Jesus is Alive
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction to Service
Introduction to Service
Good morning and welcome to Liberty Baptist!
If you can hear me give a honk. All right. I hope you enjoy your experience with us today and I pray that it is a blessing and encouragement to you.
Here are some ways you can engage and make the most of drive in church
Using your cell phone go to lbcbristol.org/drivein. That will give you the lyrics to the songs and sermon notes for you to follow along with.
When the worship team is singing, you sing out. Belt it out in your car. Your not singing for an audience your not singing for your family your singing out in praise to the Lord. Worship Him whole heartedly this morning.
During the message follow along and don’t have any distractions out in the car.
Some may feel as though they should honk if they hear something they like. I’m not going to tell you not to but I will ask you to not go crazy, be respectful of our neighbors, and of those around you.
Do those 4 things and it will help with our worship experience. Don’t forget, please stay in your car. We are trying to be as respectful as we can of the social distancing guidelines. Your help in this matter is greatly appreciated. Let’s Pray.
Introduction to Message
Introduction to Message
Thank you worship team for leading us in those songs.
Thank you all for singing along with us. I know my heart is open and ready for the message, is yours?
Do this for me, move your wipers to let me know your listening. Alright.
This morning we are here for one purpose and one purpose only and that is to celebrate the truth that Jesus is Alive!
Look with me in your Bibles please at
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,
PRAY
It was approx. 2k years ago when Jesus was crucified, buried, and rose again. Today we recognize that morning when the women made their way to the tomb and saw that the stone was rolled away.
Can you imagine that morning? Can you imagine walking down the road to grave of a loved one and see that instead of the mound of dirt that was placed over their gravesite you see a large gaping hole?
That’s what these ladies experienced. They were on their way to finish the burial rituals and prepare the body. They had concerns about who would roll the stone away yet what they realized when they got there is the stone wasn’t even a concern, the stone was rolled away and the body was gone.
The Angels said to them “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!”
Then they remember His words. They remember what Jesus had told them.
There are a lot of religious traditions out there that are without the words of God. They are missing the most important part. His Words. God’s Word is all that matters.
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
I once heard a story about a man who put faith in fortune cookies. One day He opened a fortune cooke that read: “You are a poor, pathetic, gullible fool who seeks advice from bakery products.”
He probably ignored that cookie.
This morning we are going to see two great truths from God’ Word that none of us should ignore....
I. Jesus is Our Redeemer
I. Jesus is Our Redeemer
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Through His blood. Last week I preached on the crucifixion and how Jesus shed His blood for us. The blood had to be shed to pay the penalty of our sin. Of your sin, of my sin.
To be redeemed means to have the ransom paid in full. The sacrifice of Christ on the Cross was the ransom that paid our way for salvation.
To be redeemed we must understand the need for redemption
A. The Need for Redemption
A. The Need for Redemption
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
From the beginning there has been sin in the world. Sin is anything that is opposite of God. If you’ve ever lied, If you ever stole that gum at the candy store as a kid. We, you and me both, have all sinned.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
A wage is something we earn for something we did. What we earn for our sin is death and hell.
But that’s not the heart of God…that’s not what God wants for you.
The Heart of Jesus is redemption of all people.
He proved that in His life as He ministered and served others.
There was a woman who was brought to Jesus that had been caught in adultery and was being condemned by the religious elite of her day. Jesus did not condemn her but told them “He who has no sin can cast the first stone.” None of them threw a stone and He told her “Go and sin no more”
Then there is the story of a wee little man named Zacchaeus
Zacchaeus was a tax collector and extortinoer. He collected taxes for the oppressive Roman government and made people pay more so he could line his own pockets.
This little man climbedd a tree to see Jesus and Jesus didn’t condemn Him. Jesus said “Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.” He went and spent time with Him.
There was a blind man named Bartimaeus who Jesus healed of his blindness and told Him “Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he recieved his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”
Then there was a woman Jesus came in contact with at a well. A woman that was a Samaritan. Jesus was a Jew, Jews and Samartians did not get along or interact during this time. Not only was she a Samaritian but she had beeen married 5 times and was currently living with a man that wasn’t her husband.
Jesus didn’t condemn her, Jesus didn’t stone her to death. Jesus said to her in “If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”
Jesus is that living water that we receive by faith.
Just like all of these people Jesus came across in His life, we need forgiveness.
I once heard a story about two brothers who were getting ready to boil eggs. The older brother says to the younger “I”ll give you a dollar if you let me break three of these on your head.” “Promise?” the younger replied. “Promise!” said the older.
The older boy happily proceeded to break two eggs over the brother’s head. The younger brother stiffened up waiting for the third one to crack and get all over him. Nothing happened. The little brother turns to the older and says “When is the third egg coming?” “It’s not” replied the brother. “That would cost me a dollar.”
The older brother wasn’t willing to pay but Christ was willing to pay for us. Notice the payment of redemption.
B. The Payment of Redemption
B. The Payment of Redemption
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Jesus paid for our sin on the cross to redeem us back to Him.
Let me give you quick review of last week and the pain of the cross that Jesus suffered.
They plucked the hair out of his beard, they flogged Him with a cat of nine tails until the flesh broke open from being beaten so tender that it split, they placed a crown of thorns on His head, they drove nails through his wrists and feet, and finally they pierced His side with a sword to make sure He was dead.
