I'm going to be speaking today on the resurrection
of Jesus Christ and the resurrected life. We're
going to be looking at a number of scriptures,
but for our beginning text, we're going to turn
to the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 15. This
chapter is considered by many, and I would include
myself in this. It is the magnum opus. That is
the greatest work. In the description of the
resurrection and its theological implications
in all of scripture. But for today, for right
now, we're just going to go to verse 20 to 22
and read these at the beginning of this sermon.
But now Christ is risen from the dead and has
become the first fruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For since by man came death. By man also
came the resurrection of the dead. For as in
Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be
made alive. Let's pray and ask for the Lord's
blessing on this time in the Word together. Our
Father and our God, we come before you, Lord,
looking to you today. We pray that as we look
into your Word and this great subject, We ask
that you would be with us, Lord. We pray that
you would open up your word to our hearts, to
each one of us, Lord. I pray that you would illuminate
us by the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that
I might be able to speak the words, Lord, that
are pleasing to you as we look at this wonderful
subject. And we ask for your blessing on us all.
In Christ's name, amen. The greatest day in human
history. was the day of Jesus Christ's resurrection
from the dead, which we especially celebrate
today on this Resurrection Sunday. This is the
day when Jesus rose bodily from the dead, on
the third day after his cruel death on a Roman
cross, somewhere around the years of A .D. 30
to A .D. 33. Having been accused by the Jewish
leaders who hated him, he was tried during the
rule of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect, during
the Jewish Passover season. And then he was buried
in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. On the
third day, early in the morning, that is the
first day of the week, he overcame the bounds
of death and his body came to life again. And
he burst out of the tomb despite it being sealed
with a large stone and having a whole watch of
soldiers around to make sure that nothing would
happen. This is described in great detail in
all of the Gospels with the angel's announcement
that said, He is not here. He has risen just
like he said. Then Jesus appeared to his followers
multiple times. This account is central to the
Christian faith. And it is of first importance.
As the apostle Paul declares in 1 Corinthians
15 verse 3 and 4. For I delivered to you first
of all that which I also received. Now why is
the resurrection considered the greatest day
in history? There are several reasons and I have
a few of them here. First of all, it defeated
death and sin for all who believe in Jesus Christ.
Without this, Our faith is futile and we remain
in our sins. As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15
verse 17, And if Christ is not risen, your faith
is futile, you are still in your sins. His resurrection
defeated death and sin for all who believe. Secondly,
it changed the course of history. Because of
the fall of Adam, the entire human race is under
the power of death. and of sin. For as in Adam,
all die, the scripture says. The resurrection
opened the way to forgiveness, it opened the
way to new life, and it brought eternal hope
for all who believe that we also will rise again
one day. Even so, in Christ, shall all be made
alive. Third, it is the foundation of the Christian
faith. The early church preached it as the pivotal
event in Acts chapter 2, in Acts chapter 17,
and a number of other places. It distinguishes
Christianity from all other religions. That Jesus
Christ rose from the dead. And finally, number
four, because of Christ's resurrection, there
is assurance of life after death. And the promise
that whoever believes in him shall not perish
or be condemned, but will obtain eternal life
and glory and honor and immortality. This is
the promise of the resurrection and it is its
effect. Thus, it is considered the greatest day
in history. Today, I will be reading a number
of portions of scripture. so that the scripture
will speak for itself on the account of the resurrection
and its impact. And then we're going to look
at a few portions of the epistles on the resurrected
life. So there's going to be a fair amount of
the reading of scripture today. And we're going
to begin with the account of the resurrection
in Matthew chapter 28, verses 1 through 20. Now
after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week
began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great
earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended
from heaven and came and rolled back the stone
from the door and sat on it. His countenance
was like lightning and his clothing was white
as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him.
And they became like dead men. But the angel
answered and said to the women, Do not be afraid.
