Subject: Successful Christian Life - ilive Series #5 Title: I am crucified...nevertheless I live - Resurrection Sunday 2012 Text: Galatians 2:20-21

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1 Subject: Successful Christian Life - ilive Series #5 Title: I am crucified...nevertheless I live - Resurrection Sunday 2012 Text: Galatians 2:20-21 Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. Introduction Today Christians celebrate the most important event in human history, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The historical fact of the Resurrection of Christ is the linchpin of Christian Doctrine. It is the anchor, the backbone, the keystone, the mainstay. Everything rises and falls with the truth of the Resurrection. Paul wrote in I Corinthains 15:19,...if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. People have gone to great lengths to prove the fact of the Resurrection, you cannot merely dismiss this out of hand, based on yor opiion or prejudice? Facts: - The Broken Roman Seal - The Empty Tomb - The Large Stone Rolled Away - Roman Guards - AWOL - The Grave Clothes - Jesus Appearance confirmed - 12 times! In Lee Strobel s book, The Case for Christ, he writes 70 pages of information concerning the validity of Christ s resurrection. He deals with all of the theories designed to cast doubt and mullify the fact of Christ s resurrection. * The unburied body theory - Christ was never buried, His body was burned in the trash heap. * The unemptied grave theory - He is still in the grave - His body has not been found. * The removal theory - Joseph of Arimathea secretly removed the body. * The deliberate deception theory - Christ didn t die, He faked it and was revived by the cool air of the tomb. * The fraud theory - the Apostles and witnesses intentionally lied about what they saw. * The hallucination theory - Peter was on LSD and Thomas had a nervous breakdown. * The misunderstood theory - the Apostles never preached a physical resurrection, but a spiritual one. * The twins theory - Jesus had a twin brother. 1

2 If the Resurrection of Christ was a hoax, can you tell me why 12 men, including Paul, were willing to endure persecution and death for a hoax? The Doctrine of the Resurrection of Christ is vitally important to the Christian faith. The fact of Christ s resurrection gives Him the ultimate in believability. It is upon the fact of the resurrection of Christ that all Christian doctrine stands or falls. The Resurrection has both past, present and future implications: I. The Resurrection of Christ validates all of the miracles of the Bible. The Resurrection says every story in Scripture, Old and New Testament alike, especially those that deal with physical healing, and the other six recorded resurrections are true (i.e. blind man received sight - John 9; healing of the 10 lepers - Luke 17; widow of Nain s son brought back to life - Luke 7; Lazarus brought back to life - John 11; water turned into wine - John 2; Centurion s servant healed - Matthew 8). II. The Resurrection is proof that God is! and that God is the God of the Living. * He is Creator and Sustainer. * He gives and takes life. III. The Resurrection of Christ proves the prophecies that He made concerning His own future and the future to come. He had foreknowledge, absolute vision for the future. IV. The Resurrection of Christ is an implicit demonstration that Christ is God Himself, manifest in the flesh (I Timothy 3:16). Virgin Birth, Vicarious death; Divinity; 2nd Coming V. The Resurrection of Christ guarantees the believer s resurrection. John 11:25-26, Believest thou this? I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. VI. The Resurrection of Christ is an essential part of the Gospel that affords salvation to all mankind. 2

3 I Corinthians 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. VII. The Resurrection of Christ assures us of the forgiveness of sins. Forgiveness does have a price tag, one that you and I cannot afford. The price or cost is death, death on the cross, for the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). He took the wages upon Himself and paid the sin-debt so you and I could go free. The Resurrection means that there is no sin so heinous, so vile, so ugly, that it is beyond the power or ability of God s forgiveness. I might add that I am able to grant forgiveness to others for I am forgiven. If God can and will forgive, why can t I? Forgiveness is not human. It is a divine act of God. * My whole world view is wrapped up on the Resurrection of Christ. * This changes everything. it wipe s the slate clean. * The ultimate answer to pain, disappointment, death and suffering is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. * I am the ultimate optimist! * There is no other truth or fact in this world that can generate more hope for the future. * Christ s death, burial and resurrection is the answer to the greatest problems of life. John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? What are the practical implications of the Resurrection? It is not only doctrinally vital, but it has far-reaching practical implications. I. The Resurrection Affords Newness of Life Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 3

