“WHAT ABOUT YOU’RE RESURRECTION?”

 

1.        This morning religious groups are celebrating the resurrection of Jesus.

2.        Special services have been planned and are now being carried out.

3.        In some places extravagant programs are being presented.

4.        With most groups today is not a typical Sunday.

5.        At this congregation, things will not be any different.

6.        We have not planned any special programs/presentations.

7.        Our main reason for this is,

 

     A.  We do not use religious tradition as a guide. What other groups do is not” the basis for our belief           .

     B    The Bible is our only guide. Regarding the practice of Easter.  The Bible doesn’t recognize it

.

8.        Christianity started in approximately 33 AD.

9.        The first record that we have of an Easter celebration is 110 AD.

10.      77 years went by before Easter was celebrated.

11.      This practice was not one that Jesus or the apostles gave.

12.      This practice is not one that has come from God.

13.      Since this practice was not give by God, we do not treat it as the religious holiday.

14.      The Bible does emphasize Christ’s death burial, and resurrection.

15.      We remember these three acts every Sunday as scripture says.

16.      If you are visiting with us, we are delighted that you are here.

17.      We hope that the explanation that has been offered is helpful.

 

I.   SINCE THE WORLD IS SO FOCUSED UPON THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST, I ALSO WANT TO STICK WITH A RESURRECTION THEME.

 

     A.  My theme, however, is not the resurrection of Christ. Rather it is our own resurrection.

     B.   Some of the people in this room have experienced a resurrection.

     C.  There are also people who have not had this experience.

     D.  There are also people who have not had this experience.

     E.   The resurrection I am describing is explained in Rom. 6, today’s TEXT

     F.   If looking at this material we will find out whom?

           1)   Need’ to experience this resurrection,

           2)   What this resurrection brings people from, why this resurrection is important?

           3)   How this resurrection is accomplished, and when this resurrection occurs.

     G.  For those who have turned to Rom. 6, let’s read vs.: 1-5. READ

     H.  These 5 verses cover Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

     I.    To better visualize the thoughts, I have 2 graphic.

           1)   Jesus was on the cross; He died there.  After his death a soldier pierced the body

                 With a spear to his side.  This is recorded in Jn.19:34.

           2)   John then goes on to tell us what happened to the body.

           3)   Joseph of Arimathaea went to Pilate; asked for Christ’s body

           4)   Pilate allowed Joseph to take the body. Nicedemous also was involved according to Jn. 19:39.                    5)     Both men (John says “they”) bound Christ’s body w/linen cloth.

           6)   There was a garden close to the area where Christ was crucified.

           7)   In this garden was a new tomb. Jesus was laid in this tomb, Jn. 19:42.

     J.    Looking at the graphic, the first 2 pictures summarize Jn. 19.

     K.  Jesus died, His body was prepared for burial and He was buried.

     L.   Jn. 20 says that Jesus came out of the grave.  Vs. 9 of this chapter says, READ

     M.  Here is a major turning point in the Bible.

           1)   God’s Son has died, He was buried, and He has been raised.  This information is important.

           2)   These facts are to be presented to the world. Jesus said in Mk. 16:16 “Preach the Gospel.”

           3)   1st Cor. 15: 1-4 shows that the gospel includes Christ’s DBR.

     N.  Our first graphic does not portray the entire resurrection story.

     O. What we have on the screen is factual material.  There is also a practical side to Christ Res.

     P.   This practical material comes from Rom. 6 and our 2nd graphic.

           1)   Jesus died.  We all acknowledge that fact.  Rom. 6 teaches that we too are to die.              

           2)   Let’s read vs. 2 of Rom. 6 as Jesus died on the cross, we must die if we want to be saved.

           3)   The death that Paul describes is not a physical death.  Our death is a death of sin.

           4)   At the end of v. 2 Paul asked, “How shall we live any longer

           5)   As I was growing up I used to hear people say, “He is living in sin.”

           6)   This expression has lost some of its popularity.  This expression is a good; it is from scripture.          Q.     Before the Romans had been resurrected, they had lived in sin.

     R.   In our day and time, any adult person who has not been resurrected. Is living in sin.

     S.   People may not realize they are living in sin.  Good people may reason, “This doesn’t describe me.

           1)   I am a married person who is faithful to my mate.  I do not beat my husband (wife).

           2)   I am good to my children.  I work for a living.  I try to be a decent person.

           3)   I give money to the poor and help those who need help.  I am a good person.

