WHY THE RESURRECTION

JOB 14.14; 19.26,27

INTRO. – All of secular history talks about Jesus Christ, His life, His death, and His resurrection. Encarta - Jesus Christ (between 8 and 4 bc-ad 29?), the central figure of Christianity, born in Bethlehem in Judea.

Early on the following Sunday, “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James” (Mark 16:1), going to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body for burial, found the tomb empty.

I.               THE RESURRECTION PROVIDES PROOF. ACTS 1:3

A.   That Jesus is the Son of God.

1.                Romans 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

2.                Acts 13:33  God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

3.                Luke 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

4.                John 20:20  And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

5.                Christ Appears after His Resurrection:

To Mary Magdalene Mr 16:9

To the other women Mt 28:9

To two disciples Lu 24:15

To the eleven disciples Lu 24:36

(To Peter) 1Co 15:5

To the eleven disciples Joh 20:26

At the Sea of Galilee Joh 21:1

To five hundred brethren 1Co 15:6

To James 1Co 15:7

At the time of his ascension Lu 24:50

To Paul at his conversion Ac 9:5; 1Co 15:8

II.         THE RESURRECTION PRODUCES POWER.        ROM. 1:16

A.   Job is a good example. What kept him going in such a horrific time of trouble?

B.   What gave Stephen the strength? Acts 7.55-60.

C.   Paul took the resurrection seriously.

1.                He became a great missionary.

2.                It strengthened him during the dark times of his ministry. 2 Cor. 11.23-

3.                It sustained him while Satan was buffeting him. 2 Cor. 12.7-9.

D.   What kept John the Apostle going on the Isle of Patmos? A clear vision of the resurrected Christ.

E.    Power

1.                Acts 4:33  And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

2.                1 Corinthians 2:5  That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

3.                2 Corinthians 13:4  For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

4.                Philippians 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

III.    THE RESURRECTION PROMOTES PREACHING.       1 COR. 15.11-16

A.   Paul’s motive behind his preaching was the resurrected Christ that he saw, heard, and was saved on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9.20

B.   Why is this church here?

C.   Why am I here?

D.   Why do we support missionaries?

E.    Why do we witness?

IV.       THE RESURRECTION PROMISES PEACE.                 1 COR. 15.17-20.

A.   Peace and happiness is a result of salvation through a risen Lord.

1.                John 20.19-21

2.                Phil. 4.6-9

I.                 THE RESURRECTION PROVIDES PROOF

II.             THE RESURRECTION PRODUCES POWER

III.         THE RESURRECTION PROMOTES PREACHING

IV.           THE RESURRECTION PROMISES PEACE