Do Not Be Afraid

Be Not Afraid

Easter 2013

Introduction:

A His story, Jesus, changed history.

1 We must all believe one of three things about Jesus: liar, lunatic, or Lord.

a If the claims He made were false and He knew about it, liar.

b If the claims He made were false and He didn’t know it, lunatic.

c If the claims He made (Messiah, Forgiver of Sin, Way) were true, He is Lord!

2 His resurrection proves His claims to be true!

a He didn’t faint, people didn’t image they saw Him, disciples didn’t steal His body (Those guys were sissies until they saw the Risen Jesus!)

b His body was never recovered and that is all that would have been required to squash any of this resurrection talk.

B Paul wrote in Rom. if one doesn’t believe that Jesus is alive then they are still lost, unsaved, still on their way to hell!

9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. Romans 10:9-10 (NASB)

1 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;7 then He appeared to James , then to all the apostles;8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.1 Cor 15:3-8 (NASB)

a That’s a lot of people who saw Jesus with their own eyes!

b 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ , whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 1 Cor 15:14-17 (NASB)

aa If He’s not alive were wasting our time, believing in a fairy tale.

bb Worse yet, we’re still going to hell, defeated now, the grave is the end of the road.

2 If He is ALIVE sin is defeated, death has died!

a We need not fear life, death, grave, eternity.

b We will be with Him forever and ever!

I Resurrection kills fear.

A 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Rev 1:17-18 (NASB)

1 John wrote during a vision he had while exiled on a Roman prison camp on the Isle of Patmos.

a When John felt the presence of God he lay in waste on the floor because of his sin.

aa He realized how Holy God was and how unholy he was.

bb The proper response is a posture of repentance, humility.

b Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid; . . .”

aa John had nothing to fear as He came into the presence of God because that same Lord had paid by His death the penalty of John’s sin.

bb 25 Jesus said to her, " I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?" John 11:25-26 (NASB)

cc “ . . .because I live, you will live also. John 14:19 (NASB)

2 You ever feel guilty because you’ve dropped the ball in your faith?

a Who is the one who condemns?

aa 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised , who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. Romans 8:34 (NASB)

bb 34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!-is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Romans 8:34 (MSG)

cc If you forgot to pray for you and your family today, don’t worry. Jesus did!

b Christ Jesus is He who died to remove your sin, guilt, every time you and I drop the ball of faith.