Resurrection Sunday

Scripture Readings: Psalm 16

Happy Easter! Or Happy Resurrection Sunday!

I Hope Y’all Don’t Mind if I Rant for a Minute

I’d Say Most People Here Probably Know that “Easter” Began as a Pagan Holiday

But Now, Most Bible-Believing People Think of Jesus On Easter

This is Because Early Christians Had This Pesky Little Habit

They Would Steal Holidays and Festivities From the Pagans…

And Make Them About Jesus

Instead of Worshiping False God’s On These Days…

Christians Would Make Jesus the Object of Worship and Praise

Because the Pagan “Easter” was Around the Same Time…

As the Passover and Jesus’ Resurrection…

The Early Christians Stole it From the Pagans…

And Placed the Emphasis on Jesus’ Resurrection

I Believe it’s Unfortunate that Many Christians Today…

Feel it is Wrong to Place Emphasis On the Resurrection During Easter

They Say, “Christians are Supposed to Celebrate the Resurrection Every Sunday…

Not Just This One!”

But These Same People Have No Problem Celebrating Thanksgiving One Day a Year…

Even Though Christians are Supposed to Be Thankful Everyday

I Agree that Everyday Should Be Lived in Celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus

That Especially Includes its Historical Anniversary

In My Opinion, Christians Shouldn’t Compartmentalize Our Lives

There Shouldn’t Be Aspects of Our Lives that are Purely Secular

I Completely Disagree with the Idea that We Become More Christlike…

When We Turn Off Our Christianity for Certain Activities or on Certain Days of the Year

If You Don’t Want to Put Extra Emphasis on the Birth of Jesus at Christmas Time…

Or Extra Emphasis On the Resurrection of Jesus at Easter…

That’s Fine!

But Stop Causing Division in the Church By Saying People Like Me are Sinning When We Emphasize Jesus

Stop Telling People Like Me that It’s Perfectly Fine to Think About Santa Clause and the Easter Bunny…

But It’s Wrong to Think About Jesus

Today is a Day that Points the World to Jesus

And I Believe Any Day that Points the World to Jesus is a Day Worth Celebrating

End of Rant

Let’s Get into Our Lesson

It Shouldn’t Be a Surprise at this Point to Know that We are Going to Talk About Resurrection

And What Better Place to Go Than the 1st Sermon Preached After Jesus’ Resurrection

Acts 2

Most of the Time When We Turn to Acts 2…

We Probably Think About the Beginning of the Church, Baptism, or the Holy Spirit

That’s Great, Because Acts 2 is Full of Those Things

But Did You Know that the Bulk of Peter’s Sermon was Hyper-Focused On Jesus’ Resurrection?

In Acts 2, Peter is Standing Before Thousands of Jews in Jerusalem

And He is About to Tell Them About the Greatest Event in History

As We Read the Words of Peter:

We Will See the Importance of the Resurrection of Jesus

We Will Learn How We Should Respond to Jesus’ Resurrection

And We Will Learn What Jesus’ Resurrection Means for Those Who Do Respond

Acts 2:22 (NASB95)

“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know—

Peter Begins Addressing the Jewish Crowd By Reminding Them of Something

“You Know What Jesus Did!”

“You Saw the Miracles, Wonders, and Signs”

“And You Know Only God Can Perform Such Things Through a Man”

“You Have Seen the Overwhelming Proof of Who Jesus Truly is!”

Acts 2:23 (NASB95)

this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.

Peter Not Only Reminds Them of the Overwhelming Evidence They Witnessed of God Working Through Jesus…

But He Then Reminds Them that Jesus’ Blood is On Their Hands

Sure, it was All According to God’s Plan…

But They Were the Ones Shouting for an Innocent Man to Be Crucified

An Innocent Man Whom They Know Deep Down was a Man Sent From God

This was a Toe-Stomping Sermon if There’s Ever Been One

Acts 2:24 (NASB95)

“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power.

Now Begins the Theme of the Sermon:

God Raised Jesus From the Dead - Resurrection

“Putting an End to the Agony of Death” = “God Released the Birth Pains of Death”

Through Resurrection, God Caused Jesus to Be Born Out of Death

One of the Most Fascinating Themes in Christianity is the Theme of New Creation

When We Become Christians, We are Born Again

Just Like Jesus, Born Out of Death and into Life

Because Jesus is the Sinless Messiah, it was Not Possible for Death Hold Him

Our Messiah is More Powerful than Death Itself!

Acts 2:25–28 (NASB95)

“For David says of Him, ‘I saw the Lord always in my presence; For He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken.

‘Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; Moreover my flesh also will live in hope;

Because You will not abandon my soul to Hades, Nor allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.

‘You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of gladness with Your presence.’

Peter Then Quotes From Our Scripture Reading - Psalm 16

Psalm 16 is Known as a Psalm of Trust

Its Main Theme is How David Trusts God to Be His Refuge and Salvation From Death

Peter Quotes the Last 4 Verses of the Psalm

In These Last 4 Verses, David Talks About How He Will Live in Hope

Because God Will Not Abandon Him to Hades (Where the Dead Go)

Because God Will Not Allow His Holy One to Decay in the Grave

Because God Has Made Known to Him the Ways of Life

In the Immediate Context, We Would Assume that David was Talking Entirely About Himself

But Peter Sees Something More, Something Grander in David’s Words

Peter Saw Part of David’s Statement as Only Making Sense if Applied to Jesus

And Peter is Going to Use Logic to Prove that to Be the Case

Acts 2:29 (NASB95)

“Brethren, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.

Did You Catch Peter’s Logical Argument?

