Why Jesus Was Raised From The Dead

WHY WAS JESUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD

MATTHEW 28:1-8

THROUGHOUT HISTORY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY AND MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. HOW DOES IT HELP US AS WE STAND BEFORE GOD AS OUR RIGHTEOUS JUDGE?

AS WE SHALL SEE TODAY, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION TO BE AVAILABLE TO HUMANITY. BY JESUS CHRIST’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION GOD HAS SOLVED HUMANITY’S SIN PROBLEM AND HAS CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GUILTY HUMANITY TO STAND BEFORE HIM AND BE JUSTIFIED TO BE CALLED RIGHTEOUS.

TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE MANY REASONS JESUS WAS RAIED FROM THE DEAD AND HOW THEY AFFECT US. THE FIRST REASON IS HOW IT CHANGES OUR STANDING WITH GOD.

POINT ONE: JUSTIFICATION

JUSTIFICATION IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS FOR THE SACRIFICE AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD.

JUSTIFICATION HAS BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY PEOPLE TO MEAN “JUST AS IF I’D NEVER SINNED.”, BUT THIS MEANING MISSES THE MARK BY A GREAT DEAL.

JUSTIFICATION IS A GRAQCIOUS ACT OF GOD, IN WHICH HE GRANTS SOMEONE A POSITION OF ACCEPTANCE IN HIS PRESENCE.

THE TERM COMES FROM THE ROMAN LAW COURT AND REFERS TO A JUDGES ACTION WHERE HE DECLARES A PERSON “NOT GUILTY, OR IS ACQUITTED.”

SPIRITUAL JUSTIFICATION TAKES THIS A STEP FURTHER, BY SAYING THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED, NOT BECAUSE OF OUR INNOCENSE, BUT IN SPITE OF OUR GUILT. WE ARE JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OUR SENTENCE WAS PAID IN FULL, THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.

LET ME USE AN ILLUSTRATION FROM FRIDAY NIGHT TO EXPLAIN.

USE ILLUSTRATION OF THE JUDGE AND THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR.

THE SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR THAT WE WILL ALL STAND BEFORE GOD AS JUDGE, AND WE WILL ALL HEAR THE WORDS “GUILTY AS CHARGED” WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SINFUL NATURE.

ROMANS 3:23: 23EVERYONE HAS SINNED. NO ONE MEASURES UP TO GOD’S GLORY.

WE WILL ALL FACE THE SAME PENALTY FOR OUR SIN NATURE.

ROMANS 6:23: 23WHEN YOU SIN, THE PAY YOU GET IS DEATH.

THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD, WILL HAVE AN ADVOCATE WHEN WE FACE GOD.

1 JOHN 2:1-2: MY DEAR CHILDREN, I’M WRITING THIS TO YOU SO THAT YOU WILL NOT SIN. BUT SUPPOSE SOMEONE DOES SIN. THEN WE HAVE ONE WHO SPEAKS TO THE FATHER FOR US. HE STANDS UP FOR US. HE IS JESUS CHRIST, THE BLAMELESS ONE. 2HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO PAY FOR OUR SINS. BUT HE NOT ONLY PAID FOR OUR SINS. HE ALSO PAID FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.

WHEN JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS GOD UNLEACHED THE FULL FURY OF HIS ANGER OVER OUR SIN, AND JESUS ACCEPTED IT ALL. THIS WAS THE BITTER CUP HE PRAYED ABOUT IN GETHSEMENE. THIS WAS THE SIN THAT COMPELLED GOD TO LOOK AWAY FROM HIS SON AS JESUS TOOK THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SIN ON HIMSELF AT THE CROSS. AT CALVARY HE MADE THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN. HE DID NOT ELIMINATE OUR GUILT, HE PAID IT TO THE FULL.

HOW WONDERFUL IT WILL BE TO SEE THE GATES OF HEAVEN OPEN AND HEAR THE WORDS OF GOD “ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD” YOUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID. YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS IN MY EYES BECAUSE OF JESUS.”

BY JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION GOD SOLVED HUMANITY’S SIN PROBLEM AND MADE POSSIBLE THE FORGIVENESS OF GUILTY SINNERS, OF WHICH WE ALL STAND CONVICTED, AND THEIR RETURN TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S HOME IN HARMONY AND HAPPINESS.

LET US NOW CONSDIER SOME OTHER ASPECTS OF THE RESURRECTION.

POINT TWO: CHRIST WAS RAISED FORM THE DEAD TO THROW LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY OF HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS.

WHILE THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS THE CONTROLLING THEME OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, ONE WOULD SEARCH IN VAIN FOR A CONCISE STATEMENT CONCERNING ITS MEANING OR SIGNIFICANCE.

OUR LORD’S DISCIPLES HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF HIS TRAGIC DEATH. IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT MANY OF US TODAY WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY.

THE FACT THAT ONLY DISMAS, THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WHO MADE A CONFESSION OF FAITH AND ASKED FOR SALVATION, HAD THE SLIGHTEST INKLING OF THE KINGDOM TO COME AND JESUS’ RESURRECTION.

IT WAS ONLY WELL AFTER THE RESURRECTION THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO COMPREHEND THE LORD’S TEACHINGS ON HOW IT WAS WRITTEN THAT HE MUST SUFFER AND DIE FOR PEOPLE’S SINS.

LUKE 24:45-47:

45THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES. 46HE TOLD THEM, “THIS IS WHAT IS WRITTEN. THE CHRIST WILL SUFFER. HE WILL RISE FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY. 47HIS FOLLOWERS WILL PREACH IN HIS NAME. THEY WILL TELL OTHERS TO TURN AWAY FROM THEIR SINS AND BE FORGIVEN. PEOPLE FROM EVERY NATION WILL HEAR IT, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.

THE DISCIPLES DID NOT TAKE IN THE MESSIANIC AND SALVATION PARTS OF THE GOSPELS UNTIL AFTER EASTER. THEY HAD SEEN ENOUGH AND COMPREHENDED ENOUGH TO STAY WITH JESUS DURING HIS LIFE, BUT THE REAL PLOT LINE OF SCRIPTURE WOULD NOT COME CLEAR TO THEM UNTIL AFTER EASTER.