SUBJ: A Consideration of the things
that have come to us as a result of the Resurrection of Christ.
AIM: That our hope would be based
in His resurrection – To provide an Resurrection meditation.
INTR: 1. A narrative of the Way
of the Cross and the Crucifixion -- The ordeal in the Garden
including His prayer and betrayal -- To Annas and then to Caiaphas
and the Sanhedrin -- Peter’s denial -- Condemnation and then to
Pilate -- To Herod and then back to Pilate, the release of Barabbas
and the scourging and mockery. -- Then to the cross – Via Dolorosa
2. The ordeal of the cross and the Gospel there: -- The Word of
forgiveness -- The Word of Salvation -- The Word of affection
-- The indescribable Word -- The Word of human suffering -- The
Word of commitment and contentment and -- The Word of completion – It
is finished! 3. A most dismal scene causing us to visit the lowest
ebb in His existence and the backdrop against which victory is declared.
4. And then the Resurrection – and salvation assured thereby!
THESIS: Whatever benefit; whatever
assurance; whatever hope we have in Christ proceeds from His
resurrection.
I. Our Witness is unto Christ (vv 12-15) 1. Our
resurrection is inseparably tied to His both now and in the future. Vv.
12-13 2. What do we preach and what do we believe? V. 14 3. To
deny bodily resurrection is to deny His resurrection – and the things
that come from it. 4. But, our witness is from a lively hope because
of it 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again
unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
5. Life and immortality brought to light: 2 Timothy 1:10 But is now made
manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through
the gospel: 6. We witness to the hope of resurrection in the face of
death. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 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.
II. Our Position is in Christ (vv. 16-19) 1.
Without the resurrection there is no real object to faith. 2.
Consider the meaning of “raised for our justification” in Romans 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification. 3. The position of a saved life: Romans 5:10 For if,
when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son,
much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 4.
Assured by our position in Christ: Job 19:25-27 For I know that my
redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the
earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my
flesh shall I see God: 27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes
shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.
5. The position we are to which we are raised: Ephesians 2:6 And hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in
Christ Jesus: 6. We must see Christ as the substance of Resurrection:
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:
III. Our Confirmation comes from Christ (vv. 20-23) 1. The narrative
of the resurrection and our cause for rejoicing that not only did He
raise, He is risen. 2. “But now is Christ risen from the dead…” – All
are made alive in Christ. 3. A testimony indeed: Matthew 27:52-53 And
the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the
holy city, and appeared unto many. 4. The work of Christ is to bring
about the resurrection of His own through His resurrection: John 6:39-40
And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he
hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the
last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one
which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life:
and I will raise him up at the last day. AND see also: John 6:44 No man
can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I
will raise him up at the last day. 5. Bodily resurrection is a
Spiritual issue: Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in
you. 6. Our expectation: Psalms 17:15 As for me, I will behold thy
face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy
likeness.
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