For I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here, for he is risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay, and go
quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen
from the dead, and indeed he is going before
you into Galilee. There you will see him. Behold,
I have told you. So they went out quickly from
the tomb with fear and great joy. and ran to
bring his disciples word. And as they went to
tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,
Rejoice! So they came, and they held him by the
feet, and they worshipped him. Then Jesus said
to them, Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brethren
to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.
Now while they were going, behold, some of the
guard came into the city and reported to the
chief priests all the things that had happened.
And while they assembled, When they had assembled
with the elders and consulted together, they
gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying,
Tell them, his disciples came at night and stole
him away while we slept. And if this comes to
the governor's ears, we will appease him and
make you secure. So they took the money and did
as they were instructed. And this saying is commonly
reported among the Jews until this day. Then
the eleven disciples went away into Galilee.
to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for
them. When they saw him, they worshipped him,
but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to
them, saying, All authority in heaven and in
earth has been given unto me. Go, therefore,
and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit. teaching them to observe
all things that I have commanded you. And lo,
I am with you always, even to the end of the
age. Amen. Now in the Gospels, we have four accounts
of the resurrection. This is something that each
of the Gospels brings out very clearly. Again,
showing how central... This is how important
it is. There are many gospels where some will
teach of a certain parable or some will give
another account of one that another does not.
And then John gets into a lot of theological
discourse about who Christ was. And so we see
a beautiful view in all of the gospels of Jesus
and his life on the earth. But all of them speak
of the resurrection. I'd like to quickly go through
a harmonized account from the Gospels. This is
taken from Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and
John chapter 20. First, there was the women at
the tomb. This is in the sequence of the day.
The women at the tomb came very early on the
first day of the week. This was on Sunday, and
we just read about this. It was still dark, and
several women came. There was Mary Magdalene.
There was Mary, the mother of Jesus. There was
also women named Salome, Joanna, and others unnamed.
And they went to Jesus' tomb. Why? To anoint
his body with spices that they had prepared.
They had watched his burial on Friday, and then
they rested on the Sabbath day according to the
commandment. But as they approached, they were
wondering, who is going to roll away this stone?
Because there's a large stone that was put there
and it was sealed tight. And it was big enough
that the women would not be able to move it.
So how were they going to get in and put these
spices on the body of Jesus? And then suddenly
this great earthquake occurred. And the angel
of the Lord at the same time then descended from
heaven and he rolled back the stone and he sat
on it. His appearance was like lightning, and
his clothes as white as snow. And the guards
who were stationed there at the tomb, they saw
what was happening, but they could do nothing
about it. They shook with fear. It says they
became like dead men. And yet, they could see
it happening. Entering the tomb then, the women
found it empty. The body of Jesus was gone. Inside
they saw either one or two angels in shining
garments, sometimes described as a young man
in a white robe. And the angel said, Why do you
look for the living among the dead? He is not
here. He is risen, just as he said. Remember,
he told you. While he was still with you in Galilee,
the Son of Man must be delivered over to the
hand of sinners, be crucified, and on the third
day be raised again. Now the angels instructed
the women to go and tell the disciples and especially
Peter that Jesus had risen and would meet them
in Galilee just as he promised. So the women
were filled with trembling and with joy and with
awe and they left the tomb quickly and they ran
to tell the disciples. And on the way, the risen
Jesus himself met them. They fell at his feet.
They worshipped him and clasped his feet. Jesus
said, Do not be afraid. Go tell my brethren to
go to Galilee, for there they will see me. Now
John records that Mary Magdalene ran ahead to
tell Peter and John. Secondly then, Peter and
John come and investigate the empty tomb for
themselves. Mary Magdalene had reached the disciples
first, and she reported, They've taken the Lord
out of the tomb, and we don't know where they
have put him. Peter and the beloved disciple,
that is John, ran to the tomb. John arrived first.
He stooped and he saw the strips of linen lying
there but did not go in. Peter entered, saw the
linen cloths lying there and the cloth that had
been around Jesus' head folded and placed separately.
