What Does Christ’s Resurrection Mean To Me? (p2)
What does Christ’s resurrection mean to me? Amen. And that goes right along with the Sunday school lesson this morning, what dad was teaching on heaven. We have a blessed hope because Jesus rose from the grave. But there’s gonna also there is application to that, what that means for me and you, because he rose from the grave. Chapter 15, verse one. It says moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received and wherein you stand by which also ye are saved if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless you have believed in vain. And for I have delivered, for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received. How that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. That’s the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the death, burial and resurrection of our Savior, and that he was seen of seafood and of the twelve after that, he was seen of above 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain under this present. But some are falling asleep here. The apostle Paul has given proofs of the Lord’s resurrection. Listen. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the anchor point of our faith. If Jesus had not raised from the grave, we have nothing to base our faith upon. But he did rise from the grave. He’s going to go through this and explain some of those things, why we have that hope, why we have that reason. But Lou back with me before we get too far down the road. Verse number three for I deliver it on to you. First of all, that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins. Christ’s death was an actual death. His body literally his heart quit breathing, his lungs quit breathing. His body died. Some people claim that he did not die, but if he had not died, the sacrifice for our sins would not be complete. He his body died on the cross of Calvary. His body was taken down and laid in a borrowed tomb and stone was rolled away. And three days later he was alive. He rose again, and he seated at the Father’s right hand in a glorified body. That body that died, that was buried has been transformed and changed, and the glorified body is now seated in heaven at the Father’s right hand. So he died. His death was sacrificial for our sins, for your sins and my sins. It was also a scriptural death prophecy was. But all the Old Testament looked forward to the Lord Jesus Christ to the cross. We look back to the cross, but the Old Testament prophesied of that day remember when Abraham took Issa, his only son Isaac, and was going to sacrifice him at God’s command upon Mount Mariah? That was a picture of Jesus death on the cross of Calvary. Then he goes through the proof of the resurrection. First he says that he was buried and he rose again the third day. According to the Scriptures, if we had no other proof than the Scriptures, that would be sufficient. We had the Bible. We have God’s word on it. Then he says he was seen of seafood. Then of the twelve. After that he was seen of above 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained in this present. But some are falling asleep. It may have been that while Paul was writing this letter, some of these Corinthians and some of those that had visited that area knew some of these men that had seen Jesus. After that, he was seen of James and of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. He’s given his own personal testimony that he saw the risen Lord. He said verse number nine the least of all the apostles. I am not meet to be called an apostle because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And all everyone in here this morning could say just by the grace of God are we what we are by his grace. And his grace which was bestowed upon Me was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they are, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with Me. Therefore, whether it were I or they. So we preached, and so you believed. Now Christ be preached that he rose from the dead. You see that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is essential to the Gospel message. When we take the Gospel message to a lost and dying world, we tell them that Jesus died for your sins, but he didn’t stay dead. We don’t have a dead Savior. We have a risen and living Savior who is coming again. So the resurrection is essential to the Gospel message. It’s the anchor point of our faith that gives us evidence that Jesus is who he says he is, that he is God in the flesh. It points to Jesus death on the cross being sufficient for the payment of my sins. The Father was approved and accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He completes the work of salvation. When Jesus said, It is finished, and he bowed his head and he gave up the Ghost, the work of salvation was complete, and we know it complete because of his resurrection. We have proof of that. So there’s nothing that I can bring to the table except my faith in Him. It’s his work. It’s his righteousness that he puts on my account. It’s not of works. Let’s seem most now, if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead. How say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? There were some that would say there is no resurrection of the dead. And he’s going to go into some