Three Guarantees of the Resurrection

Transcript

GRM 521
3/30/1997
Three Guarantees of the Resurrection
Selected Verses
Gil Rugh

It certainly is a thrilling message that is being proclaimed on what we know of as Easter Sunday morning, that Jesus Christ is alive. He lives. And the scripture tells us He ever lives, and He is seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven. You know with the thrill and excitement of the resurrection it is difficult to imagine what a shattering event the crucifixion of Jesus Christ really was for those who were following Him, for those who had committed their lives to Him as the Messiah of Israel.

Contemplate for three years He had traversed Palestine. He had gathered around Him a group of followers, the inner circle of which was the disciples. They were proclaiming that this is the Messiah of Israel. This is the One who will fulfill all the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament. He had done mighty, incontestable miracles. They had proclaimed, “Repent! For the Kingdom of heaven is at hand!” That Kingdom which will be established on earth over which the Messiah will rule, and the nation Israel will be the dominant people in the world. And then, one from within that inner circle of twelve betrayed Him to the Jewish leaders. In a few short hours He was taken, tried and crucified. And for these followers it would seem like their world had indeed collapsed. Where do we go from here? We were expecting a Kingdom. We were expecting a reign in glory and power. And we have a Messiah who has been crucified as a criminal, is dead, and buried. What next? The resurrection on that first Easter morning came as a dynamic, all-powerful display that indeed this is the Messiah. What He has promised is true and will come to pass.


You know I’m interested that at Easter we do a lot of polls and there has been a lot in the news magazines and so on, on people’s convictions. And a number have expressed surprise at how much faith there is in our country, how many people believe in God, believe in Jesus, believe that He was raised from the dead. But you know there are indications that something doesn’t quite come together. Because there are overwhelming numbers who believe the facts as we present them, that Jesus Christ really died, that He was really raised from the dead, and that there is truly a God. But these same people will answer related questions regarding Hell, regarding salvation, regarding judgement in a way that is totally inconsistent with what they profess to believe. I think it is of utmost importance for all of us to not only know something about the facts, such as there is a God, that Jesus Christ is the son of God, that Jesus Christ was crucified, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. But what does that mean? Do I really understand and believe these truths, (and they are truths) but do I understand and believe them in the way that God says I must if I am to experience the salvation that was being provided in Jesus Christ? If the polls that I have been looking at are any indication of the true beliefs of people in light of the scriptures, the vast majority of those who claim to believe in God, who claim to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was crucified and resurrected, are not truly born again, have not experienced the salvation that God provided in Christ. Because their answers to these questions would reflect a lack of understanding of the purpose and the meaning and significance.

If you have your Bibles, look at John 17. I just wanted to look at a few verses before we move into what will be the heart of what we talk about. John 17 closes Jesus’ ministry with His disciples. This last night of intimacy with this inner circle of followers began with a meal. John began his record of those events in chapter 13 of his gospel. Now as we come to chapter 17, Jesus closes this time with a prayer for His disciples. We come to chapter 18; He will be betrayed in the garden. So here we are at the conclusion of His ministry with His disciples before He will be taken to be crucified. Note what He says as He begins this chapter in prayer to His Father. “These things Jesus spoke, and lifting up His eyes to Heaven He said, “Father the hour has come, glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify You. Even as You gave Him authority over all mankind that to all whom You have given Him, He may give eternal life.”” You see the issue regarding Jesus Christ is the issue of life. It is the issue of eternal life, the life that comes to a person who enters into the salvation that God has provided. Here Jesus Christ says that God the Father has given to Him as God the Son this authority to give life. What is this life? “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”

This is at the heart of the message of Easter. You must know God and His son and you cannot have eternal life without a proper knowledge and understanding of Him, of who He is and what He has done. Then note verse 4, “I glorified You on the earth having accomplished the work which You have given Me to do. And now glorify Thou Me together with yourself Father, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.” Remarkable prayer. Jesus had stepped down from glory. Jesus did not begin His existence at Bethlehem. He is eternally God, dwelling with His Father. He set aside that glory when He was born at Bethlehem. Now as His earthly life comes to a conclusion, the intention of His death is to glorify and exalt God and result in His being restored to the glory that was His even before the world came into existence. So even though the crucifixion would come as a shattering event to the followers of Christ, it was part of the plan of God. Jesus Christ knew well where He was in that plan. What the events were that were about to unfold and that the climax would be the provision of salvation and the restoration of His glory.