4 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. * preaching is valuable * faith is valuable - I Corinthians 15:14 * we are forgiven - I Corinthians 15:17 * we are most joyful - I Corinthians 15:19 * our witness is empowered - Acts 1:8 II. The Resurrection Is a Promise of a Restored Physical Creation Genesis 3:16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee. 17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; Romans 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, 21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. Revelation 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4

5 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. III. The Resurrection Is a Promise of Our Own Resurrection and Restoration I John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 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; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. I Corinthians 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, Romans 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. IV. The Resurrection Is a Promise of Reunion I Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. In all of this we are convinced and it is confirmed that our future is bright. Christ is our blessed hope and His death, burial and resurrection affords us hope. - in the hospital - in sickness - in the funeral home - in the cemetery - in the darkest days of our existence 5

6 V. The Resurrection Serves as a Powerful Source of Motivation to Serve Now, to Be Productive, to Be Faithful, to Abound Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, 9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. VI. The Resurrerction Empowers the Believer with the Holy Spirit of God and His Ministry to the Believer in a Multiplicty of Ways - Teacher - John 14:16, 26 - Comforter - John 15:26 - Power for witness, etc. - Acts 1:8 - Spirit-Filled Living - Galatians 5:22-23 VII. The Resurrection Assures Us and Gives Us Confidence that He Is Coming Again Acts 1:9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Review: I. The Resurrection Affords Newness of Life II. The Resurrection Is a Promise of a Restored Physical Creation III. The Resurrection Is a Promise of Our Own Resurrection and Restoration IV. The Resurrection Is a Promise of Reunion 6

7 V. The Resurrection Serves as a Powerful Source of Motivation to Serve Now, to Be Productive, to Be Faithful, to Abound VI. The Resurrerction Empowers the Believer with the Holy Spirit of God and His Ministry to the Believer in a Multiplicty of Ways VII. The Resurrection Assures Us and Gives Us Confidence that He Is Coming Again * The Gospel has both past, present and future implications. * The Gospel has both physical and spiritual applications. John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live Many critics reject the blood theology of the Bible. They see this as being barbaric, oldfashioned slaughterhouse religion. Some see themselves as too refined to identify with the idea of blood sacrifice. The Bible says, The soul that sinneth, it shall die (Ezekiel 18:20), and The wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). In the moral government of God, He has ordained that physical and eternal death be the just penalty for sin. People may think this unfair and extreme, but their protests only show how sin has blinded them to sin s true nature. The fact that God demands such a drastic penalty for sin should teach them not that God is brutal and harsh, but that sin is reprehensible and totally unacceptable to God. Yet God, in His Divine love for man, has decreed that the penalty for sin may be born by a substitute. Leviticus 17:11 For the life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul. Even if any man wanted to offer himself in payment for his sin, he could not. Sin has disqualified man from being an acceptable sacrifice. Consequently, in the Old Testament, certain select animals whose blood was shed vicariously for the sins of men served as a substitute for those who repented and trusted God s revelation. All of those sacrifices were pictures, prophecies and types of the One who would come to be that One Great Sacrifice for the sins of all men, Jesus Christ. This is why John introduced Him as the Lamb of God (John 1:29). God became a man and accepted the penalty for all men s sins upon Himself as our Substitute. One must repent and believe to be pardoned, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). 7

8 God, the Son, clothed in flesh, shed His blood for man s sin, thus satisfying every demand of holy justice. Is God a God of love? wrath? He s a God of Holiness! Holiness involves a strict separation from all sinfulness and perfect justice in dealing with man s sin. The Bible portrays the lost man as a slave to sin and speaks of freeing him in the same manner as slaves were redeemed in the ancient world. In Christ, we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins (Ephesians 1:7). Apart from Christ, all people are alienated from God. Sin has fixed an impassable chasm between God and man bridged only by the redemptive sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Romans 5:8-9 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Human sin produces a pollution of the heart that can only be cleansed by the blood of Christ, the grace of God. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. God s holiness is the issue in salvation. Sin offends His holiness. His holiness will not allow God to accept sin, thus sin condemns man to physical and spiritual death, separation from God forever in Hell. Sin is not funny, humorous to God, and is not something with which we are to trifle - Fools make a mock at sin... (Proverbs 14:9). The Resurrection of Christ proved several things among which is the fact that only He has the power of life and death. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 8