[0:00] Hallelujah! We thank God you've tuned into this message by David Entry at Caris Church. No hand can help you with the fulfillment of your destiny, but the Word of God. May God's hand align you further into your destiny through this Word.
[0:16] There are two major aspects of the Easter celebrations, the crucifixion that gave birth to the resurrection. The resurrection that gave authenticity to the crucifixion.
[0:32] Now, there are a few things that we need to know about the resurrection of Christ. It is necessary to understand our Bible reading today, which we had read from 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
[0:48] It talks about how, it starts by saying that, how can some of you are saying, in the church, you are saying there's no resurrection.
[1:00] He said if you say resurrection is not attainable, it's not real, it cannot happen. By implication, you are also ruling out the resurrection of Christ. So, those who are contradicting or those who were denying the supernatural nature or the supernatural act of resurrection, they were not only dealing with the Christ thing.
[1:27] In the church of Corinthians, people have infiltrated the church with this belief that resurrection doesn't happen. Resurrection, how can resurrection? It's like secular humanism.
[1:40] All right, so they preach that, no. All these spiritual things like the Sadducees, angels don't exist. Demons don't exist.
[1:51] Resurrection can't happen. And so, some have infiltrated the church and were saying that resurrection is a hoax. You can't believe it. So, Paul said, how can you be saved and not believe in the resurrection?
[2:06] You cannot deny the resurrection of Christ and be saved. Or let me put it this way. You cannot deny the resurrection of Christ and be a Christian.
[2:21] It's incompatible to be a Christian and deny the resurrection. It doesn't go together. So, you cannot. Why? Because the resurrection is the high point of the gospel.
[2:35] No resurrection, no gospel. No gospel, no salvation. It's the resurrection. The resurrection is the foundation of Christianity.
[2:46] Not just the crucifixion. It's the resurrection. The resurrection gives meaning to the crucifixion. It takes the resurrection to understand the crucifixion.
[2:58] It takes the resurrection to appreciate the crucifixion. So, when you study the scriptures very carefully, can you imagine?
[3:09] Watch this. The high point of the gospel is the resurrection. The first preaching of the church, the central aspect of the preaching was the resurrection.
[3:25] There's the scripture I read. On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the eleven and he starts preaching. He starts making reference to what is happening, what was prophesied in Joel.
[3:37] But it couldn't happen without the resurrection. So, this is how he puts it. He first of all makes reference to Joel. That this is what you are seeing.
[3:48] This church thing is from Joel. It's been spoken about from the Old Testament. It's traceable to scripture. And he quotes from Joel. And then he reads Joel.
[3:59] So, from verse 17. Acts chapter 2 verse 17. Verse 18. Verse 19. Verse 20. And actually, verse 21. For whoever shall call on the name of the Lord.
[4:11] It can count right. Whoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. So, verse 21 is actually part of Joel chapter 2. It's in Joel chapter 2, I think, verse 31. So, 21 ends the quotation.
[4:24] That as soon as he finishes quoting, see how he starts preaching. You are not preaching until your preaching is explaining Christ. Until your preaching is talking about Christ.
[4:34] Until your preaching is, the reference point of your preaching is Christ. So, when he finished quoting the scripture. Look at the next, the verse 22. It says that men of Israel hear these words.
[4:46] Jesus. It starts with Jesus. It starts with Jesus and finishes with Jesus. It said, Jesus of Nazareth. A man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst.
[4:59] As you yourselves also know. So, it starts talking about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. It starts talking about the gospels. How Jesus Christ.
[5:11] You know it's not something that was done in a corner. It was done openly. You saw him. You saw the miracles God did through him. He said, Jesus Christ. And then he said, what happened? The gospel tells us, you guys.
[5:22] He wasn't saying it many years after Jesus has died. Or 100 years after. He was saying it just a few years after Jesus has resurrected. Now, this was the day of Pentacles.
[5:33] 50 days after the Passover. It was 50 days after the Passover. So, Jesus Christ resurrected on a Sunday. 50 days later, Peter was preaching this message.
[5:44] So, even not two months after the crucifixion of Jesus. He said, you guys. He says that him. You took. Based on the determined counsel of God.
[5:55] And the foreknowledge of God. You took him by lawless hands. Crucified. You killed him. You put him to death. He died. He didn't say you strangulated him and he escaped.
[6:08] You killed him. We know you killed him. You know he died. We know he died. It is a common knowledge because it's in the tabloids that he died. It's everywhere. It was trending on social media.
[6:19] That he's dead. You know it. But that was not. That's not the end of the story. And it says that whom God. But God.
[6:29] Verse 24. But God raised him. Verse 24 said. Whom God raised up. Having lost the pains of death because it's not possible for. Then he begins to make. Watch this.
[6:40] Connect the resurrection to scripture. He begins to say that what David said concerning him. He begins to call the scripture. That this resurrection thing. It proves that the scripture is true.
[6:50] Then he explains the resurrection. Keeps explaining it. Then the verse 29. Let it be known that David is dead. The man of bread. Let it be known that. Let me speak freely about David. He's dead. His tomb is with us today.