     T.   In the book of Romans there is a message that is repeated many times.

     U.  Morality will not save us.  Good works will not save us.  To be save we must be resurrected.

     V.  Every adult who is not resurrected is living in sin.  No matter how a person is

     W. No matter how many good works he has done.

     X.  If you have not experienced the resurrection of Rom. 6 you need to.

           1)   The first step to being resurrected is death. Living in sin must be rejected.

\          2)   this type of life must end.  The Bible refers to this action as repentance.

           3)   Rom. 6:12 states the matter this way READ.  To be resurrected.

           4)   God says that we must desire to do His will.  Doing God’s will instead of sin’s

                 Will, must be come our desire.

     Y.  One we die to sin (make a mental commitment to change our life), we are on our way to,

     Z.   experiencing the needed resurrection the next step is marked as “burial” on the chart.

     A.  From Jn. 19 we learned that before Jesus was raised, he had to die and he had to be buried.

     B.   For us to be resurrected, we must follow the same process.  As just noted, we must first die.

     C.  With our death to sin comes the burial of our sins.

           1)   Let’s look again at vs. 4-4 of Rom. 6 READ. Paul says that we need to share in the

           2)   Likeness of Christ’s Death.  According to V. 5,

           3)   “If we have become united with him in the likeness of His Death, or

           4)   If we do not become united with him in the likeness…. V. 5 is making a statement about

           5)   Salvation.  If we want to be saved, we must share in the experience that part of this experience 

           6)   Is being “buried” with the Lord.  Death to sin is not enough.  We must also be buried.

           7)   How do we do this?  Look again at v. 4 – “buried THROUGH BAPTISM.

     D.  People have a lot of different ideas about baptism.  Rom. 6 helps us sort out the truth from error.

     E.   If we want to share in Christ’s resurrection, we must be buried with Christ (this requires                         F.     baptism). Rom. 6 makes baptism essential to salvation.

           1)   If we die to sin and are baptized, then we can be raised.

           2)   If we repent but we are not baptized, we are not buried.

           3)   If we are not buried, we cannot be raised up.

     G.  Baptism plays a part in our salvation according to Paul. This baptism must be a burial (vs.4)

           1)   Having, a small amount of training in a denomination, I didn’t think that the form of baptism

           2)   Mattered IE, people could be sprinkled, immersed, or have water poured over their heads.

           3)   When I discovered Rom. 6 I found the truth.  To be buried, one must go beneath the water             

     II    WHEN ONE GOES UNDERNEATH THE WATER, HE ALSO COMES UP OUT OF THE WATER.  AFTER THIS HAPPENS, OUR LIFE IS “NEW” ACCORDING TO v. 4.

    

A.  The word that is translated “newness” is an interesting word.

B. It means “new” in the sense that things are now different.

C. Something has changed.  Things are not as they were before.

     1)   Paul used the right word.  Before we were baptized, we had our sins.

     2)   Every violation we had committed against God was recorded.

     3)   We could have been successfully prosecuted for every wrong.

     4)   Because we were buried in baptism our sins are forgiven.

D. Our standing in God’s sight has been changed:

     1)   We were a lost sinner, after baptism, we are a saved saint.

     2)   Before burial in baptism, we were an enemy of God,

     3)   Since being buried & raised, we are now a friend of God.

     4)   Before our death and burial, WE WERE LOST.

     5)   After baptism we are raised up to a state of salvation.

     6)   Baptism is the final step to making a life new.  Without a changed life in God’s sight

     7)   It cannot happen.  Baptism is essential to being saved.

E.  The religion depart of the Goshen news phoned me last week I believe that they called every

F.  Religious group in town.  The reporter I spoke with has been kind each time I have spoken with them.

G. When she called this time, she asked what I would be preaching on today.

H. I offered this title – “A Sermon You Need to Hear.” I do not know of a better title/lesson.

     1)   Every adult in our world needs to hear the truth of Rom. 6.  Sadly, most will never hear that

     2)   They must experience a resurrection.  Most will die without experiencing the reuss. Of Rom 6.

I.   This is sad. Vs. 5 places a condition upon salvation.

J.  “If we have become untied with Him in the likeness of His death.

 

CONCLUSION:

1.  Friend, the Bible cannot make the plan of salvation any clearer.  If you believe in Jesus.

2.  If you want to live the Christian life.  Why are you waiting?

3)  What has been hindering you from being buried with the Lord & raised?  Do you not want a new life?

4)  Do you not want to stop being God’s enemy and be God’s friend?  Maybe this information is new.

 

5)  You would like to study the matter more carefully.  We will gladly do that...  See me or someone.

6)  Standing in the back.  Have you heard enough and are you  ready to experience the resurrection?