The resurrection of Jesus Christ. I want to focus the significance of that resurrection with a few simple points this morning so that it is fixed in our minds. What does the resurrection of Jesus mean? There are three assurances in particular that we are going to look at. Three guarantees if you will of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Turn over to Romans chapter 4 in your Bibles, Romans chapter 4 and verse 25. It is in a section where Paul has written about the sinfulness of all humanity, that every single man, woman and child is a sinner. This is a message that we think almost spoils the joy and excitement of Easter. I came to church, I got all dressed up, I am happy, I am looking for a day of joy and here we go. That preacher at Indian Hills is going to launch into sin again. Well we understand that Easter weekend is about sin. And the reason there is joy and celebration with the resurrection of Christ is because the issue of sin has been dealt with. In writing the letter to the Romans Paul began by unfolding the reality of our sin. He gave a clear picture of that in chapter 3 in a setting that many of you are familiar with. Verse 9 of Romans chapter 3 says, “Are we better than they? Are Gentiles better than Jews or Jews better than Gentiles? No. For we have already charged that Jews and Greeks are all under sin. There is no distinction among human beings on this level.” We are all sinners. We are all fallen beings. In Romans chapter 3 verse 10 we are told, “There is none righteous, not even one. There is none who understand, there is none who seeks after God. All have turned aside, together they have become useless, there is none who does good, not even one.”

Discouraging and depressing statement in one sense. But it is in this context that the joy of the resurrection of Christ is really understood. If He was just a man who died, and even if He was resurrected, great, wonderful, so what? If you don’t understand something about your own personal sin and guilt, your celebration of Easter is really a rather meaningless event. You’re celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ. So what? The only reason this is an event we are celebrating is, we are sinners, lost and on our way to an eternal hell. Jesus Christ and His death on the cross was stepping in to take our place, to pay the penalty for our sin so that we might be forgiven, be born into God’s family and be on our way no longer to hell but to Heaven.


So, in Romans chapter 4 verse 25 we are told, “He who was delivered up because of our transgressions and was raised because of our justification.” Jesus Christ was delivered because of our transgression, He was turned over for crucifixion because of our sins, our transgressions, our guilt before God. That is why He had to go to the cross. The Bible tells us that when He hung on the cross He was bearing the penalty for our sin. Second Corinthians 5 verse 21 says, ?God made Him who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. That is what was taking place at the cross. He was delivered over because of our transgressions. That is why I say it is remarkable that such a large number of people express faith in God, who say they believe that Christ died on the cross and was raised again, but these same people are uncomfortable when they are talked to about it in the context of sin. Do they believe that people are sinners and on there way to hell and those who don’t believe in Christ will be lost? All of a sudden we get uneasy. But the reality of it is, is, that is the message of Easter Sunday morning.

Christ was raised because of our justification. The resurrection of Christ is the seal of a finished work. It is the testimony of Heaven that Jesus Christ in His death had paid the penalty for sin. He was raised up because of our justification. The word justification is a legal term. It means to be declared righteous. He was raised because righteousness had been provided for us. Remember 2 Corinthians 5:21? “God made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf. That we might become the righteousness (same basic word we have translated justification here), the righteousness of God in Him.” So that God could declare all who believe in Christ righteous. Because their penalty has been paid they are forgiven. In Romans chapter 6 verse 23 is a verse that many of you may have memorized, “For the wages of sin is death but the free gift of God is eternal life.” But you know where this eternal life is found, “in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Most people have not come to grips with the reality of their sin. Many of those who would admit to being sinners have not come to grips with the seriousness of what it means to be a sinner.

The penalty for our sin is death, physical, spiritual and eternal death. The three kinds of death that the Bible talks about. Physical death-separation of a person from their body. Spiritual death is separation of a person from God. Eternal death is separation from God for eternity in Hell. Now that is the penalty for our sin. Jesus Christ was paying that penalty on the cross. Because no one else could pay it. Isn’t is a tragedy that almost 2,000 years after Christ has died on the cross and been raised as a testimony to all mankind that He has provided salvation in God’s righteousness, by His death on the cross multitudes of people think they are going to get to heaven by keeping the 10 commandments. Multitudes of people think they’re going to go to heaven because they are religious or they attend church or they have been baptized, or they take communion. and on we go. But the testimony of the resurrection of Christ is, it is not possible for you to be saved in any other way, by any other means, but by recognizing what God says is true and humbly bowing before Him recognizing your sinful, unworthy condition, casting yourself on His mercy believing Christ died for you.

That’s the testimony of the resurrection of Christ and it is exciting. He was raised because of our justification. That means all that is necessary for me to become righteous in God’s sight, to receive the free gift of His righteousness applied to me is to believe what Christ has done. That’s the transaction that completes the work. When I by God’s grace understand and believe that Christ died for me the sinner, me personally, then the results of His death and resurrection are applied to me and I am forgiven. I am given new life in Christ.


