"The Resurrection: Received in Redemption, or Ridiculed in Rejection"
The resurrection of Christ is what we are celebrating this morning. It is amazing to consider that a man comes to earth from God according to prophecy. He dies in a torturous death according to prophecy. Then, according to prophecy, He comes back to life three days later. Over two billion Christians worldwide celebrate the astonishing resurrection of Jesus in appreciation of it as a fact. Our eternal hope rests upon this fact. The risen Lord is our confidence that there is something better than the best we can experience on earth. He is our hope for the eternal perfection to come. His forgiveness, His righteousness, and His life through the Spirit, is our privilege that we receive by grace through faith. This morning, I want us to ask ourselves,
Do you realize how important it is to believe in the resurrection of Christ?
Do you really understand the great necessity for it?
Do you understand that it was all part of God's eternal plan and purpose?
The apostle Peter explains it,
"18 ... you were not purchased with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Jesus Christ. For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:18-21
The importance is in the eternal plan, and so we see that in God's plan, the resurrection is one of the most important events in history. We realize that people were purchased on the cross, yet we also realize that the picture is not complete when we stop there. The grueling humble sacrifice was necessary to accomplish the plan, but so was the resurrection (as Peter says) "so that your faith and hope are in God." Our faith and hope in God has to do with a risen Savior. The apostle Paul (the former Christian killer) describes the completeness of the plan. He explains its importance. He explains the overwhelming magnitude of it that can not be brushed aside,
"Now I make known to you, brothers, the good news which I preached to you, ... 3 ... I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
[Paul is referencing ancient prophecies. Paul continues]
"5 and that He appeared to Cephas, [which is Simon Peter] then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also ... 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15:1-17
This means that we are celebrating the resurrection today in focused appreciation and festivity, yet we celebrate the plan everyday. Why? Because, "if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." One of the biggest points concerning the intrinsic value of our faith is that no matter how much good we do, we are so sinful in comparison to our purely righteous and Holy God, that we deserve to die and be separated from God forever. The value is that a perfect one had to die in our place to reconcile us to God. There had to be a perfect substitute death to pay the perfect penalty to appease our perfect God according to His perfect plan. The sacrifice was Christ Jesus. It occurred in perfect love. And you must receive His sacrifice for you by God's grace through faith to be saved. But the Gospel is more. In the full value, there must also be the resurrection. The sacrifice Himself must conquer death and live forever. There must be an eternal intercession for us at the right hand of the Father in heaven. There must be a righteous sacrifice, raised, and living in each of us spiritually so that we become the righteousness of God in Him, 2 Corinthians 5:21. There must be the living God-man who reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords. All of this is the precious fullness of Christ Jesus as our salvation that comes through the whole process of crucifixion, and then resurrection to glory.
With these things in mind, I want us to journey back into history in our minds. We need to go to the first generation of God's emerging church. We are going to walk through the pages of the book of Acts. Acts is kind of like a history book of the beginning of the New Covenant, but it is actually more than that. There, the Spirit shows us how ordinary people respond when they are confronted with the extraordinary resurrection of Christ. When confronted with the fact of the resurrection, you either receive it in redemption, or you ridicule it in rejection. The principle that we are going to glean from God's word, is that embracing the resurrection is the big crossroads that divides the real followers of the real Christ, from the fake followers of a fake Christ. Please prepare your heart, to learn along with me in the preaching of God's word in this sermon titled
"The Resurrection: Received in Redemption, or Ridiculed in Rejection"
[prayer]
It astonishes a lot of people to find out that the ancient prophets foretold Christ's virgin birth. They foretold His betrayal by Judas, His crucifixion, and His resurrection. These prophecy fulfillments are amazing, but I want to ask something;
"How many of you know that Christ Jesus Himself foretold his rejection, torture, crucifixion and subsequent resurrection beforehand?"
Jesus was never surprised by His plan. Jesus said,
"17 ... 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." John 10:17-18
Jesus declared what He was going to do. He proclaimed His authority to do it; but did Jesus really prophesy what was going to happen? We read in Matthew,
"21 ... Jesus began to show His disciples that He must
[1] go to Jerusalem, and
[2] suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and
[3] be killed, and
[4] be raised up on the third day," Matthew 16:21-23
There it is. Six days later after this, Jesus says to Peter, James, and John that he will rise from the dead, Matthew 17:9. Jesus explained it again, a little later in Galilee;
"The Son of Man is
[1] going to be delivered into the hands of men; and
[2] they will kill Him, and
[3] He will be raised on the third day." Matthew 17:22-23
While traveling to Jerusalem, Jesus explains the minute details to his disciples,
[1] "... we are going up to Jerusalem, and
[2] all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.
