Cross Creek Community Church, Pastor Dave Martin April 4, 2010

“ALIVE”

Easter Sunday  Mt 28:1-10

I love the springtime of the year.  It’s when everything is waking up.  Flowers pushing their way back up through the soil.  The grass turning green, the trees sprouting buds, birds & peeper singing – it’s just a beautiful time of the year when everything is coming alive.  It’s because of Christ’s work on the cross forgiveness and eternal life is possible to each of us… Easter is all about being ALIVE!  RU ALIVE this morning?

On a Friday some 2000 years ago we read in Luke 23:46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last… Jesus Died

• Fully divine and yet fully man… Jesus tasted death for each of us when He died on Calvary’s cross

God’s Word speaks of two deaths:

• We can be Physically Dead or Alive…  Temporal/physical realm

•  
  • Physically we all know we can be either dead or alive…
  • Temporary, the fact of growing old and ultimate death wins out in each of our lives
  • I believe everyone here this Easter Sunday is ALIVE Physically (trying to escape death)

• Spiritually Dead or Alive… Eternal/spiritual realm

•  
  • The Bible also speaks of being spiritually dead or spiritually alive…
  • Eternal, the fact of dying physically will usher us into eternity either spiritually DEAD or ALIVE
  • I believe everyone here this Easter is either Dead or Alive spiritually… one or the other

2 Corinthians 4:18b “… For what is seen is temporary (physical), but what is unseen is eternal (spiritual).”

•  
  • We are limited as mere mortals in seeing beyond the temporary, physical realm of life

Interesting verse is found in Ecclesiastes 3:11 “…He has also set eternity in the hearts of men…”

•  
  • God is telling us to look beyond the routine of the physical life… to something greater
  • God has given man the capacity to know Him by becoming Spiritually ALIVE

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

Matthew 28:1-10 ¹ After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. ² There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³ His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. ⁴ The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. ⁵ The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. ⁷ Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." ⁸ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

• Let these words reverberate in your heart… “He has risen from the dead”  Jesus is ALIVE!

The Empty Tomb, what is the Significance of the Resurrection?

I.  The Resurrection… Validates the Claims of Christ

Acts 2:22 "Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

• O.T. predicted the coming Messiah numerous times… In the fullness of time He came into the world…
• Jesus was born in the most unusual way… conceived by the Holy Spirit… Born of the virgin Mary…
• His birth announcement made to the shepherds by a heavenly host of angelic beings (unseen world)
• Jesus began His public ministry at age 30… lasting just over 3 years… changing the world forever!
• He fed the multitudes, exhibited power over nature by stilling storms even walking on water…
• “Accredited by God”… Jesus proved who He said He was… Israel’s Messiah with Messianic Miracles…
• The lame healed, the blind see, the lepers cleansed, the deaf hear, gospel preached, the dead raised
• Raising the dead… forgiving sins… Claiming to be God in the flesh… (self-righteous Jews hated Him)…
• Breaking time… No one in history did what He did… The resurrection validates the claims of Christ!

Consider Christ’s Birth, Miracles, Death, Resurrection…

II. The Resurrection… Proves God Accepted the Sacrifice of His Son

Jesus death Satisfied God’s Requirement for Sin!

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

1 John 2:2 He (Jesus) is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

• Why do we do things wrong?  Where do our bad thoughts come from?  Why is there so much evil?
• It’s because in the heart of every person there is sin.  We all have broken God’s laws… lie, steal, covet…
• We inherited this sin nature from our parents who got it from each generation since Adam
• Unchanged, man is Spiritually Dead in sin and cannot approach God or have a relationship with Him
• God’s plan of the ages is to redeem fallen man who is spiritually dead back to Himself… spiritually ALIVE
• The ONLY way was for God to send His Son, God in the flesh into this world to redeem fallen man…
• The Perfect Lamb of God, took our sins upon Himself at Calvary… as an “Atoning sacrifice for our sins”
• High noon the sun went black and Jesus cried out with these words, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”… it was at this point in time that our sin was placed upon Christ… our sin bearer

1 Corinthians 6:14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.

• God accepted the sacrifice of His Son by resurrecting Him from the dead!  He’s ALIVE!
• Jesus satisfied God’s requirement for sin… innocent paying the price for the guilty!

I read of a Muslim in Africa who became a Christian and some of his friends asked him, “Why have you done such a thing?” He answered, “Well, it’s like this: Suppose you were going down the road and suddenly the road forked in two directions. You didn’t know which way to go; and there at the fork were two men—one dead, and one alive—which one would you ask to show you the way?”   

“I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the father except through me” ~ Jesus

Consider God’s Love… Sacrifice for you… (It’s a personal salvation/relationship)

That’s fine, but what does the resurrection mean for me personally?

