Significance of the Resurrection
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Stir up! Be encouraged, be reminded!
Stir up! Be encouraged, be reminded!
Timothy was told to stir up the gift in him (2Tim1:6) to know what God has given him. For before him was an important task, teach others so they can teach others (2Tim2:2). So endure hardship (2Tim2:3). Then when we ended last week:
7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
Timothy was about to be given a great reminder to encourage him (2Tim2:8)
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,
A reminder that is central to the Christian faith
An inspiration to the Christian to help them endure and persevere and to encourage continued belief
The significance of the resurrection is just as vital today to the Christian as it was to the Christian then and we are going to look at some reasons why.
Our aim today is to be reminded, to be encouraged and to be sure what and why we believe what we do when it comes to the resurrection.
Here is what is being posed before you this morning.
Think about if Jesus was not raised from the dead
Think about the results for those who believe Jesus was raised from the dead.
If Jesus had not been resurrected
If Jesus had not been resurrected
We are considering the implications of the resurrection, or if there were not the resurrection, so we start with as if there was no resurrection from the dead for Jesus the impact it would have.
The preaching of God’s word would be in vain (1Cor15:14)
Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ then the preaching by the apostles of the significance of it would be in vain. In fact it would be preaching a lie.
14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
Our faith would be in vain (1Cor15:14)
And if preaching was in vain, and a lie, then our faith would be a lie too, it would be empty, meaningless, useless.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
The apostles would be false witnesses (1Cor15:15; Act2:32; Act10:39-41)
Look what Paul has to say about being false witnesses
15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
For the apostles from the revelation given on Pentecost forward had clearly testified, swore that Jesus was raised from the dead
32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that all of us are witnesses.
The apostles would all be liars when they said this.
39 “We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. 40 “God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible,
41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead.
Jesus was seen by the apostles, by the 500 at one time (1Cor15:6)
6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;
Would someone be willing to be tortured, killed for a lie? If it were not true would not there be record of rebuttal to the claim?
We, well, we would still be stuck in our sins (1Cor15:16-17)
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
(expand on this)
There would be no eternal life, and those who died before would not have eternal life (1Cor15:18)
Think about this
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
There would be no eternal life, just death. as some believe, but we have hope, that hope is in Jesus Christ and in the resurrection from the dead.
People would have put their faith in a false Messiah, there would be no acceptable atonement for sins.
They would still be in their sins and condemned to hell because of them.
Finally, we would be a most pitied people (1Cor15:19)
Look at how Paul finishes the thought
19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
Most pitied for the walked with Jesus
Most pitied for they were taught by Jesus
Most pitied for they believed Jesus
Most pitied for they proclaimed Jesus
Most pitied for they were willing to endure suffering and even death because of Jesus, because of a lie if there was no resurrection.
(Transition) while Paul is very logical in the negative, let’s look at the hope given by Paul, Jesus, Peter and the words of Luke.
Hope for those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus
Hope for those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus
Hope is the confidence assurance of good to come, but this is hope of something that happened that promises something that is and something to come, let’s look together.
The resurrection corroborates our justification (Rom4:24-25; Mt26:28; Rom8:33-34)
24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
He was raised because of our justification!
28 for this is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for forgiveness of sins.
Justified for the forgiveness of our sins by the blood that was shed on the cross, and proven by the resurrection!
Jesus claimed that His blood would be of the new covenant and would be sufficient and it was, it is!
This was further proven as acceptable sacrifice by God
33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
By God raising Jesus from the dead by the power of the Spirit, it justifies the believer in the resurrection of the dead, for Jesus lives to intercede for us now from the right hand of God.
The resurrection demonstrates God’s power (Eph1:18-20; Col2:11-12; Php2:12-13, 4:13; Eph3:20, 6:10)
The power of God, the greatness of God as proclaimed by Paul, can be a great motivating factor for us.
18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
(stop, slow down) - Emphasis you will know the hope of your calling, the riches of the glory, the surpassing greatness of His power, all because He was raised from the dead!
The power that raised us
11 and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; 12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.
All because He was raised from the dead, so too we may be raised up through Him!
As if that power were not enough because of the resurrection, the power keeps at work in the believer
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
It is God who is at work in you. And it is purposed work, to be able to do all things (which in Paul’s case in Php4 was to be content in all circumstances
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
That power that is work in you because of Jesus resurrection, that brought about your resurrection by faith and obedience is able to, well, hold on, how about we just look to the scripture?
20 Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us,
Able to do far more abundantly!
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
So, be strong! Trust His work, His power, His strength that work in you and through you!
The resurrection provides hope regarding our own resurrection (1Pt1:3-5; 1The4:13-14)
A living hope, and I have to give scripture on this, that is only made possible by His resurrection
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Paul put it like this
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
His resurrection brings about ours! By faith!
The resurrection does demand our faith, our loyalty to Jesus (Rom14:9; Act2:32-36; Eph1:20-23; Rom14:7-8; 2Cor5:15)
He died, he rose again so He would be Lord of the livign and the dead (Rom14:9)
He rose and was exalted, so we could believe
32 “This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. 33 “Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
34 “For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’
36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”
(stop, slow down, emphasis this, Jesus as Lord and Christ!)
All so that we may be the church, the body of believers
20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
Head over all things to the church by the resurrection from the dead! Faith, God demands our faith, our loyalty.
7 For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 8 for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.
our live, and our service belong to Him for we belong to Him, for we were once separated but now are adopted, it is no longer we that life, it is He that lives in us and through us to live and to serve Him.
15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.
(invitation slide: Do you believe in the resurrection?)
(Below scriptures are not on the screen; stay on the invitation slide)
We have spoken collectively about the significance of the resurrection, but it has to come all the way down to personally. Your eternal destination, your eternal hope is impacted on what you believe about the resurrection. paul said
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
drive home the invitation
(Song) (Prayer) (Exit)