The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Defeating Death

Transcription

1 The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Defeating Death Intro.: In a world of many religions, how would an unbeliever know which religion held the truth? The religion that could not only do what others could not, but the one that address humanities ultimate problem death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ served as the culmination of the work of Christ s earthly ministry: His virgin birth, His life s ministry, His death on the cross. Isn t it ironic that God would use Jesus coming back from the dead to address our greatest enemy - death! Read: John 19:38-42, 20:1-10, Romans 5:12, 1 st Corinthians 15:1-8, World religions: None of them boast of a resurrected Savior (4truth.net) Hinduism: Adherents Worldwide: 820 million; India: 784 million o No founder known. o Hinduism has no single creed and recognizes no final truth. At its core, Hinduism has a pagan background in which the forces of nature and human heroes are personified as gods and goddesses. They are worshiped with prayers and offerings. Buddhism: Adherents: About 400 million worldwide; approximately 2.5 million in the United States. o Founder: Siddhartha Gautama, a prince from northern India near modern Nepal who lived about BC o Buddhism is an impersonal religion of self-perfection, the end of which is death (extinction)-not life. The essential elements of the Buddhist belief system are summarized in the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, and several additional key doctrines. Islam: Founder Muhammad (A.D ) o Worldwide: Estimated 1.28 billion; 69 percent live in South and Southeast Asia; 27 percent in Africa; 4 percent other; United States: Estimated 5 to 8 million o The 5 pillars are the framework for the Muslim's life and discipline. Successful and satisfactory adherence to the pillars satisfies the will of Allah. They form the basis for the Muslim's hope for salvation along with faith and belief in Allah's existence, the authority of Muhammad as a prophet, and the finality and perfection of the Qur'an. Christianity: o Only Christianity deals with humanities greatest problem/enemy death! o Death = separation: Separation from God spiritually/relationally Separation of body (material) from soul (immaterial)

2 What is a resurrection? Compare the account of Lazarus in John 11: Is this a resurrection? Why or why not? All who were restored died again Lazarus died again The official s daughter died again Matt 9:18 The dead son died again Luke 7:11-18 The mass pre-resurrection Matt 27:50-54 o These are all restorations which means to bring something back to its original form. A resurrection is when the soul and/or spirit of a saint is reunited with his/her glorified body which has been transformed to a new state. o They are recognizable Matt 28:9-10 o Their new/glorified bodies have miraculous power. See 1 st Cor 15: Consider the comparison: Perishable - Imperishable Weak Powerful Natural Spiritual **Jesus resurrected body was not subject to the laws of physics: He walked through walls including His tomb! John 20:26 Jesus described Himself as flesh and bones Luke 24:39 Jesus ate fish after the resurrection Luke 24:42-43 Jesus was able to move instantaneously from one place to another Luke 24:31 (The Emmaus Road account) Why was the resurrection necessary? The resurrection works in harmonious conjunction with the crucifixion o When Adam and Eve sinned the dealt humanity a death blow. Why is the resurrection necessary? (See diagram) Because humanity was dealt a death blow in the Garden of Eden. Romans 5:12 Death separated us from God: o Relationally: we were separated from God in terms of a life giving relationship of fellowship and communion. As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Ephes 2:1-2 o Positionally: we were no longer a part of God s family. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Ephes 2:13

3 o Emotionally: Adam Eve immediately felt fear and guilt Genesis 3 o Psychologically: they developed a corrupted mind Genesis 6 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; Ephes 4:18-19 o Physically: their bodies began to deteriorate Death manifests itself by sin: o Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 st John 3:8-9 How did the resurrection of Jesus Christ deal with death? His resurrection served as proof that God had accepted his death as payment for the sins of humanity. o It can be compared to the high-priest emerging from the Holy of holies on the Day of Atonement alive! o Hi offering would be a once and for all offering. His resurrection restored us: o Relationally: Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:12 o Positionally: Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Romans 8:1-2 o Emotionally: We can come boldly to the throne of grace Hebrews 4:16 o Psychologically: We now have the mind of Christ 1 st Cor 2:16 o Physically: Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 nd Cor 4:16 His resurrection paved the way for a permanent connection to God via the Holy Spirit: o In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-- having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God's own possession, to the praise of His glory. Ephes 1:13-14 What is a resurrection? Compare the account of Lazarus in John 11: Is this a resurrection? Why or why not? All who were restored died again Lazarus died again