He suffered that pain on the Cross to pay for our sin
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.
God loved us so much he sent Jesus to die for us in a grueseome way. The reason that sacrifice can pay for our sins is because it was made by God in the flesh.
When our faith is in the gospel, in knowing what Jesus did for us we have what the Bible calls a blessed Hope
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
With faith in Christ comes faith in God and knowing He is in control. With the things happening around us forcing us to meet in this manner, and a constant barrage of news through social media and the tv we can forget that Jesus is our Redeemer and ultimately He’s got this.
Knowing Jesus is our redeemer is wonderful but the great thing we are celebrating today is that Jesus…IS....Alive!
II. Jesus Is Alive
II. Jesus Is Alive
A. He has Conquered Death
A. He has Conquered Death
18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Do you know anyone that was dead and buried? You can go to their grave and they are still there.
Henry Morris said “ The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth.”
I know many of you may not be venturing out to stores as much as you used to but I wonder if you remember what this is? (HOLD RECEIPT)
The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth.
This is a receipt.
What purpose does a receipt serve? It’s proof of the payment that has been made.
That’s what Jesus’ resurrection is. The receipt. The proof that the payment is made, that death and sin no longer have the power over us.
1 This is a true saying, If a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work.
2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;
3 Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity;
5 (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
8 Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre;
9 Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
10 And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.
11 Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things.
12 Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.
13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.
14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly:
15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Jesus Conquered Death and He offers Eternal Life
B. He offers Eternal Life
B. He offers Eternal Life
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Religion does not give eternal life. Putting a check in the box when you go to church on Sunday does not give eternal life. Being baptized does not give eternal life. The Lord’s Supper or Communion does not give eternal life.
Religion and religious activity become a fashionable substitution for faith
Being religious does not guarentee a relatioshiop with Jesus
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Anyone that believes. That’s you, that’s me.
I heard a story about a stewardess giving her her pre flight instructions on a flight. She got to the oxygen mask and said “ In the event of a sudden loss of cabin pressure, masks will
descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the mask, and pull
it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you,
secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more than one small child, pick your favorite.”
Jesus doesn’t have favorites. He offered salvation to each person equally. By faith.
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
Many of you have heard of Harry Houdini. Harry Houdini died in October of 1926. Houdini is still one of the most famous magicians ever, with his specialty being spectacular escapes. In his shows, they would seal him in coffins—he would escape; they riveted him into a boiler—he escaped; they sewed him up in canvas bags—he escaped; they locked him in a milk can—he escaped; they sealed him in a barrel—he escaped. Once, he even was locked in a maximum-security prison, and Houdini still got out. But then, in October 1926, Death laid his hands upon Harry Houdini and put him in a grave, and he has yet to escape. Houdini told his wife before he died, “If there is any way out, I will find it, and I’ll contact you on the anniversary of my death.” For ten years she kept a light burning over his portrait. At the end of ten years she turned out the light. Death had Harry, and he couldn’t escape.
Jesus conquered death so that you can personally KNOW for sure that you have eternal life!
Slide—Harry Houdini Grave
But then, in October 1926, Death laid his hands upon Harry Houdini and put him in a grave, and he has yet to escape. Houdini told his wife before he died, “If there is any way out, I will find it, and I’ll contact you on the anniversary of my death.” For ten years she kept a light burning over his portrait. At the end of ten years she turned out the light. Death had Harry, and he couldn’t escape.
12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
Have you ever heard the name Richard Liggett?
Richard Liggett served a life sentence for murder. While in prison, He accepted Christ as Saviour. He built the caskets for Billy and Ruth Graham while serving time in Louisiana State Penitentiary, better known as Angola.
Slide—Billy Graham Casket
Every picture of that simple pine box carries the message that no matter who you are or what you've done, God's eternal love and forgiveness are available to all.
The man in the casket and the builder, whose name is engraved on it, lived very different lives on earth, but they are both now in the same place as brothers in Christ.
To be redeemed is to be saved from the penalty of sin. Death and hell.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
We each have sin and we each have the opportunity to choose a Savior.
Have you chosen to trust Jesus as your savior? Do you believe that He died on the cross, was buried in a tomb, and on the third day rose again? Do you believe that Jesus is Alive!?
If your here this morning and want to trust Jesus as your savior I want you to know that’s very easy. If you believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins, was buried in a tomb, and rose from the dead, then you are saved.
You see, one Pastor put it this way, “Salvation is not something you achieve, it is something you believe.”
If you just made the decision to trust Jesus as your Savior I want you to help you confirm that with a prayer.
The words of the prayer mean nothing but what you believe in your heart means everything.
“Dear Jesus, I know I’m a sinner, I believe you came to die on the cross and rose from the dead. I put my faith right now in you and ask you to come into my life and change me from the inside out. Amen.”
PRAY
If you made that decision this morning I want you to make sure you fill out that form on lbcbristol.org/drivein or send us an email at info@lbcbristol.org. I have a gift I want to send you. I want to rejoice in your decision with you. I want to pray for you. I want to talk to you about the next step of faith you can take to deepen your relationship with Jesus.
At this time I want to thank you again for coming out. Our worship team is making their way back out to play and sing a closing chorus and while they sing I’d like to ask you to give your attention to the parking team that has vests on for direction to leave.