[7:01] You can see his tomb. He didn't resurrect. So what he said was not talking about him. Even though he spoke in the first person. He was talking about Christ. And he says that this. But Jesus. David being a prophet.
[7:12] Spoke about Christ. And Jesus has resurrected. Verse 33. Having ascended on high. And seated at the right hand of the father. He received the promise of the spirit. Which he has poured on us. Now this is talking still.
[7:23] This is now resurrection message. And then he kept. Then he quotes from the scripture again. And explains. It goes from Isaiah. It goes from Psalm 2 verse 7.
[7:33] He begins. Peter was just quoting. But you see the scripture to explain what we are experiencing. And then when he finished that. Verse 36. He said let it be known. That. This is very interesting text.
[7:45] He said therefore let the house of Israel know. He started by the people of Israel. He said let the house of Israel know. Assuring that. God has raised this Jesus. Whom you. He kept coming back to the crucifixion.
[7:56] But the crucifixion was not the end. He said you crucify him. But God raised him. And God didn't just raise him. God raised him to make him. Lord and Christ. So let it be known.
[8:07] Oh house of Israel. That this same Jesus. Not a different Jesus. Okay. Not the same. This same. Oh come on. Someone say this same Jesus. Same Jesus. This Jesus. Whom you crucifixion. God has made that same Jesus.
[8:19] Whom you have crucified. Both Lord. He raised him. And made him both Lord. So that means he's no more dead. So. Listen to this.
[8:30] When he said this. That is the. The message was finished. There's no other message. To add to Christianity. The message that saves. Is all that. Everything is loaded.
[8:40] Within this. And. When he said that. They were cut to their hearts. As that service. The people began to react. React. Because now it's time for salvation. That's the message. The resurrection.
[8:51] Was the high point. Of the message. Of the new testament. It is. The high point. Paul. Said that. In. Acts chapter 26. Verse 22. Having obtained.
[9:02] Therefore. Having obtained help from God. To this day. I stand. Witnessing. Witnessing. To both. Small and great. Saying nothing. Saying no other thing. Than those.
[9:12] Which the prophets. And Moses. Said. Will come. So he said. This thing. We are talking about. It's not new. Prophets. And the. The prophets. And Moses. Have. The law. And the prophets.
[9:23] Have always been pointing to it. Saying no other thing. What is there no other thing? Watch this. Verse 23. That. The Christ. You suffer. That. He would be.
[9:33] He would be the first. To rise. From the. Ah. So he mentions the suffering. Then he said. He'll be the first to rise. How can you rise from the dead. If you don't die? The higher point of the message.
[9:45] Is the resurrection. But resurrection. Only belongs to people. Who die. So. He died. And then he resurrected. He said. First to rise from the dead.
[9:56] And will be proclaimed. A proclaimed light. To the Jewish people. And to all Gentiles. So that is. It's the resurrection. He. He. Finishes his message.
[10:06] On the resurrection. I'm trying to say. That. Without resurrection. You can't have Christianity. Now. This one. One interesting thing. Most people want to know.
[10:17] In fact. Jesus is a highly respected. And highly revered person. He's very respected. Sometimes it's the hatred. For the message of Christianity. That makes it look like.
[10:28] People don't respect Jesus. Can I say that again? Many years ago. I was trying to witness. To my neighbor. He told me. He was a Rastafari.
[10:39] Many years ago. In Ghana. I was trying to witness to him. He said. He's a Rastafari. He's a Lassie. He wasn't like that. When we knew him. Then later. He became like that.
[10:51] You know. So. And he said. They believe in the Bible. And they believe in the teachings. He said. We believe in the teachings of. Jesus. And what matters about Jesus. Is his teaching. Jesus is a great man.
[11:03] His teachings. He gave us an example. Of how we should be nice. We should love people. It's the teachings. The death. It doesn't matter. So. They will tell you. That we believe in Jesus.
[11:14] But what we believe about Jesus. He's a very good man. But it's about his teachings. In fact. One day. I heard a vicar say it. On BBC. Or a bishop. Say it on BBC. Many years ago. He said. The whole Christianity.
[11:24] The point is love. Jesus Christ. All he came. Is to. What he did. The way he showed love. To everybody. He was loving people. That's what Christianity is about. So.
[11:34] So. So. Politicians. Even Islam. Respects Jesus highly. A certain version of Jesus. But you. Let's say. So. If. You don't respect this prophet. Who said.
[11:45] Another prophet coming. That means. You don't even respect the other prophet. He said was coming. So. Islam. Islam. Respects Jesus. Buddhism. Respects Jesus. They respect Jesus.
[11:56] Gandhi. Gandhi's motivation. Is Jesus' behavior. Many politicians. They. They will want to. Take the Bible. And. Go according to it.
[12:07] The good works in the Bible. This is. The epitome. Of. Good behavior. Christian. Just learn it. And so. Everything is about. These good works. And niceness of Jesus.
