(pt99) Matthew

Q: What does the Bible say about the resurrection of Christ?

The Bible states that Christ rose from the dead as prophesied, signifying victory over sin and death. The resurrection of Christ is a central tenet in the Bible, signifying the fulfillment of God’s promises and His sovereignty over life and death. Matthew 28:6 records the angel proclaiming, 'He is not here, for he is risen, as he said.' This event assures us that Jesus is indeed the mighty God, having power over death, as stated in Romans 4:25, where it highlights that Christ's resurrection is the basis of our justification. The resurrection affirms that redemption is accomplished and justice satisfied, confirming all that Christ did during His life including His incarnation and sacrificial death.

Q: How do we know the resurrection is true?

The resurrection is validated through numerous eyewitness accounts recorded in Scripture and the transformative impact on early Christians. Evidence for the resurrection's truth is presented through many eyewitness testimonies recorded in the New Testament. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul lists those who witnessed the risen Christ, stating He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, many of whom were still alive to confirm this claim. The early Christians' willingness to suffer and die for their belief in the resurrection further strengthens its credibility, as seen in Acts 4:10-12, where Peter boldly proclaims the resurrection in the face of opposition. This historical affirmation, alongside the changed lives of believers, points to the undeniable truth of Christ's resurrection.

Q: Why is the resurrection of Christ important for Christians?

The resurrection assures Christians of their redemption, victory over sin, and the hope of eternal life. The resurrection is crucial for Christians as it solidifies the foundation of their faith, assuring them that redemption has been accomplished and justice satisfied through Christ's sacrifice. Romans 6:5 teaches that 'if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection,' thus offering believers hope for their future resurrection. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, guaranteeing that just as Christ was raised, those who believe in Him will also be raised to eternal life, underscoring the promise of John 11:25 where Jesus declares Himself as the resurrection and the life.

Psalm number 94, and I want to begin with verse 12. Psalm number 94, beginning at verse 12. We read these words. from the days of adversity until the pit be digged for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance, but judgment shall return unto righteousness, and all the upright in heart shall follow it.

And this is the verse that I chose in reference to the resurrection. Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Now, I know it says evildoers, like those that might be doing evil against us, but that's the battle that we talked about last Sunday, the battle that goes on in each and every one of God's people. The evil, the worst enemy that I have in this world is John Reeves. He's the one that I see the greatest sin of in all of this world. So when he says, who will rise up for me against the evildoers, That can be applied to me, or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity. Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I said my foot slippeth, Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

Like I said, we're gonna need our Bibles tonight, folks, so if you wanna take a moment and turn to Matthew chapter 28 before we begin, we will begin with the handout. I wanna bring some things to set the table. We'll also be looking at 1 Corinthians chapter 15, if you wanna mark that. A couple of different places in the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians.

And I'll begin with the title for tonight's study, He is risen as He said. And I said that slowly. I want that to sink into us. Our Lord has risen from the dead exactly as He has said. And there's so many places for us in the Bible to look at. We'll spend our time tonight considering these words. And I want to begin with opening the things that He has said.

From Matthew 16 verse 21, it says, from that time forth began Jesus, this is, I don't know why, but sometimes when I start to talk, I just begin to hiccup, so you'll forgive me for that. From that time forth began Jesus to show unto his disciples how that he must go. unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and the chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be risen, be raised again the third day." And we've seen, we've seen already through our studies of this book of Matthew, how they must go up to Jerusalem and that was that was his focus all the way through his life growing up as a child was going to Jerusalem and speaking of the of his father the Lord doing his father's going about his father's business and then he suffered many things of the elders of of his very of the very people the the religious of his time and the chief priest and the scribes and they killed him they hung him on a cross They accused him falsely that he might be hung and killed on the cross. And then when they were given a choice, they chose to release a murderer. rather than release the one who knew no sin. Listen to these words of Matthew 17, 23, and they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. One more, if you would, Matthew 20, verse 19, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock. and to scourge and to crucify him, and the third day he shall rise again."

