We Believe in the Resurrection

If you have a Bible and should turn with member to read a few verses were to land in first Corinthians, and how to hang out there for a while, but first I want you turn with me to Luke chapter 24 Luke chapter 24. It's in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and obviously there's a pew Bible in front if you need one. It would be our privilege for you to to use that tonight and so Luke chapter 24.

Basically to come to give you an idea here's where were going tonight's very simply.

In our brief time together. I want us to deceive these three things. One is this the importance of the resurrection. The reality of the resurrection and then also our response to the resurrection.

So that's really where were going. The importance of the resurrection. The reality of the resurrection, and how we respond. What's our response.

How do we respond how should we respond to the resurrection. Let's look at this account here and in Luke chapter 24 read along with me not to read out loud to read along with me starting in verse one on the first day of the week and early dawn they went to the tomb taking the spices they had prepared and they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel and as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground. The men said to them, why do you seek the living among the dead.

He is not here, but is risen.

Remember how he told you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise and then they remembered his words and returning from the tomb. They told all these things to the 11 and to all the rest now is Mary Magdalena and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and other women with them, who told these things to the apostles, but these words was this verse 11. But these words seemed to them and idle tail and they did not believe them. But Peter, but Peter, who of all, up high above all else of that of the disciples and of the disciples. This time probably needed the resurrection, and a sense of the most he just failed miserably right me just as we've all failed miserably, but he's failed pretty miserably. He's denied Christ three times and so they made it was some hope hope in him. It says this, but Peter rose and ran to the tomb, stooping and looking and he saw the linen cloths by themselves and he went home, marveling at what had happened this account very similarly as in all the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. We see this a beautiful story of okay will wait a minute, Jesus is gone. The tomb is empty. What what's happened here. Look with me turn over just a little bit verse 36. Look at verse 3624 so this is all happen is his amazing story. I hate to skip but we don't really have time this morning to focus in on that story and amazing story where Jesus is walking along the side of the road with these two men and I have no idea it's him there like are you the only one in all of Jerusalem. He doesn't know what's going on like this is Jesus.

Yes, he knows exactly what happened but we skewer skip over that here and look at verse 36 verse 36 as they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, peace to you, but they were startled and frightened and thought they saw the spirit and he said to them, why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts quickly says here verse 39 see my hands. See my feet, look at me that it is I myself. Hey could touch me, touch me and see was raised as for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have and when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet and while they were still disbelieved, so there's there's just like shock is overwhelming them. It's like this isn't possible, we saw you die on the cross and how is this possible.

He shows them there hand in his hands and his feet and while there still disbelieved for joy and were marveling.

He said to them� It's like election shown in their hands and feet touch my hands touch my feet. If you want, and he says have you anything to eat. And it's been a while since he's eaten you anything here to eat and they gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and ate it and ate before them now spirit doesn't do that right as we believe, as are as and as I read earlier. We believe in the bodily resurrected hit. He resurrected in bodily form a glorified body were to see how glorified it is.

Look at John chapter 20 turn there really quickly and the move go to first Corinthians 15 John 20.

So another account of the resurrection will skip down to verse 24 so you know doubting Thomas. We given that doubting Thomas like like where super spiritual or something. But Jesus and Thomas here in this amazing story in chapter 2 in chapter 20 verse 24 of John listen to this 24. Thomas, one of the 12 called the twin was not with them when Jesus came so the other disciples told him we have seen the Lord what he said to them, unless I see in his hands.

The mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails and placed my hand into his side. I will never believe me not. I guess that's where we get the doubting Thomas. But it's like I need to see it. I want to see this. You're telling me that he's risen, I want to see that he's alive had to wait a few days and says in verse 26.

Eight days later his disciples don't miss these things in Scripture. Scripture is so what I've been trying to convince her students. This Scripture is so awesome and it's so marvelous that there's so many things that we can read about it and listen to what what happens here so it I get eight days later Thomas is with them and it says although the doors were locked. Don't miss that although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be with you. Good thing he said piece because I probably would've freaked out like they probably would've freaked out like when the door was locked. Had you didn't hear. Verse 27 then he said to Thomas, put your finger here, and see my hands and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieved, but believe Thomas answered in my Lord, what is the next and my God. Jesus said to him, have you believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.

