Because He Lives

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This is an Easter sermon that explores the various benefits that we enjoy because of Christ's resurrection from the dead.

Written excerpts:

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 ^(NKJV) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

Introduction:

Dr. George Sweeting (former president and chancellor of the Moody Bible Institute), tells of an incident in the early 1920s when Communist leader Nikolai Bukharin was sent from Moscow to Kiev to address an anti-God rally. For an hour he abused and ridiculed the Christian faith until it seemed as if the whole structure of belief was in ruins. Then questions were invited. An Orthodox Church priest rose and asked to speak. He turned, faced the people, and gave the Easter greeting, "He is risen!" Instantly the assembly rose to its feet and the reply came back loud and clear, "He is risen indeed!"  Today in the Word, September, 1989, (sermonillustrations.com)

We’ve been celebrating today as we rehearse the details of our Lord’s resurrection from the dead. No matter how you look at it – it was and is a great victory over Satan, over sin, and over death! All of our hymns and special music have reviewed the events of the resurrection.

Before we conclude our service, I want to take a little time to remind us again about some of the benefits we have because of the resurrection.

This is more of a topical message and it certainly isn’t exhaustive because we’ve talked about various benefits of the resurrection in the past and there are other benefits that we still haven’t explored.

Here are some of the benefits I am happy about this Easter:

I.      Because He lives, our preaching and faith is confirmed.

1 Corinthians 15:13-14 ^(NKJV) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

If there’s no resurrection, then we might as well close the doors of every church. We have no message of salvation and no message of hope. If there’s no resurrection, we have nothing to trust in. We have no basis for faith or for living according to the principles of the Bible.

II.    Because He lives, we have an intercessor in heaven.

Hebrews 7:25 ^(NKJV) Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives (KJV, ever liveth) to make intercession for them.

III.   Because He lives, we have power for victorious living.

Romans 8:11 ^(NKJV) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

In my own power and strength I can only expect failure as I try to live pleasing to the Lord. But with the resurrection power of the Spirit I can have victory over sin and I can live in fellowship with Christ and experience the abundant life that Jesus promised to give.

IV.   Because He lives, we can expect His return.

John 14:2-3 ^(NKJV) In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

Acts 1:11 … Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

If you ask me any questions about when Jesus is coming back, I have to admit that I don’t know. But if you ask me IF Jesus is coming back, I’ll answer without the slightest hesitation, “YES!”

Conclusion:

All four of these things I’ve mentioned this morning are only possible and only true because the resurrection of Jesus Christ is true!

If He hadn’t risen from the dead, we would be miserably lost and hopeless.