[12:18] But when you touch on. The resurrection. Hmm. No. No. No. There's a reaction. Because. The resurrection. We don't want to know about it. Don't make it supernatural.
[12:29] Don't make anything spiritual. Look out of this. Don't go that far. Let's just settle. We all. I think we can live peacefully. And everything will be peaceful. If you just talk about. How good it is. And how nice it is. But brothers and sisters.
[12:40] The pivot. Or. Or. The high point. Of the gospel. Is not the behavior of Jesus. Even. It is not. Watch this. It's even not. The. Crucifixion.
[12:52] Why is it that. The crucifixion. Has been given so much. Central place. It. It. It has to. Because. It's pointing to the resurrection. The crucifixion. Is just pointing to the resurrection.
[13:03] So that is why. It has to. Be given a central place. You don't see any symbol. In Christianity. But. The cross. Is there a symbol. For resurrection. How are you going to get that symbol.
[13:14] The symbol. The symbol of the resurrection. Is the cross. Why? Because. The cross. You know. The pathos. Of the cross.
[13:24] We can identify. We can identify. With the pathos. Of the cross. We can identify. Human. As human beings. What did the cross signify? Pain. I don't know if you have.
[13:35] Know what it means to. Have pain. You can identify. The cross. Reflects. Rejection. How it was. Rejected. I believe that one or two of us here. Or a lot of us here.
[13:46] Might have. Experienced rejection before. You look for a job. Sometimes you feel rejected. What is not nice. When you are let. They let you go after probation. You test it.
[13:58] And they say. You can only test it. But you can't stay here. So when we talk about. The rejection that comes with the cross. Human beings. We can identify with it. When we talk about. About the pain. We can.
[14:08] When we talk about suffering. Many mothers here. Know exactly. What it means to suffer. Especially when you are going through the labor. It's suffering. We can identify with it. We can identify with rejection.
[14:19] We can identify with abandonment. We can identify with pain. We can identify. So it's within the human frame of reference. It's within the human frame of experience.
[14:31] But when it comes to the resurrection. How do we identify with it? Nobody can identify with it. Have you ever died to resurrect? We cannot identify with the resurrection.
[14:44] We can only identify with the cross. Because whatever the cross signifies. We know. That's us. In fact. Forgiveness of sins. We can identify with the fact. That when your sins are forgiven.
[14:54] It feels good. It feels good. When you have been let off the hook. It feels good. When the judge was supposed to sentence you. And he says that. I dismiss this case. It feels good.
[15:05] We can identify with it. The cross stands for all that. But when it comes to the resurrection. You can. However. The resurrection is the high point. It's the foundation of Christianity.
[15:16] Shout hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. The resurrection. Even though we can't identify with it. In the sense that. It's not. There's no frame of human resurrection.
[15:28] It is. We are unfamiliar. The resurrection is an unfamiliar territory. For any human being. So people reject it. But even we Christians.
[15:39] We accept it. But. How far. What can you be used to symbolize it? The resurrection. Now. The resurrection.
[15:49] Why is it so fundamental. To Christianity. Because. There are a few points. There are a few pointers. The resurrection give. The resurrection of Christ.
[16:02] We read from. First Corinthians. Chapter 15. Verse 17. I would. I would like to go back to that text. First Corinthians. Chapter 15.
[16:16] Verse 17. Thank you Jesus. First Corinthians. Chapter 15. Verse 17. Says that. And if Christ. Be not risen. Your faith is in vain. You are yet in your sins.
[16:28] So it's not about. If Christ was not crucified. But a crucifixion. Is supposed to. Detect the last time. It's supposed to.
[16:39] It's finished. It's not finished. Without a resurrection. He paid the price. For our. Redemption. But. He paid the price. For our salvation.
[16:50] But without. Without a resurrection. You are still in your sins. That's how. That's what Paul said. If you say there's no. If you say there's no resurrection. By implication. You are saying Christ did not resurrect. And if you say Christ did not resurrect.
[17:02] Then that means that. Our faith is in vain. That's what Paul was saying. It's a verse 17 again. It says that. But if Christ. Christ is not risen. Your faith is in vain. And.
[17:13] Ye. Are yet. In your sins. Then they who have. Falling asleep. Those who have died in Christ. Have perished. If it is. If it's in this life. Only we have hope in Christ.
[17:24] We are of all men. Most miserable. But now Christ is risen. From the dead. Christ. It's that Christ is risen. Look at verse 15. I think I should go back. It says. Yeah. And we have found to be four witnesses.
[17:35] That is if Christ. Okay. Verse 14. It says. If Christ be not risen. Then our preaching is in vain. This is what I'm doing here. It's nonsense. It's almost just like public lecture. The resurrection.
[17:48] See. What gives meaning to preaching. Is the resurrection. It says that our preaching is in vain. Why? Because the high point of every gospel preaching.
[17:59] Is the resurrection. So. In fact. You are not actually preaching the gospel. If you mute the resurrection. The resurrection is so significant. The resurrection dominates the New Testament's message.