David’s Hope was Built Upon God Not Abandoning Him in Death and Not Allowing His Body to Decay

But David Died and is Still Dead and His Body Decayed in His Tomb

Peter Goes On:

Acts 2:30–31 (NASB95)

“And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne,

he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that He was neither abandoned to Hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay.

David Remained Dead and His Body Decayed

But He Had Received an Amazing Promise From God

A Promise that One of His Descendants Would Sit On the Throne Forever

Peter Tells Us that David’s Words in Psalm 16 Were a Prophecy About that Coming King

He Would Not Remain Dead and His Body Would Not Decay in the Tomb

The Messiah/Christ Would Be Resurrected From Death

Acts 2:32 (NASB95)

“This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.

Jesus is the Messiah

This Jewish Crowd Knew of His Miracles

They Could Interview Over 500 Witnesses to His Resurrection

And They Could Take a Short Walk to His Tomb and See His Body is Nowhere to Be Found

Jesus is the Messiah

The Proof is Infallible

But the Proof Doesn’t Stop There

Acts 2:33 (NASB95)

“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.-

Not Only Did God Work Miracles Through Jesus, Proving Him to Be the Messiah

God was Currently Working Miracles Through the Apostles Who Were Speaking to This Crowd

This Crowd was Made Up of Jewish People From Many Different Areas and Languages

And the Apostles Were Preaching About Jesus in All of These Different Languages

The Holy Spirit Gave Them the Ability to Speak Languages They Didn’t Previously Know

The Evidence is Overwhelming that God Endorsed Jesus and These Apostles

The Logical Conclusion to Peter’s Argument is:

To Reject Jesus is to Reject God and His Will

To Reject the Apostles’ Message About Jesus is to Reject God and His Will

And Not Only Had These People Rejected Jesus…

They Crucified Him!

But We Can’t Miss Peter’s Closing Point:

“Therefore Having Been Exalted to the Right Hand of God”

Not Only Did Jesus Come Back From the Dead

He Ascended to Heaven

Far Too Often We Undervalue and Overlook Jesus’ Ascension

Jesus’ Death is Wonderful, But Without the Resurrection it’s Worthless

Jesus’ Resurrection is Wonderful, But Without the Ascension it’s Hopeless

Jesus Didn’t Just Do Something for Us 2,000 Years Ago

He is Doing Wonderful Things for Us Right Now

Notice What Paul Wrote to the Roman Christians:

Romans 8:33–34 (NASB95)

Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 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.

Because of Jesus’ Ascension, We are Justified, We are Not Condemned…

We Have an Intercessor in Jesus

John Said it Like this:

1 John 2:1 (NASB95)

My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;

As Christians, We are Still Vulnerable to Temptation and Sin

But, Because of His Ascension, We Have Jesus as Our Advocate

He Intercedes for Us and Pleads Our Case Before God

Acts 2:34–35 (NASB95)

“For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” ’

Peter Quotes Another Psalm of David - Psalm 110

David Spoke of His Lord/Master Being Invited to Sit at God’s Right Hand…

Until He Rules Over All of His Enemies

Peter’s Point is that Jesus is David’s Master Who Sits at the Right Hand of God

And One Day, All of His Enemies Will Be Conquered By Him

This is a Very Chilling Prophesy, Especially When You Take Peter’s Next Words into Account

Acts 2:36 (NASB95)

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.”

“All of You Jews Need to Know…”

“God Has Made This Same Jesus Whom You Killed…”

“Master and King Over All Things”

Think About What Peter Has Just Communicated to This Crowd

“The Proof of Jesus’ Messiah-Ship is Overwhelming

“You Saw the Miracles and You Now See the Empty Tomb”

“Not Only is He Alive, But He is Sitting at the Right Hand of God Almighty”

“He is Lord and Anointed King”

“And He is Going to Conquer All of His Enemies at His Return”

“And Y’all are the Ones that Killed Him!”

This Crowd is Now Forced to Make a Decision:

They Can Submit to the Resurrected King of Heaven and Earth

Or They Can Continue Rejecting Him…

Resulting in Them Being Violently Conquered When He Returns

One Way or Another, All People Will Be in Submission to the King

Some Will Choose to Submit to Him and They Will Be Glorified with Him

Others Will Be Forced to Submit and Then Be Eternally Punished

We Share This Same Choice Today

Submit to the Merciful Master

Or Be Conquered By the Almighty King

Everyone Faces that Choice This Morning Just as They Did in Jerusalem 2,000 Years Ago

Acts 2:37 (NASB95)

Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”

This Message Struck Regret, Sorrow, and Fear in the Hearts of Some in the Crowd

They Wanted to Know…

“Is There Anything We Can Do to Fix This?”

Acts 2:38 (NASB95)

Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Peter’s Answer was Essentially, “Submit to King Jesus”

They/We Do that By Repenting of Sinful Living and Being Immersed By the Authority of King Jesus

This Results in the Forgiveness of Sins and the Gift of the Holy Spirit

Repentance - Turning From Sinful Living to Holy Living…

Is Submission to King Jesus’ Standard of Living

Jesus Lived a Certain Way and He Expects His People to Live a Certain Way

Repentance is Choosing to Live that Certain Way

And Baptism is a Reenacting to Jesus’ Death, Burial, and Resurrection

Just as Jesus was Born Out of Death and into Eternal Life…

So is the Person Who is Baptized in His Name

We are Born Again as a New Creation and a Citizen of Heaven

And We Have the Hope of Resurrection When He Returns From Heaven

Philippians 3:20–21 (NASB95)

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Because Jesus Resurrected to Never Die Again…

All Those Who Submit to and Live for Him…

Will Resurrect to Never Die Again as Well

Will You Submit to Jesus Today?