The Resurrection

Temple Baptist Church - 4-17-2022

Matthew 27:45-61; 28:1-6; 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

 

Introduction:  Today, we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

 

A.  This morning, I took time to read the entire gospel—the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ—the blessed hope of the Christian as well as the world.  It is only through the finished work of Calvary, of which the resurrection is the acceptance of sin’s price paid in full, that we find eternal life and the hope of Heaven.

 

B.  Paul said, " I preached …Ye have received … wherein ye stand!"  That is the salvation of the gospel.  I am glad that I heard the gospel preached, received the gospel, and now stand upon the gospel as a finished work that brought me salvation.

 

C.  Often, we sing the song “Because He Lives!”  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; because He lives, all fear is gone.  The “Capstone of Christianity” is that there is life beyond this life and that life is eternal.

 

1.  The gospel gives hope to the hopeless.

2.  The gospel gives encouragement to the discouraged.

3.  The gospel gives light and life to the spiritually blinded.

4.  The gospel gives joy unspeakable and full of glory to the downtrodden.

5.  The gospel gives peace and joy to the bereaved.

6.  The gospel gives comfort to the sick unto death.

7.  The gospel gives courage to the oppressed.

8.  The gospel gives strength to the weary.

9.  The gospel gives victory to the defeated.

10.  The gospel gives expectancy to the watcher.

 

D.  One day He is coming, Oh glorious day.  He is coming back as He said and we will be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.

 

Romans 6:5  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

 

John 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.

 

1.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Appearing - Titus 2:13  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

 

2.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Body - Philippians 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

 

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

 

3.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Reunion - 1 Thessalonians 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

 

4.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Joy - 1 Peter 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

 

Jude 24  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

 

5.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Presentation - Ephesians 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

 

6.  Because Of The Resurrection There Will Be A Glorious Home - John 14:1-3  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2  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. 3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

 

Conclusion:  The greatest day of the life of the believer will be when he sees Christ.  This is a wicked, troublesome world and the longer I live the more I Pray with the Apostle John:

 

Revelation 22:20  He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Our Glorious Resurrection

 Temple Baptist Church - 4-4-2021

John 19:38-20:18; 1 Corinthians 15:14-19

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  Today, we celebrate Resurrection Sunday.  The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is often called the “Capstone of Christianity,” because the eternal hope of the believer rests entirely on life with Christ after death.

 

B.  The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the “bridge” between the of Christ’s Propitiation and Expiation.

 

1.  Propitiation – The Cross – 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 – the appeasement of the wrath of God against sinners.

 

1 John 4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

2.  Expiation – The Resurrection – Hebrews 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

 

Expiation – the act of extinguishing the guilt incurred by something.

 

a)  The Ascension of our High Priest.  Ephesians 4:10  He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.  (Christ ascended to heaven twice, once to present His precious blood and place it on the mercy seat in heaven and then His visible ascension from the Mount of Olives in Acts, chapter one.

 

b.  The Act of our High Priest.   Hebrews 9:11-12  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.  (The shed blood had to be applied by the purified High Priest, Jesus Christ.)

 

C.  Therefore, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ became the “bridge” that connected these two things.  Without the resurrection, the blood would have been shed in vain and, without the resurrection, there would be no High Priest to offer that shed blood.

 

1.  The Importance of the Resurrection:  1 Corinthians 15:14-19

 

a.  The Resurrection validates our preaching.  If Christ be not risen, then our preaching is all in vain.  Vs. 14 – “if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain.” What I am doing this morning is not a waste of time. 

 

b.  The Resurrection seals our salvation.  If Christ be not risen, then our faith is in vain.  Vs. 14 – “and your faith is also vain.”  I know whom I have believed this morning.

 

c.  The Resurrection is the foundation of truth.  If Christ be not risen, then we are liars!  Vs. 15 – “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.”  Faith in Christ would be the greatest deception that the world has ever known had it not been for His resurrection.

 

d.  The Resurrection guarantees our forgiveness of sins.  If Christ be not risen, then we are still in our sins.  Vs. 17 – “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”  There could be no peace because of the sins that we have committed if they remained.  You ask me why I’m happy: because my sins are gone!

 

e.  The Resurrection gives us hope for those whom we love that are gone on.  If Christ be not risen, then our loved ones who have died have perished with no hope.  Vs.  18 – “Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”  We would have no hope of ever seeing those whom we love again.

