Easter ~ He Has Risen, So What?

Romans 10:9 (ESV)

…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved…

Let's pray...

So, If you read my facebook page this week you may have seen my mention of the fact that THIS is my 1st EASTER sermon.

What's funny to me, or at least odd, if not funny, is that I have been so tied up, and perplexed about THIS sermon. And that doesn't happen to me often. I have a grasp of the doctrine of the Bible, I understand the content that I am going to preach on, and I am ready.
I am blessed to preach twice a week. Here on Sundays and at our outreach church on Wednesdays. So the stress isn't coming from the physical act of getting up here and preaching. This is something that I love to do. I would preach everyday if I could.

The problem, and from what I hear it's a problem that preachers struggle with every year is how to preach the EASTER sermon. Easter is the day when people come out who never come out. People who call themselves Christian and people who don't. And part of our heart as preachers is to bring you into the family. Whether here at this church or somewhere else, we believe – WE BELIEVE – that being plugged in to a family of believers to equip and encourage, to support and to correct is the best thing you can do for your life AFTER you come to faith.

So since we believe that, there's almost a kind of cheerleader mentality where we want to rah-rah the crowd on EASTER and be funny, or be topical, or be outlandish, or intellectual, or whatever – to get you to come back and connect. And it's almost like we try to talk you into joining a church or to convince you to Love God. Like He needs US to woo YOU to Him.

So some pastors think up some awesome jokes, and some try to tie the cross and the empty tomb into some very relevant topic of our time – from politics, or pop culture, or whatever and they're good at that.
Others try to brush up on their apologetics, which isn't apologizing for our faith, it is the process of systematically showing how the existence of God is rational and true, and how Jesus, and His crucifixion and His resurrection are historically true and verifiable – more verifiable than any ancient history.

And listen that's all awesome, and there are a ton of great resources to check out if you want to go that route. But here's the thing, no one I've met has ever come to faith because all of their questions were answered first. And many people are rightly insulted by some tug at their heart strings for some emotional response.

So what the Bible tells us to do, is not to be ultra relevant, or to have a quiver full of ammunition in apologetics, The Scriptures – Old Testament and New call us to preach the Bible.

This is hard because it forces us to put all of our hope for you, the people we love, into the hands and the will of a sovereign God.
And here's how equate our struggle with a piece of the Bible: Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, had a couple of His boys with Him and was praying at Gethsemane, and here comes Judas, you've all heard of Him right, Judas comes up with a mob or religious folks and a group of soldiers. And Judas kisses Jesus and that's how the soldiers know who to grab.

And then as this is going down, Peter takes out a weapon and chops a guy's ear off. And Jesus tells Him to knock it off, that this isn't Peter's fight and Jesus heals the guy's ear.

Sometimes I wonder if Jesus is saying that to us. “Stop trying to use your weapons of humor, and relevance and intellect, stop trying to make the message cool or whatever, just get the Word of God out. Paul says in Romans that it is the Gospel, not our cleverness – the Gospel, that has the power of God to save.

So I'm not going to fight for your salvation (or for your sanctification if you're a believer) – I'm not going to fight with my tools, I'm going to let God do it. I'll let the Scriptures speak for themselves.

That's all introduction, the message for the Easter sermon is “Jesus Rose Again, So What?” This message is for you if you are a non-believer, because it will give you a biblical expression of what our faith looks like, and it's for us, the believers, to remind us of WHAT OUR FAITH LOOKS LIKE.

So I pray that this might be educational and maybe an avenue toward salvation for some of you and I pray that it might stir a renewed passion for the Gospel and what the gospel calls us to as Christians.

First Let's review the story of the Bible in five minutes. I'm not asking you to agree or disagree. I remember all the arguments from before I came to faith so save them. Let me just lay out what we believe.

Creation – We believe that God, triune God, Father, Son and Spirit have always existed. They were not caused by anything, they are the cause of everything. And it seemed good to them to create the universe and where we are concerned, the world - Earth, the plants, animals, land, sea, air, and the works.
And then God made man to have dominion over the creation. To enjoy the creation and to praise God and honor God and recognize God as the source and the sustainer of it all, from the flower to our next breath.
And everything was good, very good.