Now again, we receive great comfort seeing the prophecies of God fulfilled exactly as He has stated in His Word. It takes the Holy Spirit to open a heart, to cut away that old stony heart that says, I'll not have Him be God over me, and give us a heart that we would see him as our God. It takes the Holy Spirit to do that, but it brings such comfort to this heart, knowing that he is God, and seeing his prophecies coming to be fulfilled exactly as stated. Brother Don Fortner wrote this, second paragraph from the bottom of page one.

He wrote, the resurrection of Christ is the single greatest event in the history of the world. Without it, our Savior's incarnation, life, and death as our substitute and surety would be altogether meaningless. If Christ was not raised from the dead, redemption was not accomplished, justice was not satisfied, He is not God, and we are yet under the wrath and the curse of the Almighty. And he refers us to these words of 1 Corinthians 15, 13-17. But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen? And if Christ be not risen, then our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ. whom is raised not up. So if so be that the dead rise not, for if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised? And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain. ye are yet in your sins. Now look with me, if you would, at Matthew chapter 28, and we're going to look at the first eight verses. Matthew chapter 28, verses 1 through 8. In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

And behold, there was a great earthquake. For the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came, and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his remnant white as snow. And for fear of him, the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye, for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

And here's their text for this evening. He is not here, for he is risen as he said, come see the place where the Lord lay and go quickly and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee. There shall you see him. Lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy and did run to bring his disciples word. Now we'll go to page two of your handout if you would please. If you have your Bibles marked, go ahead and flip over to 2 Corinthians and we'll come to that in a few moments. Again, the title is He is Risen As He Said from verse six of our text. Today in the world of religion, We seldom hear anything preached about the resurrection of Christ the Lord, except at Easter time. But that was not the case in the New Testament.

Those who had seen the risen Lord and had experienced the power of his resurrection in the new birth went everywhere preaching Jesus and the resurrection. Listen to these words from Acts 4, verse 2, being grieved that they taught the people and preached, through Jesus, the resurrection of the dead. And then again, in Acts 17, we read these words, then certain philosophers and the Epicureans and the Stoics encountered him and said, and some said, what will this babbler say? Others, some, he seemeth to be a setter forth of the strange gods, because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection. Men of God, preached salvation accomplished by sinners by the crucified risen Christ. That is what Peter preached on the day of Pentecost. And we have it recorded here for us in Acts 2, verse 23 and 24. Him, speaking, Peter says these words, Him, speaking of Christ, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain, whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holding of it.

And then, again, Peter spoke before the Sanhedrin as well, and it's recorded here as Acts 4.10, Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you." Remember, that was when they healed a blind man who was blind from birth, and he got up and started to worship them. They said, oh, wait a minute, wait a minute. And this is Peter's response to that. So we see the resurrection of Christ. And folks, let me just intercede another thing here.

I'm giving you examples in the New Testament of God's messengers, but there are just as many examples today in last Sunday's messages preached by David Edmondson, Todd Nybert, Gabe Stoniker, Rick Warda, Norm Wells, you can list all of God's true preachers today preaching the very same thing.

We must preach Christ who He is. He's God Almighty in the flesh. We must preach that He is the perfect Son of God. And that by His sacrifice, He perfectly put away all the sins of His people. But that didn't stop. That's not where the story stops. We must also preach where he is right now, sitting on his throne, working out intercession for you and I. Sitting on his throne, being glorified in all that he does. Let me read another one for you. He preached to the Gentiles over in Acts 10, verse 40 through 45.

Him God raised up the third day and showed him openly, not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be judge of quick and dead.

To him give all the prophets witness that through his name Whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.

So we see where Peter consistently preached the resurrection of Christ. Go to page three, please. Paul, he preached the resurrection consistently. Wherever he went, that was his message as well as all of God's preachers. This is what Paul preached in the synagogue at Antioch.

But God raised him from the dead, Acts 13.30. And then in verse 37 of that same chapter, he says this, But he whom God raised again saw no corruption.

He preached the resurrection before the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem, where he said in Acts 23 6, but when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee of the hope and resurrection of the dead. I am called in question. Here was the whole reason Paul was being called into question was because he believed in the resurrection of our Savior, the Lord Jesus. He preached it before Felix, the governor.

