The Resurrection ~ Why Believing Matters
Notes
Transcript
I am so glad that you are with us this morning! There are a lot of places you could be, but you chose to be here this morning. My name is Tom and I’m the Lead Pastor here at Iowa City Church. So, we are here today celebrating Easter. As you can tell, celebrating Easter is a big deal. We are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This event, is everything. If the Christian faith was a game of Jenga, the big stack of blocks where everyone takes a turn pushing out a block, and the person who pushes the one block out that causes the tower to fall is the loser. The resurrection of Jesus, is the one block, that when pushed out causes everything about Christianity to crumble.
A CHARACTER
This morning there are probably three different groups of people represented here.
All in Group – Without a doubt, the tomb is empty, and Jesus is alive!
All in But Have Doubts at Times – You believe, but there are times when you wonder, when you question. This is fair and if we are honest it happens to a lot of people. Facts are facts when it comes to life as we know it. It’s hard to believe in someone coming back to life.
Used to Believe, But Don’t Any More – Here is the story of a lot of people. When you were a kid, your parents or grandparents took you to church, Sunday School. You heard all the stories of the Bible at church, vacation Bible School, catechism, or church camp. When you were a kid you believed. But then doubts crept in during your teenage years and when you went off to college there was this intelligent professor who used science or said a few things, and before you knew it, you didn’t believe anymore. That is where you are now. You used to believe, but you feel like there are enough facts, doubts and other things that have lead you to not believe in the resurrection of Jesus. This group is growing rapidly in our culture. I’ve listened to very influential people tell there story about why they don’t believe anymore. I recently listened to an excerpt of podcaster Joe Rogan. This was his story. Growing up a devout Catholic but then having a really bad experience in the church, and ultimately trying to reconcile his doubts with science and rational thinking. Over three million people listen to his podcast every week. That may describe you too.
HAS A PROBLEM
The question before us this morning is this: Can I believe Jesus rose from the dead? Can a rationale, intellectually honest human being say that they believe Jesus died and was resurrected from the dead. And if so, can they simply defend that belief? So, whether you are an all-in believer in the resurrection or someone who doesn’t believe, I think there is great value here is addressing this problem…so let’s get after it.
AND MEETS A GUIDE
To answer this question, we are going to use history. By a show of hands, how many of you here are history buffs? You’re the person when your family goes on vacation to a historic place, you read every word on the plaque! Your kids are up a head, trying to get through the museum, but you are reading everything. I love history too, maybe not to that extreme, but I love history.
This morning, I’m not starting with the Bible. We will get to the Bible in just a few minutes. I just want to point out how historical facts help engage our minds in believing in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Here is what history tells us to be certain. This is all information you can look up on Google. It’s all right there. History tells us:
1. Jesus lived. He’s not like Santa Clause or the Easter Bunny. Jesus really lived in first century Palestine.
2. Jesus was executed on a Roman cross, in Jerusalem 32/33 A.D. A body was never found.
3. All scholars agree that Saul of Tarsus who later became the Apostle Paul really lived between 5-67 A.D.
4. All scholars agree on the apostle Paul’s authorship of 7 letters in the New Testament. Again, remember history is our guide. All scholars attribute 7 New Testament letters to the apostle Paul. (Romans, 1 & 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, 1 Thessalonians, and Philemon.)
To be clear, there is much more I could say about historical facts, and what we know for certain. We just don’t have the time. So for today, here are the top four historical facts that all scholars agree on. This is a good reminder that a follower of Jesus is using their brain. We want to think about the facts and discover the truth, just like any other person.
If you have a Bible, or a device, we are going to look at one of the letters the apostle Paul wrote, that all scholars agree that he wrote. 1 Corinthians was written by Paul on about 53 A.D. That is twenty years after the death of Jesus on the cross. Paul is writing to a church he established in the ancient city of Corinth.
WHO GIVES THEM A PLAN
Here is what Paul writes.
1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
Paul here is reminding the Christians in the church about the gospel or the Good News he had taught them. This is the Good News that had changed their lives and saved them…if they continued to believe it and live it. What is the Gospel or Good News? The Good News is that God has engaged the world to save it. He is doing this through his Son Jesus who is establishing his Kingdom here on earth.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
Here Paul gives the basic power point principles of the Gospel. Remember, when he says “according to the Scriptures” there was no Bible around. The Bible did not exist. What existed was what we know as the Old Testament. Paul says this because prophets like Isaiah point to Jesus and his death and resurrection. What you have in these two verses is the Historical Message that Paul Taught. This is the summary; elevator speech Paul gave when he met people. Paul says that these two power point principles are of first importance because they are anchors to the Christian faith: Jesus died for our sins and he was raised back to life on the third day.
This message was so powerful that by the 60 A.D. the entire region of Asia Minor (Turkey) had heard this message. There were churches all over the Roman Empire and in Rome itself. Think about it, in less than 30 years of his death, this message of Jesus had begun to transform the Roman Empire. Was it amazing marketing principles? Was it a huge amount of money? Was the powerful influence of a country or king? Or was it true? That is what you must decide. That is the message. Now Paul gives 515 reasons why this is a message worth believing.
5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
Paul says that you can fact check him regarding this basic message. He lists people who saw Jesus dead and then saw him alive. Cephas is Peter, then one who denied Jesus. Then all 12 of the apostles. That doesn’t include Judas Iscariot but does include Matthias who replaced Judas. Paul states that there was an event where 500 people saw Jesus alive. He is essentially saying, “If you don’t believe me then you can ask people from this group of 500, even though some of them have fallen asleep (died).”
