TITLE: How the Resurrection of Jesus can give you New life. TEXT: Ephesians 2:1-10 THEME: The resurrection of Jesus gives the believer hope of a New Life with God.
What they would like to have said about them at their funerals. The third said, "I'd like someone to say, 'His body just moved!'"
Luke 24: 9-12 “When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
Luke 24: 9-12 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”
Some have suggested that he almost died- Problem: Beat a man until his body is raw and bleeding.
Some have suggested that he almost died- Problem: Beat a man until his body is raw and bleeding. Nail him to a cross for six hours.
Some have suggested that he almost died- Problem: Beat a man until his body is raw and bleeding. Nail him to a cross for six hours. Run a spear up under his ribs and through his organs.
Some have suggested that he almost died- Problem: Beat a man until his body is raw and bleeding. Nail him to a cross for six hours. Run a spear up under his ribs and through his organs. The separation of blood and water- an indicator of death.
Some have suggested that he almost died- Problem: Beat a man until his body is raw and bleeding. Nail him to a cross for six hours. Run a spear up under his ribs and through his organs. The separation of blood and water- an indicator of death. Have his death certified by professional executioners.
Some have suggested that he almost died- Problem: Beat a man until his body is raw and bleeding. Nail him to a cross for six hours. Run a spear up under his ribs and through his organs. The separation of blood and water- an indicator of death. Have his death certified by professional executioners. Bury him for three days.
Some have suggested that he almost died- Problem: After all that- Then nurse him back to normal? I don't think so. He was dead.
Luke 24:11 "They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense"
Luke 24:11 "They did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense" The whole idea that Jesus was alive again was simply crazy to them.
C. S. Lewis said "Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, is of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important."
How does the resurrection assure believers in Jesus that they will spend eternity with Him?
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3)
Ephesians 2:1-3 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient
Ephesians 2:1-3 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. Before God we are dead in our sin
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. Before God we are dead in our sin B. We are deserving of wrath.
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. Before God we are dead in our sin B. We are deserving of wrath. 1. Because we follow the ways of the world.
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. Before God we are dead in our sin B. We are deserving of wrath. 1. Because we follow the ways of the world. 2. Because we follow the ways of Satan.
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. Before God we are dead in our sin B. We are deserving of wrath. 1. Because we follow the ways of the world. 2. Because we follow the ways of Satan. 3. Because we follow the cravings of our flesh.
II.The resurrection of Jesus makes us spiritually alive. (4-7)
Ephesians 2:4-7 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Ephesians 2:4-7 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. God loves us.
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. God loves us. B. God raised us with Christ.
I.Without the resurrection we have no hope. (1-3) A. God loves us. B. God raised us with Christ. C. God seats us with Christ in heaven.
III.The resurrection of Jesus empowers us to do good works. (8-10)
Ephesians 2: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
III.The resurrection of Jesus empowers us to do good works. (8-10) A. Being raised with Christ is an act of grace.
III.The resurrection of Jesus empowers us to do good works. (8-10) A. Being raised with Christ is an act of grace. B. It is God’s grace that saves us- not our works.
III.The resurrection of Jesus empowers us to do good works. (8-10) A. Being raised with Christ is an act of grace. B. It is God’s grace that saves us- not our works. C. Those raised with Christ become God’s handiwork.
Pascal's Wager God exists or doesn't exist. Everyone must decide.
Pascal's Wager God exists or doesn't exist. Everyone must decide. If you believe in God and he exists, you go to heaven. Infinite benefit.
Pascal's Wager God exists or doesn't exist. Everyone must decide. If you believe in God and he exists, you go to heaven. Infinite benefit. If you don't believe in God and he exists, you don't go to heaven. Infinite loss.
Pascal's Wager God exists or doesn't exist. Everyone must decide. If you believe in God and he exists, you go to heaven. Infinite benefit. If you don't believe in God and he exists, you don't go to heaven. Infinite loss. If you believe in God and he doesn't exist, you gain nothing and lose nothing.
CONCLUSION 1 In other words, those who believe in God have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Those who don't believe in God have everything to lose and nothing to gain. Pascal said that the smart and wise person will choose to believe in God.
CONCLUSION 2 We all must decide if we believe it's true or not true. If we choose not to believe, and Jesus really did rise from the dead, we have everything to lose. If we choose to believe in the truth of the resurrection, we have everything to gain—God, Jesus, eternal life, and more.