[18:13] The resurrection is the high. As I said. The high point. The resurrection is the divine interpretation of the death of Christ. That's how heaven interprets it. You know I told you the cross has got a message.
[18:25] On Friday. I said the cross has got a message. It's not just the cross. But the message of the cross. What is the meaning of Christ dying on the cross. That is what means anything.
[18:36] To the saved. And so. The Bible from here. From what I'm saying. God's interpretation. The divine interpretation to what happened on the cross.
[18:47] Is the resurrection. Is the resurrection interpreting. Sorry. Is heaven. God. Heaven interpreting. What. The crucifixion means.
[18:59] Does that make sense? The resurrection is God's interpretation. Of what the crucifixion means. The resurrection. Is the divine vindication of. The sacrifice on the cross.
[19:10] What does that mean? That means that God said. This thing he did on the cross. Is valid. It's accepted. God said. That is the real thing. That has been accepted. So if it has been accepted.
[19:21] Now get up there. I'm going to raise you to prove. That it has been accepted. Just in case someone also died on the cross somewhere. And said. Me I'm dying for people. What shows that the claims of Jesus Christ.
[19:34] The claims were right. The resurrection is so pivotal. It's so significant. I know.
[19:47] You. If. If. You've. Been. A Christian. If. Sometimes. Before you became a Christian. This has always been a. Hotbed of discussion. Should we worship on a Saturday.
[19:58] Sabbath day. Or Sunday. Why? Why do you cry? Don't you worship on a Sabbath day? Because God said you should worship on a Sabbath day. The early church never worship on a Sabbath day. Our first Bible reading.
[20:08] You look at the first Bible reading. In John. In Luke chapter 24 verse 1. Very interesting point. Luke chapter 24 verse 1. It says that now on the first day of the week. To the Jew. And really.
[20:20] What is the first day of the week? It's Sunday. What happened on the first day of the week? They went to the. To the. Tomb. And they found out that he was. He was resurrected. He resurrected.
[20:30] On the Sunday morning. And so. What happened? Jews. I mean. Can you imagine. A Muslim changing the day of worship. From Friday. To Saturday. Or to Monday.
[20:41] What would make it? A Muslim would not do that. A Muslim. No. It's serious sacrilege. It wouldn't do that. The Jews are so religious.
[20:52] And God gave them the Sabbath day. From the day of Abraham. And it was enshrined in Moses. And from Genesis chapter 1. It says that. Remember the Sabbath day. And keep it holy. And then.
[21:04] Suddenly. This followers of this. Jewish boy. Who died on the cross. Says that now. Our day of worship is a Sunday. That's their day of gathering. They might respect the Sabbath day.
[21:15] Because they will go to the synagogue. And preach there. But Sunday. The first day of the week. Was the. Official gathering of the church. Why? Because that was the day of resurrection.
[21:27] That's why. So if someone asks you. But why don't you people worship on Saturday? Because we worship on Sundays. Because it's the day of the resurrection. It's theologically. Significant.
[21:39] To worship on a Sunday. Because Sunday. Is the day of resurrection. In fact. God created Genesis. Sorry. Genesis chapter 1. First day.
[21:49] Second day. Third day. Fourth day. Sixth day. Bible says God created man. Genesis chapter 2 verse 1. And then seven days he rested. How many days are there in a week? Seven days.
[22:00] Seven days. Seven days. Right? Or this one. Did you know? Seven days. So. So. So what is the day number eight?
[22:11] What's the day number eight? Day number one. Day number one. Day number two. Day number three. Come on. This is not a trick question.
[22:22] Let's start again. Day number one. What's the first day of the week? Friday. Second day. Monday. Third day. Tuesday. Tuesday. Fourth day. Fourth day. Fifth day.
[22:33] Fourth day. Third day. Sixth day. Five. And seventh day. Saturday. Eighth day. Five. Eighth day. Five. So eighth day starts again.
[22:45] So God rested on the seventh day. And then on the eighth day, he recreated the church. That's the resurrection.
[22:56] The day of resurrection. So we worship, the church worship on Sunday because it stands for the resurrection. Not on Friday. Why? Why?
[23:07] Because the resurrection of Christ is the foundation of Christianity. Don't forget this. If you deny the resurrection. If you deny the resurrection, you cannot be a Christian. You cannot be a Christian and deny the resurrection.
[23:22] If you deny the resurrection of Christ from the death, you cannot be a Christian. I want that to sink in. That's foundational to Christianity.
[23:36] Fundamental to Christianity. So, the resurrection is so important. Now, the resurrection points to a few things. Number one, I want you to know that the resurrection points to the fact that we are also resurrected.
[23:52] Hebrews chapter 6 verse 20 says that where the forerunner has entered. So that means that, you know, in Revelation chapter 21 verse 3 and 4 says that the tabernacle of God is with man.
[24:05] And then verse 4 says that there shall be no more weeping, no more sorrow. God will wipe away every tear from my eyes. There shall be no more death, no more sorrow, no more crying.
[24:15] Now, the promise of this heavenly bliss, the resurrection is a proof that it's going to happen. The resurrection is a proof that we believers are going to also resurrect.
