1. Resurrection: “It is Finished” and a New Beginning
Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12-23
John 20&21

2. The Cross and Christ’s Death
“It is finished!”
Jesus died to redeem us
1 Cor 15: And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

3. The Resurrection
The physical evidence of God’s approval & satisfaction of Christ’s sacrifice.
Phil 2: And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

4. The Resurrection We are “justified”
Romans 4: That is why his (Abraham) faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
“Justified” - declared “righteous” in God’s sight.

5. The Resurrection Christ is the first, the forerunner
1 Cor 15: But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

6. The Resurrection We will be raised with him
1 Thess 4:14-18 [14] For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. [15] For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. [16] For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore encourage one another with these words.

7. The Resurrection The promise of a certain future
John 14:2 “In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”

8. One on one with the Risen Savior
Thomas – John 20
Jesus prophesied own death and resurrection – Matt 16:21, 17:9, 20:19, 26:32
Jesus meets Thomas at his point of weakness

9. One on one with the Risen Savior
Peter (Mark 14:66-72)
Matt 26:33 Peter said to him, “Even if I must die with you, I will not deny you!”
Peter cannot stay away
John 20

10. One on one with the Risen Savior
John 21:15-19 [15] When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” [16] He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” [17] He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

11. A New Beginning
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Acts 2:37-39 [37] Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” [38] And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. [39] For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.”

12. A New Beginning
Genesis 22: [17] I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. And your offspring shall possess the gate of his enemies, [18] and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed, because you have obeyed my voice.”
The resurrection, justification, salvation from sin is cross cultural