 

f.  The Resurrection is our peace and happiness.  If Christ be not risen, then we are one miserable bunch this morning!  Vs. 19 – “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”  We have given up the things of the world when we should have eaten, drank, and spent our life in merriment.  Living for Christ is the greatest life of all!

 

2.  The Declaration of the Resurrection:  Romans 1:1-4  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,  (2)  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,)  (3)  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  (4)  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

a.  Jesus Christ declared to be God!  Ephesians 1:17-20  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  (18)  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  (19)  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  (20)  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (Only God would have the power to both will His own death (Christ dismissed His spirit on the Cross) and gloriously raise the body from the tomb.  There has never been a man of “god of this world” with that kind of power!)

 

b.  Jesus Christ declared to be Holy.  1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  (19)  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  (The only acceptable sacrifice for the complete remission of the sins of the world would be on of impeccable holiness!)

 

c.  Jesus Christ declared to be Alive.  Revelation 1:18  I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.  (Our Lord Jesus Christ sits on the right hand of God and “ever liveth” to make intercession of the saints of God.  Thank God for a resurrected, living Saviour!)

 

3.  The Promise of the Resurrection:

 

a.  An Eternal Hope.  John 14:19  Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. (God has promised eternal life to those who come to Him by faith.  God breath into the nostrils of Adam the “breath of life” and Adam became a “living soul.”  All men will live forever in one place or the other: heaven or hell.  Someone once said that life is full of choices, but eternity only has two!  I am glad that my Saviour lives and, because He lives, I will live with Him forever!)

 

b.  An Eternal Body.  Philippians 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.  (This corruption must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality.  A body fashioned like unto His glorious body that will be perfectly fit for eternity.)

 

c.  An Eternal Joy.  Jude 1:24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.  (There are 7 “no mores” mentioned in Revelation 21.  Heaven will be heaven for all of eternity and our joy surpassing our comprehension!  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.  Because He lives, I live also!)

 

The Tribulation Saints

Temple Baptist Church - 12-6-2020

Revelation 7:9-17

 

A.  In these last days of Laodicea, we find little interest concerning the things of God but in and outside of the local church.  People are too earthly minded to be of any heavenly good.  People who profess to be born again have little interest in faithfulness or service. 

 

2 Timothy 3:1-5  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2)  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  (3)  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,  (4)  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;  (5)  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

Revelation 3:15-17  I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.  (16)  So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.  (17)  Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

 

B.  People who are lost are either atheistic or care nothing about salvation.  Truly, few there be that find it!  To find something, you must put forth an effort to look for it.

 

Matthew 7:13-15  Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:  (14)  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  (15)  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 

C.  In verse 9, we find the result of Great Revival during Jacob’s Trouble.  “After these things” refers to the sealing of the 144,000 who may have been the ones who shared the gospel with these saved.  A Great Revival during Great Tribulation!  It has always been that way.  Persecution always caused personal soul searching and a turning to God.

 

John 16:33  These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

Acts 14:22  Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

 

Habakkuk 3:2  O LORD, I have heard thy speech, and was afraid: O LORD, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.

 

D.  Though it cost them their lives, in verse 9 we see a number that cannot be numbered will come to Christ during Jacob’s Trouble.  All nations, Jews and Gentiles, all kindreds and people, and every tongues or language.  Here we find true obedience to God’s command of missions.

 

Matthew 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

 

Mark 16:15  And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

 

Acts 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

 

E.  Here in verse 9, they stand before the throne of God.  Martyrs for the Word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ.  Here we find the end of martyrdom for Christ is exceeding joy!  It is so much better to die for Christ than to live on this earth.

 

1 Thessalonians 1:10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

 

Jude 24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

 

F.  Chapter 8 begins with the word “And” and the opening of the Seventh Seal of God’s Wrath.  While these who have died for the Word of God and the Testimony of Christ are rejoicing, the wrath of God begins to fall once again on the earth.

 

G.  Here in verse 9, they stand righteous (white robes) before the throne of God.

 

Revelation 1:5  And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

 

Revelation 7:13-14  And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  (14)  And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

 

H.  In verses 10-12, we find these Tribulation Martyrs, along with angels, the elders, and four beasts falling on their faces before the Lord worshipping God.  There will be no indictment of God in heaven as He does all things well.

