25-0420a Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(1:37) Good morning.

I appreciate the song selections. I appreciate the reading of God’s Word by John and also by Roger. (1:58) Today, the religious world is thinking on the resurrection of Christ.

Firstly, it seems that this is the day they call Easter, the resurrection day. (2:18) As the Passover was observed on a yearly basis, so Easter is observed annually. We celebrate the dead, burial, and resurrection in the church weekly on the first day of the week.

(2:41) Christ arose on the first day of the week. In Acts 20, verse 7, it says, (2:58) When the saints gathered to break bread, the breaking of bread was the Lord’s supper. They used this term when they ate a meal.

It could be a common meal. (3:21) We can see that this is important because here in Troas, these men going ahead waited for us at Troas. (3:51) We sailed away from Philippi after the Days of Unleavened Bread and in five days joined them at Troas where we stayed seven days.

(4:11) Now, on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, that is the Lord’s supper. They didn’t have to wait until the seventh day to eat a common meal. (4:35) But on the first day of the week, they came together to break bread for the Lord’s supper, all ready to depart the next day.

We spoke to them and continued His message until midnight. (4:56) So, we do this every first day of the week. But it is a shame that many people decide to think about His resurrection only once a week or maybe three times a year.

(5:28) When it can be observed weekly, when they can think on His resurrection, His death, His birth and resurrection weekly. We can always keep that before us. (5:50) Now, there was a question that I was reading where the question was, did Christ arise on Saturday or Sunday? (6:12) And what he was saying was, it may be concluded that it was on Saturday.

Because Saturday was the seventh day or the seventh day of the week. (6:47) And in the Gospels, no matter how they figure the time, whether they go by the Jewish calendar or the Roman calendar, makes it very clear that it’s on the first day of the week. (7:13) It says, now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.

(7:42) Now, each one of the writers of the Gospels make it clear that it’s on the first day of the week. (7:57) Now, concerning that question, we don’t know the precise hour, minute or second that Christ arose. (8:16) Again, I say if we’re doing it by the Jewish calendar or by the Roman calendar, it makes it clear that it’s upon the first day of the week Christ arose.

(8:34) And it was on the third day. (8:37) Now, I know there’s been some differences in whether he was crucified on Thursday or Friday. (8:54) But nonetheless, how we figure it, he was in the grave three days.

(9:01) And on the third day he arose. (9:06) And in the Gospel, it makes it the first day of the week. (9:13) And in Mark 16, 2 and 6, we find that it’s on the first day of the week.

(9:22) And verse 6 very plainly says, Christ is risen. (9:29) He said, he is risen. (9:33) Now, some people, even in the body of Christ, find it difficult to accept the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

(9:46) Now, we’re going to use 1 Corinthians 15. (9:54) This chapter discusses the resurrection. (9:59) First of Jesus, and then of the resurrection of the dead.

(10:12) And we’re going to see what the Apostle Paul had to say on this subject. (10:19) He begins 1 Corinthians 15 by saying, (10:27) Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you stand, by which you are saved, if you hold fast. (10:48) That word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

(10:56) In the Romans 1, 16, in the scripture that was read by Kevin, we have Paul saying, (11:12) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to save those who believe. (11:25) First to the Jews, and also to the Greeks. (11:30) That represents the Gentiles.

(11:35) Well, what is that gospel that he preached, and that these Corinthians, if they believed it, that they were saved by? (11:53) Beginning in verse 3, (11:55) For I deliver to you, first of all, that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he arose again on the third day according to the scriptures. (12:18) So Paul is saying that according to the scriptures, the scriptures that they had was the Old Testament. (12:32) And the Old Testament pointed to the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Christ.

(12:42) We’re going to look at Psalm 16, verses 9-11. (12:54) Psalm 16. (13:08) That’s the wrong one.

(13:23) That’s the wrong one, but it speaks concerning his burial and his resurrection. (13:36) And it says that your holy one shall not see corruption, meaning that he would not remain in the grave, that he would come forth. (13:58) And it says that this is according to the scriptures.

(14:04) Then he goes further, and he lays the foundation for what he is by showing that Christ was seen of witnesses, many witnesses. (14:26) And the reason I said many is because whenever there was a case or a charge against someone under the law, and it is to be that way even in the church today, (14:48) that if there is something brought against someone, one person does not make that case and not be decided on just one person. (15:04) It takes two or three witnesses.