things, some consequences that happen if there is no resurrection from the dead, well, number one, if there is no resurrection from the dead, verse number 13. But if there be no resurrection from the dead, then is Christ not risen? If there is no resurrection from the grave, then Christ is not risen. And here’s the consequence of that. If Christ be not risen, then there’s our preaching vain. And your faith is also vain. Yeah. And we have found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God, and he raised up Christ, whom he raised not up. If so, be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised? And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain, you’re getting your sins. Not only is Christ not raised if there’s no resurrection, then the very fact that we’ve got our sins forgiven, that’s not true either. The very fundamental fact of our Christian faith rests upon the resurrection of Jesus Christ. His death on the cross, being payment for our sins, is found to be false if Jesus did not rise from the grave, and also we have no hope for those that have gone on before us if Jesus did not rise from the grave. But we’ve got the answer to that. It’s going to keep on going, then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead? He said that’s what happens when you deny that the fact of a resurrection. But we don’t have to worry about that, because Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slipped. We mentioned that the other, I think, a week ago, he’s the first fruits. That means more are to follow, more are to come. He’s the beginning. There’s more that’s coming after. For by, since, for since by a man came death, by a man came also the resurrection of the dead. Here’s a few truths concerning his resurrection. For as an Adam all die, all of us are in Adam. We’re made after his likeness. God created Adam. God took a rib out of Adam and made Eve. And we all have come from Adam and Eve. We’ve come from Noah, his wife, and those three. Everybody else perished in the flood, but we trace our lineage back far enough. We’re all related right to Adam and Eve. And in Adam we have his likeness, the likeness of sinful, nature fallen man. And we have the death sentence on our life. Because look at what verse 22 says for as an Adam all die, for sense, by man came death. And in verse 22, as an Adam all die, every one of us. As dad mentioned this morning, in Sunday school are dying physically in the body that we live now. Our bodies are decaying, they are digesting, they are dying because we live in this fallen world. So by man, by Adam came death. But look what verse number 21 says. By man came also the resurrection of the dead. By Jesus Christ the Godman. God who became man. See, he wasn’t born after in the same manner that you and I are born into this world. He was born of a virgin, conceived in the womb by the Holy Ghost of God. He had the blood of God flowing through his veins. Presentam all die. Even. So in Christ shall all be made alive. So in Adam we’re all going to die. But in Christ, those that put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ can be made alive. Then every man in his own order, christ, the first troops afterward, they that are Christ at his coming, there’s an order to the resurrection. What’s the saying? Once born, you’ll die twice. If you’ve been born twice, you only die once, right? You’ve been born once with a physical birth, then you’ve been born in sin, with a sinful nature, under the death sentence that Adam has passed upon all of his generation, of all the human race. Because we’ve all sinned against God. We are sinners by birth, we’re sinners by choice, we commit sin because we are sinners. That’s in our makeup. But Jesus said, if you’ll come to me, all that come to me will have life. I can give you life, eternal life. And so you may die physically. There’s coming a group of people who we may talk about later, who won’t experience death. They’ll just be translated, be changed, transformed in a moment, a twinkle of an eye. But most will have experience of physical death. But if they’ve been born again by the Spirit of God, they’re no longer just in Adam, they’re also in Christ. They’ve been given life eternal. And that soul and that spirit will never die. Be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Then cometh the end. But there’s an order. First Jesus Christ. The first fruits. Afterward, they that are Christ that is coming, that’s you and Me, who trusted in Him for salvation, then come at the end, when he shall deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. So already we’ve talked about his resurrection. We’ve talked about his resurrection being passed. And as a promise for me, when I die, either go by the grave or the rapture happens, that my body will be resurrected. I’ll be with Him, but my body will be resurrected, because he’s been resurrected. And he’s the first fruits, but also he is returning. He is coming again. We sang about that this morning. When he comes, he’s bringing our loved ones that have departed, trusting in christ. He’s bringing them with him, and we’ll meet them in the air, so shall we ever be with the Lord, the Bible says, but he’s also going to rule and reign on this earth for a thousand years. And look at who and what he puts under