The Resurrection

 
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ By Pastor Dan Kennedy © April 20, 2014 www.pastorkennedy.com Scripture Reading Luke 24:1–8 The Resurrection 24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 1 Corinthians 15:3–6 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, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. The Captivating Resonance of Eternal Life ¬ Is there a God? ¬ And, is there an Eternity waiting for us? ¬ What is the supreme importance of Jesus Christ rising from the dead? In our human heart, deep within all of us, we resonate with the thought of eternal life. If we have experienced a wonderful earthly life, we hope for a life even more wonderful, will continue on into eternity! If we have experienced great difficulty in this life, we somehow understand that there is something much more satisfying to come, than what we have ever experienced here! The Apostle Paul says that… … “The whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Romans 8:22-23 From a different perspective, if we are struggling with our relationship with God, we may conveniently choose to “stop believing in God” and “blow out the flame” of eternity in our minds. We must remember that simply “choosing” to mentally quench the flame of eternity does not dissolve the reality of the existence of God, or of the potent relevance that eternity, in actuality, brings with it. Choosing to disbelieve anything, does not remove the reality of its existence. The concept of eternity has been forged into the soul of mankind, not merely because of the fanciful susceptibility of our creative minds. The human mind may creatively project many imaginations about after-life, but we can do so only because we have the very real capability of stepping out of this life physical life into the unique perspective of eternity, when we die. Our conscious life will not die, but continues; and one day, when Christ comes, our spiritual consciousness will be fully clothed with a new, “glorified” and spiritual body. “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable… it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.” (1 Corinthians 15:42, 44) Jesus Christ’s Resurrection The supreme importance of Jesus Christ rising from the dead is the reality and historical evidence of the conquering of death, the affirmation of eternal life and the hope of the Second Coming of Jesus Christ as The Eternal King of kings and Lord of lords. The Clarity of Creation We live on an amazing self-contained, life-sustaining Planet with self-cycling and recycling water, wind, and oxygen perfectly arranged in multiple Atmospheres. We live in an incredibly beautiful world. We live in an extremely complex world. • The earth is spinning at 1,000 miles an hour at the equator, giving us one dynamic of gravity. • The earth has magnetism, which not only gives anyone with a compass, clear directions, but which also buffers the earth from a bombardment of lethal solar winds carrying violent atomic particles from the sun’s solar flares. • The earth's oceans cover 141,600,000 square miles or 72% of its surface. It follows its path in the heavens and is so consistent. The ocean is home to the greatest diversity of major plant, animal, and microbial groups on Earth. The vast ocean area supports the life of nearly 50 percent of all species on Earth. www.reefnews.com/reefnews/infopage/oceans/ocean.html • The ocean is home to the greatest diversity of major plant, animal, and microbial groups on Earth. The vast ocean area supports the life of nearly 50 percent of all species on Earth. oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ocean_life.html Our Unique Planet, swarming with life in its vast waters, and every imaginable form of life and vegetation on its wildly beautiful land, is enormous evidence of God, our Creator. God did not create such profound life and diversity in order for life to eventually dissolve into nothing. The fundamental laws of physics even demand continuity – eternity! God’s Creation is critical evidence for eternity. How diverse, complicated and profound does our World, and our Physical Being need to be before Creation’s reality compels us to believe that There Is a God who Created all things…and that Eternity lies before every one of us? There would be no life on earth without gravity, without magnetism, without oxygen, without water, without amazing human bodies, without plant life… The Sun There would be no life on earth without the sun. The sun, at 93 million miles from us, is just the right distance from the earth. Any closer and we would burn up. Any further and our whole planet would freeze. The sun produces an enormous amount of powerful energy…enough energy to melt a bridge of ice 2 miles wide, 1 mile thick, and extending 93,000,000 miles - the entire way from the Earth to the Sun, in one second. Yes, every second the earth receives about four million tons of radiant energy from the sun. helios.gsfc.nasa.gov/qa_sun.html#power The sun and the earth are wedded together in our solar system in astronomical orbits that are always on time and absolutely essential for our well-being. The energy from the sun supports life on earth most often by photosynthesis, and its energy also drives the earth’s climate and weather. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_sun • We Live in an Incomprehensible Universe! • We Live in an Incalculable Universe with Trillions of Galaxies, each with Billions of Stars! • We Live in an Immeasurably Vast Universe The Universe is evidence of an All-Powerful God, our Creator! It is also Evidence of Eternity! With such an immense, diverse, complicated and profoundly • Incalculable Universe, • Bountiful Earth, • And unique Humankind, How spectacular does it have to be before our reason compels us to believe that There Is a God and that Eternity is a Reality? (And, that we should worship and serve Him?) The Creativity of Consciousness We think, reason, communicate, plan, respond, perceive right and wrong, organize, innovate, have discernment and premonitions, purpose, create and build… We have Consciousness. Consciousness gives life and spirit to our human body. Consciousness is evidence of God, our Creator, in whose Image we have been made. Consciousness is also evidence of Eternal Life! Could God have spoken His Powerful Word and immediately Created His own dynamic Eternal Kingdom filled with people? Yes, but those in that kingdom would only be robotic followers created with only a will to love and obey. But, such a Kingdom is not a kingdom at all. God is a Creator Powerful enough: 1. To Create all things, 2. To allow for human failure and rebellion against His will, 3. To Sacrificially Provide for human Redemption, through His Son, 4. To Raise His Son from the Dead, breaking the power of sin and death, 5. And, To Establish His Eternal Kingdom from among those He created, who by faith in Him, have trusted Him through fiery trials and serve Him with their whole hearts. The Problem of the Pollution of Corruption in this World which affects everyone. • Morality, • Sin, • Guilt, • Death, • and Judgment We may all seem strong at certain times of our lives, but even the most healthy, strong, robust, wealthy and brilliant among us eventually become sick and die…so unfortunately, in all