[24:26] And Jesus, the forerunner, is taking the lead. And we are going to go there. Number two, the resurrection is a pointer that Jesus is God. There are quite a few witnesses in the Bible that before the resurrection, that were pointing to the fact that Jesus, when is God, when the angels, when he was born, the angels said that a Savior has been born.
[24:49] And the angel told Mary that you are going to have a child. And that child you are going to have is going to be called the Holy One. Because he's the child of God. The angels pointed to his deity.
[25:01] When he was born, angels sang. It's the witness of the angels. Demons in Mark chapter 5 verse 6, demons say, we know you. You are the Holy One of God. Demons confessed and they knew that Jesus Christ, they cried out and said, what have you got to do?
[25:14] You are the son of the most high God. We know you. Demons knew him. They gave witness to who he was. His deity. His disciples gave witness to his deity. Matthew, James, Peter, John, they knew that he's the son of God.
[25:30] Nathaniel said, you are the son of God. Thomas said, my Lord and my God. Thomas gave witness. Martha, Martha said, you are the son of God. You are God.
[25:40] They gave witness. Human beings gave witness. The centurion on the cross said, truly, this is the son of God. Human beings gave witnesses.
[25:51] Angels did. Demons did. Human beings did. On his baptism in Matthew chapter 3 verse 17, the heavens was opened and God spoke from above. He said, this is my son. God, even before his cross, God gave the witness that this is my son.
[26:04] He's God's deity. And on the mount of transfiguration in Matthew chapter 17 verse 3, and Bible said, verse 3, 4, a voice came from heaven and he said, this is my beloved son.
[26:17] Hear ye him. So what am I trying to say? Everything was giving witness that he had deity. Even before the cross or just after the cross, he had deity. So then, what else?
[26:30] But the resurrection was God's final confirmation that this is my son. Bible says that in Romans chapter 1 verse 4, he was declared the son of God by the resurrection.
[26:40] Declared to be the son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness. How? By the resurrection. It was a statement from, do you know why they crucified Jesus?
[26:54] They crucified Jesus for what he said. I've been teaching this. And what did he say? He said a few things about good works. Like the R. Sapphira said, let's follow the good works he's taught indeed.
[27:05] Yeah, that's okay. But they didn't crucify him for that. They didn't crucify him for his teachings. They didn't crucify him for what he taught about good or bad. But they crucify him for what he said about himself.
[27:18] Who he said he was. They crucify him that he said he's the son of God. You make yourself God because of that. That's why they crucify him. Pontius Pilate said, I can't kill him. It says that the Jews answered, saying, for good works.
[27:32] Not because of the good works you are doing that we want to kill you. But for blasphemy because you, being man, make yourself God. We want to kill you for that. So in John chapter 19, Pontius Pilate said, from verse 6, I find no fault in him.
[27:46] And they said, I'll give you the wrong crucify him. He says, no, crucify him. And then they said that, for he says, according to our law, anyone who makes himself poor of God. He said, this is interesting.
[27:56] Well, we have a law. And according to our law, he ought to die. Why? Because he makes himself son of God. That's why the Jews said, you have to kill him because he said he's the son of God. Now, listen to this very carefully.
[28:07] God said, okay, kill him because he said he's the son of God. When you kill him, I'll raise him to prove you wrong that he actually is. So the resurrection was God's endorsement and certification or authentication that Jesus is actually, he has deity.
[28:21] So the resurrection, number one, the resurrection shows that we shall also resurrect. There's a promise that's coming for believers. Number two, the resurrection is an endorsement from heaven that Jesus has deity.
[28:34] Jesus is God. Number three, the resurrection is a point that the Bible, the word of God is true. Paul said, we are not preaching anything which Moses and the prophets have been preached.
[28:44] In Acts chapter 26, verse 23. Acts chapter 26, verse 23. It says that the verse 23. Okay, let's go for 22. All right, that's okay.
[28:55] Let's go to verse 22. It's about 22 and 23. Therefore, having obtained help from God today, as that we did both small and great, saying nothing, no other thing than those things which the prophets and Moses have said.
[29:06] It was already said in the prophet. Now look at verse 23. That the Christ might suffer and be raised. So the resurrection is proving that what the Bible said or what the scripture said is true. Bible says that 1 Corinthians chapter 15, the second Bible reading, 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
[29:23] It didn't cover that, but verse 3 and verse 4. It says that I give to you first of all what I was delivered to me. That Christ died for our sins. How? According to the scriptures. Verse 4. And was raised.
[29:33] Verse 4. And that he was raised. And he was buried. And he rose again from the dead. How? According to the scriptures has already spoken about his resurrection. So the resurrection was proving that the word of God is true.
[29:47] The resurrection proves that the word of God is true. And so everything the word of God has said. You see, if you say the word of God is not true at some point. At what point does it start becoming true? At what point?
[29:57] Like when you are doing evangelism on the streets of London. You will meet Muslims who will tell you that the Bible used to be the word of God. It contains the word of God. But it's not all the word of God. At what point in time do you say it's not the word of God?