(15:09) We’re going to see how many witnesses there are to Christ’s resurrection. (15:20) Beginning in verse 5. (15:23) And that he was seen by Cephas, then by the Twelve. (15:29) After that he was seen by over 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained to the present.

(15:42) But some have fallen asleep. (15:46) After that he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. (15:55) Then last of all he was seen by me also, as one born out of due time.

(16:04) For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. (16:16) But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain. (16:23) But I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

(16:35) So he shows that after his resurrection there was those who saw Christ. (16:49) And in Acts 1 verse 3, the writer Luke says this. (17:08) Says this in verse 3. (17:17) Well, to make this sense I’m going to begin with verse 1. (17:21) The former account I made of the office, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, (17:32) until the day on which he was taken up, after he through the Holy Spirit had given commandment to the apostles, (17:43) whom he had chosen, to whom he presented himself alive.

(17:50) After his suffering, by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days, (18:03) and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. (18:09) So here his disciples, eleven of them, because Judas, who betrayed him, is not in this presence, (18:22) for he went out and hanged himself. (18:26) But not only did he appear to his apostles, he appeared to over 500 brethren at once.

(18:43) He said some of them have passed on. (18:49) That’s what the fallen sleep here means, that they have passed on. (18:55) But a greater portion of them are still alive.

(19:00) And if these Corinthian brethren could happen upon these, (19:06) how many of these would convince them that they saw Jesus after his resurrection? (19:17) All it takes is two or three witnesses. (19:21) But God provided an abundant amount of evidence that showed that Jesus arose. (19:32) And then lastly, Paul saw Jesus on the road to Damascus.

(19:41) As he was persecuting the church and going to bring others into captivity, (19:50) and throw them in the prison, and to take them to Jerusalem. (19:57) He saw a great light, and a voice said, (20:03) Saul, Saul, why have thou persecuted me? (20:10) And that makes Paul ask, who art thou? (20:17) And the answer is, I am Jesus, whom thou persecutest. (20:27) Now, Jesus died, and Jesus speaks to Paul, (20:37) on the road to Damascus, (20:43) that proves that Jesus was resurrected.

(20:49) And he was saved by many witnesses. (20:56) But then in verse 12, he continues in 1 Corinthians 15, (21:08) Now, if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, (21:16) how do some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? (21:26) There are those even within the Christian brethren (21:29) that have had a hard time accepting the resurrection. (21:39) They’re among the first century, (21:44) for those that were teaching even that the resurrection was fast, (21:51) of whom Paul told the people a nice shipwreck of the faith.

(22:01) But then Paul says, if there’s no resurrection of the dead, (22:09) then Christ is not risen. (22:13) And then he goes and starts reasoning from this standpoint. (22:21) If Christ is not risen, (22:25) then our preaching is empty for vain.

(22:34) And your faith is also empty. (22:38) How would you like to have your faith proven that it’s empty, it’s vain? (22:48) Well, the preaching is that Christ arose. (22:55) That’s what they were preaching.

(22:59) He died, was born, and he arose. (23:03) Well, if he didn’t arise, or if there is no resurrection, (23:09) then Christ did not arise. (23:15) And yes, and we are found false witnesses, (23:22) not as all these witnesses that he performed are false, (23:32) because we have testified that God raised up Christ, (23:39) whom he did not raise up if the dead do not rise.

(23:47) For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. (23:55) We have these apostles testifying, (24:02) first of all in John chapter 20, verses 30 and 31. (24:15) And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, (24:22) which are not written in this book.

(24:25) But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, (24:30) the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name. (24:39) And one of the signs is his resurrection, his own resurrection. (24:52) And if you can accept this, you believe this, (25:00) and that believing you may have life in his name.

(25:09) And now in the other chapter, 21, verse 25, (25:17) and there are also many other things that Jesus did, (25:24) which if they were written one by one, (25:27) I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books (25:32) that would be written. Amen. (25:36) So we have these to show that Christ did indeed arise.

(25:45) Now in Acts 10, the verse that was read in your hearing, (25:54) the apostle Peter has gone to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile, (26:08) upon being requested together by Cornelius. (26:16) In verses 38-41, Peter is telling these people (26:32) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, (26:41) who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. (26:47) For God was with him.

(26:50) And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, (27:02) whom they killed by hanging on a tree. (27:08) That would be the cross. (27:12) But not to all the people, but him God raised up on the third day and showed him openly.

