WHAT THE RESURRECTION MEANS TO US

Acts 13:26-33



From Richard Priddy and reworked by David Riggs

Intro.
   A. In this lesson we want to examine what the resurrection of     
      Christ means to us.

I. THE RESURRECTION SPEAKS OF A LIVING SAVIOR. Acts
   1:3
   A. The angels said, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?"
      Luke 24:4-5
   B. The resurrection was the crowning miracle which proved Jesus
      was the Messiah. Rom. 1:4
      1. Had the Lord remained in that grave and returned to dust,
         there would be no hope for deliverance from sin and death.
   C. Death could not conquer Jesus Christ. Acts 2:23-24
      1. His resurrection was His victory.
      2. It was final proof of all that He claimed to be.

II. THE RESURRECTION TELLS US OF THE POWER OF GOD.
   A. Many question the reality of the resurrection and offer flimsy
      theories; e.g., "the swoon theory, went to the wrong tomb, the
      disciples stole body, and so forth.
      1. Actually, they are questioning the power of God, but "is
         anything too hard for the Lord?" Gen 18:14
   B. God's power is clearly demonstrated in the resurrection. Rom.
      1:1-4; Eph 1:15-21;
      1. The same power that brought Christ back from he dead is
         made available for us.
         a. Paul is praying that we might see the exceeding
            greatness of the power.
      2. 2 Cor. 13:4 - Again, Jesus lives by the power of God, and we
         live with Him through that same power.
      3. In a cemetery in Hanover, Germany, is a grave on which
         were placed huge slabs of granite and marble cemented
         together and fastened with heavy steel clasps. It belongs to
         a woman who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.
         Yet strangely, she directed in her will that her grave be   
         made so secure that if there were a resurrection, it could  
         not reach her. On the marker were inscribed these words:    
         "This burial place must never be opened!" In time, a seed,  
         covered over by the stones, began to grow. Slowly it pushed 
         its way through the soil and out from beneath them. As the  
         trunk enlarged, the great slabs were gradually shifted so   
         that the steel clasps were wrenched from their sockets. A   
         tiny seed had become a tree that had pushed aside the       
         stones.
         a. If God put such force in the world He created, He will
            have no problem raising all the dead, whether drowned
            at sea, cremated, or decayed into dust.

III. THE RESURRECTION VALIDATES CHRISTIANITY.
   A. The foundation of the early Christian movement is Christ
      crucified, buried, and risen in glorious and matchless power.
      1.  Acts 2:22-32; 13:26-33; 17:18
   B. Paul showed that if Christ is not raised, the whole system     
      falls apart. 1 Cor. 15:13-21
      1. If Christ is not risen, the cornerstone is taken out of the
         Christian faith and the hopes that men and women have built
         upon Jesus crumble to the ground.

IV. THE RESURRECTION GUARANTEES OUR REDEMPTION.
   A. Righteousness or justification is imputed to those who have    
      faith in God who raised Jesus from the dead. Rom. 4:22-25
      1. Some time ago, a lady wrote me a true story of an event that
         happened: A kindergarten teacher was determining how
         much religious training her new students had. While talking
         with one little boy, to whom the story of Jesus was         
         obviously brand new, she began relating His death on the    
         cross. When asked what a cross was, she picked up some      
         sticks, and fashioning a crude one, she explained that Jesus
         was actually nailed to that cross, and then He died. The    
         little boy with eyes all downcast quietly acknowledged, "Oh,
         that's too bad." In the very next breath, however, she      
         related that He arose again and that He came back to life.  
         And his little eyes became as big as saucers. He lit up and 
         exclaimed, "Totally awesome!" (as told to Charles Swindoll)
      2. You don't know the full identity of Jesus if your response  
         is "Oh, that's too bad."
         a. You know His identity only if your description is
            "Totally awesome!"

V. THE RESURRECTION IS THE FOUNDATION FOR THE HOPE OF LIFE BEYOND THE
   GRAVE. 1 Cor. 6:14; 2 Cor. 4:14
   A. Our Lord's resurrection is the promise of other resurrections. 
      1 Cor. 15:42-49
      1. It is through Him that the bodies will be raised. John      
         11:23-25
      2. All who are in the graves will hear His voice and come      
         forth. John 5:28-29
   B. When our loved ones die and pass into that other world, there  
      is hope; and we have that same hope of life beyond the grave.

VI. THE RESURRECTION GIVES ASSURANCE OF THE JUDGMENT. Acts 17:30-31
   A. There is coming a great day when God will judge all men.
   B. God has assured us of it.
   C. Just as He raised Christ from the dead, He will someday judge  
      all men by Christ. John 5:21-22
      1. Through Christ we are delivered from the fear of death and
         judgment. Heb. 2:14-15

Concl.
   A. We began our journey as Christians through the resurrection. 1
      Pet. 3:21
      1. We continue our journey through a living hope brought
         about by the resurrection. 1 Pet. 1:3
      2. The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead needs to
         continually dwell in us. Rom. 8:11