Fall – Now, the Bible tells us and we believe that God gave us one command that was a negative, we were able to do whatever we wanted to do, except eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil – is this ringing a bell?
All would have been fine, except that Satan tempted the woman by convincing her that God didn't have her best interests at heart and that she could know as much as God and have the same power of God if she would just take a bite.
She did, then Adam did and that sin of disobedience ushered in what we call the Fall.
And the Bible tells us that everything got broken by the sin of Adam.
Since he had dominion over everything God created, it all fell with him. By everything, I mean weather patterns, tectonic plates, animals and how they interacted, everything in the universe right down to the cells in our bodies – EVERYTHING. 
From the starting point in the Garden of Eden to today, it was all corrupted by sin.

And whether you are a believer or not, there are times when you come to the very real conclusion that things are not supposed to be this way. For you that time may have come, or will come when that very close family member dies, or when your boss ditches town with all of the company funds and leaves you stranded after 20 years of your loyalty, or your spouse leaves you for someone else, or when a massive earthquake hits Haiti, or when you go back to that thing that has historically owned you - even when you know that you MUST NOT do IT again. The Bible tells us that EVERYTHING was wrecked by the sin of Adam and it was passed down to each one of us.

And the Bible is clear that the most damage was done to relationships. This is what we are constantly dealing with and I believe this is the root of every trouble in your life – the effects of sin on relationships. It corrupted our relationships with each other, with ourselves and most importantly it severed our ability - and our desire - to be in relationship with God.

And the Bible says the net result is that since we were designed to worship, but are unable and unwilling to worship God, we worship the stuff He created.
Back in the day it was trees and rocks and sculptures of birds and frogs and cows. Today, it's football, or porn, or family, or careers, or drinking, or the next degree, or the next trinket (cars, electronics, cell phone...), or the idea of retirement, or just striving after cash, or fill in your own blank. We are idol factories. We will absolutely worship someone or something.
And because of the fall, we are born with a spiritually inability to worship the one true God unless He revives our hearts.
Which brings us to redemption.

Redemption – We believe that God saw our brokenness and our need for a pure and spotless substitute for the punishment that He promised as a result of sin. But none of us can make things right because we are already at a negative balance before we even begin. There's not enough good that we can do to tip the “scales” in our favor. So, without help the Bible says we are destined to sin and death and Hell.
But God loved us and does not desire for any of us to be in Hell so He made a way for us to be saved.

Ephesians 2 tell us that we were dead in our sin and so God sent His son to be the perfect sacrifice for us. He had no sin of His own, so He was able to take on the sin of the world when He went to the cross. Through our faith in His death burial and resurrection, all of our sins, the ones we have committed and the ones we will commit were placed on Him. But, only IF we will – by faith – place our trust in Jesus as our substitute and submit to Him as our Lord.

Restoration – Once that transaction of our sin for His purity and righteousness takes place the restoration process begins in our lives, personally.

But, the restoration process for all things began long ago. Before He went to the cross, Jesus said that He was ushering in the Kingdom of God. It's what we in the church call the now and not yet Kingdom of God.

The kingdom at this moment, as Jesus said 2,000 years ago, is spreading out like yeast in the dough, or like a small seed that slowly grows out to reach every tribe, tongue, and nation.

That's the part of the Kingdom mission that we get to participate in. And we'll get to that some more in a minute. The other part, the “not yet” part of the Kingdom, is the day that we believe, Jesus is coming back. Not as the suffering servant, not Jesus meek and mild, not Buddy Christ, from the movie Dogma – No as the conquering King who will divide us up sinners and forgiven sinners. And the Bible is clear, the sinners go to Hell and the forgiven sinners, which the Scriptures call saints live forever in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

Let me take a minute to say, yes. That is really what we believe. Creator God, talking snake, born with sin, sinless God-Man, death on the Cross, literal, historical resurrection, and a second coming that shakes it all out. And yes, we really do believe in Hell.

I know that some of it sounds ridiculous, I know that some of it seems offensive and a lot of it seems exclusive and close minded. I'm not arguing with your possible negative reactions and we're not here to hit you over the head with the bible until you believe. I just want to share what the Bible says.

Now with that in mind, it's Easter and so I'm preaching in light of the truth of creation and the Fall. God created it perfect, Adam and Eve sinned and we have followed suit ever since. Now, Jesus came on the scene, as God in the flesh, lived a sinless life, taught a bunch of things concerning the Kingdom of God, He was betrayed, tortured and Killed and raised on the third day.