In Acts 24, 15, he says, And have hope towards God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both the just and the unjust. And then in verse 21 of chapter 24, except it be for this one voice that I cried standing among them, touching the resurrection of the dead that I am called into question by you this day. He preached it again before King Agrippa in Acts 26 verse 8. Why should it be thought an incredible thing with you that God should raise the dead?

Then he preached to the church at Rome. In Romans chapter 6, verses 3 through 6, know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection, knowing this. that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. He also preached to the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 3 through 4, for I have delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.

You know that that's what baptism is? Baptism is our declaration. When we go into the waters of baptism, of believers' baptism, it's exactly what it is. It's our declaration to the people around us that we believe God was died, buried, and raised again.

He also preached to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 4, 14, where we read, knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus. He preached to the Galatians, where he said, Paul, an apostle, not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. That's Galatians 1, verse 1. Also to the Ephesians in chapter 1 verse 20, where we read, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly.

He wrote to the Philippians in Philippians 3, 10, that I may know him. and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, been made conformable unto his death. And then we read in Colossians where Paul wrote these words, buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. The great apostle to the Gentiles longed to know Christ. His greatest desire was to know Christ more and more.

He wrote, as he wrote to the Philippians, which we've already read, in the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death. Peter spoke of our living hope through the resurrection in 1 Peter 1 verses 3 through 4.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Folks, if Christ is not on his throne, we have no hope. The fact that Christ was risen from the dead, that's God the Father accepting His Son as our sacrifice. We have a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance, incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you. In Revelation 1, verse 17-18, John tells us how that he saw and heard the risen, exalted Christ.

He wrote, When I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not, I am the first and the last. I am he that liveth and was dead. And behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And have the keys. of hell and of death.

Our Lord Himself declares His resurrection to be the foundation and cornerstone of our hope. He says in John 11, verse 25, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. Speaking of his resurrection in Matthew 14, 19, he states this, yet a little while, and the world will see me no more, but ye see me because I live, ye live, ye shall live also.

As you read the New Testament, You cannot avoid seeing that this matter of our Lord's resurrection is vital to Christianity. It is a prominent theme. Unlike most matters of divine revelation, the Holy Spirit pointedly shows us, evidence upon evidence upon evidence, that the resurrection of Christ is an undeniable, irrefutable fact of history. Of all the facts recorded in Holy Scripture about our Savior, the resurrection is the one thing that is proved clearly and fully. The evidence is so simply overwhelming that it would be impossible to prove anything in the world to a person who rejects it. This thing was not done in a corner, in secret.

Look with me, if you would, at 1 Corinthians 15, verses 3 through 8. 1 Corinthians 15, and you can leave your Bibles open to 1 Corinthians 15, because we'll look at some other verses in here as we go along. Verses 3-8, I stated this, I said it was not a secret. Folks, the Lord Jesus Christ was openly clear of who He was, what He was doing, why He was sent, who sent Him, and what would happen. He said, verse 3, 1st Corinthians 15 Paul writes for I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

Do you see that? Do you see how plain that is? It's according to what God has inspired, the Holy Spirit has inspired the prophets to write. verse 4, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. And after that he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

After that he was seen of James, Then all of the apostles, and last of all he was seen of me, writes Paul, also as one born out of due time." Remember, Paul didn't actually see him. at the time he walked this earth, but the Lord appeared to him afterwards. That was what blinded him when he was on the road to Damascus. Remember, he was on the road to Damascus to go and persecute the church.

Back in our handout, mid-page there, someone once said the resurrection of Jesus is the Gibraltar, the rock. of Christianity and the Waterloo of infidelity and rationalism. J.C. Ryle wrote these words, he said, It is the crowning proof that he has paid the debt which he undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which he fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our surety and our substitute by our Heavenly Father in heaven. Thanks be unto God.

He who was delivered to death because of our offenses was also raised from the dead because of our justification, as it is stated in Romans 4.25. The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is proof of our redemption by his blood, and the basis of our confident hope that we too shall soon be raised up from the dead with him. As we meditate upon the resurrection of our Savior, Lord, help us to have a sense of the glory of it.