4 The official s daughter died again Matt 9:18 The dead son died again Luke 7:11-18 The mass pre-resurrection Matt 27:50-54 o These are all restorations which means to bring something back to its original form. A resurrection is when the soul and/or spirit of a saint is reunited with his/her glorified body which has been transformed to a new state. o They are recognizable Matt 28:9-10 o Their new/glorified bodies have miraculous power. See 1 st Cor 15: Consider the comparison: Perishable - Imperishable Weak Powerful Natural Spiritual **Jesus resurrected body was not subject to the laws of physics: He walked through walls including His tomb! John 20:26 Jesus described Himself as flesh and bones Luke 24:39 Jesus ate fish after the resurrection Luke 24:42-43 Jesus was able to move instantaneously from one place to another Luke 24:31 (The Emmaus Road account) Why was the resurrection necessary? The resurrection works in harmonious conjunction with the crucifixion o When Adam and Eve sinned the dealt humanity a death blow. Reasons for the resurrection: Why did Jesus have to be resurrected? Why could God not allow Him to remain in the grave? 1. It validated His declarations: Matthew 12:38-40 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. He answered, A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 2. It proved that Jesus was the Son of God -Romans 1:4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, In Romans 1:4 Paul shows that the resurrection is the final and convincing proof that Jesus was the Son of God. Please note here that Paul s subject is the gospel, the good news, of God. The Resurrection proves this.

5 It proved that Jesus was the promised Messiah - He is declared both Lord (deity) and Christ (Messiah of Old Testament prophecy and expectation) on the basis of His resurrection (cf. Acts 10:36-43; Acts 2:22-36). 3. It fulfilled prophecy concerning Christ Acts 2:29-32 Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. (Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15) 4. It proved that Jesus was also fully human - Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. Jesus said that he was flesh and bone after His resurrection. Luke 24:39 In Matthew 12:39-40, Christ Himself pointed to His resurrection as the final proof of His person. Compare Hebrews 10: For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5. It proved that Jesus had no sin - Christ was raised on account of our justification, that is, to prove He was a worthy substitute and that we might be declared righteous by God (Rom. 4:25). Therefore, if He is risen, we become justified sinners through faith in Christ. The only proof or evidence we have of pardon, and acceptance, of justification and peace with God is the risen Christ. Faith s question is not how we feel, but is Christ risen. No sinner can have settled peace except on the ground of the death and resurrection of Christ (Cf. Romans 5:1). 2 nd Cor 5:21 - He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Compare Jesus to the lamb of the Passover Exodus 12 Results of the resurrection: What changed as a result of the resurrection? How are we affected? 1. God accepted His sacrifice as payment for our sins The sin debt that originated with Adam has finally been settled, once and for all! Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb of God! Compare to the Day of atonement Leviticus 23 (Luke 1:8-21) If Jesus had sin in His life God would have rejected His sacrifice.

6 2. It provided via faith in Christ, the only way to God and Heaven Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV) The resurrection marks Christ out as the one and only redeemer and the one means of access to God. It authenticates His own claims that He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that He came to give His life a ransom for many. Because the resurrection gives assurance to all, because it is the proof of His person and work, it also becomes the condemnation of all other religions, philosophies of men, and all who do not know the Lord Jesus as the their personal Savior by faith. The resurrection stands as either our proof of one s justification or as one s condemnation. It becomes a proof of a coming day of reckoning, a day when God will reckon with mankind on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. 3. It proved that we too will one day will be resurrected death has no power over us anymore - Because I live, you will live also (John 14:19). This everlasting life is based upon His resurrection. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25). 4. God dealt with man s ultimate enemy death! (The second death or eternal death in Hell) Romans 5:12-14 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (1 st Cor 15:54-57) Death was not a part of God s original plan for humanity. Rewards of the resurrection: What changed as a result of the resurrection? How are we affected? 1. We were rewarded with the promise of a future resurrection death has no power over us anymore - Because I live, you will live also (John 14:19). This everlasting life is based upon His resurrection. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25). 2. Christ was rewarded with glory, honor and authority: Glory And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. John 17:5 (also see 2 nd Peter 1:17) Honor Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in

7 heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:8-11 Authority- And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Why? Because He accepted the cup of suffering from His Father. The Father rewarded Him as He does all of His children who are willing to trust Him. Conclusion: The resurrection was the greatest indication that God had paved a way for humanity to be reconciled with Him. Some Notes taken from The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Study By: J. Hampton Keathley, III