[30:10] And where does the truth of God's word end? The Bible, total scriptura, is holy true. Everything is not words of God as I've been teaching. It's the word of God. There's a difference between word bad day and word boom day.
[30:24] Latin is word boom day. Word of God. Not the words of God. Because there are other words in the scripture that didn't come from God's mouth directly. And the Bible, Jesus said that man must not live by bread alone.
[30:36] Matthew 4.4. But by every word. Every word. Every. But by every word that proves you is the word of God. That is the word of God. So the resurrection proves that the Bible is true.
[30:50] The scriptures are true. Hallelujah. And number four. The resurrection also proves that the resurrection is also a proof that this is a scary one.
[31:06] Judgment is coming. Yeah. God will judge sinners. He resurrected to make a statement that, listen, if you are a sinner, you'll be judged. Oh, yes. In Acts, Paul puts it this way.
[31:17] In Acts chapter 17, verse 30 and 31. He said, in the days of ignorance, truly, types of ignorance, God is like overlooked. He turned in. Because he didn't know. But now has commanded all men everywhere to repent.
[31:30] Next verse. Verse 31. Because he has appointed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness. How? By the man.
[31:41] By the man whom he has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising him from the dead. Do you understand? God said, I'm going to raise it to make it. Let you know that.
[31:52] I'm going to judge everyone by this one. So the resurrection is a statement from God. It points to the fact that sinners will be judged. Hello. I like the way the place goes quiet when you talk about things like this.
[32:04] But let me add one more. And just throw a little bit light on it. And wrap up. Much more for today's purpose. The resurrection is. The resurrection makes everything salvation brings available.
[32:19] In other words. You know, when you are saved. Listen to this very carefully, please. When you are saved. It comes with a package. So Hebrews talks about.
[32:31] I think Hebrews 6.9. Yeah, it should be 6.9 or 9.6. Five somewhere there. The things that accompany salvation. Hebrews 6.9. But beloved. We are confident of better things concerning you.
[32:45] Yes. Things that accompany. So salvation comes with other benefits. It's a package. Yeah. It's a starter pack.
[32:58] Salvation comes with a package. All-inclusive package. It's a deal. Hebrews 7.25. He's able to save to the uttermost. So salvation is not just going to heaven.
[33:11] But it's a package. Salvation includes so many other things. Now watch this. Every other thing that salvation comes with.
[33:23] Every other package. Or the package of salvation. Is directly linked to the resurrection. Do you get that?
[33:35] Salvation. Salvation is directly linked to the resurrection. Let me mention some of the things that we get by our salvation.
[33:50] Everything that we have in salvation ties back to the resurrection. Everything we have in salvation ties back to everything offered in the package of salvation comes by the resurrection.
[34:09] Everything offered in the package of salvation comes by the resurrection. So that means that one of the proofs or the things the resurrection points to is the fact that salvation has been accomplished at the cross.
[34:29] Points to the fact. What are some of the things that come by the package? Number one. For God so loved the world. All right. Let's read the Bible. Okay. That's God's word.
[34:40] All right. Speak it out loud. Let's go. For God so loved the world. That he gave his only begotten son. That whoever believes in him should not perish but have an everlasting life.
[35:02] Amen. Let's read from King James. Let's go. For God so loved the world. That he gave his only begotten son. That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[35:15] That's the one you are familiar with. Right. Yeah. What do you have? What do you have? Everlasting life is not only living forever.
[35:30] It's also having the zoe. It's called eternal life. Not internal life. Eternal. Life that is eternal. Watch this.
[35:41] The God kind of life. The zoe. We live. In John chapter 14 verse 19. Jesus said. You will live because I live.
[35:53] He said. Yet a little while. And they will see me no more. What is he talking about? It's death and gone. Do you see that? He's dying. But when he dies. It's not the end.
[36:05] Yet a little while. And the world sees me no more. He said. But you see me. Why? Because I live. You shall live also. I'm going to die and live.
[36:18] Exit this world. But I will live. And because of my resurrection. You will also live. So you see. That life. That we have in Christ. Is made available through the resurrection.
[36:34] Life. Eternal life. Everlasting life. Is made available. Through the resurrection. Number two. Number two. In John chapter 16. Jesus said.
[36:45] Because I said I'm going. Verse five. Sorrow has filled your heart. But I said. It is expedient that I go. For if I do not go. The comforter will not come. Can you imagine.
[36:56] He tied. The receiving of the Holy Spirit. To his resurrection. The gift of the Holy Spirit. Was tied.
[37:07] To us. It was tied. To the resurrection. In fact. Peter puts it this way. Verse 33 of Acts chapter 2. That therefore. Jesus Christ. Verse 32 and 33.
[37:17] Let's take it. Let's take it. 33. Let's take it. 33. All right. Let's go. Let's do 32 and 33. This Jesus has God raised up.
[37:27] Wherefore we are witnesses. See. That's the focus of their message. They are witnesses of the resurrection. Right. Now look at the verse. Verse 33. Wherefore. Being by the right hand of God.
