THE RESURRECTION IS ESSENTIAL!

Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020

THE RESURRECTION IS ESSENTIAL!

Matt 17:9

9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

Matt 27:64

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

Rom 4:25

25 [JESUS] Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

           The disciples had seen Jesus transformed in Matthew 17. It gave them indisputable evidence of Christ’s deity, but Jesus wanted them to keep this secret “until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.”  So, we see that the resurrection was essential for the confirmation of Jesus’ deity. It proved that Jesus did NOT LIE.

           The Pharisees demanded that the tomb be guarded for at least three days to insure that Jesus’ body remained. So, we see that the resurrection was essential to prove the religious leaders to be LIARS.

           Paul addresses soteriology [the doctrine of salvation] when he links the resurrection with salvation in Romans chapter 4. It is one thing to be delivered up for our transgressions – to suffer death in our place – but it is quite another thing to be raised again for our justification. The resurrection proved Christ to be Lord over death.

1 Cor 15:19-20

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives