A Living Hope

Intro-

- Illustration- easter memories, tooth fairy (does the tooth fairy have a speedboat?), Santa Claus- it’s not based in reality- baseless hope

our hope is only as strong as the object we place it in

- Sadly, many religions today place their trust in something that cannot hold their hopes, many place their hopes in some person that is no longer living, or an image made by human hands that has no life.

but in a world that is full of so much uncertainty, so many trials and frustrations, we need a hope that is not just wishful thinking, but a hope that can lift us up when things around us are falling apart. We need a living hope

God offers us a hope that is sure, a hope that is realized because Jesus rose from the dead

As we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection this morning, its important to understand what actually happened that morning, and also what it means for us today.

I. Jesus Christ, Raised from the Dead (the reality of the resurrection)

A. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again- 1 Cor. 15:3-4

B. His resurrection was a fulfillment of prophecy

1. OT

a. Pictures of Jesus’ death and resurrection on the third day in the stories of Jonah and Hosea

b. Foreshadowing and implications of a risen messiah all throughout- Psalms, Daniel, Isaiah

c. This was God’s plan from the beginning- he would accomplish his purposes through Jesus’ death and resurrection

2. Jesus’ own words

a. Matt. 12:40- For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

b. Mark 8:31- Then Jesus began to tell them that the Son of Man must suffer many terrible things and be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but three days later he would rise from the dead.

c. Mark 10:33-34- “Listen,” he said, “we’re going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. They will sentence him to die and hand him over to the Romans. They will mock him, spit on him, flog him with a whip, and kill him, but after three days he will rise again.”

d. Jesus knew his purpose in coming to this world and what it would take to accomplish it

So we understand what the Resurrection is, but that leads to the question...

C. Did it really happen?

- Illustration- This is a question that I ask myself all the time- kids- hard to believe- ring camera

so… did the resurrection really happen?

There are few things in history from this time period that are as well recorded and affirmed as Jesus’ resurrection

1. Jesus’ death

a. The Romans were master executioners

b. His side was pierced- (John 19:34)

2. Jesus’ resurrection

a. Seen by more than 500 people- 1 Cor. 15:5-8

b. Physical body

(1) they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshipped him

(2) He ate and drank with the disciples

(3) Thomas felt his side and hands

c. Reigning in heaven

(1) Rev 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hell.

- The resurrection is not just a historical event- it is not just symbolic- it has real implications for our lives today

II. The Resurrection secures our Living Hope

A. The Resurrection gives us Hope of New Life (v.3)

1. Born again

2. Col. 2:12-13 “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses”

3. This is our salvation- Rom. 4:25 “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.”

B. the Resurrection gives us Hope of a Priceless Inheritance (v. 4)

1. Hebrews 9:15- That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under that first covenant.

We become sons and daughters of God, adopted into his family because of Jesus- we receive all the benefits that relationship includes

C. The Resurrection gives us Hope of Future Glory (v.5)

1. Col. 3:1-4 “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

2. This world is not our home. we have something much greater to look forward to

such great promises that we are given, but as we look around the world today, not everyone has this hope.

III. How can I have this Living Hope?

A. Admit my sin and ask God’s forgiveness (repentance)

1. Romans 3:10-12 “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

2. Rom. 3:23- For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

3. I John 1:8-9 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

B. Believe the Gospel

1. Jesus died for my sin and rose again to make me right with God

2. Rom. 10:9-10 “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.”

3. It starts with belief in your heart- it’s easy to say things, but do we believe it?

C. Place your faith in Jesus

1. What is faith?- “A constant outlook of trust and dependence toward God.”

2. Gal 2:16- Yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.

3. It’s faith in what Jesus has accomplished for us

4. 1 Pet. 1:7

Conclusion

So What?

He is Risen

What it meant for them, it means for us

How will you respond?

from passage in Luke- some those that heard did not believe, they thought it was an idle tale. But Peter ran to the tomb and marveled at what happened.

Where have you placed your hope?

Many people today are drowning in a hopeless world

they are facing overwhelming trials and difficulties with no light at the end of the tunnel

But God offers us a living hope?

v.6- rejoice even in trials

v.3 (NLT)- “Now we live with great expectation”

Invitation