[37:38] And exalted. Of God exalted. And having received. Of the Father. The promise. Of the Holy. The promise of the Holy Ghost. He has now shed. So. Now. He had to receive.
[37:49] He had to be resurrected. Receive. And then give him to us. So. Even the gift of the Holy Spirit. Receiving of the Holy Spirit. Is directly linked.
[38:00] To the resurrection. I mean. You can't receive. The Holy Spirit. If you are not born again. If you are not in Christ. You are. For what? So.
[38:12] The salvation package. Of receiving the Holy Spirit. Is. Inextricably. Tied. To the resurrection. Number three. Number three.
[38:26] Hmm. In John. Chapter. 1. Verse 29. Permit me. To say. Permit me to say. Now. Yum. Yum. Yum.
[38:36] Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Yum. Jesse. Yum. Yum.
[38:58] He died on the cross. He didn't finish the job. He finished it. But the certification is the resurrection that brings. Listen, if you've done your driving test and passed, you need your certificate and your driver's license. A police officer tells you, I passed, I passed.
[39:18] Where's your license? I don't have it. Believe me, I passed. I passed. I passed. I passed. Listen, we know you passed, but it's the license that shows that you have actually passed and your pass has been accepted by the government of the United Kingdom.
[39:35] He's the queen. Sorry, the king. His majesty's government has accepted that you are permitted to drive on the streets of the United Kingdom.
[39:47] Why? You passed. But until you are awarded that, the certificate makes you get the license. It's the license. I know you are British. Listen, the passport is what proves that you are British.
[40:00] It doesn't matter how he suffered on the cross. If he does not resurrect, his work on the cross is null and void. It's the resurrection that makes what he went to do on the cross valid.
[40:17] And he says that the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. In 1 John 2, verse 1, he said, I write these things to you that you don't sin. But if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father.
[40:30] Christ Jesus. We have an advocate. If any man sins, we have an advocate. It's a mediator. It's like a barrister.
[40:41] It's before God. How can a dead man do that job? How can I just... He must be alive to intercede, ever intercede on our behalf. He must be alive. The Bible says that he ever liveth to intercede for us.
[40:54] Hebrews chapter 7, verse 25. He ever liveth. He maketh intercession for them because he ever liveth, seeing that he lives to ever live to make intercession.
[41:07] Before the Father, Romans chapter 8, verse 24. He intercedes for us. He's interceding. He must be alive to make sure this sin thing has been taken care of. He says that we have an advocate.
[41:17] And then verse 2, 1 John chapter 2, verse 2. Verse 1 says we have an advocate. Verse 2, look at verse 2. You need to see verse 2, please. You need to see verse 2. 1 John chapter 2, verse 2.
[41:28] He is a propitiation. I found out that quite a few people struggle to mention that word because it's mouthful. Propitiation. And he is the propitiation.
[41:41] What's this? For our sin. Propitiation means appeasement. He placated God. God is holy and he can't stand sin. But Jesus comes and he presents, he propits, he's the propitiation for our sins and not for us only but also for the sins of the whole world.
[42:01] He appeases God. 1 John chapter 4, verse 10. He's a propitiation for our sins. So you see, propitiation and sin. He's appeasing God. He's interceding for us.
[42:11] He's standing before God. He must be alive to do that for us. So the resurrection, watch this, the resurrection is like, all right, the resurrection, what it secures as the package, part of the package of redemption is forgiveness of sins and it's tied to the resurrection.
[42:32] number four, quickly. Ephesians chapter 4, verse 11. It says that when he ascended on high, oh wow, and he gives up, okay, sorry, let's look at verse 10.
[42:48] Verse 10. Let's start from verse 8. It will make sense. Let's go to where it says. Wherefore, it says, when he ascended on high, he let captivity captive.
[43:01] And what? I don't hear you. And what? And what? Spiritual gift of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual gifts. When you are born again, this is all the package.
[43:16] But that spiritual gift, if even connect, is tied to the resurrection. It's when he went up, when he ascended, and he gave gifts. Spiritual gifts, or endowment of spiritual gifts, is connected to the resurrection.
[43:32] Package number five. That's package number five. You remember, Jesus said, you shall receive power, Acts 1, 8, after the...
[43:45] When Jesus was resurrected from the dead, in Matthew chapter 28, verse 18, he came to his disciples, and said to the disciples, and Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, let's go.
[43:57] Oh, power. I can't hear you. Oh, power. Please, come on. Let's go. Oh, power. Give it unto me. In heaven and in earth. One more time. Oh, power. It's given unto me.
[44:09] In heaven and in earth. So, the power that is available for us to walk in, as believers, became available, became actual, actual, by the resurrection.
[44:20] It was after he resurrected, he said, oh, power, in heaven and in earth have you given to... Look at the next verse. Therefore, he said, go into the world. Go ye therefore. See, therefore.
[44:31] Because of that, go. Because now you are going to operate in power. And the power we operate in, as Christians, and as believers, is tied to what happened at the resurrection.