 

1.  The martyred saints are worshipping because of their great salvation in Christ alone.

 

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

2.  The angels, elders, and four beasts “Amen” the worship of salvation with a 7 fold blessing to God.  “Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever.”

 

Revelation 19:1  And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

 

J.  In verse 13, one of the elders “answered” and spoke to John.  This implies that John had asked the elder the question about who this multitude was, and John answered, “Thou knowest,” indicating that John did not know for sure but the elder did know because he answered the question.  The Holy spirit wants us to know that heaven will be filled with these precious martyred saints along with our loved ones who have gone on before us.

 

Genesis 25:8  Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  (18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 

K.  In verse 14, we find that salvation in the Tribulation Period is consistent with the salvation of all men who went before.

 

1.  The Act of Cleansing – “and have washed their robes”

 

2.  The Agent of Cleansing – “and made them white in the blood of the Lamb”

 

L.  In verse 15, the Tribulation Saints who have been martyred remain in the presence of the Lord and He dwells among them.  Not just us dwelling before the Lord but the Lord dwelling among us.  We are in Him and He dwells within us!  Oh, what joy, what delight!

 

a.  The First Mention of “for ever”- Genesis 3:22  And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

 

b.  The Last Mention of ‘for ever” - Revelation 22:3-5  And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:  (4)  And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.  (5)  And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

 

c.  “For ever and ever” are one word in the Greek, “aiōn” meaning perpetuity or not ending.

 

M.  In verse 16, we find eternal supply and comfort: no hunger, no thirst, no discomfort, no cares as the Lord will not only take care of us, as a Shepherd who leads us beside the still waters of eternity, He will also remove all sorrow and wipe all tears from our eyes.

 

Revelation 21:3-4  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  (4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

The Glory of the Glory to Come

Temple Baptist Church - 6-3-2018

Romans 8:18-21

Introduction:

A.  Last week, we took a short look at the suffering of this present time.  Life is hard; life is unfair; life can both physically and spiritually crush you if you allow it to do so.  There are times when I am disappointed, hurt, angry, confused, and just plain tired of life.  In these verses, Paul gets the spiritual eyes of the Roman believers on the future instead of this present, evil world.

B.  One of my favorite songs says, “It will be worth it all when we see Jesus; life’s trials will seem so small, when we see Christ.  One look at His dear face, all sorrows will erase; so bravely run the race, ‘til we see Christ.”

1.  Verse 18, we see the comparison.  “Not worthy to be compared.”

2.  Verse 19, we see the expectation.  “The manifestation of the sons of God.”

3.  Verses 20-21, we see the deliverance from corruption.  “From the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.” 

C.  The song writer got a spiritual glimpse of the glory to come: “Oh, that will be glory for me, glory for me.  When by His grace I shall look on His face, that will be glory, be glory for me!”

D. The glory which shall be revealed.  It will be revealed “in” us as well as to us.  Let me clarify the use of the preposition “in.”  Many years ago, when we went to the Grand Canyon, I looked at it through the eyes of a 14-year-old boy.  Being raised in Kentucky, I had seen strip pits all my life.  We swam in these abandoned surface coal mines.  My thought was that the Grand Canyon was the biggest gully that I had ever see.  My day said that if he had been there when that thing started and had a couple of bales of hay, he could have stopped it.  Most see it in wonder and awe.  Everyone sees the same thing with their eyes but their perspective is different.  When we get to heaven, we will all see the same thing, but our inward perspective will be the same.

1.  The Glory of Seeing Christ!  For the first time, we will see Christ—not as we imagine Him to be—but as He is.

John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

John 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world.

Jude 24-25  Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,  (25)  To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

1 John 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

2.  The Glory of Experiencing A New Body!

Romans 7:18  For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

1 Corinthians 15:51-54  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,  (52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.  (53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.  (54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Philippians 3:20-21  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:  (21)  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

3.  The Glory of Our Eternal Home!  Heaven and earth will exceed all our expectations! 

1 Corinthians 2:9  But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Revelation 21:1-2  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

John 14:1-2  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  (2)  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.

4.  The Glory of Former Things Passed Away!  One of the greatest things about heaven is what will not be there!

2 Peter 3:13  Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Revelation 21:4-5  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (5)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Revelation 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.

Revelation 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Romans 8:18  For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.