[3] He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and
[4] will be mocked and
[5] mistreated and
[6] spit upon, and
[7] after they have scourged Him,
[8] they will kill Him; and
[9] the third day He will rise again," Luke 18:31-33
It is truly amazing that Jesus forecast His rejection, torture, and execution to the exact detail. He also declares that He will rise up on the third day. This is His plan. He is in charge. But notice something else; Jesus also quotes the ancient prophets. Why did Jesus do this? Jesus was establishing Who He was as the fulfillment of prophecy concerning the promised Messiah that Israel had been awaiting for centuries. Jesus was also establishing that He has the power to prophesy. But there is something else here that is really important to catch. Jesus was teaching His students to consult the prophets when they preached and taught about Who He is. God's prophets, of centuries before, prophesied it all. The resurrection tagged Jesus--it spotlighted Him--as the promised Christ of the Scriptures. Through Prophecy, the resurrection demonstrates something else. It demonstrates who is greater--a mere man who simply says He's the Messiah; (who merely goes on to die and then decay and turn to dirt), or the God-man who proves He is the prophesied Messiah by coming out of the grave alive. God knew this, so He used His ancient prophets to proclaim it by the Spirit, to be fulfilled by only one man. This all unfolded in the first generation. The spotlight not only shines on Jesus, but it shines out of Him in illuminating glory. All of Christ's prophetic fulfillment is the message that the disciples went on to share as the Gospel which is a word that means the "good news."
The events that follow in the book of Acts demonstrate the great crossroads that we all face. After Jesus was crucified, resurrected, and had ascended into heaven, we read in Acts, that Peter goes out in public and preaches to thousands of Israelites gathered in Jerusalem for the feast days. It was just seven weeks earlier that Christ was crucified in front of many of these same people. Now Christ has risen. As Peter preached, he explained that Jesus proved His identity by His miracles. He says that Christ was delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God Acts 2:23. He explains the prophets. He talks about how the Jews there nailed Jesus to a cross by Roman hands. Then Peter preaches that amazing fact that brings the pivotal reaction,
"24 But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power." Acts 2:24
Peter is preaching the crossroads event. Immediately Peter quotes ancient prophecies. He quotes Psalm 110:1. Peter had heard Jesus quote this Psalm concerning His own identity numerous times. Peter also quotes the famous prophecy of Psalm 16:10;
"25 For David says of Him, 'I saw the Lord always in my presence; for He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. 26 Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover my flesh also will live in hope; 27 because you will not abandon my soul to hades, nor allow your holy one to undergo decay."
Psalm 16:10 had been fulfilled concerning one of the most important facts about Christ. Peter goes on,
"29 Brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 And so, because he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn to him with an oath to seat one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, [Peter quotes Psalm 16:10 again] that He was neither abandoned to hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
[Peter quotes Psalm 16:10 again] that He was neither abandoned to hades, nor did His flesh suffer decay. 32 This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.
[The resurrection is the spotlight. Peter goes on,]
33 Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.
[Now Peter gives the other fulfilled prophecy, Psalm 110:1]
34 For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, 'sit at My right hand 35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.;" 36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ--this Jesus whom you crucified." Acts 2:29-36
Peter goes straight to the resurrection. When Peter says "therefore ... know," he is basically saying,
"Everything I just told you about the risen Jesus proves to you that you now know for certain that He is your promised Messiah."
But, remember the theme this morning, "The Resurrection: Received in Redemption, or Ridiculed in Rejection." There were about 3000 Israelites who received their crucified and risen Lord, and were saved. Weeks before, the crowds in Jerusalem were screaming, "Crucify, Crucify Him!" Luke 23:31 They went from crucify, crucify, to He's alive, He's alive! But people are not always happy when confronted with the resurrection. You are not going to say that Jesus rose from the dead, and then always see everyone being pierced in their hearts to receive Him. There is another piercing of the heart which brings out the retaliation of sin. In Peter's second sermon, he explained how he just healed a man through the risen Christ. Again Peter tells the Jews that they rejected their Messiah. Then Peter says they,
"15 ... put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead, a fact to which we are witnesses." Acts 3:15
Peter proclaims spiritual salvation through Christ, but notice that Peter announces that extremely pivotal point. It is the resurrection. Now the response,
"1 As they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to them, 2 being greatly disturbed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.
