Reading …

Introduction …

  • BBC survey on the resurrection in 2017 reveals …
    • 31% of people claiming to be Christian do not believe in resurrection.
      • Probably only go to church at Xmas.
    • 41% of the population believe but not as the bible states.
    • 46% of the general population do not believe.
    • 31 % of Christians believe in the word for word account in the bible
    • 57% of active Christians (at least 1 per month) believe word for word
      • These are stats that come from a once bible based society.
  • Yet every sermon preached in Acts contains details of the resurrection …
    • And Paul leaves us in no doubt when writing to the Corinthians that without the resurrection of Jesus from the dead Christianity does not exist… 1 Corinthians 15:16-17 
  • Of course  the majority of people think that is a bit over the top …
    • Rising from the dead …That is just not possible …it can’t be literal
      • There is a more logical explanation… not word for word
      • Especially Paul's claim to have seen Jesus on the road to Damascus … fairy tales.
  • CNN News says it is all very vague …
    • According to the accounts in the Gospels nobody seems to recognise him 
    • Therefore there had to be a false impersonator.
  • Let us be quite clear about one thing …
    • If you believe in a literal resurrection and the accuracy of the bible account you are in the minority …
      • Therefore need to know what you are talking about. 

The critical importance of the resurrection …

  • The Scripture states categorically …
  • I believe that the 2 most important topics in the new testament are …
    • The resurrection of Jesus and the return of the resurrected Jesus to this earth for his church. 
  • These 2 topics are the ones most talked about is scripture.
    • They take up significant space in Old Testament prophecy and New Testament teaching. 
  • You may say what about the topic of salvation …
    • Yes of course it is vitally important but it hangs on the resurrection. 
      • If Christ has not been raised your faith is futile and you are still in yours sins … 1 Corinthians 15:17 
  • There are a ton of religions that one can follow …
    • Their messiahs, leaders, founders all made extravagant promises …
      • But they are all dead and buried …
        • And none rose from the dead. 
  • But the Bible hangs all of its claims on this one fact …
    • Jesus rose from the dead …as a fact of history
      • Disprove that point and you kill all of Christianity.

Critiques that failed…

  • So you only got one thing to do to destroy Christianity …
    • Disprove the resurrection … as a historical fact.
      • And the world has been trying to do it for centuries …
  • Frank Morrison … journalist and barrister …
    • Set out to discredit Luke as a historian and so kill the belief in the resurrection…
    • Eventually after years of research he produced his book entitled …
      • Who moved the stone …
      • The first chapter was entitled … the book that would not be written 
    • His research and study of the Bible caused him to become a firm believer in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
  • Lee Strobel …Journalist … outspoken atheist …
    • Set out to disprove the resurrection … he to wrote a book on his findings 
      • So well accepted that even a movie was made …
        • A case for Christ … 
      • He is no longer an atheist but a believer in the resurrection. 
  • There have been many other men who have endeavored to discredit the resurrection but have ended up turning to Christ Jesus for salvation. 
    • J. Warner Walker a detective
    • Josh Mc Dowell … Evidence that demands a verdict.  
  • They, along with many other men, failed in their initial objective of discrediting the resurrection, and instead turned to Christ and produced books that bring great glory to His name.

Consequences …

  • I continually remind myself and the few people I am able to influence that life is all about consequences …
    • When I accepted my wife's proposal of marriage 52 years ago I did not fully appreciate the consequences …
      • As I look back they have been wonderful …
  • Paul writing to the Philippian church details for us the consequences for Jesus when He left heaven to come to earth in human form …
    • Consequences for His coming …vs 6-8
      • Restrictions of humanity
      • Nowhere to lay his head
      • Rejected and despised of His own people
      • Murdered for being a good man
      • Mutilated beyond recognition by a hate filled crowd
      • Dying in agony. 
    • Consequences for dying … 9-11
      • Raised from the dead …
        • And exalted to the highest place
      • Given a name above every other
        • Jesus Christ is Lord …
      • Every tongue will confess…
        • In heaven, on earth, under the earth …

What does the Lord mean …

  • In Hebrew there are two words …
    • Yahweh … too holy for common use.

Adonay … common usage

  • In Greek … used in the Septuagent
    • Kurios …
  • In Latin … used for Caesar
    • Dominus .
    • The English word Lord means …
      • Superior, master, Dominant one, owner. 

Implications of Jesus lordship…

  • Jesus being made Lord means he has authority in all circumstances …
    • Universal authority …
      • And He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title, not only in the present age but in the age to come … Ephesians 1:21
  • Sovereign authority …
    • Peter discusses suffering for doing good as being part of our calling as Christians. In these situations we must set apart Christ as Lord knowing His eyes are always on us and the suffering is part of His sovereign will for us so that he can use us to achieve His purposes… 1 Peter 3:8-15
    • Jude refers to Jesus as our only sovereign and Lord … Jude 4
  • Personal authority …
    • Thomas in his confession said …
    • Paul writes to the Thessalonians and refers to our God and the Lord Jesus… 2 Thessalonians 1:1
    • Paul to Timothy … Jesus our Lord …1 Timothy 1:2
    • Jesus …
      • You can’t call me Lord and not do what I say …
  • Ultimate authority …

Consequences for recognising Lordship …

  • Joshua spoke to the Israelites and challenged them to make a choice to serve Yahweh or other gods …
  • What were the consequences for Israel for recognising Yahweh …
    • The Consequence of that recognition was His pouring out blessings on them …
    • Their protector, provider, sustainer and many other things. 
      • Gave them land, housing, crops etc. 
    • They became a great nation under David and Solomon
  • What are the consequences for disobedience …
    • The blessings were curtailed …
      • The protection, sustaining hand, provision were all stopped …
        • Israel had to care for themselves and it all fell apart. 
    • The consequences were massively negative.
  • So obedience to lordship brings blessing …
    • Thru disobedience blessing are withdrawn

What are the consequences of Resurrection …

  • By this Gospel you are saved …1 Corinthians 15:1-2
    • This Gospel dictates that we turn to Jesus for salvation …
      • He came, lived, died and rose from the grave …
        • In doing so he paid the penalty for our sins so that thru faith in His work we might go free. 
        • There is salvation in no other name… Acts 2
  • What must happen to receive salvation …
    • Confess Jesus is Lord … Romans 10:9
      • My Lord and my God …
      • My supreme master, owner, the boss.
        • Not my will but yours be done. 
    • Believe in your heart God raised him from the dead … Romans 10:9
      • Be assured that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ … Acts 2:36
      • Believe that the work He did as God’s lamb was complete
        • And in the language of John …
          • As I confess my sin He is faithful and just to forgive ALL unrighteousness… 1 John 2:1
  • The consequence of all this is I am pronounced …
    • A child of God…Born of God …1 John 2:29
      • Now I can call God my father …
      • Jesus the first born is my brother
      • All other believers are my family 
        • All of this because we are born of God …
    • At the coming of Jesus I am going to be changed and be like the resurrected Jesus … 1 John 3:2
  • With all of this in mind John says …
    • How great is the love the father has lavished on us… 1 John 3:1

Conclusion …

  • Having heard the message today there are consequences for all of us …
    • I will not have this man rule over me
    • MY Lord and MY God