Easter A Brave New World

Now Showing…Life Lessons from a Killer Virus Easter- A Brave New World in 2020 (Part1) 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 Global Coronavirus cases 1,777,515 Global Deaths 108,862 US Deaths 18,559 Death and the grave are never satisfied Proverbs 27:20a (CEV) In our text this morning, Paul makes it clear: our future is determined by His past and shaped by our present Four questions to address: The past: What happened to change the world that resurrection day? How did the first Christians view the resurrection? The future: What is the ultimate future look like for us? The present: How then should we live today in light of His past and the ultimate future? What happened to change the world that resurrection day? The first creation By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Gen.3:19 The new creation began in the midst of the old creation Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. Jn.19:41-42 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. I Cor.15:21-23 Through the cross God was ending the old, and through the resurrection He was creating the new Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. II Cor.5:17 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For 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. II Cor.4:3-6 When you see Jesus you see not only the (glory) face of God, but also the face (glory) of true humanity as intended Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven (Jesus). I Cor.15:49 How did the first Christians view the resurrection? 1. The fear of death is removed because death is NOT final For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. How did the first Christians view the resurrection? 1. The fear of death is removed because death is NOT final For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. Heb.2:5-10 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Heb.2:14-15 Every day the coronavirus reminds us that this present reality is NOT the way it’s suppose to be But the fear of death is removed because it is NOT final. Jesus through His death and resurrection is bringing many sons to glory 2. They knew that sin has been forgiven because death was defeated And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Luke 22:34 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. I Cor.15:17 3. The prince of this world was defeated and the kingdom of God had been launched Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” Jn.12:31-32 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Heb.2:14-15 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. John 8:44 3. The prince of this world is defeated and the kingdom of God has been launched Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” Jn.18:36-37 Standing up Against Caesar The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.” When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.” Jn.19:7-11 ‘The "kingdom" of God and "gospel" are usually thought of as terms unique to Christianity. And who else but Jesus was called not only "the son of God" but also "Lord" and "Savior"? In fact, say biblical experts, these terms and concepts were already familiar to residents of the Roman Empire who knew them as references to the authority and divinity of the emperors, beginning notably with Caesar Augustus before the dawn of the first century… …Christians gave secular words associated with the empire a new meaning. The Greek word parousia referred to the triumphant arrivals of emperors into cities. In churches it meant the expected return, or second coming, of the heavenly exalted Christ. Churches, literally "assemblies," were the Christian counterparts to the Roman ekklesiai where Caesar was celebrated, according to Horsley, a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Boston. "Caesar was the 'Savior' who had brought 'salvation' to the whole world.” In that context, the Christmas passage in the Gospel of Luke has a subversive tone, says Horsley. Angels bring "good news" of joy "to all the people," because of the birth of a "Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord." A heavenly multitude joins the angels in proclaiming "on earth peace among those whom he favors." For the Romans, peace was the militarily imposed Pax Romana, and it was already guaranteed by Rome.” Citation: John Dart, " Up Against Caesar," SBL Forum , n.p. [cited April 2005]. Online:http://sblsite.org/Article.aspx?ArticleID=388 “Death is the last weapon of the tyrant (Rome or the devil), and the point of the resurrection, despite much misunderstanding, is that death has been defeated. Resurrection is not the redescription of death; it is its overthrow and, with that, the overthrow of those whose power depends on it.” N T Wright From Surprised by Hope “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:19-21, 25-27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world (Rome) gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Jn.14:27 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, Rom.1:1-6 The early church was persecuted first by the Jews, and then by Rome because they saw it as a threat to their kingdom (rule) and their means of ruling (violence/death) The crucifixion and resurrection was the announcement of the good news of Godsin is forgiven, death is defeated and the world has new King He (God) has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Col.1:13-14 Lifeway Christian Bookstore reported a 62% increase in Bible sales this past week There has also been a 72% increase in the sale of guns Easter is a reminder that the world we are in today is not the work of God. Death is not the end and violence is not the solution His work is to recreate, to restore the creation to fulfill His original purpose (God) making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. Ephesians 1:9-10 Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven Mt.6:10 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:3-5a Next week: The future: What is the ultimate future look like for us? The present: How then should we live today in light of His past and the ultimate future?