subjection puts in subjection to him. Late in verse 24. He shall put down all rule and all authority and power. There may be people that in power and authority now that think they can outlaw the things of God, or they’re passing laws now that are contradicting the word of God. They’re saying it’s okay for two men to be married or two women to be married, and that violates the Scriptures. God says it’s an abomination in the sight of God that marriage is between one man and one woman. And God seals. That marriage. What God has joined together, let no man put asunder. So regardless of what they say in Charleston or DC. And your senators, not mine, your senators are voting for that bill in the Senate. Just thought you’d like to know. But God says that’s abomination in his sight, that’s in violation to the word of God. And there are other laws that they try to pass that are in violation to God’s law. God’s word. But one of these days, all rule, all authority, all power is going to fall under the authority of Jesus Christ. He’s going to rule and reign for a thousand years. And his word will be long. There will be peace finally on this earth. But then look what happens. There’s something else that happens, for he must reign till he had to put all enemies under his feet. The devil himself is going to be put under his feet. The devil himself will not be able to bring up any more accusations one of these days. But then, finally, the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. We’ve seen that recently, haven’t we? All of us have seen that recently. With Sister Rachel passing. And her body dies. She’s with the Lord. She’s present with the Lord. One of these days, that enemy is going to be destroyed. He’s already a defeated foe. Jesus took the sting of death when he resurrected from the grave. So because of his resurrection, I don’t have to fear death. I can look forward to what’s in store for me, because I know if my body were to die, I’d be absent from the body, present with the Lord immediately. I’d be with him. Our loved ones, it gives us hope to see them again. Praise. Put all things under his feet. Verse 27 but when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifested he is accepted which would put all things under him. When all things shall be subdued unto him under Jesus Christ, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all so just real quickly, the Lord is going to give everything back unto the Father. Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead? If the dead rise not at all, why are they then baptized for the dead? And why stand we in jeopardy? Every hour I protest by your rejoicing, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. I die daily. Look what he says next couple of verses. If, after the manner of me and I fought with beast and ephesus, what an advantageous at me. If the dead rise not, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Be not deceived evil communications, corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness and sin not for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. He said there’s a certainty of his return, his resurrection certain. My resurrection certain. There’s a certainty of his reign. There’s three months that we talked about christ must rise from the dead or our preaching in vain, our faith in vain. He did rise from the dead. That must is accomplished also. Number two, he must return. He has promised his return. That’s yet to be fulfilled. But I believe it’ll be soon. It would be hard to imagine that not happening real soon. I would say in our lifetime, but I would say even sooner than that. I believe the Lord is on his way, but then he also must reign. Listen, he’s already accomplished the first in his resurrection. That’s just the beginning of what God has in store. Evil communications, corrupt good manners. You know, there was a quote that I wrote down, and I said men are more susceptible to example than precept. We watch people by example, don’t we? We may know what the right thing to do is, but we often follow what our examples may be. We become what our friends are, put it that way. We become who we hang around with. We hang around with those that are walking away from the Lord. We will take up their habits as part of our habits. Our friendships affect the way we go. So he’s given them some admonition here. But then he said, there’s some application of this. We have a blessed hope because Jesus rose from the grave, we get shot of victory. He rose from the grave. He’s coming again. Look at verse number 34. He said, there’s something that you must do. There are those that don’t know that. He said, awake to righteousness and sin not, for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. He said, not everybody knows that there’s hope in this life. You and I have hope. And he’s telling me that you have hope because your loved ones have gone on to be with the Lord. They’re coming back again. They’ll be resurrected. But there’s some that don’t know it. There’s some that don’t have that hope. He says, I speak this to your shame. I’m thankful we support missionaries. I’m glad we send out missionaries, aren’t you? We’ve got, I think, over 40 missionaries, and that’s a blessing. They go all over the world in the United States. We don’t need to