WHY I BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION

Cornerstone Baptist Church of McMinnville TN – Easter Sunday AM, April 24, 2011

Acts 1:1-4 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, ² Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: ³ To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: ⁴ And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me.

According to Acts 1:3 Jesus showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs. Tekmeeriou = That from which something is surely and plainly known; an unquestionable evidence, a proof.

I love the word infallible! We have an infallible Savior, who has given us infallible Scriptures and gave "many infallible proofs" of His resurrection.

Dr. Simon Greenleaf, leading Professor of Law at Harvard University (1840), was one of the greatest legal minds America has produced. He wrote, “A Treatise on the Law of Evidence.” It is considered still today to be the greatest legal volume ever written. Dr. Greenleaf doubted the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and sought to expose the "myth" of the Resurrection. However, after thoroughly examining the evidence, Dr. Greenleaf came to the conclusion that the Resurrection of Christ was absolutely true! He wrote an essay entitled, “An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists” in it he concluded, “It was impossible that the apostles could have persisted in affirming the truths they had narrated, had not Jesus Christ actually risen from the dead.”

Other men with judicial backgrounds like Lee Strobel & Josh McDowell have come to the same conclusion.

Though liberals laugh, skeptics scorn, and modernist mock, I want to go on record why I BELIEVE THE RESURRECTION!

I believe in The Resurrection because of…

1.    THE TESTIMONY OF THE SCRIPTURES:

·         The harmony and superiority of the Bible.

·         The Bibles victory over constant attack.

·         The character of those who accept and those who reject the Bible.

·         The influence of the Bible over individuals, societies and nations.

·         The inexhaustible depth of the Bible.

The Savior Promised The Resurrection: Mark 10:32-34 Jesus took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, ³³ Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles.  ³⁴ And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

The Spirit Proved The Resurrection: John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; [16:7] Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

The Saints Proclaimed The Resurrection: Acts 2:22-24, 32 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: ²³ Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: ²⁴ Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it… ³² This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. (Also 3:15; 4:10; 5:30)

I believe in the Resurrection because of…

2.    THE TRANSFORMATION OF CHRIST SERVANTS.

·         Consider how Peter was changed from… Fearful to Fearless; Foul-Mouth fisherman to a Flaming evangelist; Flashy devotee to a Faithful disciple.

·         Consider how Paul was changed! Philippians 3:4-10 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh… ⁵ Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; ⁶ Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. ⁷ But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. ⁸ Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, ⁹ And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness,… but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: ¹⁰ That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,…

3.    THE TRANQUILITY OF THE SAINTS:

1 Corinthians 15:1-6 I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; ² By which also ye are saved, ³For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; ⁴ And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: ⁵ And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: ⁶ After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴ To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, ⁵ Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (Also Romans 10:9-10)

CONCLUSION: Consider the impact of the Resurrection!

·       It means Good Trumps Evil. It might appear at times that evil triumphs, and I’m sure it appeared that way on the day of the crucifixion. It appeared that Satan had won when Jesus was led to the cross and crucified, but Three days later the Resurrection changed all that!

·       It means Grace wins over our sin. As the Scripture declares, Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. Christ’s perfect sacrifice of Himself, as the Lamb of God, cleanses us from all sin.

·       It means Love overcame Hate. The hatred of unbelievers for Christ is clearly revealed at the cross. God’s love is greater than human hate. Jesus prayed, Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.

Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, ³⁹ Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

·       It means Life defeated Death. The life I give reference to is eternal life. It is found only in Jesus Christ. Death is our greatest enemy, but Jesus has taken away its sting. If a man die, he can and will live again, if he knows Jesus, because whoever believes in Him shall never die.

FIVE SMOOTH STONES

Cornerstone Baptist Church – Sunday AM, April 17, 2011

1 Samuel 17:38-40 “Saul armed David with his armour,…³⁹…And David said unto Saul, I cannot go with these;…⁴⁰ And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.” (Turn to 2 Sam 21:15-22)

   

Celebrated men of the Bible:

• Caleb the Mountain Mover – Faith Claiming.
• Daniel the Lion Tamer – Faith Trusting.
• David the Giant slayer – Faith Fighting.

If you chose to follow Christ, there will be a time in your life when it will be necessary for you to be one of these.