John then went in. He saw. and believed, they
still did not fully understand from the scripture
that Jesus had to rise from the dead, so they
returned home. Well, then Jesus appears to Mary
Magdalene. She returns to the tomb, and she stood
outside, just weeping. As she wept, she stopped.
She stooped down and she looked into the tomb.
She saw the two angels in white sitting inside
where Jesus' body had been. One at the head and
another at the feet. And so they said, Woman,
why are you weeping? She replied, Because they
have taken away my Lord and I do not know where
they have laid him. She then turned around and
she saw Jesus standing there. And she mistook
him for the gardener. Jesus said, Why, woman?
Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking? She
thought he was the gardener, supposing him to
be. She said to him, Sir, if you have carried
him away, tell me where you have laid him, and
I will take him away. And Jesus said to her,
Mary. She turned and said to him, Rabboni, which
is to say, Teacher. And Jesus said, Do not cling
to me, for I have not yet ascended to my father,
but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending
to my Father and your Father, to my God and your
God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples
that she had seen the Lord and that he had spoken
these things to her. Now, a little later in the
day, there were two men who were traveling the
same day to a village. This was a village called
Emmaus. This was about seven miles from Jerusalem,
and they were talking about all of these things
that had just happened in the last few days.
And as they conversed and reasoned, Jesus himself
drew near and began a conversation with them,
and he walked with them. Their eyes were restrained,
however, so that they did not know him. And he
said to them, What kind of conversation is this
that you are having together with one another
as you walk, and you're sad? And then there was
one, his name was Cleopas, and he answered and
said to him, Are you a stranger in Jerusalem
that you don't know about these things? You don't
know the things which have happened in these
days? And Jesus said to them, What things? So
they said to him, The things concerning Jesus
of Nazareth. He was a prophet, mighty in deed
and word before God. And all the people and the
chief priests and our rulers delivered him to
be condemned to death. And they crucified him.
We were hoping that he would be the one who was
going to redeem Israel. And now today is the
third day since these things have happened. And
certain women of the company who arrived at the
tomb earlier, they astonished us and they did
not find his body. And they came saying that
they had seen a vision of angels who said that
he was alive. And certain of those who were with
us went to the tomb and they found it just as
the woman had said. But him they did not see.
Then he said to them, O foolish ones, and slow
of heart to believe in all that the prophets
have spoken. Ought not the Christ to have suffered
these things and to enter into glory? And beginning
at Moses and the Psalms and the prophets, he
expounded to them in all the scriptures the things
concerning himself. Well, then they drew near
to the village where they were going, and he
indicated that he would have gone farther. But
they constrained him and said, Abide with us,
for it is toward evening, and the day is far
spent. He went in to stay with them. Now it came
to pass, as he sat at the table with them, that
he took bread, he blessed it, and he broke it,
and he gave it to them. Then all of their eyes
were opened, and they looked at one another and
said, Did not our heart burn within us while
he talked with us on the road and while he opened
the scriptures to us? Now, after he had... broken
the bread and given it to them, he just vanished
from their sight. And they were just left in
awe and wonder. So they rose up that very hour.
They returned to Jerusalem. They found the eleven
and those who were there with them gathered together.
And again they testified, the Lord is risen indeed
and has appeared to Simon. And they told him
about the things, they told them about the things
that had happened on the road and how he was
known to them. In the breaking of the bread.
Now that evening. Jesus then appeared to the
disciples in Jerusalem. And as they were talking
about these things. Jesus himself stood in the
middle of them. He just appeared. And he said.
Peace be to you. But they were terrified. And
frightened. And supposed that they had seen a
spirit. But he said to them. Why are you troubled?