[This is the crossroads]
3 And they laid hands on them and put them in jail until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the message believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand." Acts 4:1-4
Talk about reception in redemption; There are about 5000 who receive Christ this time. But there is also the ridicule in rejection. This is the principle. The huge question that God has for you this morning is:
Which one are you?
The natural sinful mind hates the resurrection of Christ because it is the strongest forensic proof for Who Christ is. When you reject the resurrection of Christ, you are in fact, rejecting Christ. It is no minor issue. Later, at his trial, Peter says to the chief priests,
"10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead ..." Acts 4:10
You see, when you deny the risen Christ, then you are, in fact, denying "God." You are telling God He is a liar. You are telling God that He did not do what He really did. Again, this is no minor side issue. This is the issue. Is there a crossroads reaction? Yes. The religious Council warns them not to teach in Jesus' name anymore, Acts 4:18. They do it anyway. They get arrested. They are hauled before the religious authorities. They are told to stop,
"29 But Peter and the apostles answered, 'We must obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus,
[Peter is saying, "If you have a problem with the resurrection, then you have a problem with the God of our fathers." Peter goes on,]
whom you had put to death by hanging Him on a cross. 31 He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior,
[That is Psalm 16:8-11, and Psalm 110:1 again. Jesus is at the Father's right Hand, ruling and reigning. Peter goes on,]
to grant repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey Him.'" Acts 5:29-32
The resurrection of Christ is the great dividing line. It separates the tares from the wheat. It begs for a reaction, and there is one;
"But when they heard this, they were cut to the quick and intended to kill them." Acts 5:33
Religious, but lost, these leaders had the apostles violently beaten. Once again, they ordered them not to preach Christ. All through history, nothing has changed with the crossroads. In our generation, people are the same. Every time that family member, or coworker, or classmate, or teacher, or politician, rejects the resurrection, then they have rejected the historic Christ. Every time a so-called, theologian, denies the resurrection, then he has rejected the historic Christ. Every time a religious leader of any kind rejects the resurrection, then he has rejected the historic Christ. In his soul he is cut to the quick and intends to kill the Spirit of truth that opposes His sin every single day by calling God a liar, calling His Apostles liars, and calling every Christian a liar. Remember Peter's words, "we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit." What I am saying is that Acts shows us the history of the Holy Spirit rejectors in the first generation, but the principle of the crossroads has always been on the roadmap. Virtually every Muslim, for example, believes that Jesus was neither crucified nor resurrected. We would expect this. But what is amazing in our day, is that the well beaten path of rejecting the historic resurrection of the historic Christ is being tread upon by men who claim to be Christians. It seems like anyone can claim to be a Christian now-a-days. But, what I am talking about are men who claim to be Christian leaders. A man named Hans Kung, for example--Kung is a professor of Theology at a university. He claims to be a theologian. Kung, who claims to be a Christian, denies the resurrection. But according to the real theologian,
" if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15:1-17
Therefor Kung is still in His sins. He is doomed to perish. Peter Carnley is another one in our day who is a religious leader in rejecting the resurrected Christ. While the Head of the Anglican church in Australia, he consistently denied the resurrection of Christ. Carnley even said that the author of the book of Acts wrote in ignorance when he stated that Jesus Christ is the only way of salvation in Acts 4:12. Carnley, who claims to be a Christian, is still in His sins. His faith is worthless. He is lost. He is doomed to perish. Then there is Bart Ehrman. Bart calls himself a New Testament scholar. He denies the resurrection enthusiastically. He also denies that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah and Son of God who died for people's sin. Ehrman denies the resurrection, and attacks the gospel at every angle, therefor he is still in His sins. He is lost and on his way to eternal destruction according to 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9. Then there is the professor of theology, Dr. Thomas West. West denies the resurrection. He denies that to be a Christian you must believe in the resurrection. According to God, West is a liar. He is still in His sins. He is spiritually lost. John Spong is the Episcopal Bishop of New Jersey. He claims to be a Christian. Spong wrote,
"A deceased man did not walk out of his grave physically alive three days after his execution by crucifixion." John S. Spong, "Resurrection: Myth or Reality?" Harper San Francisco, CA, (1994) Page 50
