Resurrection: Life Worth Living
Pastor Rollan Fisher
Focus: What makes life worth living is that there’s a resurrection coming.
The Resurrection that Was
Life that Is
The Resurrection that Will Be
The Resurrection that Was
Because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our past can be absolved.
This means that our former sins do not need to define us.
We can be forgiven and healed because of the cross of Jesus Christ.
This is the good news, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Matthew 28:1-10 ESV
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you." So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."”
Therapeutic Deism is what people gravitate towards for pragmatic solutions, but the premise of all interaction with Jesus is whether or not he is who he said he is and whether or not the testimonies about his life, miracles, death, burial and resurrection are true.
“There is a virtual consensus among scholars who study Jesus' resurrection that, subsequent to Jesus' death by crucifixion, his disciples really believed that he appeared to them risen from the dead. This conclusion has been reached by data that suggest that (1) the disciples themselves claimed that the risen Jesus had appeared to them, and (2) subsequent to Jesus' death by crucifixion, his disciples were radically transformed from fearful, cowering individuals who denied and abandoned him at his arrest and execution into bold proclaimers of the gospel of the risen Lord. They remained steadfast in the face of imprisonment, torture, and martyrdom. It is very clear that they sincerely believed that Jesus rose from the dead.”
-Gary R. Habermas, The Case For The Resurrection Of Jesus
This testimony was altogether different from those who sincerely believe in various causes, systems and religions today.
“there is an important difference between the apostle martyrs and those who die for their beliefs today. Modern martyrs act solely out of their trust in beliefs that others have taught them. The apostles died for holding to their own testimony that they had personally seen the risen Jesus. Contemporary martyrs die for what they believe to be true. The disciples of Jesus died for what they knew to be either true or false.”
-Gary R. Habermas, The Case For The Resurrection Of Jesus
Life That Is
The resurrection of Jesus Christ informs my present.
This means that with everything that life throws at me, the resurrected Jesus can be with me to help me today.
The present trials and stresses, trade wars and physical wars, job losses, health challenges, family challenges and the like - they are all in the purview of God.
“Were you ever in a new trouble, one which was so strange that you felt that a similar trial had never happened to you and, moreover, you dreamt that such a temptation had never assailed anybody else? I should not wonder if that was the thought of your troubled heart.
And did you ever walk out upon that lonely desert island upon which you were wrecked and say, “I am alone—alone—ALONE—nobody was ever here before me”?
And did you suddenly pull up short as you noticed, in the sand, the footprints of a man?
I remember right well passing through that experience—and when I looked, lo, it was not merely the footprints of a man that I saw, but I thought I knew whose feet had left those imprints. They were the marks of One who had been crucified, for there was the print of the nails. So I thought to myself, “If He has been here, it is no longer a desert island. As His blessed feet once trod this wilderness-way, it blossoms now like the rose and it becomes to my troubled spirit as a very garden of the Lord!”
— Charles Haddon Spurgeon, “The Education of the Sons of God” (Metropolitan Tabernacle: June 10, 1880)
We have access to this relationship through repentance from our sins and faith in Christ’s redeeming work at the cross.
Matthew 28:16-20 ESV
“Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."”
Because Jesus is resurrected and with me, I can answer his call to share the gospel (which means “good news”) and see him bring change to this fallen world.
“The joyful news that He is Risen does not change the contemporary world. Still before us lie work, discipline, sacrifice. But the fact of Easter gives us the spiritual power to do the work, accept the discipline and make the sacrifice.”
-Henry Knox Sherrill
The Resurrection that Will Be
The resurrection of Jesus Christ determines my future.
This means that everything that I do today will matter forever.
Paul the apostle got a revelation of Jesus Christ and spoke about what he called the light and momentary troubles of this life.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV
“So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”
It is this perspective of the eternal that fortifies our present and gives us an unshakeable hope in the future.
“Few people seem to realize that the resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone to a worldview that provides the perspective to all of life.”
-Josh McDowell
We will all die, but Jesus gives us the opportunity to live again, eternally healed and at peace with God.
2 Corinthians 5:1-10 ESV
“For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.”
This gives us, as the hymn “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” goes, “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”.
“No matter how devastating our struggles, disappointments, and troubles are, they are only temporary. No matter what happens to you, no matter the depth of tragedy or pain you face, no matter how death stalks you and your loved ones, the Resurrection promises you a future of immeasurable good.”
-Josh McDowell
Why does he say this?
Revelation 21:1-8 ESV
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." And he said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death."”
And so we posture ourselves accordingly before the Lord of Heaven and Earth.
Revelation 22:12-17 ESV
“"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. "I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star." The Spirit and the Bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price.”
Turn to Jesus today.
Let him make you new so that you might rejoice in the resurrection that was, as he meets you in the life that is and brings you into the glorious joys of the resurrection to come!
Join us next week as guest minister Pastor Jim Critcher speaks to us about:
Walking with God
Hearing the Voice of God
Being Led of God (in and through community)
It will be a tremendous catalyst for your growth in Christ!
Come and invite all of your friends - you don’t want to miss it!
Second City Church