Why do doubts arise in your heart? Behold. My
hands and my feet. Handle me and see. For a spirit
does not have flesh and bones as you see that
I have. Now when he said this, he showed them
his hands and his feet. While they still did
not believe for joy and marveled, he said to
them, Have you any food here? So they gave him
a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb. And
he took it and ate it in their presence. Then
he said to them, These are the words which I
spoke to you while I was still with you, that
all things must be fulfilled that were written
in the law of Moses and the prophets and the
Psalms concerning me. And he opened their understanding
that they might comprehend the scriptures. Then
he said to them, thus it is written and thus
it is necessary for the Christ to suffer and
to rise from the dead the third day. that repentance
and remission of sins should be preached in his
name to all nations beginning at Jerusalem. And
you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I
send the promise of my Father upon you, but tarry
in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued
with power from on high. So Jesus said to them
again, Peace to you. As the Father has sent me,
I also send you. And when he had said this, He
breathed on them and said to them, Receive the
Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins
of any, they are retained. Now Thomas, however,
called the twin, one of the twelve, was not with
them during this time when Jesus came. And so
the other disciples then told him when he came,
We have seen the Lord. But he said to them, Unless
I see in his hands the print of the nails and
put my finger into the print of the nails and
put my hand into his side, I will not believe.
So after eight days, his disciples were again
inside the room. And Thomas was with them this
time. Jesus came again. The doors being shut,
he stood in their midst and said, Peace to you.
Then he said to Thomas, Reach your finger here.
Look at my hands. Reach your hand here and put
it in my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said to him, My Lord
and my God. Jesus said to him, Thomas, because
you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed
are those who have not seen and yet believed.
The third time then that Jesus showed himself
to the disciples after he was raised from the
dead, he appeared by the Sea of Galilee as they
were fishing. This is in John 21. He performed
a miraculous, or he enabled a miraculous catch
of fish. He prepared breakfast for them on the
shore. And he restored Peter after his denial
by asking him three times, Simon, son of Jonah,
Do you love me? He then commissioned Peter to
feed and to tend his lambs and sheep. And he
prophesied of his death, called him again to
follow me. This was Jesus testing and probing
Peter after his threefold denial that had happened
after Christ's arrest. And through this, Jesus
restores Peter to fellowship. and he commissions
him to service. Finally then, Jesus led the disciples
out to the vicinity of Bethany. He lifted up
his hands, and he blessed them. While he was
blessing them, he was taken up into heaven and
sat down at the right hand of the Father. The
disciples worshipped him, and they returned to
Jerusalem with great joy. Acts chapter 1 adds
that the angels confirmed that he would return
again in the same way that he had ascended. And
then, of course, we have the Great Commission,
which we read in Matthew just before he ascended,
where he came, he proclaimed that all authority
had been given to him in heaven and earth, and
that as a result of that, in that power and in
that authority, they were to go and make disciples
of all. nations to baptize them to teach them
to observe all things that he has commanded them
and that his presence would be with them that
he would be with them always even to the end
of the age this then is a faithful narrative
of the gospels according to Matthew Mark Luke
and John these were four men who were moved by
the Holy Spirit and they wrote these accounts
of the life of Jesus and of his teaching Now,
the apostle Paul was the last of the apostles
to see Jesus, and he adds that he was seen by
over 500 brethren at once. of whom the greater
part remain to the present, but some have fallen
asleep. After that he was seen by James, then
by all the apostles, and last of all he was seen
by me also, as by one born out of due time. This
is in 1 Corinthians 15, but there is no record
of the Gospels about the 500, or about being
seen by James. Paul adds that in his dissertation.
Indeed, to the disciples he also presented himself
alive, the book of Acts says in chapter 1, after
his suffering by many infallible proofs, being
seen by them during forty days, and speaking
of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
The fact of this resurrection is so well attested
to by all of these witnesses. It is far, far
more than any court. would ask because in the
presence normally of one or two witnesses and
sometimes it's even some more circumstantial
evidence but as this according to the scripture
should be one or two witnesses every word shall
be established this is hundreds of them attest
to the fact that jesus rose from the dead now
what are we to make of all of this How then shall
we structure our lives in light of this glory?
We're going to turn now to the epistles and we're
going to see some great things and not nearly
all of them but we're going to look at a few.
These now are words of encouragement and comfort
to all believers in Christ Jesus. The first one
we're going to go to is the book of Colossians
chapter 2 verses 9 to 15. Paul here is extolling
in this chapter the glories of Jesus and how,
and I'm going to begin here in the verse, for
in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead
bodily. So in other words, Jesus was God. He
is the second person of the Trinity. There is
no question about His authority or who He is.
And in Him dwells the fullness, all the fullness
of the Godhead bodily. Furthermore, Paul continues
that you all, and he's speaking there to Christian
believers, you all as Christian believers, you
are complete in him who is the head of all principality
and power. In him you were also circumcised with
the circumcision made without hands by putting
off the body of the sins of the flesh by the
circumcision of Christ. You were buried with
him in baptism in which also This is astonishing.
Get this. In which also you were raised with
him through faith in the working of God who raised
him from the dead. You, being dead in your trespasses
and the uncircumcision of your flesh, he has
made alive together with him. Having forgiven
you all trespasses. Having wiped out the handwriting
of requirements that was against us. Which was
contrary to us. And he has taken it out of the
way. Having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed
principalities and powers. He made a public spectacle
of them. Triumphing over them in it. Therefore
we conclude from this and other passages. That
in one sense we. For us, the resurrection is
past. Now, not only in one sense. It is that
all who are saved have been raised with Christ.
Now, not only do we look forward to the resurrection
of our bodies when Christ returns in glory, but
our salvation is a resurrection from death unto
life. This is something that we cannot accomplish.
This comes from God. Salvation is of God who
calls the dead into life again. All who are in
Christ have been resurrected already. That is,
in the words of various of the teachings of the
epistles, we have been made alive, we have been
quickened with the life -giving spirit, and that
we are raised up together with Christ. In one
sense, it's what theologians call the already
and not yet. So in other words, this has already
happened, and yet we look forward to the resurrection
of the body. But this is what conversion is.
It is a turn from darkness to life. It is a turn
from sin unto righteousness. And this is done
by the work of the Spirit that is applied to
us, and it makes us alive and brings us awake
from the dead. From a dead sleep or the sleep
of the dead. So we have been raised with him
through faith in the working of God. Then he
continues on and this is an application of this.
Paul then right immediately after in Colossians
chapter 3 he says. If you then were raised with
Christ. Seek those things which are above. Where
Christ is. seated at the right hand of God. Set
your mind on things above, not on things in the
earth, for you died and your life is hidden with
Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life,
appears, then you shall also appear with him
in glory. Now there's two things given in this
passage then. To all who are raised from the
dead, to all who are raised with Christ, we are
given these two things here. Number one, seek
those things which are above. And second, set
your mind on things above. Right away, does this
mean that we're supposed to just forsake absolutely
everything and go out in the desert and just
look up to God in some way and just say, I'm
seeking things that are above. Are we supposed
to forsake everything like that? No, that is
not what the scripture is teaching. There are
many, many places that talk about the works of
a Christian and how we are to live and so forth.
This does not mean that we cannot plan or think
about meals or work or enjoyments of this life.
To set your mind on things above is what then?
It is to live in God's creation properly, first
of all, by acknowledging him as creator and Lord
and Savior, and then to live for him according
to his rules by the power of the Holy Spirit.
That's what it means. To seek those things which
are above. Yes, we continue to live in the earth.
We continue to do all that we need to do. The
many tasks and responsibilities that each one
of us have. But now we do them as unto Christ.
We do them thinking of Him and bowing before
Him and acknowledging that what He says is good
and right and true. And then we seek by the power
of the Spirit to be obedient to Him. That is
how we seek those things which are above. All
of life and creation belongs to him. And we can
no longer live according to our fleshly or sinful
desires. We are to renounce the hidden things
of shame and darkness. We're not to walk in craftiness
or handle the word of God deceitfully. And we're
to have a clear conscience before God and men.