Spong, who claims to be a Christian, denies the resurrection, therefore he is still in His sins. His faith is worthless. He is spiritually lost. He is doomed to eternal destruction. Then there is Marcus Borg. Borg is a so-called professor of religion with a chair at Oregon State University. He is also president of an Association of so-called Biblical Scholars. Yep, he denies that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Marcus Borg, who claims to be a Christian, is still in his sins. His faith is worthless. He is spiritually lost. These men have written books, and they have preached sermons attacking the the resurrection of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Like the Serpent lying to Eve in the garden, these kinds of men are standing at the crossroads and are ambitiously trying to drag people down their own path of death and destruction. They are children of the Devil who claim to be authorities on God. But the Spirit rebukes them, and says:
"16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15:1-17
It is simple, if you deny the resurrection, you deny Christ, period. You can not be a Christian and at the same time be denying the resurrection. You can not be spiritually saved and at the same time be denying the resurrection. This is the principle that was going on in the first days of the inauguration of the New Testament. The Israelites claimed to be followers of Messiah too. They also were called "scholars." But many Jews rejected Jesus, and they denied His resurrection, thus demonstrating that they died in their sins, unforgiven in a worthless faith.
As the months went by, the Pattern continued. Stephen preached in Acts 7. He confounded the religious authorities. They hated the gospel, so they drug Stephen before the religious Council. Stephen preached one last time. They listen to him as he covers the history of God and Israel. They like that. Most people think history is interesting--especially parts about their own ethnic background that makes them feel proud, and all that kind of thing. Stephen starts with God's covenant with Abraham. He preaches on Isaac, and then Jacob (their great forefather who was named "Israel"). He talks about God's sovereign hand as seen throughout history. They really like that part too. Why? Because there is no crossroads. You see, when you preach what people want to hear, they like it. They will even like you. Stephen preaches about Moses. He recounts the deliverance of Israel from bondage to Egypt. He mentions the Tabernacle. Then how afterward David wants to build a temple; Then Solomon actually builds it. Now he's really preaching, and they are really loving it. But, a huge shift occurs as Stephen finishes his sermon. Stephen's been bringing everyone down to the crossroads, and they've followed him there. Now, Stephen shares a vision he's having at that very moment. He's having an eyewitness testimony of Psalm 110:1. Remember Psalm 110:1? It is the prophecy where Messiah would be at the Father's right hand until the Father makes all His enemies into a footstool for His feet. So Stephen says,
"Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." Acts 7:56
Stephen is there looking at the risen Christ. He's just happy. It's a miraculous event that he is witnessing in the Spirit. Now listen to the group's reaction to this in the very next verse,
"57 But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears [They don't want to hear it] and rushed at him with one impulse. 58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him;" Acts 7:57-58
Right before he dies, Stephen cries out to the risen Lord, asking Him not to hold this sin against them. But next,
"58 When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul." Acts 7:58
Who is this young man named Saul? Who is this man that we read in 8:1;
"Saul was in hearty agreement with putting [Stephen] to death." Acts 8:1
This Saul is Paul the apostle before being saved. Later, after murdering Stephen, Saul is on his way to murder more Christians. The risen Christ confronts Saul on the road by confronting him personally with the crossroads. The risen Lord blinds Saul. What is an important detail for us to recognize is that blinded Saul hears a voice;
"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' 5 And he [Saul] said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,'" Acts 9:4
The risen from the dead Jesus announces His own resurrection in a stark way. Earlier, Saul reacted to the resurrection in rage. Now His heart has been changed by the risen Christ. Now he has been drafted into service for the risen Lord. Previously on a mission of death, he experiences resurrection life to be a missionary of life. Encountering the resurrection is so important that when Barnabas tried to persuade the original apostles that Saul the Christian killer, was now a believer; what do you think Barnabas did? Barnabas described how Saul, who we know as Paul, had witnessed and talked to the resurrected Christ in 9:27. This is the mark of all primary apostles. They are men who had actually witnessed the resurrected Christ. They were commissioned by Jesus in His resurrected form. Now Paul is identified as an actual witness of the risen Christ. Later in Acts 10, The apostle Peter explains it again when he takes the gospel to the Gentiles. When Peter preaches to the Roman army commander, he says,
"38 You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. [These are details, but here comes the big one;] 40 God raised Him up on the third day and made Him appear, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge [a living, breathing, resurrected, judge] of the living and the dead. 43 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins." Acts 10:38-43