See the Gospels each tell from different perspectives and angles. The historical account account of the resurrection. But here's the question in this order try to Internet why is the resurrection so significant why is it so important, why does this all matter, why, why is it not enough that he is our propitiation. Why is it not enough that he died in our place. Why is the cross itself just the cross, not enough was to see that in first Corinthians 15 tonight, so would you turn there and will spend the rest of her time basically in first printings 15 and in this passage in first Corinthians 15 Paul is not necessarily attempting to convince his readers of the resurrection. It's really actually even beyond that, a little bit.

He's trying to convince the these Corinthian believers about their own resurrection, that they will also rise because Christ is risen, you also true when you die eventually you will have a glorified body one day and you will rise with him and so Paul writes to the Corinthians in in in first printings 15.

It's this may, I hope you read it tonight as were going to look at a few verses will read sections of it, but I would love it if you would read this passage Scripture tonight as well. So again, why is the resurrection so important, so the importance of the resurrection.

I'm in a list a bunch of things quickly and were to look at a few verses but without stating some of the obvious one of this is the whole of Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection. The whole of Christianity, all of the Bible hinges on the fact that Jesus is not still dead.

That changes everything is not me think about it Muslims to this day they go to a place to go to attempt and they will they will be innocence mourning the death of someone who is now gone. Other religions they had.

They had leaders who live and they were these great moral teachers and they were a good example of living a good life. For instance, in a some good morals but ultimately they still they still celebrate our day they they mourn, and a sensor, remember the life of someone who is now gone to see Jesus. The fact of the resurrection changes everything. It changes everything. The whole of Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection, Jesus's own claim to be Messiah falls.

If he does not come back to life. If he's the Messiah fees the promised one if he just dies.

It's like another one of the fake messiahs that showed up during the first century, and other centuries after these messiahs would show up and be like on the Messiah on the promised one, and eventually they would die.

Eventually, their movement would also die. Jesus could not be God. If the resurrection didn't happen. In Romans 14, for instance, we been studying Romans Romans 14 amazing intro to the gospel over of and in a beautiful story in this letter. In Romans, but Romans 14 Paul speaking of Jesus, says this is that he Jesus was declared to be the son of God in power according to the spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead. Again, Jesus couldn't be God.

If the resurrection didn't happen. And so here in first Corinthians 15 is it's like Paul gives this deductive reasoning and real look at a few verses. Look at verse 14 with me. So first printings 15 verse 14. Notice what what Paul's approach here is to basically go to the negative side, if it didn't happen is what he says. Looking at verse 14. Look at a few of these verse 14. And if Christ has not been raised, he says, then our preaching is in vain and what your faith is in vain.

Many simply say and listen. If Jesus isn't risen from the dead, your faith is futile.

It's worthless. My preaching my point about the whole goal of his love. Paul's life is utterly pointless and even says in verse 15.

We are even found to be misrepresenting God because we testified about God that he raise prices like were all a bunch of liars. If were preaching and saying that Jesus rose from the dead. If in fact he really didn't look at verse 1717 he says this again. He does these three different times. Verse 17 and if Christ has not been raised, he says, your faith is, reemphasizing that your faith is futile and you are what still in your sins. Interesting. Think of what happened at the cross that that was the pinnacle. That's what he absorbs that Jesus when we learned about this were learning about this in Romans.

If you been paying attention about these amazing doctrines and theology of the theological invocations of them that Jesus and are at being our propitiation that he absorbs the wrath of God. He satisfies the wrath of God. So he takes the punishment he takes on our sin. If he is still dead. We are still dead in our sins and Ethel pulsating here. And if Christ is not been raised in verse 17, your faith is futile and pointless worthless and you are still in your sins.

Look at verse 19.

If, in Christ we have hope in this life only if a far higher if our hope is only in this life we are of all people most to be pitied is like everyone else should be looking at us and just with pity.

Finally, look at verse 32 will will come back and circle back to these this last verse toward the end.

In verse 32 Paul says what do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus if the debtor not raised. He says this.

Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die is like is no eternal life. It just it's like okay will assist enjoy life if if Christ isn't really risen us just go about life like nothing happened and then we'll just died and will be over pulsating know this is important, the resurrection matters. The resurrection is everything for the believer.