• Remember we spoke about Spiritually ALIVE or Spiritually DEAD?  Which one are you? It’s either or…
• Remember also that God has set “eternity in the hearts of men”… We know God exists, we know there is something more than just being physically ALIVE… deep within us we know there is an eternity we must prepare for in the spiritual realm.  We are either spiritually dead or spiritually alive?
• We can go through life feeling empty spiritually… trying many ways to find fulfillment… perhaps various churches & religions, never finding the answer to life’s deepest needs… trying to fill the spiritual hole in our heart… engulfed with a sense of being spiritual deadness… empty & afraid…
• God loves you right where you are and has a perfect plan for your life…

III. The Resurrection…  Empowers Life Change for us who Believe

John 11:25-26 ²⁵ Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live (spiritually), even though he dies (physically); ²⁶ and whoever lives (physically) and believes in me will never die (spiritually). Do you believe this?"

• Jesus resurrected His friend Lazarus, then He speaks these words… read them over carefully…
• If you really want to be ALIVE spiritually, you MUST believe/faith/hope/trust in Jesus… ALIVE!
• If you believe in me, you will never die spiritually… that’s Eternal Life!  Not Eternal Death…

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

• The moment we believe we become spiritually ALIVE as a new creation… The KEY is Jesus!
• We can go our entire life NEVER realizing the significance of the resurrection as it applies to me.
• Trapped in the shackles of life… fears, depression, doubts, powerless, hopelessness…

 Ephesians 1:19-20 ¹⁹ and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, ²⁰ which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,

• God’s power that raised Jesus from the dead is able to bring life change for us who believe!

Consider your Life… (Feeling powerless?  Tired/weary of trying to change but can’t… Trust the living Christ)

IV. The Resurrection…  Assures Eternal Life to those who “Crossed Over”

John 5:24 "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

• Consider the phrases: “Eternal life”… “not be condemned”… “crossed over from death to life”…
• This is an assurance Jesus gives to all those who believe: the promise of eternal LIFE - spiritually ALIVE
• By faith we cross over into this unseen spiritual realm as we place our hope in Christ and believe…
• Multitudes have become Christians…Crossing over from spiritually DEAD to spiritually ALIVE…

Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

• Salvation is not by human good works, church membership or baptism… it’s by God’s grace thru faith
• Born into God’s family, becoming his child with the hope of eternal life…
• Have you crossed over?  Are you spiritually ALIVE?  Do you have this hope?

Consider your Future… (Eternity is forever… we must get it right, for there is no second chance)

V.  The Resurrection…  Requires a Decision…

Ephesians 2:1-5 ¹ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.

• The resurrection of Christ calls for a conscious decision to be made by every person, to accept or reject
• God is merciful! (Not giving us what we deserve as sinners)… Why?  He loves you!
• God is gracious! (Giving us what we don’t deserve as sinners)… Why?  He loves you!
• God says we’re dead in our transgressions and sins, so desperately in need of a Savior… who God sent… who was crucified… who rose again, who is ALIVE!  Offering to make us ALIVE with Christ!

According to an article in leadership magazine, a little boy named Philip, born with Down’s syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully.

The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought Leggs pantyhose containers, the kind that look like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container.  Then they were to bring them back into the classroom where they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table.

Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one at a time.  As each was opened, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh. Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed: That’s stupid. That’s not fair. Somebody didn’t do their assignment.”

Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.” “Philip, you don’t ever do things right!” the student retorted. “There’s nothing there!” I did so do it,” Philip insisted. “I did do it.  It’s empty.  The tomb was empty!”

Silence followed, but from then on Philip became a full member of the class. He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off.  At his funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday school teacher, each to lay on it an “empty pantyhose egg”.    The empty tomb… the Risen Savior changes a person’s life forever.

“… Because I live, you also will live.” ~ Jesus (Jn 14:19)

Let’s bow for prayer…

• I need God in my life… I want to be spiritually ALIVE… I want to be ready when I die physically…
• If you’re saved and know it, you’ll ALIVE, would you slip your hand up in testimony of Christ?
• If you couldn’t, this is your opportunity to make a decision to trust Christ as your Savior? 
• Jesus died for you… His Resurrection requires a decision… would you quietly slip up your hand up…
• We’ll pray for you…  Thank you, follow me in this prayer of faith, mean it from your heart…

Lord Jesus, I know I am a sinner.  Thank you for dying on the cross for me.  I now invite you into my life as my Lord and Savior.  Take control of my life, forgive my sins and make me your child. I ask for a new and living hope that you promised now and for all eternity.  Make me the person You created me to be, renew my strength as I begin my new life in you.

Those who made a decision this morning, tell someone… Please see myself, Pastor Jeff or Barry or an ushers for helpful literature to help you on your journey of faith in the Lord. Thank you for being our guest today and you’re invited to join us again next Sunday!                                     

Welcome to the family of God… I’m ALIVE in Jesus, because Jesus is ALIVE!