Paul then finishes with a couple of interesting addition to this list of witnesses of the resurrected Jesus. He mentions James. This is Jesus’ brother. What makes this so interesting is that James did not believe that Jesus was the Christ, until after the death and resurrection of his brother. James went on to help lead the church in Jerusalem, ultimately dying because of his faith in Jesus. Next Sunday we are going to begin a sermon series through the New Testament book James wrote about how to practical live out a life of following Jesus, don’t miss it…it’s going to be good!
Then here is the last one, Paul’s own story. He puts himself at the bottom of the list because he was embarrassed about the fact he used to persecute the followers of Jesus. Yes, that’s right. Paul was opposed to the very message and movement he was now representing. He left a position of prestige, wealth and power to join this humble movement of Jesus followers. He left a life of comfort to receive death threats, be beaten up, thrown into prison on multiple occasions, and be ship wrecked and left for dead. Why? Because according to Paul, the resurrected Jesus appeared to him. So, history tells us these two truths of Christianity: Message – Jesus died for our sins and was resurrected from the dead. Witnesses – 514 to this message.
Now, I realize that what history gives us doesn’t make it an open and shut case. This information doesn’t make it a slam dunk. I could go on and on with more historical information and continue to pile it on the table.
Here is the deal: Faith in Jesus requires both your head and your heart. Everything we believe in still requires a certain level of trust…of faith. I can intellectually talk about how I know the brakes on my car are going to stop me when I press on them. I can have all the information, but I still must trust that they will do their job…I still must have faith. I can talk about all the reasons why we can know the Jesus died and was resurrected from the dead, but in your heart, you still must decide and believe. So aside from the historical facts, how does the resurrection of Jesus speak to us spiritually? How does it impact my heart?
THAT ENDS IN A SUCCESS
How does the death and resurrection of Jesus change me? How does it impact my life? Why does it matter in my everyday life? The apostle Paul gives three reasons why Jesus impacts our lives if we choose to believe in him.
1. Jesus’ Death Atones For the Sin of the World.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
Whether we want to call them sins or not, we all carry around the guilt, shame, embarrassment or consequences of our choices…our actions. We even carry around the guilt, shame and hurt of what others have done to us. This world that we live is a convoluted mess of pride, hurt, guilt and shame. The atoning death of Jesus on the cross wipes the slate clean and gives us a starting point, a fresh start, a confidence to move forward knowing that what we have done, and what we will continue to struggle with will not define us…will not condemn us. The price has been paid. Is Jesus worth believing in?
2. The Resurrected Jesus Offers a New Way To Live Life.
Why do you exist? What is your purpose? What are you supposed to be doing with your life? Does anything you do even matter? Because Jesus is alive, he gives us answers to all of those questions. The apostle Paul, in one of his letters wrote these words.
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NIV)
15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Therefore, we believe that the best way to live life is following Jesus. He died for our sins and rose again, and he even claims to be the way, the truth and the life. Is King Jesus worth believing in?
3. Death is not the end.
What happens when I die? Everyone talks about dying and going somewhere, heaven. How do we know? How do we even know there is some future for any of us? How do we know that there is life after death? A few verses down in 1 Corinthians 15 the apostle Paul address that exact issue.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
One of the words the early Christians used for death was sleep. When someone goes to sleep we know what? We know that they will wake up. Paul states that because Jesus died and was resurrected from the dead, he is confident that death was not the end and in fact everyone who is in Christ will be resurrected from the dead as well. They are made alive because of the resurrected Jesus. This is one of the most remarkable things about these early Christians. History tells us that they were persecuted, harassed, beat up, threatened and killed…but it never stopped their commitment to this simple message: Jesus died for our sins and came back to life. Why is that? You can’t scare people who don’t fear death.
Is Jesus worth believing in?
AND CALLS THEM TO ACTION
Do you already believe in Jesus? Then live a life that reflects our resurrected King! Live with boldness and confidence. Live a life on mission with Jesus, by loving your neighbors, giving generously, and serving sacrificially. Why? Because Jesus is alive.
Maybe you have waivered in your devotion to Jesus, or maybe you have never believed in Jesus? You’ve never consider him someone worth devoting your life to? Let me ask you a question: What would happen to your life if you believed in the resurrected Jesus?
Tim Keller tells the following story about the power of Christ's resurrection:
A minister was in Italy, and there he saw the grave of a man who had died centuries before who was an unbeliever and completely against Christianity, but a little afraid of it too. So the man had a huge stone slab put over his grave so he would not have to be raised from the dead in case there is a resurrection from the dead. He had insignia put all over the slab saying, "I do not want to be raised from the dead. I don't believe in it." Evidently, when he was buried, an acorn must have fallen into the grave. So a hundred years later the acorn had grown up through the grave and split that slab. It was now a tall towering oak tree. The minister looked at it and asked, "If an acorn, which has power of biological life in it, can split a slab of that magnitude, what can the acorn of God's resurrection power do in a person's life?"
Keller comments:
The minute you decide to receive Jesus as Savior and Lord, the power of the Holy Spirit comes into your life. It's the power of the resurrection—the same thing that raised Jesus from the dead …. Think of the things you see as immovable slabs in your life—your bitterness, your insecurity, your fears, your self-doubts. Those things can be split and rolled off. The more you know him, the more you grow into the power of the resurrection.
I began today by asking this question: Can I believe Jesus rose from the dead?
Not only can you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, if you choose believe in him, the same power that raised Jesus can change your life forever.