When you believe in the crucified and resurrected Lord for the forgiveness of your sins, then you receive forgiveness of your sins. As Peter is speaking these things, the Holy Spirit falls on these people and they begin praising God. Sometimes there is reception. Is that you? Sometime there's rejection. Is that you? We never know how God is going to deal with people at the crossroads. Here there was eager reception. Then later, the apostle Paul begins his preaching ministry, (in Pisidian Antioch in chapter 13). It is Paul's first recorded sermon. He preaches the "message of this salvation," Acts 13:26. Paul preaches God's historic deliverance of His people out of Egypt; how God put up with them in the wilderness; how God blessed the Israelites. Then Paul explained, (just like Peter); that God sent the Savior, Jesus. Paul preached all kinds of details. He gets essentially no reaction. Then Paul preached that Jerusalem did not recognize Jesus as Messiah nor the prophecies they heard preached every Sabbath. Paul finally goes into that essential detail that separates the wheat from the chaff;
"28 And though they found no ground for putting Him [Jesus] to death, they asked Pilate that He be executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written concerning Him, they took Him down from the cross and laid Him in a tomb. 30 But God raised Him from the dead; 31 and for many days He appeared to those who came up with Him from Galilee to Jerusalem, the very ones who are now His witnesses to the people. 32 And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, 33 that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm,
[Notice how Paul quotes the prophetic Psalms. He quotes,]
'You are my son; today I have begotten you.' 34 As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: 'I will give you the Holy and sure blessings of David.’ 35 'Therefore He also says in another Psalm, 'You will not allow your holy one to undergo decay.'"
Do you remember that prophecy? It is the one from David that the apostles use over and over and over again--Psalm 16:8-11. The one that the so-called theologians Kung, Carnley, Ehrman, West, Spong, and Borg sinfully deny while pretending to be leaders of God's people. Paul, the real scholar, the real theologian, the real leader, goes on to explain, in easy to understand terms,
"36 For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; 37 but He whom God raised did not undergo decay. 38 Therefore let it be known to you, brothers, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 39 and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses. 40 Therefore take heed, so that the thing spoken of in the Prophets may not come upon you:
[Then Paul quotes the Old Testament prophet Habakuk 1:5]
'Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.'"
Even though God does this wonderful work through Christ, and even though people will hear all about the wonderful details, there will still be scoffers who will perish. Again, I ask you,
Is the resurrection a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you?
Listen to what happens,
"As Paul and Barnabas were going out, the people kept begging that these things might be spoken to them the next Sabbath. 43 ... many of the Jews and of the God-fearing proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, were urging them to continue in the grace of God." Acts 13:42-43
We never know for sure what the reaction will be. Not all scoff. Not all perish. There are those who beg to know more. This is the way it is at the crossroads. Then
"The next Sabbath nearly the whole city assembled to hear the word of the Lord." Acts 13:44
Isn't that something?-- "The whole city." Apostate Jews immediately began to contradict the things spoken by Paul. Because of this, Paul tells them
"... since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life" Act 13:46
The reason is because the resurrection life is either received in redemption, or ridiculed in rejection. The resurrection of Christ is the ultimate object lesson of eternal life. The resurrection of Christ is the only reason why anyone can experience eternal life. It is the great doctrine of Christ in you the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27. When you receive the resurrected Christ, then the living Christ lives in you spiritually right here, right now. You are forgiven of all your sins in Him. Christ living in you is what secures your eternal glory that you hope for, Philippians 3:21. The apostate Jews rejected it. After Paul preached there at Pisidian, God moved on with His plans to turn the gospel to the Gentiles (the non-Israelites). Paul quotes Isaiah 42:6, 49:6-8 in explaining that it is fulfillment of prophecy. In the next verse we read the reaction,
"When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed." Acts 13:48
This is what the gospel is all about for those who believe. They had been appointed to eternal life in the Eternal Life Himself--the resurrection and the life, John 11:25. Moving onward into Acts 17, we see Paul and Silas preaching again in a synagogue. They are in Thessalonica,
"3 explaining and giving evidence that the Messiah had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah.'" Acts 17:3
Of course, the preaching of the gospel is to preach the resurrection. At this point many received in redemption,
"4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women." Acts 17:4