honesty, we really are frail people – everyone is only a few heartbeats, a few breaths and brainwaves away from death…and we all die. God and Evil • Good exists and evil exists. • Like our own consciousness, we cannot see good and evil, but we know first hand that they exist, and they affect our life profoundly. • Each of us has a dilemma dealing with sin. • God, our Creator, is good and holy – but I am not. We all live in a temporary physical body. We touch, we see, and tangibly walk on the surface of this earth, and each of our physical bodies will turn into dust one day. The Pollution of Corruption in our world is a graphic reminder of the constant battle between Good and Evil…if there is evil, there is the certainty of good. Good is the Character of God, our Creator. Evil is the sinister spirit undergirding that which is against God. Judgment is a certain outcome unless there is forgiveness and cleansing. If you have felt the uncomfortableness of guilt (and we all have), you may have also felt the realistic foreboding of judgment! God’s Holy Spirit compels us repent of our sins to seek the redemption and forgiveness through the precious, atoning blood of Christ. John 16:8–11 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. 2 Corinthians 5:10 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 1 John 2:28 28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming. The Compelling Truth of the Gospel ¬ The Gospel is God’s Good News responding to the Reality of Eternal Life! ¬ The Gospel is God’s Response to Personal Sin. ¬ We often do not meet our own expectations…and none of us meets the Standard of God’s Holiness . ¬ We have all done things that make us feel guilty. All of us have sinned. ¬ Christ Died for our Sins on the Jewish Passover…as the Passover Lamb for the World. ¬ He was buried with His tomb sealed and guarded by the Romans – because He was dead. ¬ After the third day Jesus Christ Rose Again from the Grave. ¬ After His resurrection, on Sunday morning, He was seen alive by women who came to the grave bringing burial spices, by His disciples, and others, including over five hundred people at one time, most of whom were living witnesses at the time of the writing of 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. (Matthew 28; Mark 16; Luke 24; John 20-21) ¬ Jesus ascended into heaven in the presence of His disciples, with angels telling those who watched Him ascend, that He would come again in like manner. (Luke 24:50-53; Acts 1:9-11) “The Gospel” 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 3 … “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” …. Christ’s Death and Resurrection broke the Power of Sin and Death Hebrews 2:14–15 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Five Reasons for the Gospel Acts 26:17–18 (From Paul’s recounting his conversion before King Agrippa) 17 I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them… A. 18 to open their eyes B. and turn them from darkness to light, C. and from the power of Satan to God, D. so that they may receive forgiveness of sins E. and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Calling on the Lord for Salvation Romans 10:9–10 9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Romans 10:13 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Dear Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner, I repent of my sin and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from running my own life, and now I ask you to run it. I invite You to come into my heart and life. I trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ Name, amen. Christ’s Death and Resurrection Breaks the Power of Sin and Death 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 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, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers 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. • Christ died, was buried and He Rose Again. • Many saw Him alive after His Resurrection. • His disciples gave their lives in the years following Jesus’ Resurrection and Ascention proclaiming the authentication of His Resurrection. Christ’s Resurrection is the Foundation for Our Resurrection and Eternal Life. God is a Creator Powerful enough: 1. To Create all things, 2. To allow for human failure and rebellion against His will, 3. To Sacrificially Provide for human Redemption through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ, 4. To Raise His Son from the Dead, breaking the power of sin and death, 5. And, To Establish His Eternal Kingdom from among those He created, who by faith in Him, have trusted Him through fiery trials and serve Him with their whole hearts. Could God have spoken His Powerful Word and immediately Created His own dynamic Eternal Kingdom filled with people? Yes, but those in that kingdom would only be robotic followers created with only a will to love and obey. Such a Kingdom is not a kingdom at all. God’s Plan to Establish His Eternal Kingdom God Himself established the Eternal Plan for His Kingdom before the creation of the world. He created each person with an individual will and personal choice, capable of rebellion, sin and death. God the Father, sacrificed His own Son to Redeem this sinful race, at just the right time in the history of the world. Jesus Christ broke the power of sin and death through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. Those who, by His Grace, through faith, repent from sin, and trust in Him for salvation are born into His Kingdom. These are those who follow and trust Him through the amazing joys and the egregious trials of this life. For thousands of years God has been bringing those into His Kingdom, from every tribe, generation, language, nation and race, who love and faithfully trust in Him and follow Him. Now, that is an Eternal Kingdom! This is the Reason for Christ’s Resurrection! “He is Risen!” He is Risen Indeed! Addendum 1 Corinthians 15 – The Resurrection of Our Body A Reminder of the Gospel by which we are Saved…founded on Jesus’ Resurrection 15 Now, brothers, 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. • Of First Importance a. Christ died for our sins – according to the Scriptures b. Christ was buried c. Christ was raised on the third day – according to the Scriptures • After Christ’s Resurrection, He appeared: • To Peter • To the twelve • To more than five hundred at the same time (most were still living at the time of this letter being written) • To James • To all the apostles • To Paul on the road to Damascus 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, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers 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. Paul’s feeling of Unworthiness 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. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed. The Resurrection of the Dead – Consciousness and the New Body 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 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. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. 29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame. The Resurrection Body 35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 All flesh is not the same: Men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. http://www.pastorkennedy.comshapeimage_1_link_0