For indeed, as Hebrews 4 verse 13 says, there
is no creature hidden from his sight, but all
things are naked and open to the eyes of him
to whom we must give an account. God's word is
sure. His law is perfect. And he gives it to
us for our instruction so that as we are raised
with Christ, we acknowledge his word and we seek.
To obey it. Not as the means of our salvation.
We are not saved by the keeping of his commandments.
But we are saved by a faith. A living faith that
works. And that is how we seek those things which
are above. And we set our mind on things above.
We are children of light. And we must walk in
light. For you were once darkness. But now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
Ephesians 5 in verse 8. And again in 1 John chapter
1 verse 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
cleanses us from all sin. So we have been raised
with him through faith in the working of God.
Number two. If we're raised with Christ then
seek those things which are above. Number three.
we take great comfort in the reality of the bodily
resurrection from the dead that lies in our future.
For all who have gone before and for our own
selves, all who are in Christ will rise again
and shall go to be with Him. Our corruptible
body that decays and turns back to dust will
be raised from the grave and we shall all be
changed and have a new life. resurrected body
for as the word of god says in first corinthians
chapter 15 verse 50 flesh and blood cannot inherit
the kingdom of god nor does corruption inherit
incorruption behold i tell you a mystery we shall
not all sleep but we shall all be changed in
a moment in the twinkling of an eye At the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound. And the
dead will be raised incorruptible. And we shall
be changed. For this corruptible must put on
incorruption. And this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption.
And this mortal has put on immortality. Then
shall be brought to pass the saying that is written.
Death is swallowed up in victory. Oh death where
is your sting? Oh Hades where is your victory?
The sting of death is sin and the strength of
sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which gives
us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is the great truth of the resurrection and
the resurrection power in us, in all who believe.
Now, this promise of eternal life is for all
who are in Christ. It is for all who have trusted
in Christ and who have been made alive by the
Spirit. If you do not know or trust Him, then
I invite you to flee from the wrath to come and
to repent and believe in Christ and obtain that
eternal life of which He speaks and promises.
Do not delay. The scripture is clear. Repent
and believe. Trust in him. Cast all your care
on him. And he will save all who cry out to him
for salvation. So the promise is for all who
are in Christ. Now know this and further. Your
labor is not in vain. In fact, the scriptures
teach your good works. They will follow you.
Again, they're not the method of salvation, but
they will follow you. Your labor is not in vain
in the Lord. Paul ends this great chapter in
chapter 15. He says, therefore, my beloved brethren,
be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor
is not in vain in the Lord. Are you going through
trials? Is it a difficult time for you right
now? Perhaps you're experiencing pain. Maybe
it's just you're tired. You're continually working
hard and you're trying to stay ahead of things
and you're seeking to take care of your family
and to provide for your wife and your children
or for those who are dependent upon you. And
you pour out your soul over and over again. Maybe
you're in some other type of ministry to people
in some way. And you're simply tired. Dear brethren,
dear brother, dear sister in Christ, be steadfast,
abound in the work of the Lord. Your labor is
not in vain in the Lord. God will bless you and
will reward you that even besides all of the
eternal life and the blessings that there are,
then he heaps upon blessings and rewards even
on top of that. Again, this is not, your works
are not your salvation. Don't think that you
can work your way to eternal life. No, it's a
gift from God. But then, your works follow after.
As John speaks about in the book of Revelation,
chapter 14. He says, I heard a voice from heaven
saying to me, write. Blessed are the dead who
die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit,
that they may rest from their labors and their
works follow them. Rest in Christ. Delight in
the resurrection. And then work hard for the
glory of God in all that he has given to you
and know that your works will follow you. Today,
We proclaim and believe that Jesus Christ is
Lord and Savior. He died on the cross. He rose
from the dead. He came out of the grave. And
He is declared to be the Son of God. He is the
Lord over all creation. He is the giver of good
gifts to His people. And so, dear people of God,
worship Him, exalt Him, and magnify His glorious
name. On this resurrection day. In the name of
the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Let us pray.