Sunday, April 16, 2017 - The Resurrection of Christ
Pastor Roger Marcos
April 16, 2017
If we want to see the LOVE of GOD, where must we look? What a great event demonstrates and proves that God is a God of LOVE.
If we want to see the POWER OF GOD, where must we look? What a great event demonstrates and proves that God is a God of POWER?
When God wants to demonstrate His GRACE and MERCY, what does He point to Ephesians 2:7 THAT IN THE AGES TO COME HE MIGHT SHOW THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE IN HIS KINDNESS TOWARD US IN CHRIST JESUS.
As Christians we must not only believe in the resurrection but we should also know WHY we believe! Our FAITH is founded upon FACTS and the greatest FACT of all is that "GOD...RAISED UP JESUS"
Resurrection Sunday - is a happy day for Christians, as they believe that Jesus rose from the dead, and that this resurrection symbolises that death is not the end.
Text: Matthew 28:1-10 1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10
And Easter Sunday is the day when Jesus emerged from his tomb after his crucifixion, proving there is life beyond death.
WHAT BENEFITS WE CAN GET IN HIS RESURRECTION?
1. Forgiveness for Our Sins.
As we think about the resurrection in relation to our sins, we must recognize that only because of the resurrection of Jesus can we have forgiveness for our sins.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Bible says that “because of our sins Jesus was handed over to die, and he was raised to life in order to put us right with God” Romans 4:25, we are enemies of God- Rom. 5:10;
If we see Jesus as merely dying on the cross and being buried in the tomb, there is no hope and no forgiveness for us. It is his resurrection that gives us the assurance that Jesus has overcome death and won a great victory for his people. It is the resurrection that makes all the difference and puts us right with God.
This story perfectly illustrates the state of mind of the disciples when Jesus died. Jesus had made the claim that he was God. His disciples can’t really understand His purpose their sadness tell the frustration and being hopeless.
He said that he had come to seek and to save the lost (Luke 19:10), and to give his life as a ransom for many Mark 10:45
But then he was crucified.
It was a terrible day. At noon the sun suddenly disappeared and everything became frighteningly dark. There was an earthquake. Events took place that caused even the Roman centurion to exclaim, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54).
Then Jesus died and his body was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:57-60). The message that rang out to all the world was: “Jesus defeated! Jesus defeated!” And all the disciples were gripped by discouragement and defeat
But then, three days later on Easter Sunday morning, came the resurrection! Three days after Jesus was buried, he rose physically and bodily from the grave. Then the entire message came through: “Jesus defeated the enemy!” The discouragement of the disciples was banished and they rejoiced at the good news.
When Jesus died on the cross of Calvary, he paid the penalty for sin. When he died, he defeated Satan. On the cross he conquered our enemy.
The resurrection was God’s stamp of approval. The resurrection was God saying, “Jesus, I accept your death as a substitute for guilty sinners.”
And because of Jesus’ resurrection, we can be confident that God forgives us all our sin.
Speaking of Jesus, the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
You know, there is no other way to heaven except through the risen Lord Jesus Christ. His death paid the penalty for sin. His resurrection proved that God accepted his death as a sufficient payment for sin. His resurrection guarantees that God will forgive us our sin when we sincerely and wholeheartedly cry out to him for forgiveness.
So, the first benefit of Jesus’ resurrection is forgiveness for our sins.
2. Hope For Future Destiny.
Finally, the second benefit of Jesus’ resurrection is hope for future destiny.
The resurrection guarantees forgiveness for past sins. It guarantees power for present living. And it also guarantees hope for our future destiny.
If Jesus was not raised from the dead, we would have no hope for the future. But because he is alive, we do have hope. We know that all that he said is true.
The apostle Paul said to the Corinthians, “By his power God raised Jesus from the dead, and he will raise us also” (1 Corinthians 6:14). What a magnificent promise that is! The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will one day raise believers back to life as well!
Jesus said to his disciples (in John 14:1-2) just before he was crucified, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.”
Conclusion:
There may be someone here today who does not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
You know that your sins are not forgiven. Or you are not sure that they are forgiven.
You know that Jesus is not real to you in your daily life. And you know that if you were to die today, you have no sure hope of going to heaven.
I say to you today that because of the resurrection of Jesus you can have your sins forgiven. You can know the power of Jesus in your daily life. And you can have a hope for your eternal destiny.