Now, if He hadn't been resurrected, there is NO Christianity. If he didn't rise again and then ascend into Heaven, then He was just another lunatic or false Messiah. But, we believe He did raise and that's why all of these one-time cowards that followed Jesus during His earthly ministry were emboldened to preach this gospel and take what ever came with it, sometimes it came with celebration as thousands came to faith and sometimes it was pain and even death when the gospel was rejected and they were pelted with stones, some were imprisoned, some were burned at the stake and some were beheaded.
They didn't do this for a lie, they did this because they SAW JESUS, the RESURRECTED LORD.

And, as Paul describes to us in 1 Corinthians 15, the resurrection, the truth of Jesus' resurrection transforms. It transformed the first eye-witnesses, and it transforms those of us who have been convinced by their written testimony and historical example.

You can read along with me or listen to these portions of 1 Corinthians 15. I'll unpack as we go:

1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born...

Jump down to:

14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith...
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins...
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the first fruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him...

Jump down to:

30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."...

Jump down to:

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? 
Where, O death, is your sting?"
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now for the point, Jesus rose again, So What?

58 Therefore (in light of the Resurrection), my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

So, believers, Jesus Rose again, So What? So What does that mean for us? It means that we are to stand fast and we are to let nothing move us as we carry out the work of the Lord.

Now, to my pagan friends, sit tight. This isn't a call to a holy war, this isn't a call for us to smack you down with Bibles and to get you to repent.

Do we believe you are sinners? Of course. The book of Romans is clear in saying EVERYONE is a sinner, but that includes us, whether we are very good about admitting that or not. Here's what I am calling believers to based on the Scriptures today.

Be at war against sin, first and foremost your own.

Let's look at just one or two more Scriptures and unpack what giving yourself to the Lord looks like.

John 13:34-35

34 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Jesus Rose Again, So What? So we are called to love one another.

Colossians 3:1

1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

Jesus Rose Again, So What? Stop focusing your eyes on fleeting problems or fleeting success and instead fix your eyes on what matters, on eternity...

1 Cor 5:9-13: (This is where the church usually gets WAY off track).

9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.
12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."

So, Jesus Rose Again, So What? Stop trying to be the morality police for non-believers and start addressing sin in the church – beginning with your own. Be at war with sin in the church. If someone calls themselves a Christian and still blatantly walks in sin without remorse or regret or any intention of repentance, stop associating until he or she comes back into the fold. Jesus and Paul both instruct us to do this and the ultimate goal is restoration. It is more loving to address sin in the life of a believer than to turn a blind eye when they are going against God. That will Always end badly.

But, then Paul is clear about when we talk to non-believers. Shower them with the love of Christ. If they are going to come to faith, the Holy Spirit will show them the sin and they can repent.

Otherwise we just make another generation of morally upright rule followers with no relationship to the Savior.

I could go on and on with these calls, let me say it like this, Christians: stop being like the world. Get your faces into this book and begin living out what Christ has called you to. 2 Corinthians 5 tells us that through our faith in the death burial and resurrection of Jesus, we have been made new, the old is gone and has passed away. Is that evidenced through your words, actions and thoughts?

The resurrection of the Lord shows us that He was telling the truth about who He was – God in the flesh, our perfect king, our authority. Let us live as though we believe that. And if you aren't living like that, search your heart and start asking the tough questions? Am I a believer?

And, on a more positive note, I know that many of you are walking steadfast with the Lord, see the resurrection as your reason for joy and strength through any hardship. He has risen and so will we. It's as good as done.

I want to end with an opportunity for a response. Non-believers, we want you – urge you - to come to Christ. That is what we are here to do. That is why we live and breathe - to love you and to bring you into the family of God. To guide you toward redemption and adoption through the work of Christ, which changes you from an enemy of God to a son or daughter of God. If you are ready for that, we can walk you through it after this service. If you are not ready, if you think we are insane or worse, then we will continue to pray for you and love you regardless.

Believers, who haven't been baptized get with me after the service and we'll work on getting you baptized.
And all believers who are baptized or not yet baptized, stand fast, don't be moved by the world, and give yourselves FULLY to the work of the LORD.
And remember, don't be like Peter cutting the guy's ear off. This fight we are in is a war against sin, starting with our own. It is a spiritual battle, know that it is God fighting through you and your weapon, just like Jesus' weapon against Satan in the desert, is the word of God.
I'll leave you with this benediction or closing prayer from the writer of Hebrews.

Hebrews 13:20-21

20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.