A Lively Hope
And They Remembered His Words • Sermon • Submitted
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· 63 viewsA message explaining why the Resurrection Matters
Notes
Transcript
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
Pre-Sermon Ice Breaker
A woman goes to see her doctor. She says, “Doctor, I am shrinking! What should I do? What should I do?” The doctor calmly replies, “You are just going to have to be a little patient.”
Think about it.
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,
Introduction
Introduction
We live in very dark and troubling times. Our nation is full of division - Republicans/Democrats, Conservatives/Liberals, Traditionalist/Progressives, Blacks/Whites, Capitalist/Socialist. Our world is full of fear due to things like the Pandemic, Economy, Climate Change, and concern about war. But today I want to share with you, that in spite of all this there is reason for hope.
As a young Christian I learned the importance of what Jesus did when he died on the cross. His death paid the penalty for my sin. It made atonement, he took my place. The Bible says, that without the shedding of Blood there is no remission for our sins. I think most people would agree that the cross is the central message of the Bible.
But I had problems getting excited about Easter. The resurrection always seemed anti-climatic to me. Jesus rose from the dead, So what?
Why does the Resurrection matter? The apostle Paul faces this question head on when he writes...
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
We might as well go home, hunt Easter eggs and have dinner, because without the resurrection church means nothing. But with the resurrection it becomes the most important thing we do.
Peter is speaking to Christians who are suffering persecution in Asia Minor. His words were meant to encourage them in their troubles. Their future is secure because of the Resurrection of Christ. Bible commentators often call Peter the apostle of hope. In our passage today Peter relates hope to our new birth, our salvation and most importantly to the resurrection of Jesus. Today lets look at Three Reasons the Resurrection brings a Lively Hope. The resurrection is a Lively Hope because of....
Body
Body
…It’s Source
…It’s Source
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,
Blessed - Peter begins with a word of praise to God.
Acknowledging that this hope comes from God
13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
10 Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;
… It’s Nature
… It’s Nature
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,
Mercy - Opposite of Grace
Mercy - Compassion
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Begotten - Born Anew
17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
… It’s Basis
… It’s Basis
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,
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.
11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Conclusion
Conclusion
What are you facing in your life today? Stress, disappointment, addiction, pain. the loss of a job? Whatever it is you can have hope. Because not only did Jesus die for you, but he lives for you. Jesus died and he rose again. And the same Spirit that raised him from the dead is at work in you. Without the resurrection there is no born again, there is not salvation there is not eternal life, there is no victory. But today all those things and more are available to us because He lives.