You may want to turn over to Hebrews chapter 10, toward the back of your New Testament. Hebrews chapter 10. Look at verse 12 and the contrast between the priests of the Old Testament and the priesthood of Jesus Christ. And you will note verse 12, “But He having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” You know in the Old Testament tabernacle, in Israel’s worship, there were no seats provided for the priests. That was a reminder that when he was going about his priestly duties, his work was never done. Sacrifices, sacrifices, sacrifices, sacrifices. Never done. But Jesus Christ came as God’s high priest and He offered one sacrifice for all time.

Is that fixed in our minds? There is a major religious group that encompasses almost a billion people. And they speak of the ongoing sacrifice of Christ. That cannot happen. He offered one sacrifice for all time. He sat down. There is no repeating in any way of that sacrifice. The result of it is verse 10, “By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Christ once for all.” God’s provision, for us to be set apart as belonging to Him is the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. You can’t be saved by your good works. You can’t be saved by your church membership. You can’t be saved by giving money. You can’t be saved by being baptized. You can only be saved one way, through believing in Jesus Christ.

So the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the seal of a finished work. Salvation is complete. Now it is offered to you as a free gift. How do you receive this free gift? You believe what God has said. You are a sinner. You are under condemnation. You are on your way to hell. But Christ, God’s Son paid your penalty. You quit trusting your good works, your church, whatever and place your faith in Him.

A second assurance of the resurrection of Christ found in I Corinthians chapter 15. If you were listening to the words that were sung in the numbers from the Messiah, recognize the emphasis on the resurrection. Because our Redeemer lives, we will live also. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the pledge of a coming resurrection. It is God’s assurance and guarantee that we too will someday be raised from the dead. Salvation is provided by God not in the resurrection of Christ but in the death of Christ. The penalty for sin is death, not resurrection. But the resurrection is necessary as the completion of that work of salvation and demonstrates that Jesus Christ did indeed by His death on the cross pay the penalty for our sin. So Paul says in 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 12, “Now if Christ has preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead?”


There were all kinds of strange religious teachings going around. Some people get drawn into them. Sometimes with tragic consequences as we are so graphically reminded with the mass suicide taken place with the cult that thought they were going to catch the spaceship of the tail of the comet. How do people get drawn into this? Well in one sense, they are thinking more deeply about some issues than other people are. Some are totally occupied with what kind of car and clothes and house they are going to have. These people were thinking beyond that. Give them some credit. But the tragedy of it is they were ignoring the truth of what God had said.

Verse 13, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised.” Christ’s resurrection and the resurrection of those who believe in Him are inseparably linked together. “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” You realize that if Jesus Christ was not raised from the dead, then his death on the cross is no more significant than the death of the two thieves who were crucified with Him. His death is not more significant than the thousands of people that were crucified by the Romans during the time that they ruled. But we know His death was of special significance and totally unique because He was raised from the dead. But there are preachers today who say it doesn’t matter whether He was bodily raised from the dead or not. But it does matter. This is God’s testimony and God’s guarantee of our coming resurrection. Verse 17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless, you are still in your sins.”

And some people still haven’t grasped that. They think their faith will get them through. But you understand faith is no good if it is not placed in a valid object. These people who thought they were going to catch the spaceship when they committed suicide really believed it. They evidently believed it enough to be willing to die for it. But we all saw their bodies there. And the Bible tells us where they went as persons upon death. They didn’t catch a spaceship. Upon death a person is either in the suffering fires of hades or the glorious presence of God. But they had a faith, oh a genuine faith in the context they really believed it to be true. Some of you saw them giving their testimony before the cameras how much they believe this. That didn’t make it real. You have to come to grips. What you are believing must be true or your faith it worthless.

Verse 20, “but now Christ has been raised from the dead.” That’s a reality. That is truth, bodily raised from the dead, and He now is “the first fruits of those who are asleep.” Firstfruits, the picture comes from the Old Testament. Leviticus 3. We won’t turn back there. But at harvest time the Jews would come in and present before God the first ears of grain. That pictured the coming harvest. So here Christ’s resurrection is called a firstfruits. It is the guarantee and assurance that there are resurrections to follow. “For since by a man came death, by a man came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ shall all be made alive.” So, the assurance of coming resurrection. And Paul’s concern is the resurrection of those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior.