[44:42] Or it's tied to the resurrection. The resurrection makes power... Oh, boy. Jesus said, you shall receive power after the Holy Ghost has come.
[44:52] So, don't leave Jerusalem. Wait. Because when I resurrect and... When I die and I resurrect, my resurrection is what will permit the Holy Spirit to come and you can walk in power.
[45:04] So, the power of the believer is made available through the resurrection. And then finally, finally, finally, a unique relationship with God.
[45:19] Romans chapter 6, verse 4. Romans chapter 6, verse 4. Therefore! Sorry, I scared some people. He said, 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.
[45:50] Even so, this new life we have is directly tied to the resurrection. Just as Christ was raised, even so, we also will walk in newness of life.
[46:05] Oh, if I were you, I would shout, hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Now, we will also walk in newness of life. That's why the resurrection means everything to the believer.
[46:20] The resurrection is the settlement of the argument that we are the children of God. The argument is settled! Does that make sense why people, especially in the occult and people who have any sense of spiritual dealings, but not in the Holy Ghost, will vehemently resist the resurrection?
[46:40] They said, send soldiers to put a big stone and guard it, else his disciples will come and steal Matthew.
[46:53] They sent in a special request from the Roman governor, to the Roman governor, can you send top soldiers to guard the truth because this malefactor, when he was alive, he said he will raise up on the third day.
[47:06] So you, after four days, you can leave, but let them stay by the tomb. Command therefore, verse 63, verse 63, we remember that this deceiver said, while he was yet alive, after three days, he will rise again.
[47:25] You see, Jesus is a prophet. The resurrection make him prove that he's a prophet. The resurrection prove that he's a king. The resurrection prove that he's the priest who can intercede for us.
[47:38] He said, he will rise again. Command therefore, that the sepulcher be made sure unto the third day. He said, unto the third day. Unto the, lest his disciples will come by night and steal him away and say unto the people, he's risen from the dead.
[47:55] So the last error shall even be worse. They are afraid. If this guy rises, it will be worse for us. They knew it. Whether they steal him or he rises, they don't want the message of the resurrection.
[48:09] No! So even though they didn't believe he will resurrect, they said, just send, make sure that he, after four days, after three days, he will start to decompose.
[48:22] So make sure they will see. And so he said, get the tomb secured and let it be guarded by your strongest soldiers. Top security and when the day came on the day of resurrection, there was an earthquake.
[48:39] They fell like dead men. The soldiers. The soldiers fell like dead men and the stone was rolled away. Not for the sake of Jesus Christ because they were in the upper room or they were in their room.
[48:50] They locked their room. The Bible said the room was bolted and shut. The Greek shows that it is heavily bolted and shut. They were there. He just appeared. Hi, guys. Hi, guys.
[49:03] He just said, hello, guys. I'm here. Thomas wasn't there for some reason. But he could come. He could walk through doors. He could walk. You don't have to. He had a glorified body. So why do you have to roll away the stone?
[49:15] He was coming out anyway. But the stone must be rolled out so that when the disciples come and come and see whether he's still alive, they will be able to look inside. So when Peter went to the sepulchre, in fact, when the women told them from the reading in Luke chapter 24, verse 11 and verse 12, verse 10, 11, 12, look at this and I can end on that.
[49:37] Luke chapter 24, verse 11, and their words, that's the words of the women who went and saw that the tomb was empty. Their words seemed to them as idle tales and they believed, the disciples.
[49:50] So why do you think everybody should believe the resurrection? Even the disciples who loved him, who lived for him, they didn't believe that he's resurrected, his risen. They didn't believe his risen. So look at the next verse.
[50:01] Verse 12 says that, then arose Peter and ran onto the sepulchre and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes. You know, they used to eat with him. Everybody folds their linen differently.
[50:13] A napkin, those times napkin. Now there's a paper towel. But napkin, you fold it differently. Some don't fold it, they're just done. Others will fold it. In the Jewish custom, the way you fold your napkin is a statement whether you have actually finished and you enjoy the food.
[50:28] So they knew, Jesus had folded the, he did that. That's why they gave him the wrap. So he got up, they saw it folded by themselves and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.
[50:46] He left, he saw the thing had been folded, he was wondering, oh my goodness. Why? If the tomb was, the stone was there, how would he have been able to see his eye? How would the women be able to see that the tomb is empty?
[50:57] So they had to roll away the stone, so fried from the tree, everybody can see inside the tomb that he's not there. You remember the reading, said, why are you looking for the living among the dead?
[51:09] He's not here. He's risen, he's not here. So he didn't need the stone roll away for him to come out, but we need the stone roll away for us to see that he's actually not there. Shout hallelujah.
[51:21] The resurrection is the high point of the gospel. Thank you for listening to this message by David Entry.
[51:32] We pray you have been strengthened and enlightened. You can connect with David Entry on all relevant social media platforms, including Instagram and LinkedIn. You can also hear more messages from David Entry on all relevant streaming platforms and the Caris Church app.
[51:48] Don't forget to like and share the message. Be blessed. Be blessed.