Verse 40 stirred my curiosity. Why does the Bible say David “chose five smooth stones?” 

Why? 2 Sam 21:15-22 reveals Goliath had four brothers:

• Ishbi-benob (v16)
• Saph (v18)
• Lahmi (v19) Actually named in 1 Chronicles 20:5
• The Six-fingered Giant (v 20-21).

David was prepared to contend with many giants in his life; I believe the Lord would have us to do the same. By examining 1 Sam 17 and 2 Sam 21 we will find some significant insight into the giants we may face in this life.

1.      THE GIANT OF GOSSIP (1 Samuel 17:4):

GOLIATH = “blasphemer; communicator of evil.”

·         The tongue is a powerful tool for good or evil. James 3:8-10 “The tongue…is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Therewith bless we God …and therewith curse we men...¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.”

·         Evil communication will damage your – testimony, marriage, work, church. Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

·         Goliath was defeated by David whose name means “beloved.” How do you defeat, in the spiritual realm, the giant of gossip? With Love!

2.      THE GIANT OF PRIDE (2 Sam 21:15-17):  “The Philistines had yet war again with Israel; and David went down, and his servants with him, and fought against the Philistines: and David waxed faint. ¹⁶ And Ishbi-benob, which was of the sons of the giant,…thought to have slain David. ¹⁷ But Abishai…smote the Philistine, and killed him.”

ISBI-BENOB = “My dwelling is in the heights.” He represents pride.

·         Pride will rob you of right relationships!

Proverbs 16:18-19 “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. ¹⁹ Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.”

·         This giant was defeated by Abishai = “My father is a gift.” It’s not about me; it’s about my father. Abishai represents humility.

1 Peter 5:5-6 “God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:”

3.      THE GIANT OF HYPOCRISY (2 Sam 21:18): “And it came to pass after this, that there was again a battle with the Philistines at Gob [a pit]: then Sibbechai the Husha-thite slew Saph, which was of the sons of the giant.”

SAPH = “to compare.” In 1 Chron 20:4 he is called Sippai = “to view in a mirror.” He represents hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy: Pretending to be what you are not.

·         This giant was defeated by Sibbechai = “Like a corpse.” He represents death to self. This giant is defeated when we learn to die to self.

Romans 6:8 “If we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:.. yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.”

4.      THE GIANT OF LUST (2 Sam 21:19): “And there was again a battle in Gob with the Philistines, where Elhanan the son of Jaareoregim [Jair], a Bethlehemite, slew the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver's beam.” 1 Chron 20:5 “Elhanan the son of Jair slew Lahmi the brother of Goliath...”

LAHMI = “sensual, full of lust.” Lust is a compulsive desire for immorality (1Chronicles 20:5).

·         We battle with sinful enticements everyday.

James 1:14-15 “Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ¹⁵ Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

·         This giant was defeated by Elhanan = “God is gracious.” Elhanan’s father was Jair = “wood.” This giant is defeated when we put our self on the Cross.

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. [6:14] “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.”

5.      THE GIANT OF GREED (2 Sam 21:20-21):  “There was yet a battle in Gath, where was a man of great stature, that had on every hand six fingers, and on every foot six toes, four and twenty in number; and he also was born to the giant. ²¹ And when he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimeah the brother of David slew him.”

THE SIX-FINGERED GIANT = a powerful grasp. He represents greed.

·         Covetousness is expecting from things what only God can give (Peace, Joy, Love) and is equated with Idolatry. Colossians 3:5 “Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.”

·         This giant was defeated by Jonathan = “Jehovah gives.” Our God stands ready to supply our every need.

Psalm 84:11 “The Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

Psalm 34:10 “They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”

Philippians 4:19 “My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”

CONCLUSION: Proverbs 3:5-7 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. ⁶ In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. ⁷ Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

1.      Gossip is defeated with Love

2.      Pride is defeated by Humility

3.      Hypocrisy is defeated with Death to self

4.      Lust is defeated by Identifying with the Cross

5.      Greed is defeated by Dependence upon God

Hudson Taylor, the founder of the China Inland Mission, wrote…

“All of God's giants have been weak men, who did great things for God because they reckoned on His being with them.”

David understood what this meant, for he was but a teenager when he faced his first giant; yet he knew that the Lord would be with him.