Ultimately, without the resurrection salvation could not be given. Romans 10 nine. Many of us if I memorize that first the famous verse. He notes will use along the Romans wrote of sharing the gospel with someone 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 what the safe. If you believe that in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved if you believe this pastor Rodney Navy was saying this every time he asked those candidates you believe that Jesus died across and three days later rose again.

They all said yes. That's important because it is a piece of the gospel for us to believe and to believe that she is not only died but that he rose again, but that's the beauty of the gospel that are Christ and our jar God and our king is not only he's not dead anymore. He's alive and pulse and listen the importance of the resurrection. It's essential so we need to ask another question. How do we know this happened, how we know that the resurrection Ackley actually happened. There's a lot of there's a lot of myths out there about the resurrection. There's a lot of challenges to the resurrection.

How we know it really happen on us to read these verses together. Paul says in verse in verse 333 famous versus your first three through eight. Listen to what he says. Paul says, for I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died from art for our sins. Important phrase here in accordance to her with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance again he reemphasizes and in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas or Peter, then to the 12. Then he appeared to more than listen to this. This is this is huge refocusing on the second and then he appeared to what is it say 500 brothers at one time, not individually like in a corner in the back woods or something. 500 people at once. It says here pulses, most of whom, and this is really important to most of whom are still alive. The sum of fallen asleep when he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all he says as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. You see the reality of the resurrection is that happen and you can come to see what he saying here he saying listen the empty tomb is there like you can go to the empty tomb, and it is empty all the different ones when they showed up today. It's when they came to the tomb. It was empty it was, it was gone. In verse four he says this he says that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the surgeries gone is not there anymore. We saw this in Luke 24 we see also in John 20 also huge huge huge importance here. He says the eyewitnesses are right here a Germans scholar Woolford Payne and Burke says this, the early Christians could not possibly have preached the resurrection of Christ publicly and successfully unless both the empty tomb, and these hundreds of eyewitnesses really existed. Think about that when he's writing this book about 16 to 20 years after this is all happen and I mean think about that.

That's like 9/11 for us.

It's not that far ago like it's not that fun. And what happened when he writes this this book and writes this letter to the Corinthian church. It had happened that long ago. He tells us he says they're still alive, think about what that means. Think about the implications of that like Paul can't get away with saying something like that. So you know there's 500 was eyewitnesses to this account 3500 people saw Jesus at once can't say that and get away with it will get called out unless it's true. Listen actually happened with this passage of Scripture.

I think this is so neat asked 26 acts 26 get a little exercise in your Bible, real fast, but asked 26 acts 26 of Paul is is now arrested. So if you know a little bit about the book of acts it minutes this the gospel is exploding the church age is come into existence, and it is rampant. It is going like crazy and it's spreading like wildfire. And so Paul, now is, is getting to the end of his ministry. He's been setting his heart he wanted. He so desperately was waiting just to get to preach the gospel to some king to get to those people and finally he's in chain season chains here, but is getting opportunity to present the gospel and to share his beliefs with King Agrippa and another guy named Festus. And so, Wally, Sharon, as he tells the story starts and tells how he came to connect. How, what, how Christ revealed himself to him. He shares about Jesus's life and then he gets to this verse.

Look at verse 22 verse 22. He says this so so so Paul sharing the gospel to these two is too high dignitaries. He says this to this day I've had the help that comes from God and so I stand here testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would come to pass, that the Christ will suffer, and that by being the first to what rise from the dead he would proclaim light both to our people and to the Gentiles, with verse 24 and as these words were coming out of his mouth as he just said that Jesus is alive that he's risen from the dead, notice what happens Estes with a loud voice, says Paul, you're out of your mind, your great learning is driving you out of your mind. But Paul said I'm not in my mind, most excellent Festus, but I am speaking true and rational words.

He says for the king. So Agrippa. He looked turns and looks at Agrippa and the king knows about these thing into him. I speak boldly for I am persuaded, notice what he says here that none of these things has escaped his notice for this is not been done in a corner facing public this is public knowledge.

They wanted to hide it. Yes, the day try to convince the Roman guards that that the disciples came in and install the body. Yes, they did try to convince and they deprive pretty pretty good job of it. You could get away with the evidence.

There's 500 people who saw Jesus and here he says even you the king you know these things, you know this is, as these things in happen in a corner hideaway somewhere says for the king knows about these things and he says in his says King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets, I know that you believe and Agrippa said to Paul in a short time would you persuade me to be a Christian and Paul said, whether short or long. I would to God that not only you but also all who hear me this day might become such as I am except for these chains could live forever to be like me except minus the change that I'm in right now with the same here you say listen.

This didn't go unnoticed. This was this is out there.

This was known see one of the challenges to the resurrection is that the disciples made it up and they thought that that Ned and I thought this to and this was also circulating around it was it was this argument against the women as witnesses. If you read the accounts you noticed that the women these women were the ones who first saw him, they were the first ones to get there and see the empty tomb.

They were these women, there is a one of the big arguments against the resurrection was it was really a very chauvinist way of thinking, but back in his time.

People entrust the testimony of women in that culture. This is a strong argument.

They were saying in the first eyewitnesses were women and so there was this Roman leader. During that time that circulated this letter stating that there will is no way this resurrection actually happened because and I quote, not this is me and say this lady's and I quote from him. You can't trust women. This was circulated, try to convince people listen. You can't trust they're telling us all these women saw him first. Are you kidding me, you can't trust them. You don't use them in a court you would use a woman in a court you need you need you now is not gonna work as I worked in that culture and so that really actually worked in so people like yeah that's right that's true you can have that. That's not gonna work. And so the three convincing people that may maybe command this resurrection is is a myth. Seven they made up but you and I think the opposite of that. Because if they made it up. Why in the world why in the world with a right that if they knew that was true. I knew the testimony woman I really can be used. Why in the world with a right that it if there to make the story up and say you know it was the women they saw in first because they wouldn't make that up. They would only write it if it was true see the resurrection to reality. It actually happened. The disciples were just making the story they wouldn't do that but here in first Corinthians 15 and we see that Paul has appealed to the empty tomb is appealed to the many eyewitnesses and now he can appoint to his own changed life. Look at this look back in and first Corinthians 1520 says in verse nine, for I am the least of the apostles unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church persecuted the church of God, but verse 10.

But, by grace, by the grace of God I am what I am in his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I but the grace of God that is with me, whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. See, there's a huge marker that something happened life transforming. Something happened in the lives of these men think about the disciples think about the last time you see the disciples as Jesus dying on the cross. Think about what was going on. What were they doing scattering. They were scared Peter denies Christ bold to me like he's just told Jesus. I wouldn't never leave you I would never deny you and in that night when it all all all all it's right there for you and your being called out by this young girl even hey aren't you one of those, like now, it's not me. I don't know this man is the disciples were all scared and then all of a sudden in acts we see a shift in all of their thinking and all of their mindset and their boldness. Unbelievable. Change happens in their life. The disciples were scared they had their week, but something changed all disciples, lives were transformed by the belief that Jesus actually rose from the dead and Paul says I was a witness to this resurrection, he says, and we see how his life changed me think about Paul. Paul is a Jew coming in for one these Jews, they just don't think that human being could ever possibly be God there like an eight week Paul would never think this to be the least likely person to actually believe in the resurrection, and to believe that Jesus was actually a son of God unless Jesus appeared to him and transformed his mind and transformed his heart. Here's the question.

As we closed with our response. How we respond to the records resurrection question for you say have you been transformed by the power of the risen Savior said earlier, look at first Corinthians again. First first 50/15 verse 31 he says here Paul says this I protest brothers by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, what is he say next I die every day for 32 what do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus.

If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Like if the resurrection hasn't happened in a human speaking terms like it doesn't happen was just eat drink and be merry. But he says I'm not doing that I die every day he seeks his life was transformed in her there's this hashtag will really use anymore. We, through a fat phase there for a while. Maybe some of you have not eliminate they were now what you like. What is a hashtag even it's an #you know like on your old dial phone number #and so people using social media to connect something so the other people out there can see what your timeouts, you might say something and you have a little hashtag about where you were or what you're doing. Use a hashtag Panthers or something like that. If your Panthers game, whatever when there's this one hashtag account became prevalent at that, slowly fading away, I think, but it's it's yellow you heard that one before hashtag Yolo you really high schools are inherently new Yolo is simply you only live once you only live once and so people you know they they they they put this hashtag you know that they say for instance you know I skydive today. Yolo I only live once.