(27:24) Not to all people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, (27:31) even to us who ate and drank with him after he arose from the dead. (27:44) And in John 21 verse 12, they ate breakfast with Jesus after his resurrection. (27:57) And Peter is saying that they ate and drank with Jesus.

(28:03) So these witnesses, if Christ did not arise, they are found false witnesses. (28:12) And let me say this, most of these apostles, if not all of them, (28:22) died because they believed and taught that Jesus died, was buried, and was erected. (28:32) They preached Jesus.

(28:35) They did not give it up. (28:40) They died for that. (28:42) Now do you think that these, that they were really false witnesses, (28:49) that they would really die, that they would give up their lives for lies? (28:58) I don’t think so.

(29:04) So if Christ did arise, we see from Mark 16 verse 6 that Christ is risen, (29:21) that he arose, they testify that he arose, and Christ arose. (29:31) Christ is resurrected. (29:34) He is a living Savior.

(29:38) So today, not just today, but on each Lord’s Day, (29:49) we should remember the death of Christ, his burial, and his resurrection, (30:00) especially when we partake of the Lord’s Supper. (30:05) We should do it in his remembrance. (30:11) Let us also know that we are told that if we believe the gospel, (30:21) he that believes and is baptized shall be saved.

(30:31) When we are baptized, we reenact the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus, (30:42) as pointed out in Romans 6, verses 3 and 4. (30:50) We go to Romans 6, and Paul tells his Romans, (30:58) and he’s proven to them that they do have done things by faith, (31:08) and it should be by faith. (31:10) But he says, (31:16) Let me look at 3. (31:21) Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus (31:26) were baptized into his death? (31:31) Therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death, (31:37) that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, (31:45) even so we should walk in newness of life. (31:52) That when we come forth from this watery grave of baptism, (31:57) we should walk in newness of life.

(32:01) This tells us that it is a new birth. (32:08) This tells us that we should live then in Christ. (32:18) We should walk in this, because we are born anew.

(32:25) And we are told then, in verses 16 and 17 of Romans 6, (32:37) Do you not know to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey? (32:43) You are the one slaves whom you obey, (32:48) whether of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness. (32:55) God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, (32:58) yet you obeyed from the heart, (33:04) as born, or type, doctrine to which you were delivered. (33:16) Notice that what is that born? (33:20) What is that which is the doctrine that Christ died, was buried, (33:28) and on the third day arose? (33:31) When we are baptized, we are baptized into his death.

(33:38) We are, when we arise from the watery grave, (33:45) just as Christ was raised, (33:48) we should walk in newness of life. (33:53) We do this and die of that form when we are baptized. (34:02) If we do that, according to Mark 16, (34:11) we believe and are baptized, we shall be saved.

(34:19) We are saved then by the gospel, by obeying the gospel. (34:25) Whenever you are baptized, this is obeying the gospel. (34:34) And therefore, we obey our Lord, and we obey him.

(34:44) We should continue to live faithfully to him. (34:49) This would be good news, because as we walk in the light, (34:55) in God’s light, as we walk in the light, as he is in the light, (35:04) we have fellowship with one another, and with God. (35:11) And his blood cleanses us from all sin.

(35:19) Yes, just because we have been saved does not mean we won’t sin in the future, (35:28) but God’s blood covers us if we walk in the light as he is in the light. (35:38) This ought to be good news for all of us, (35:42) that we can be saved because of the resurrection or the death of Christ, (35:52) his birth and his resurrection, his death. (35:57) We are saved through his death, his shed blood.

(36:01) And we have hope beyond death that we too, (36:10) if we have departed before he comes again, that we too will be resurrected. (36:18) And that is the hope that we can have. (36:24) Yes, the resurrection of Christ is sure, and he is living.

(36:32) Do you want to obey him? We can. (36:37) And if you haven’t, you can, (36:42) by believing and being buried with Christ, (36:48) in baptism, to have your sins washed away. (36:53) It’s not the water that washes the sins away, (36:56) but it is Christ’s blood that washes it away.

(37:01) And through baptism we contact that blood. (37:04) If there is anyone who needs and is subject to the gospel invitation in any way, (37:14) we would urge you to come forward and to obey God, (37:22) because he has given us a wonderful way to live. (37:29) Yet his resurrection is sure.

(37:31) So why not come while we stand and while we sing?