stop. We need to keep supporting missions. But how about you and me? What are we doing? Are we going to our neighbors? Are we going to those that we run into at the beloved Walmart? Are we talking with them in line? Are we leaving them a gospel track? Do they know that there’s hope after this life if they trust in Jesus Christ? Many of them don’t. Many of them are like what Paul said, if there is no hope, we are, of all men, most miserable. Or they may think they have hope, but they have a false hope. They think that God will just weigh the good and their good is much better than their bad. That’s a false belief. That’s not true. It’s a lie of the devil. None of us can ever be good enough to get to heaven. They took the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary. That’s the message that we have. We have hope that we can share with them and they can have hope. He said, it gives me assurance of my salvation, it gives me assurance of my future, but also it makes my life worth living. Now, because Jesus has got the victory, he has a purpose and plan for me right here and right now. Verse 34, he says, awake to righteousness and sin. Not many of us many of us ate turkey for thanksgiving. Some of us had dear meat. Bless the Lord for that dear meat. But after you get your stomach full and I know there’s a chemical in turkey that makes you sleepy, but how many of you found out, no matter what you eat, after you get full, you get a little tired, you get a little sleepy, right? And just find a comfortable spot and relax. And that’s a blessing. Amen. And then go back for seconds and thirds a little bit later and sleep all day. But many of us, as Christians, as God’s people, have become full on the blessings of God, and in like manner have become sleepy, have become slumbering, are going to sleep when the world is lost around us dying and going to devil’s hell. God says, awake to righteousness. Listen, we’ve got a blessed hope, a glorious future. Jesus is coming again. When he comes, he’s bringing our loved ones with Him. If we go by way of the grave, we are with the Lord, right? Then we’ve got such a short window to do something for the Lord. And many of us are going through this life full of God’s blessings, and we’re going to sleep on God. He said, number one, I want you to awake to righteousness. And Sid, not, I want you to live a separated life, live a life that’s pleasing to me. Don’t live like the world who has no hope. You have a hope. You have life eternal. Your body may die, but you’re going to be with the Lord. Live like it. Live like you belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. You and I not do the things that the world does. God saved us. He’s given us new desires, new direction. Awake to righteousness and sin. Not for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. Not only live separated, but go and tell somebody that Jesus saves. Jesus cares for their soul. There is hope in Jesus Christ. There’s life in Jesus Christ. First John three two says, beloved, now are we the sons of God. And it doth not yet appear what we shall be, but we know that when he shall appear, we shall be like Him. We shall see Him as he is. None of us here have passed through the doors of death. We don’t know from experience what the other side is like. We have a longing to be with the Lord. We have a longing to be with Him and be with our loved ones in heaven. God gives us that longing. As Christians, there’s nothing wrong with that longing. But God a purpose here. While we’re here on this earth. If we are going to be like Jesus, then don’t you think we should practice a little bit now, trying to be like Jesus? There’s so much more that goes into this. But what we do in this life has an impact on the rewards that we have in heaven, has an impact on, I think, what we even look like in heaven. We won’t have time to get in that this morning. And the point is, God says, I’ve given you so much, you have a purpose. I’ve given you a job to do. He said, Awake to righteousness and Sinnot. Don’t go to sleep. Stay busy serving me for some have not the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame. Why? To go and tell somebody else, hey, Jesus saves, jesus loves you. There’s hope. There’s life in Jesus Christ. I want you to skip down to verse number 58. Look at verse number 57. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. He says, Therefore, my beloved brethren, because of everything else that we’ve discussed and we haven’t discussed, some of those, Lord willing, will do that soon. But he said, because of all that, my beloved brethren, be ye what Steadfast said. Don’t move, don’t go anywhere. There’s no reason to give up on God. God never gave you a reason to give up on Him. God never gives anybody a reason to quit church, to give up on church. This is God’s plan and God’s will for his children to be in his house, in the church house, fellowshipping with his people and doing his work, working together. Listen, I know offenses come and we were people. We’re human beings still. We get offended and things happen. But God never gives you a reason or gives you an escape to get out of church. There’s never any reason to quit going to church. Never any reason to quit serving him. It says, Be he steadfast