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. He is better. 3. To believe, trust, and know Him and to find all of your comfort in life and in death in belonging to Him. 4. To worship Him as God objectively in your mind and subjectively in your affections. 5. To obey Him because you believe, trust, know, worship him – You love Him! If you love Him, obedience follows. If you love me, obey my commandments. (seeing his surpassing worth, his goodness, his trustworthiness, his love, his mercy, his power, his wisdom … we love nothing in this world compared to Him, not even our own lives)