The opening verses of chapter 28, it says these words, in the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. Now, in the original language, this verse quite literally reads this way, in the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the Sabbath. The commentators I follow, and you know those, Don Fortner, Charles Spurgeon, Robert Hawker, I use a little bit of John Gill, but all of them agree on this part. They believe that the verse means this, that when the Lord Jesus Christ died at Calvary and rose again, the old Sabbath law ended and the new Sabbath of grace began. And I would agree with that. Lord willing, we'll spend a little time next Friday considering this point of the Sabbath. But for now, let us close with these thoughts.

The fact of our Lord's resurrection is so basic and fundamental that it assures us of several things. When we look down into the empty tomb and then up into heaven upon the risen Christ, are we not assured that the Word of God is true? Our Lord arose from the dead exactly as He said He would. Listen to these words from Matthew 17, verse 9. Matthew 12, verse 40, For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly, so shall the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Or what about these words from Matthew 17, verse 9, And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man until the Son of Man be risen again from the dead."

We are assured that our Savior is Himself the mighty God. Only He who is Himself God has power over life and death. The chariots of God are 20,000. even thousands of angels. The Lord is among them as in Sinai in the holy place. Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity captive. Thou hast received gifts for men.

Yea, for the rebellious, also for the Lord God might dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation, say law. He that is our God is the God of salvation, and unto God the Lord belong issues of death." Our Redeemer's resurrection assures us that God the Father has accepted the offering of His Son. Redemption is accomplished. Justice is satisfied. Our sins are pardoned. Righteousness has been brought into us.

The resurrection assuring us of redemption's accomplishment is our assurance that all of God's elect shall be saved. In John 17, 2, we read these words, these great words of comfort, as thou hast given him power, speaking of Christ, over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. We are also assured that when our Lord Jesus comes again, there will be another resurrection. Listen to these words from John 14, verse 1 through 3.

Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God? Believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also.

These words of Job, inspired once again by the Holy Spirit, recorded in Job 19, 25-26, And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another, though my reins be consumed within me." The psalmist wrote in Psalm 73, 24, Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.

Isaiah wrote this in 2619, the dead men shall live together with my dead body shall they arise. Hosea wrote this in the third day he will raise up and we shall live in his sight. John 5 28-29 for the hour is coming. in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth, they that have done good unto the resurrection of life, and they that have done evil unto the resurrection of damnation." Page 8. In 1 Thessalonians 4, 13-18, we read these words. Paul, writing on the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain under the company of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God. And the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we, which are alive and remain, shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord, wherefore, comfort one another with these words."

Now, if you would look once again in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 15, beginning at verse 20, 1 Corinthians 15 verse 20, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. And that's speaking of all of his people, his people in every tongue, every nation, all of his people, his chosen people throughout all time. Verse 23, But every man in his own order, Christ the firstfruits, afterward they that are at his coming.

Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom of God, even the Father, when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power, for he must reign till he hath put all the enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death, for he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is accepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all."

Let's jump forward a little bit, shall we? I want to go forward to, Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither does corruption enter into corruption. Behold, I show you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. Now I want to go back to your handout, if you would, and we'll close with that last line on page 8.

After the resurrection, and after that great resurrection of God's chosen, comes Now, next week we'll spend a little more time looking at what the Sabbath is and how the new Sabbath, we look to the new Sabbath, which is Jesus Christ himself. One of the things that we... You know, I've been, it's been said that I don't preach repentance. One of the things that we do as God's ministers is we point people to Christ and that's what repentance is. It's turning oneself from looking to themselves and look to Christ. And that's what this, that's exactly what we're doing tonight. Looking to the risen Christ sitting on his throne right now, making intercession for me.

(pt99) Matthew

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the resurrection of Christ?

How do we know the resurrection is true?

Why is the resurrection of Christ important for Christians?

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(pt99) Matthew

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the resurrection of Christ?

How do we know the resurrection is true?

Why is the resurrection of Christ important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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