Christ Arose
1 Low in the grave he lay, Jesus my Savior,
waiting the coming day, Jesus my Lord!
Refrain:
Up from the grave he arose;
with a mighty triumph o’er his foes;
he arose a victor from the dark domain,
and he lives forever, with his saints to reign.
He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!
2 Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus my Savior,
vainly they seal the dead, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]
3 Death cannot keep its prey, Jesus my Savior;
he tore the bars away, Jesus my Lord! [Refrain]
The Gospel’s Essentials
12 April 2020 AM – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 – Resurrection – Scott Childs
Welcome: Welcome to our Sunday morning online church service. We are going to begin with the hymn, Christ Arose, p. 138. The words are also in the sermon notes online. Think about the words as you sing along.
Prayer
Introduction: Read text. Today is Resurrection Sunday, a day set aside to remember the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Gospel is the good news that Christ atoned for our sin by his death, burial and resurrection. Are these three actions essential to our salvation? Yes, they are.
Transition: This morning, I want to see from Scripture why they are an essential part of our salvation.
1. Christ Died for Our Sins
a. Christ died a dreadful death.
1) Crucifixion was only part of what Christ endured.
a) (John 19:1) “Then Pilate therefore took Jesus, and scourged him.” Such a whipping was often fatal.
b) Christ wore a crown of thorns. (Matthew 27:29) “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”
c) (Matthew 27:30) “And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.”
d) They nailed Christ to a cross at 9:00 AM where he hung until he died. (Mark 15:25) “And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.”
e) They placed Christ’s cross between two thieves to humiliate him. (Matthew 27:38) “Then were there two thieves crucified with him, one on the right hand, and another on the left.”
2) Crucifixion was a dreadful death, but the most dreadful part of His death was paying for the sins of the world.
a) At noon, the sky went black, evidently to symbolise that God had turned His back on His Son. (Matthew 27:45) “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”
b) (Mark 15:34) “And at the ninth hour [3:00 p.m.] Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Shortly thereafter, Jesus died. (John 19:30)
c) His disciple John wrote (1 John 2:2) “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” Propitiation means that he fully satisfied the wrath of God toward our wicked sins. He paid our full payment.
b. Christ’s death fulfilled God’s plan.
1) Christ was the spotless Lamb of God. He who did no wrong, died for my sins and yours. He took our place. Somehow, he paid for our eternal hell.
a) (Romans 4:25) “Who was delivered for our offences.”
b) (Romans 5:6) “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
c) (Romans 5:8) “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
d) (Galatians 1:4) “Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:”
e) (1 Peter 2:24) “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
f) (1 Peter 3:18) “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”.
2) Christ also died to fulfil Scripture
a) The Psalmist predicted Christ’s death. (Psalms 22:16-18) “For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”
b) Isaiah, 700 years before Christ wrote of Him, (Isaiah 53:5) “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
O Christ’s death was essential, for without it, we must pay eternally for our own sin in the Lake of Fire.
2. Christ was Buried
The prophet Isaiah wrote, (Isaiah 53:9) “And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.”
a. Burial provided proof of Christ’s death.
1) Some sceptics claim that Jesus never fully died; He just passed out and later revived. His burial proved His death.
2) (John 19:33-34) “But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”
3) The attending centurion told Pilate that Jesus was dead. (Mark 15:44-45) “And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.”
4) Joseph of Arimathaea (a rich man) and Nicodemus took Jesus’ cold dead body, washed it, wrapped it with linen, and placed it in a burial cave (Jn 19:38-39). They knew factually that Jesus was dead.
5) The priests and Pharisees knew Jesus was dead. They desired soldiers to guard the tomb to prevent the disciples from claiming Christ arose (Mt 27:62-66).
b. Burial gave evidence of Christ’s resurrection.
1) He was in the tomb for three days. He was dead!
2) The guards saw angels open the tomb on Sunday.
3) Disciples found Christ’s burial cloth in the tomb but He was gone (John 20:6-7).
O Christ’s burial was essential, for it proves he really died.
3. Christ Rose Again the Third Day
a. Christ literally rose from the dead
1) Speaking of Christ, the Psalmist wrote, (Psalms 16:10) “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.” (cf., Ac 2:25-28)
2) The angels told the women that Jesus was alive. (Luke 24:5) “And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
3) Mary first saw Jesus alive. (John 20:18) “Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.”
4) Two disciples on the road to Emmaus saw the resurrected Jesus (Luke 24:13-35).
5) Jesus appeared to his eleven disciples on Resurrection evening. (John 20:19) “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.”
6) The disciples saw Jesus eat. (Luke 24:42-43) “And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.”
7) Many others saw him alive (see 1Co 15:5-7).
b. Christ’s resurrection offers us hope
1) (2 Corinthians 4:14) “Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.”
2) (1 Peter 1:3) “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,”
3) If Christ has saved your soul, you will one day resurrect and receive an immortal eternal body to live with God. Christ’s resurrection is essential to give us that hope.
Conclusion: We have examined the essentialness of the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. You cannot eliminate one of these actions without destroying the saving ability of the Gospel. Jesus died, was buried, and rose again to pay for your sin and to offer you eternal life. However, Christ’s atonement will not benefit you if you do not humbly admit your doom, believe that He died for you and receive His offer. Religion cannot save you. Only faith in Christ saves. If you have received Christ’s salvation, take time right now to praise and thank Him.
Prayer