FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF VILLA RICA, PCA

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Our Risen King

4/11/04 Easter Villa Rica

2 Timothy 2:8-13 

2 Tim. 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,

The apostle Paul is about to depart this life and he wants to be sure Timothy will continue to preach the self same gospel that he has been preaching. The world likes to change style and fashion. There is a hankering in most of us to improve on what has gone before. So the world carries that over to the gospel message. But any change in the gospel is an adulteration. It must forever remain the same from age to age.

Four basic facts constitute the gospel: the incarnation of the living God in human form, the blameless, holy life of Jesus Christ, his substitutionary, sacrificial death and his resurrection. He who believes these foundational truths has rightly believed the gospel and is assured of eternal life.

But as I say, men want change, novelties, and nnovation. The world craves variation, a new score, and a fresh approach. What was taught by Paul and the other apostles needs a new look, a new twist. Men would say that cultivated minds and the expansion of man's intellectual horizons mandate a shinier trumpet with a different sound to it. Even in Paul's day this tendency was manifest. The historical facts must have some mysterious or parabolic meaning, and they labored to find a spiritual meaning in everything. The facts then become mists and clouds without water.

Paul was very anxious that Timothy at least should stand firm to the old witness and should understand without alteration or embellishment the fact that Jesus Christ of the seed of David rose from the dead.

To stand for the simple gospel can bring hardship and suffering. Paul was imprisoned for the gospel but as he said, the word of God is not imprisoned.

The name Jesus signifies a Savior. The name Christ means, the anointed One, the Messiah, the sent of God. And he is the seed of David. His incarnation involved him in a definite genealogy and humanity. Some men attempt to spiritualize the incarnation so that there is no humanity left, but he was bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh.

Paul also reminds Timothy of the fact that Jesus Christ died. He could not be raised from the dead unless or until he had first gone down into the realm of the dead.      

Yes, Jesus literally died; the crucifixion was not a delusion. The spear that pierced his side ruptured his heart so that blood and water spewed d forth. His heart stopped beating. His lungs stopped taking in air and oxygen. He was truly dead. His body became cold and stiff and lifeless. His lips were closed, unmoving. He was wrapped in fine linen and sweet spices and tenderly laid in Joseph’s tomb. A great stone was rolled to the mouth of the tomb and his pallbearers, who were absolutely sure that he was dead, buried and left him.          

But then comes the grand truth, that as soon as the third sun commenced its shining circuit Jesus rose up from the sleep of death. His body had not decayed, for it was not possible that his holy flesh should see corruption. Nonetheless, it had been truly dead, and by the power of the Creator, Redeemer God the departed soul of Jesus the Redeemer again took possession of the still and lifeless body. By his divine power he assumed command of all the faculties of the body just recently vacated. The body itself in some unexplainable way underwent a transformation, which made it indestructible and spiritual. It is no longer material only but has a spiritual makeup and quality, which enables it to pass through doors and walls and defy the law of gravity.

This is the amazing truth of Easter. This is the historical, miraculous fact that was witnessed by all the apostles and many other disciples. This doctrine is the keystone of the arch of Christianity. Without the resurrection there can be no Easter, no Church, no Christianity. Jesus is our risen King. This is the gospel, which Paul called, my Gospel.

I would like today to review with you the Easter story and underscore at least three things that will enable you to go away from church this morning with a song in your heart and courage for living the Christian life.

I. The Resurrection Confirms Life After Death

For ages men had been bewildered and dismayed by death. Death was the sunset without a sunrise. Death was the unknown journey that every man took but from which no man ever returned. Death had been a vault without a combination. Once the door shut tight and the lid of the tomb sealed there was no way to enter that forbidden place and bring back the precious treasure called life. Death was the unsolved enigma; an imponderable puzzle; a riddle without an answer. But that is true no longer. Jesus Christ has gone into that realm and returned.  Jesus told his disciples “Do not let your heart be troubled; ^believe in God, believe also in Me. ²“In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:1 -2 (NASB)

 

These are the most amazing words in the entire Bible. Jesus Christ has made the trip no other man has taken. He has descended into the jaws of death, returned to earth, repossessed his material body, remained among men for 40 days, and ascended back to heaven. In John 14:3 he also says that he will return again and receive to himself his own to be with him forever.

We no longer need speculate about whether there is a paradise, a place of joy unspeakable and endless bliss. His resurrection is a proof that there is such a place and that men may follow Jesus to it.