unmovable. Always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. God’s given us a plan. He’s given us a path. He’s given us a blessed future. I like what some writer said Runwriter said. He said, life is laid out on an eternal scale. Time merges into eternity. It’s hard for us to think about eternity. I think I’ve told you before, when I was younger, I tried to imagine what forever was like. I’ve learned not to do that. I break out in cold sweats. I can’t fathom it. I don’t encourage you to do that because you can’t fathom. You can’t understand it. We can’t figure it out. These bodies in our sin nature aren’t meant to last forever. God has to transform this body and then we won’t have to worry about it. Amen. You got to answer all that. But what we do in this life I’m trying to get my thought out. Let me read what a writer wrote. I think he would say he says it better than I can say it. Death continues. What life commences. What we begin in life, it’s just continued. After death, we’re just stepping over into another world. We’re waiting on our body to be. Sister Rachel right now is in the Constance presence of her Lord and Savior. She’s rejoicing. She’s seeing some things that we are longing to see. She’s enjoying the presence of God. But even she is waiting on her glorified body. See, God has so much in store that we can’t imagine. I think sometimes we get this small idea of what heaven is and this small idea of what God has in store for us in the future that we don’t realize all that God has. And because of that, we are dreading heaven. We’re not looking forward to heaven. We’re not longing for heaven. We’re not living as if we’re going to heaven. When we have a small view of who God is and what he can do, then the way we live is small and what we do is small. Listen, I serve a great God, don’t you? Our faith in God needs increase, needs strengthened. We serve a mighty god. He conquered death, hell in the grave. He saved my soul. He can save the world if they’ve turned to him. Fellowship here produces fellowship there forever. Labor here produces reward, but also labor in heaven. We’re not going to sit around on clouds, plucking harpstrings. Some of you may play the harp, I don’t know. But God has something special for us in heaven. But while we’re waiting. He says continue. Be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord for as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. He said, there’s some that don’t know it. There’s some that could have hope, could have life. But you’ve got to tell them that Jesus rose from the grave. He died for their sins. He was buried and he rose from the grave. I have assurance of my salvation because he rose. I have a purpose and plan. He’s returning. I don’t understand why God would be so good to you and me, do you? But I’m thankful he is. I’m thankful we have that blessed hope, but let’s not keep it to ourselves. Let’s share it. Let’s tell others so they too can have that blessed hope and they don’t have to go wandering through this life. Let’s bow our heads, close our eyes, stand. How many you know for sure, beyond a shadow of a doubt that heaven’s your home? Just slip up your hand, you know you’re saved. Good. You can put your hands down. Is there anyone here this morning that if Jesus were to come right now, you don’t know for sure that you’re saved? Don’t know that heaven to be your home? Anybody? So I could pray for you? Just slip up your hand. Anybody at all? How many of you know somebody that’s not saved? Just look up your hand. You take his time to pray for them right now. Pray that God will help him see the need to be saved. I don’t know, maybe you’re like dad mentioned at Sunday school, we get our minds on things in this world. The news distracts us and discourages us. Our jobs can discourage us. Be reminded this morning of heaven, of the life to come, but also of God’s presence. Now, maybe you’ve been discouraged lately with everything going on. When you come and pray, say, lord, remind me of how good you are, my blessed future. And Lord, your presence through this life remind me of Your purpose for me. Help me to share the Gospel with somebody this week. The death, barrow and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Father in heaven. Lord, we love you just because you first loved us. Lord, I don’t understand why you would love us so much, but I’m glad you did. I’m glad you do. Would you help us, Father?
Help us to remember all the blessings that still lay in sore. Help us remember Your presence going with us, but would also help us remember Your purpose for us in this life. And, Lord, forgive us, for we failed to do those things that we should do, speak to the people that crossed our paths. Would help us to take the Gospel with us, whether it be by track, by words that are spoken and tell this world about what we have in Jesus Christ the Lord. We thank you for all. You’ve done all you’re going to do. Lord, I pray to you to help each heart here. Lord, there’s burdens here that are heavy heartaches here. There’s memories, I’m sure here that only heaven can erase. Lord, you promised your grace to go with us through this life. And Lord, we thank you for the bright hope of heaven. Help us to live life like we’re going there. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.