Or they say and sadly they say this got totally wasted last night at a party. Yolo though say you know you know say other things in an interest because they're just doing their life is like this. Life is the only one I've got. I was in a limit to the fullest and do whatever I want Paul here in verse 31 says I die daily is listen. If you believe that you only live once, then why not live your entire life pursuing whatever makes you feel good to pursue more money pursue more power pursue whatever makes your heart feel a little bit better.

You know what people don't write with Yolo. They don't say I just got my bonus and gave it all the missions Yolo. They don't say I've taken a precious week of my vacation time to go on a mission trip to Mexico Yolo. They don't say him to sell my home now.

I know I live this life on the sell my home and I'm in a go to Ethiopia and will be a missionary. Yolo people say that unless you believe this life is all that there is why the apostles were so confident they would be raised that you don't just live once that you were willing to give up everything for the sake of Christ. These people believe so strongly that the resurrection had happened and that a future resurrection would happen, that they were willing to lose in this life to gain in the next you know how to create a society who cares for the needs of others before their own. You believe in the resurrection.

The resurrection changes everything. It changes lives and change Paul's life changed Peter's life to change the disciples life. Listen James. James the brother of Jesus's life. I don't know if you understand that you have a brother or sister and your brother says that he's God I'm thinking your thinking.

No way you're crazy need to go in the same asylum is probably what James thought when Jesus was on earth lays claim to be godly.

Are you kidding me my brother. There's no way Jesus rose from the dead and James changed things are changed, he led the church in Jerusalem.

Historians debate on how he died, but I know he died for the gospel.

They know he's die for the sake of his own brother but not just his own brother. He believe that Jesus was the son of God because he is risen from the dead. The killed why would he do that if he didn't believe with all his heart and maybe even see, and probably seen that he wasn't risen from the dead. Listen resurrection can change your life now, not just save you from hell and give you eternal life.

It can change your whole life. If Christ has been raised. We too will one day rise with glorified bodies asking what would it look like if we lived in light of the resurrection, because death isn't the end we live sacrificially we live like Paul who says I die daily. I take up my cross daily and I follow him, Peter, who was so scared in the moments as G as Jesus was dying and before his death became so bold that were told that he died upside down across his martyred by horrible horrible leader of the Roman Empire who is killing Christian after Christian Plenum lining up crosses and up until our students. We been studying first Peter on Wednesdays means like the sky was impaling Christians, dipping them in the oil and lighting them for candles persecution was real. We think persecution is nothing compared to them, but all of them were willing to die because they believed with all of their might and with all of their heart that Jesus was alive resurrection changes everything changes how we view this missions conference this next week. What if what if God were to call me or you or somebody in this room to missions to get on board into menu, take a week of vacation this year and I'm in a go on a mission trip, take a week of of my vacation and I'm M&A I'm to go. Or maybe, maybe something also happen God would tell you, you know what I'm almost retired, but I think of you to say I'm gonna retire now and I'm in a go because God's call me to a mission field somewhere. Listen, I know stories at one of my best friends father retired work for BellSouth for years and it's not BellSouth anymore, but he worked for BellSouth for years felt God's call on his life.

He did, he sold everything and moved to the Philippines to serve the people there to share the gospel. There sin that only happens if you've been moved by the gospel and these people were transformed because the resurrection was a fact in their mind and it's a fact of hours cover church. We believe in the resurrection, and that changes everything.

Spring father, we thank you for the power of your might.

We thank you for the powerful display of the gospel and how it changed the lives of people see the testimony. We believe this this truth, we believe, help us to believe help our faith when it's week help her fate to be stronger God where we were. We don't believe give us strength to believe the God help us to live in light of the resurrection that this life is not the end for us there is life beyond this and it's way better life than this life. Maybe not just live this life is living it from just this life to have fun and maybe live with purpose maybe be like Paul here say I die daily live. For this reason Savior help us.

Father, help us to do this we ask this in your name