I. Christ Resurrection declares that death does not end life.
A. A man was flying from Chicago to the city of Los Angeles. He engaged the woman sitting next to him in conversation. She was a little over 40, well dressed, and quite articulate. He asked, "Where are you from?" She said, "From Palm Springs." Knowing Palm Springs to be a city of the rich and famous, he asked, "What’s Palm Springs like?" Being perceptive, she answered, "Palm Springs is a beautiful place filled with unhappy people." Taking advantage of the occasion, he pressed the question, "Are you unhappy?" She said, "Yes, I certainly am." "Why?" he asked. She said, "I can answer it in one word, and that word is mortality. Until I was 40, I had perfect eyesight. Shortly after, I went to the doctor because I couldn’t see as well as I could before. Ever since that time, these corrective glasses have been a sign to me that not only are my eyes wearing out, but I’m wearing out. Some day I’m going to die. I really haven’t been happy since that time." These words summarize the feelings of millions of Americans today. We don’t want to lose what we have or be reminded that death is coming to us as it is for everyone else in the human race. As someone has said, "The only certainty in life is death."
B. For many, death is finality. As a result they adopt the Epicurean philosophy, "Eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die." They seek to fill their lives with things always laboring under the truth of I Timothy 6:7 "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out."
C. Dale Evans said, "I spent most of my life searching for the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Then I finally found it at the foot of the cross."
D. Matthew 27:63 "Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again."
E. Go ahead, and say I’m dead and gone, But you will see that you were wrong. Go ahead, try to hide the Son, But all will see that I’m the One!
’Cause I’ll rise again, Ain’t no pow’r on earth can tie Me down.
Yes, I’ll rise again, Death can’t keep Me in the ground.
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F. Christ’s resurrection declarers that the grave is not the end.
G. 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. [18] Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. [19] If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable."
H. John 5:28-29 "Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, [29] And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation."
II. Christ’s Resurrection guarantees our resurrection.
A. I Corinthians 15:22 "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive."
B. John Donne - I shall rise from the dead, from the prostration, from the prosternation of death, and never miss the sun, which shall be put out, for I shall see the Son of God, the Sun of Glory, and shine myself as that sun shines. I shall rise from the grave, and never miss this city, which shall be nowhere, for I shall see the city of God, the new Jerusalem. I shall look up and never wonder when it shall be day, for the angel will tell me that time shall be no more. And I shall see and see cheerfully that last day of judgment, which shall have no night, never end, and be united to the Ancient of Days, to God Himself, who had no morning, never began.
C. 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 "So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. [55] O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? [56] The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
D. God has removed the sting of death for each believer. I should save my sorrow for those without Christ and seek to win them.
III. The Resurrection perfects the believer’s salvation.
A. 1 Corinthians 15:17 "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins."
B. Hebrews 10:11-14 "And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: [12] But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; [13] From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. [14] For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified."
C. An Oriental diplomat, through an interpreter, addressed the Bethany Sunday School in Philadelphia. The superintendent, Mr. John Wanamaker, listened in amazement as his distinguished guest was explaining that the teachings of Confucius and Jesus were the same, and that there was no need of his changing his religion. The superintendent rose up after the diplomat finished and acknowledged the high moral standards of Confucius. "But there this vital difference between Confucius and our Lord Jesus Christ. Confucius is dead and buried, and he will remain in his grave till Jesus Christ tells him to arise. But our Christ’s grave is empty. He is living. He
D. IS HERE IN THIS ROOM TODAY."