In that context this doctrine of resurrection includes the transformation of the bodies of those who are alive when Jesus Christ returns for those who are His own. And that is the end of I Corinthians 15 and part of which was sung in the Messiah number. “This perishable body will put on the imperishable; this mortal body will become immortal. Death will be swallowed up in victory.” That is the glorious hope of the children of God. When we die, we know that we as persons leave our body and go to be with the Lord. The Bible tells us to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. We are assured at a coming time these physical bodies will be called back to life in a transformed state, immortal. Then we who have died will move back into those bodies suitable for God’s presence for eternity. But there will be a group of people alive when Jesus Christ returns. And those who have believed in Him will experience instantaneous transformation of body, called glorification. So it becomes a body suitable for the presence of God in glory. It is guaranteed by Christ’s resurrection. His resurrection testifies to me that there is hope for the future that He was raised and I will be raised. God is sovereign; God is in control.

There is also resurrection for those who do not believe in Jesus Christ. That is a resurrection that will prepare them for judgement. They will be raised with a body that will not be susceptible to death and dying any longer. It will be able to endure the pain and suffering of hell for all eternity. The resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of coming resurrection. This is a glorious event for those who have believed in Him. He has promised us eternal life. And that salvation that brings us eternal life assures us even that these bodies will be transformed and made suitable for God’s presence. So the resurrection of Christ is a pledge of a coming resurrection. I believe in the coming resurrection of the body. Why? Jesus Christ was raised from the dead. That is a guarantee from God of our resurrection. Jesus said in John chapter 14 verse 19, “because I live, you shall live also,” speaking to his disciples.

There is a third area of assurance given in scripture regarding the resurrection of Christ. Turn back to Acts chapter 17 verse 31. Acts chapter 17 verse 31. Pick up with verse 30 for the sentence. The apostle Paul is preaching a sermon in Greece, Mars hill in Athens. Verse 30, “therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance [God has been patient; God has been tolerant] God is now declaring to men.” Here is God’s message to mankind. And we hear that God is speaking in different places. And supposedly there are apparitions of figures from heaven that have a special message. Let me tell you what God is saying from heaven today. “God is declaring to men that all everywhere should repent.” “That all everywhere should repent.” Entailed in that is a recognition that you are a sinner, an understanding of the consequences of that sin and desire to turn from that sin to the Savior.


Why should you repent? Because He, God, “has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a man whom He has appointed.” Well, I don’t believe in judgment. I believe in a God of love and mercy who would never judge and sentence anyone to hell. Oh, you understand there is proof that He will. “Having furnished proof to all by raising Him from the dead.” Understand what we are celebrating on Easter Sunday morning? God’s assurance, God’s guarantee of future judgement. I dare say that multitudes of people who have gotten up this morning and gotten all dressed up are attending churches or places of worship have not seriously considered that what they are celebrating is the guarantee given by God that there is a day when they will be judged before Him. In anticipation of that fact, in recognition of the reality of it, they better repent because the purpose of the judgement will be to determine eternal destiny. So the resurrection of Christ is the guarantee of future judgement. He has fixed a day.

You know what happens? Maybe in our homes, you tell your kids you are going to punish them for something if they don’t do what they are supposed to. You are watching them and you see they are not doing it but you keep delaying the punishment. Why? You want to give them a chance to change their mind. Sometimes you will remind them, you know I warned you there will be consequences if you don’t do what you are told. Yeah, I know. I know. You wait. You’re patient. But often what do they do? They take your patience as a sign there will be no consequences. That’s what is happening with many people with God today. You know what’s changed? People have been preaching judgment for centuries, for millenniums. God still hasn’t intervened. Be patient. He has fixed a day that has already been determined. We will come to that day. Then all mankind ultimately will experience judgment before the Judge of all mankind. That’s an awesome concept.

Hebrews chapter 9 verse 27 says, “It is appointed unto man once to die. And after this comes judgement.” Judgment, Hebrews chapter 13. We live in a day where morality has become relevant. People are proud to say, we’re living together, but we’re not married. We’re trying it out. Or, we see no reason to get married. They fail to consider that Hebrews 13 says, “Adulterers and fornicators, God will judge.” Well, I don’t know that He will. I know that He will. How do I know. He raised Jesus Christ from the dead. God is declaring to all men everywhere, you must repent. You’d better repent, because I have fixed a day in which I will judge every human being. That judgment will take place through the person of the One whose resurrection we are celebrating, Jesus Christ. He will be the Judge. How fitting. God will judge us, but it will be the second person of the triune Godhead. God who became a man, the one who experienced the suffering, who was tested in all points, like we are, yet without sin. The God-man will sit on the throne and will judge all.


