Just know you can't do it, but He did!

Intro:

-Not a defense for the resurrection since it hasn’t been disproven

-Easter is a celebration of new life, new creation, and victory! Victory is what is needed but you just can’t do it!

-We love, admire, and praise hard work, grit, determination, etc.

-Rocky, Rudy, and Invincible

-Then we will see why Christianity is so hard for people and that we don’t live vicariously through someone

Structure of our morning

Just know we have the same desire and problem

Just know you can’t do it

Just know He did it

Just know we have the same desire and problem! (54, 56)

Our desire is to live for ever and have immortality

I have not been to the funeral where people say they are at a worse place of just rotting in the ground for eternity

Troy quote when he talks with his men

We don’t long for death because of God’s image who created us which leads to our problem we all have

56

Death is the bi-product of sin it is the full penalty effect of sin and what it does much like a tree is the effect of a seed planted in the ground (greed, jealously, bitterness, greed)

Every funeral and cemetery reminds us of the fall and our bodies failing/aging

We sin because we are sinners by nature (pushing dolls down the stairs)

We know we are sinners by nature and the law of God exposes what we already know we are (the law exposed what we already knew to be true—we know what beauty is and are pulled toward it)

Sin destroys relationships and primarily the relationship we need with God

Sin is the problem that leads to death so how do we fix it?

We need a few things: a just God, a righteous payment, and an eternal payment.

Just know you can’t do it!

We need an infinite payment since sin’s consequence is eternal. We need a perfect payment to be accepted by a perfect God and we need that perfection given to us. Do we have any of this?

So here lies our desire and our problem that you and I just can’t fix

But he did it! 57

This is arguably one of the most important buts in the Bible

This greek word means freely gives and all thanks is to God

For the victory! Definite not indefinite article!

His victory actually belongs to us. Like a title from the bank for your home or car but even more this belongs to us!

Using the house analogy if the bank freely gave it or job would be to live in it and that is our job with Christ victory! Live like victors!

Christ cannot be bound by death and neither can we be bound by sin or failures! Our sin has a home—the grave! Christ victory and righteousness also has a home—us!

You will either be defined by what was taken into the tomb or the man who walked out of it and his victory! Why am I looking in the tomb that doesn’t belong to me and doesn’t define me…saint does!

Did Christ ever fail with any sin? Did he ever commit lust? Did he ever covet? Did he ever get drunk or steal? Was he ever addicted to anything? No! He was victorious over all these things and God freely gives all of the victory to you! On your worst day you are seen as victorious because it’s about the his victory, the victory he gave and made yours.

The enemy can say “what a screw up” and I can say I know but I know who wasn’t a screw up and who gave me the fullness of it: God by his grace through faith!

You might think you need something else in life but what you need is to believe and rest in His victory!

Cool but what does all of this mean? 55

We can taunt death!

This gives you three things: Identity, purpose, and healing!

Identity—the problem with seeking an identity in anything other than Christ leads to fear, depression, and burnout. Movie phrases: the only thing that matter is what you do. Your actions define you.

Purpose—Your purpose in life is not driven from what you can accomplish but what’s been accomplished for you and living out of it where ever your find yourself.

Healing—The love of God can provide a healing that is just as powerful if not more powerful than healing a sickness or disease. The gospel and Christ love heals our deepest wounds and insecurities not just knowledge or more theology. Story of Larry!

One pastor and professor tells a story of a young man who attended college where he taught.

By all of societies standards Larry would be called ugly. He was short, extremely obese, had bad acne and a severe lisp. “In all my days I had never met someone with such low self esteem. He told me that when he looked in the mirror everyday he actually spat on it. No campus girl would date him and no fraternity wanted him as a pledge. I won’t forget the day he walked into my office and said, “ah you are a new face on campus. Well my name is Larry Malaney and I’m athgnostic. I replied congratulations and if you ever become atheist let me know so I can buy you dinner and celebrate your conversion. That winter Larry left college in Ohio and headed home for Christmas in Providence, Rhode Island. Larry’s father was a typical lace-curtain Irishman instead of a shanty Irishman which means you don’t come to the table without a suit on, a dark pin stripe one typically. That first evening Larry showed up to the table like a shanty Irishman smelling like a billy goat. Larry and his father had their usual squabble over dinner and over the days ahead but it came time for Larry to leave the next day and head back to Ohio. His father said, I’ll ride the bus with you to the airport so he did. That next morning Larry and his dad got off the bus to see some of the men who worked at the same factory as Larry’s dad. They started making fun of Larry. Oink oink oink look at that fat pig they said. I would hide him in the basement if that was my kid. Another said if that was my kid he would be out the door so fast. Another said, give us your best oink and the men relentlessly continued. Larry came back and told me this story but he told me what his father did right then and there in that moment. He bent over, embraced me, gave me a kiss and said, “Larry, if your mother and I lived 200 years that wouldn’t be long enough to thank God for the gift he gave us in you. I am so proud that you are my son.” Larry starting dating a girl and became president of a fraternity. His life changed and what changed it? Love did! Larry put his faith and trust in Jesus Christ where he found the ultimate love and approval he needed. No longer did he walk with his head down or live in the fox hole because love changed his life.

Verses! Back to Micky and Rocky!

When the only eyes and voice that matter look and see victorious perfection and utter my child then healing takes place! When the One your soul was created for looks upon you and says I love you healing takes place!

*All the love in the world is a sliver compared to God

*26k miles around and 51 hrs—do that 100 times and it’s a-lot do it 10,000 times and its a-lot more but a number is still attached to it unlike God’s love for his children!

This is why it’s hard but beautiful