But there are the other kinds of people. They were there. They became jealous, so they got a mob together to attack the apostles. The same thing happened at Berea where the apostles fled to get away from the attacks. Then in Berea, the same thing happens again, so they flee to Athens. When Paul gets to Athens, Paul preaches the gospel, and of course he preaches the resurrection. We read,
"18 ... some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers were conversing with [Paul]. Some were saying, 'What would this idle babbler wish to say?' Others, 'He seems to be a proclaimer of strange deities,' [why did they say this?-- well look]--because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection." Acts 17:18
Paul is preaching at the Areopagus which was the huge gathering place of all the Roman philosophers. All those intellectuals had never heard anything like this before. Paul cuts through all the philosophy and just blows them away with what matters;
"30 ... God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent [turn], 31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead." Acts 17:30
The resurrection of Christ from the dead is God's central proof that Christ is the judge and only means of salvation. According to God, we don't need any more proof. This is the simple message; but this is also the great dividing line. Listen to what happens next,
"Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some began to sneer, [This is one group, now here comes the others] but others said, 'We shall hear you again concerning this.' 33 So Paul went out of their midst. 34 But some men joined him and believed," Acts 17:32
The Spirit is showing us that the rest of the group does not necessarily define the individual's reaction at the crossroads. You are the only one who answers for your own self there. You say,
"Kerry, you don't know me. You don't know what I have said. You don't know what I've done. You don't know who I am."
It doesn't matter. God knows you are a sinner, and God deals with all of us sinners at the crossroads. He says the same thing: All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3:23. The wages of sin is death, Romans 6:23. But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord, Romans 6:23. Receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior; crucified, resurrected, and reigning, and you will be saved spiritually forever, Romans 10:9-10.
As we approach the end of Acts, we see that Paul goes to Jerusalem. He gets arrested and ends up before king Agrippa and the governor Festus. Paul preaches to them. Paul knows what is important. He preaches the promise, the prophecy, the plan, and the provision,
"6 And now I am standing trial for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers; 7 the promise to which our twelve tribes hope to attain, as they earnestly serve God night and day. And for this hope, O King, I am being accused by Jews. 8 Why is it considered incredible among you people if God does raise the dead?" Acts 26:6-8
God can do anything He wants. Raising the dead is easy for the Creator. But Paul is not finished. He goes on to explain how he ambitiously persecuted Christians. You think you are a sinner? Well, think about Paul who had been called Saul before. Paul had once been a professional Christian murderer. Paul called himself, in shame, "the chief of sinners." Paul knows what you and I need to know. Christ saves all who trust in Him as their Lord and Savior. He will cleanse you from all your sins if you will trust Him as your your life. But, Paul is on trial, and he explains that he was a Christian killer, and how he later encountered the resurrected Christ on the road to Damascus--and how he was immediately commissioned into service by the risen Jesus to be His apostle. Finally Paul says what needs to be said.
"22 So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; 23 that the Messiah was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." Acts 26:22-23
There it is. Paul doesn't care what Kings and governors think about himself. He cares about proclaiming the truth, so he moves straight to the resurrection. What happens? Festus reacts. There is always a reaction at the crossroads. We read,
"While Paul was saying this in his defense, Festus said in a loud voice, 'Paul, you are out of your mind! Your great learning is driving you crazy.'" Acts 26:24
Here is the big point this morning--All through history this same indictment is made against God's people for believing in the resurrection. The historic account of the reception of the risen Christ in the first years of Christianity is an eye opening revelation into how important this detail of the gospel truly is. There is a strong principle here to remember on this resurrection day celebration. When confronted with the risen Lord, you either receive Him in redemption or you ridicule Him in rejection. The Spirit tells us,
"if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation." Romans 19:9-10
I want to urge you this morning to consider that the resurrection of Christ is not something to toy around with. It's not an alternate theory. It is not a mere possibility. It is a fact that must be embraced in embracing the historic Christ. It had to happen or no one is saved,
"17 ... if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins." 1 Corinthians 15:1-17
If you have never done so, I strongly urge you this morning to receive the crucified and resurrected Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Confess your sins to Him, and turn to Him for salvation ...
