Easter Sermon 2021

Intro

What is this day all about? Why does the Church around the world make such a big deal about this day?

Me

I grew up thinking this day we went to church to talk about Jesus coming alive again, then on to the egg hunt and eating candy, followed by roast, potatoes, and carrots, topped off with brown gravy.

The big deal as far as I was concerned was the death of Jesus!

He died to forgive me of my sins.

The resurrection of Jesus was just a nice way for God to end the story.

You

Maybe some of you are like me -

Death of JC most important / eggs / family / food /

Resurrection - nice end to the story.

So why has the Church of Jesus from its conception made this day, the grand celebration?

Isn’t eggs, candy, and family enough?

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God’s Word

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 NIV

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

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The Resurrection of Jesus Changes Everything!

Today I want to share with you

3 WAYS THE RESURRECTION CHANGES EVERYTHING!

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THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS OFFERS FREEDOM FROM SIN.

1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Forgiveness is not enough - We need to be set free not just forgiven.

Through the resurrection of Jesus we are empowered to leave the chains of sin.

Romans 6:1–5 NIV

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.

After the resurrection Jesus poured out His Holy Spirit on to the People of God.

He continues to pour out His Spirit today.

That makes you living, breathing, walking Temples of God’s Spirit.

And the fruit or the work of the Spirit in the lives of those in Christ is

1 Corinthians 6:19 NIV

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Galatians 5:22–24 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

The resurrection of Jesus Offers us FREEDOM from the slavery of sin.

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THE RESURRECTION OFFERS LIFE AFTER, LIFE AFTER DEATH!

We are not talking about floating spirits with harps.

We are not talking about becoming angels.

The resurrection of Jesus guarantees those in Jesus will resurrect from the dead in a physical body like Jesus.

John 6:40 NIV

For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

Philippians 3:20–21 NIV

But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

Romans 8:21–23 NASB95

that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Physical, bodily resurrection

No sin - no death

Hug, run, play, swim --- Throw a baseball with your brothers and dad.

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THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS GUARANTEES A PHYSICAL RESURRECTION OF EARTH!

Romans 8:20–23 NASB95

For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.

Not only is God setting humanity free from sin and death but He will set free our earth as well.

Paul describes the world as being in labor with the new world - an uncorrupted world.

Revelation 21:1–4 NIV

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 22:3 NASB95

There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;

Heaven and Earth will no longer be divided

The vail will be torn

Earth will become the Temple of God

New bodies, resurrected dead, new earth filled with God’s presence.

The hope of Glory

Is the hope of resurrection To be glorified like Jesus To even have Jesus’s glorified body Prepared for the new creation

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The end of our enslavement to sin

The end of death

The end of earths enslavement to corruption and decay.

This is the day Death was arrested!

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Call the worship team up.

Let me end today by reading a segment of an ancient sermon by St. John Chrysostom

Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches of loving-kindness. let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished. It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory? Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ, being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.