Turn back to John’s gospel again, chapter 5. John’s gospel, chapter 5. Jesus Christ is speaking. And He says in John’s gospel chapter 5 verse 22, “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgement to the Son.” You see it’s God the Father’s intention that every single person born into the human race someday stand before the throne of His Son to be judged and sentenced for eternity. Look at verse 27 of John 5. “And He,” the Father, “gave Him,” the Son, “authority to execute judgement.” Why? Because He is the Son of man. It’s God’s intention that mankind be judged by a man, one of their own. Not only one of them, He is more than that, He is more than that, He is also God. So, His judgement will be prefect and complete. His judgement will search the motives and thoughts and intentions of our hearts. He will judge us as we truly are.

Look over to Acts chapter 10. Acts chapter 10, the apostle Peter is preaching to the Gentiles for the first time, the glorious message of Jesus Christ and His salvation, and note what he says in verse 42 of Acts 10. “And He ordered us to preach to the people and solemnly to testify that this is the one who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.” There is no escaping the judgment of Jesus Christ. He will judge the living and the dead. “Of Him all the prophets bear witness, that through His name, everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” You see what we need, in light of coming judgement is, we need forgiveness of sins. When I stand before that throne to be judged, Revelation, chapter 20, says at the last judgement that will take place, the books will be opened, and everything we have thought everything we have done will be set forth. You know what it says? There will also be a book there called the book of life. In that book of life are written the names of those who have believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior. Revelation chapter 20 says that everyone whose name is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire. They will suffer torment forever and ever and ever. You know why? No one will be saved by their works. That’s why Jesus Christ died. Remember, His resurrection is the seal of a finished work. It is the testimony that God has provided salvation, and you can find that salvation nowhere else. His resurrection guarantees there is a coming resurrection. That those who have believed in Him will receive glorified bodies to enjoy the glory of the presence of almighty God for eternity. Those who have not believed in Him will be resurrected with immortal bodies. Bodies that can never die, that can suffer the torments and agony of hell every moment of every hour of every day endlessly through eternity. And the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the guarantee of the future judgement.

Now, if the resurrection of Christ testifies that salvation is complete, indeed there will be coming resurrection and that there’s coming judgment wouldn’t you think that people with any ounce of thinking ability would say, I must give careful consideration to the issues involved. Why is the death of Christ on the cross worthy of such attention? Why is the resurrection of Christ worthy of celebration?

The reason is we are sinners. We are hopelessly lost in our sin, and we are on our way to an eternal hell. But God has intervened and there is salvation. There is no escaping judgement. Everyone. God has fixed a day. Jesus Christ will judge the living and the dead. Death will not be an escape for you. Long life will not be an escape. The living and the dead will appear before the throne. The issue will be your sin and Jesus Christ. Sinners we are. Guilty we are. If you do nothing more, you will spend an eternity in hell. You are already guilty and condemned. The sentence has been passed. But there is the opportunity for salvation in Christ. Certainly, the resurrection of Christ is worthy of all our attention and all our celebration.

As we close turn to Acts chapter 2. First sermon preached after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. At the heart of it is the message of Christ’s resurrection. Look at verse 22. “Men of Israel, listen to these words, Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles, wonders, signs which God performed through Him in your midst just as you yourselves know, this man delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to the cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death and God raised Him up again putting an end to the agony of death.” Jump down to verse 32, “This Jesus God raised up again to which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted at the right hand of God, having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you see and hear, the fulness of His salvation and the giving of the Spirit to those who do believe in Him.” Verse 36, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.” And who else but the eternal, sovereign God could take the sinful plans of fallen humanity and use them to accomplish a glorious salvation.

They crucified the Son of God, the Author of life but He is alive. And His life is the seal of a finished work, the pledge of a coming resurrection, the guarantee of future judgement. Have you really understood the significance of the death and resurrection of Christ for you personally? Have you really come to grips with the seriousness of your sin? Have you come to receive the free gift that is testified to by the resurrected life of the Savior who is alive? Let’s pray together.


Thank You Lord for such a wonderful salvation. Thank You for a Savior who is alive, that we don’t believe in a myth. We haven’t placed our faith in a story that was made up to entertain. But this is truth. This is reality. Lord may the facts of His death and His resurrection grip our hearts today. Lord for any who are here, visitors or regular attenders who have yet to receive the free gift of eternal life in Christ, Lord may these truths grip their heart in a real and life-changing way today as they repent, turning from their sin, believing in Jesus Christ. Lord may we never tire and never diminish in our enthusiasm as the redeemed for proclaiming the glorious truth that Jesus Christ is alive. Salvation is complete. Resurrection is coming. Judgement is sure but we have been forgiven. We praise You in the Savior’s name, amen.