His resurrection is proof positive that his substitutionary death was pleasing to the Father and accepted as the satisfaction for the penalty imposed by God on the sinner. By paying the supreme penalty on behalf of all his people he is now freed from the bands of death and can loose those for whom he died from their guilt and penalty. The demands of the law have been satisfied. God will not exact payment from Jesus and then exact it from you as well. That would be double jeopardy. My Savoir paid for my sins and I am debt free.

Thirdly, his resurrection seals all his claims about himself. He had said, ¹⁹ “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” ¹⁷“For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. ¹⁸“No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father. ” ⁴⁰for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (John 2:19, John 10:17-18, Matt. 12:40)

Without the resurrection these words about his mediatorial mission in the earth would be empty. How could Christ be our Redeemer from death and hell if he himself were still the victim of death?

But death could not hold him. Corruption could not touch him, for though he took our sin and bore it by imputation, and therefore died, yet he had no fault of his own. He was innocent of every sin, including the imputation of Adam's sin, and therefore death could not hold him once the imputed load had been removed.

II. Not Only Does His Resurrection Confirm Life After Death His Resurrection Is A Pledge That Our Bodies Will Surely Live Again And Rise To A Superior Condition

The risen body of Jesus Christ manifested a marvelous power over the laws of matter. He was able to appear and disappear at will. He was incapable of hunger, pain, thirst, weariness or bodily harm. Though laid to rest in weakness he was raised in power. His new body is declared to be the kind of body his disciples shall have on Resurrection Day, a spiritual body, an immortal body, a powerful body, a glorious body. He did not need to eat, yet to prove his body was real he did eat, a broiled fish and a honeycomb.

His body is indestructible, without material restrictions and limitations, wonderfully superior to his pre-resurrection body in every way.

III. Finally, The Resurrection Makes Christianity Unique

A Christian once asked a Moslem to tell him all he could about the prophet of Islam. The Moslem did the best he could. "Where is he buried?" asked the Christian. "At Mecca," replied the Moslem. The Christian then said, "I know a Prophet who is a Priest and a King who has no earthly tomb, who died for my sins and rose again to live forever as King of kings and Lord of lords.”

Of all the religions of the world only Christianity has a founder who rose again from death to live on high forever. He is a powerful Savior who promises to save to the uttermost all who come to God by Him. He is able to guarantee his disciples their own resurrection. Christ and his people are one just as Adam and his seed are one. That which Adam did he did as a representative person, the head of his race. In the same way, Christ is the head of a new race of men. He is called the last Adam. We are in living union with him. He says   because I live, you will live also. John 14:19 

Christ commands Satan, "Let my people go." And that command applies to both the present and the future.

It is a command to the soul and the body too.

Remembering Christ’s victory over death will keep you close to Christ and make all of your earthly trials bearable. Paul told Timothy, Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel,

            Does Satan accuse? Jesus rose victorious over all sin to be your Advocate and Intercessor.

            Do infirmities hinder? The living Christ will show

Himself strong on your behalf.

Do you dread death? Jesus in rising again has vanquished death. He will come to meet you when it is your time to pass through the chill of the stream. He will be with you in the valley of the shadow of death and lead you safely to the other side.

What is your trouble? I do not care what it may be, that if you will only think of Jesus Christ, full of love and compassion, plenteous in power, who has experienced all your trials, even your death, you will find your troubles melting away like the morning frost in the midday sun.  

Remembering that he rose from the grave will give you confidence to rise up as on eagles wings. It will enable you to expect victory over all sufferings and trials. We are his people, the sheep of his fold, and he is the good Shepherd. The apostle says, ¹¹ It is a trustworthy statement:

  For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him;

¹² If we endure, we will also reign with Him;

  If we deny Him, He also will deny us;

13   If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. 2 Tim. 2:11-13

            When you are called to suffer, think – Jesus suffered; yet Jesus rose again from the dead. He came up out of the baptism of his sorrows and grief’s the better and more glorious for it, and so shall you and I. We may go through the furnace of affliction and be unafraid of the fire.

Lastly, Christ's resurrection makes all opposition to the gospel useless and foolish. He will conquer every foe and subdue every enemy. There is no power that can possibly defeat him. We have a victorious king who always causes us to triumph.

When you follow Christ of whom should you be afraid? He is the risen and almighty King. From his mouth comes a sharp sword that smites the nations. He rules with a rod of iron. The armies of heaven follow him on steeds of victory.

            How then ought you and I to live? Knowing we have a risen King on the throne of glory who leads all of his followers on to sure and certain victory over every enemy. 2 Tim. 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel.

Hymn #276  “Up From the Grave He Arose”