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| Series Theme: Easter: Jesus Lifted Up | |
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Title: 2. The Work of the Resurrection
(The fact of the resurrection, and what it portrays and enables as the work of God, that follows the work of Christ on the Cross, in our lives.)
Jn 8:28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man , then you will know that I am the one I claim to be.”
Three Liftings in this series
What follows are the outline notes given at this seminar in Lent 2014
2. The Work of the Resurrection (Jesus lifted in resurrection)
Summary:
Jesus' death deals with our past and secures our future Jesus' resurrection opens up a new life for us for the present and the future, with new hope for our years on this earth and in eternity.
The Fact of Christ's Resurrection
1 Cor 15:3-8 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared • to Peter, and • then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared • to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared • to James, • then to all the apostles, and last of all • he appeared to me (Paul) also
How he was raised
Acts 2:24 God raised him from the dead , freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.
Acts 3:15 You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead.
Also Acts 3:36, 4:10, 5:30, 10:40, 13:30, 13:37,
Rom 8:11 if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.
Considering the work, impact or effect of the Resurrection from different angles
1. It Provides a Ground of Belief
Rom 4:25 He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification - the Father was satisfied with the atoning sacrifice Jesus offered and which became the foundation stone of belief for being justified by Him – the resurrection was PROOF of the atoning work of the Cross. i.e. Jesus would NOT have been raised from the dead if he had not fulfilled the plan of God that had been devised from before all things.
Note also: - He was delivered over to death for our sins
- and was raised to life for our justification
2. It was a Stepping Stone
Acts 5:30,31 The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead --whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel . i.e. the resurrection was simply the intermediate stage between death and his ascension.
3. It is a Picture for what happens to us
Rom 6:4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. i.e. baptism portrays what has happened to us - we DIED to our old life - we have been RAISED to live a new life. (resurrection)
Practical Results
Rom 6:11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. -
we are to consider ourselves dead to the old life with its sin and
Old life of sin? Remember
definition of ‘Sin': words
or deeds”
Alive
to God?
Overview of the Change
Eph
2:4,5 But
because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive
with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace
you have been saved. in
that old life
ii) Our activity in it:
Rom 7:6 by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code. -
In the old life, if we tried to be good, we did it by trying to follow
rules. (Some still do!)
Living the New Life
a) WHO we are - now!
i) forgiven Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins -
the first step has to be forgiveness, Christ having taken our sins
ii) cleansed Eph 1:4 he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight - Christ having taken our sins on the Cross, God sees us as clean and therefore blameless - this takes away fear and enables a close relationship with God
iii) adopted as ‘sons' Eph 1:4,5 In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ -
His goal has been to bring us into His family to ‘continue His business'
vi) part of His plan and purpose being worked out Eph 2:10 we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. - He knows what we can do with His enabling and so He seeks to lead us into that which he has had on His heart, just waiting for us. - life takes on a new meaning
b) What we can DO – now!
v) empowered by the Spirit, Eph 1:18-20 the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, - the ‘Doing' side of our lives is now achieved by the power of His Holy Spirit who He put in us at new birth; everything else follows
vi) gifted by His Spirit to bless Eph 3:20,21 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations -
His power, His Spirit, enables us to do things that previously we could
not do,
Living
the New Life : RECAP
The HS's work in these resurrected lives
1. He teaches us Jn 14: 26 the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. - when we enter into God's kingdom we have a whole new way of living to learn and a whole lot to learn about God and Jesus
Warning: Jesus' ‘teaching' involves us learning to DO:
Jn 14:12 anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. - only possible with the enabling of the Spirit
Mt 28:19, 20 Therefore go and make disciples ….. teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. - the resurrected life is one of doing what Jesus teaches with his enabling
(We only fear this teaching if we have not opened ourselves to the HS empowered life)
2. He guides us Acts 16:6,7 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia , having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia . When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia , but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. - HS will instruct or just give a sense of right or wrong – peace or disquiet
3. He imparts graces to make us more like Jesus in character 2 Cor 3:18 we…. are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit Gal 5:22,23 the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. - the HS will simply express these in us as we live in Him
4. He imparts gifts to make us more like Jesus in service 1 Cor 12:4-6,27 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men…. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. - the Spirit releases these in us as and when we are available to Him and open to receive them.
RECAP 1. He teaches us 2. He guides us 3. He imparts graces to make us more like Jesus in character 4. He imparts gifts to make us more like Jesus in service
Resurrected to Reveal
We are part of the new holy community revealing Christ to the world by
i) Our Unity Jn 17:23 May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. - the way we are for one another should testify to God's love - beware critical judging of others, dissension, grumbling, etc. that destroys loving unity ii) His grace in us Acts 11:23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God , he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. -
their love-filled, transformed lives stood out and testified to the work
of God
iii) His goodness through us Mt 5:16 let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven - the things we do should testify to the Father's love and goodness
iv) His Revelation and Power (gifts) 1 Cor 14:24,25 But if an unbeliever or someone who does not understand comes in while everybody is prophesying, he will be convinced by all that he is a sinner and will be judged by all, and the secrets of his heart will be laid bare. So he will fall down and worship God, exclaiming, "God is really among you!" - Jesus expressing himself through his people will speak to non-believers
RECAP: we reveal him by: i) Our Unity - being there for one another ii) His grace in us – transformed lives iii) His goodness through us – practical outworking iv) His Revelation and Power (gifts) – Jesus expressing himself
FINAL NOTE:
1 Pet 3:15 . Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. - so much of our ‘witnessing' is blunt and cold and is an indication that so often we, the church, have not revealed these things and people have not, therefore, had grounds to ask what is the origin of them. - a challenge to the type of church we should become! - a resurrected people empowered, guided and directed by the Spirit? - and thus a fruitful people, being changed - as individuals - as a church - and impacting the world (that HE has come to save) |