Proclaiming the Power of Christ's Resurrection

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection as Historical Foundation

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not merely a spiritual metaphor but a literal, historical event that serves as the foundation of the Christian faith. It is a declaration of Jesus' identity as the Son of God, affirming the truth of His teachings and claims. This event is crucial because it validates the entire Christian message. Without the resurrection, faith would be in vain, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15. The resurrection is God's public declaration that Jesus is His Son, endowed with power, and it confirms His teachings and claims. This truth challenges believers to ground their faith in the reality of the resurrection, recognizing it as the cornerstone of their belief system. [12:42]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: How does the historical reality of the resurrection influence your daily faith and actions? What steps can you take to deepen your understanding of this foundational event?

Day 2: Completion of Salvation's Work

The resurrection is God's proclamation that the work of salvation is complete. Jesus' death and resurrection provide the means for our forgiveness and reconciliation with God, offering us a living hope and assurance of eternal life. Through His resurrection, Jesus is declared the Son of God with power, now reigning in the realm of the Spirit, having returned to His pre-incarnate glory. This event assures believers of their future hope, as Jesus, the firstborn from the dead, guarantees that they too will experience resurrection. This assurance invites believers to live in the light of this completed work, embracing the forgiveness and reconciliation offered through Christ. [14:02]

Colossians 1:13-14 (ESV): "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

Reflection: In what ways can you live out the reality of your forgiveness and reconciliation with God today? How does this assurance of salvation impact your interactions with others?

Day 3: Jesus' Reign and Authority

Jesus' resurrection signifies His return to power and glory, having triumphed over sin, death, and all enemies. He now reigns with all authority, interceding for believers and ensuring that His purposes will be fulfilled. This truth provides comfort and strength, knowing that despite the challenges and opposition faced, Christ has triumphed over all enemies. Believers are called to trust in His sovereign rule and to find peace in His intercession on their behalf. This understanding of Jesus' reign encourages believers to live with confidence and hope, knowing that He is in control. [38:01]

Ephesians 1:20-21 (ESV): "That he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come."

Reflection: How does acknowledging Jesus' authority and reign change the way you approach challenges in your life? What specific area of your life do you need to surrender to His control today?

Day 4: Assurance of Future Resurrection

The resurrection assures believers of their future resurrection and transformation. As Jesus was raised, so too will believers be raised, sharing in His glory and eternal life. This hope sustains believers through trials and challenges, providing a perspective that transcends present difficulties. The promise of future resurrection invites believers to live with an eternal perspective, focusing on the hope and glory that await them. This assurance encourages believers to persevere in faith, knowing that their labor is not in vain. [21:42]

1 Thessalonians 4:14 (ESV): "For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep."

Reflection: How does the promise of future resurrection influence your perspective on current trials? What practical steps can you take to keep this eternal perspective at the forefront of your mind?

Day 5: Faith and Trust in Response to the Resurrection

Our response to the resurrection should be one of faith and trust in Jesus Christ. By surrendering to Him, believers find peace, joy, and the promise of eternal life, knowing that He will return to judge the world in righteousness. The resurrection is not just an ancient doctrine but a living reality that offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal hope to all who believe. This call to faith invites believers to examine their lives and to surrender areas where they may be holding back from fully trusting in Jesus. [45:00]

Hebrews 10:23 (ESV): "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?

Sermon Summary

In the opening verses of Paul's epistle to the Romans, we find a profound declaration of the gospel of God, centered on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This Easter Sunday, we gather to reflect on this pivotal event, which is not merely a message of optimism or moral exhortation but a proclamation of what God has accomplished through His Son. The resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith, affirming the identity and mission of Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

The resurrection is not just a spiritual metaphor or a continuation of influence; it is a literal, historical event where Jesus, who was crucified, rose bodily from the grave. This fact is crucial because it validates the entire Christian message. Without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain, as Paul argues in 1 Corinthians 15. The resurrection is God's public declaration that Jesus is His Son, endowed with power, and it confirms His teachings and claims.

The resurrection also reveals the nature of Jesus' mission. He was not merely a teacher or a prophet but the incarnate Son of God who took on human flesh to bear the sins of humanity. His death on the cross was not a defeat but a necessary act of redemption, and His resurrection is the divine proclamation that the work of salvation is complete. Through His resurrection, Jesus is declared the Son of God with power, now reigning in the realm of the Spirit, having returned to His pre-incarnate glory.

This event assures us of our future hope. Jesus, the firstborn from the dead, guarantees that we too will experience resurrection. He is our advocate, interceding for us with all power and authority. The resurrection is a reminder that despite the challenges and opposition we face, Christ has triumphed over all enemies, and He will return to judge the world in righteousness.

In light of this, we are called to respond with faith and trust in Him. The resurrection is not just an ancient doctrine but a living reality that offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and eternal hope to all who believe. As we reflect on this truth, let us surrender our lives to Him, knowing that blessed are those who put their trust in the Son of God.

Key Takeaways

1. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical and literal event that serves as the foundation of the Christian faith. It is not merely a spiritual metaphor but a declaration of Jesus' identity as the Son of God, affirming the truth of His teachings and claims. [12:42]
2. The resurrection is God's proclamation that the work of salvation is complete. Jesus' death and resurrection provide the means for our forgiveness and reconciliation with God, offering us a living hope and assurance of eternal life. [14:02]
3. Jesus' resurrection signifies His return to power and glory, having triumphed over sin, death, and all enemies. He now reigns with all authority, interceding for us and ensuring that His purposes will be fulfilled. [38:01]
4. The resurrection assures us of our future resurrection and transformation. As Jesus was raised, so too will we be raised, sharing in His glory and eternal life. This hope sustains us through trials and challenges. [21:42]
5. Our response to the resurrection should be one of faith and trust in Jesus Christ. By surrendering to Him, we find peace, joy, and the promise of eternal life, knowing that He will return to judge the world in righteousness. [45:00]
** [45:00]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to Romans 1:1-4
[01:03] - The Importance of the Resurrection
[02:18] - The Gospel of God
[03:47] - The World's Desperate Plight
[05:03] - Misunderstandings of Christianity
[06:36] - The Essence of the Christian Message
[07:28] - The Apostolic Preaching
[09:00] - The Historical Facts of Christianity
[10:22] - The Literal Resurrection
[12:11] - The Apostolic Witness
[14:19] - The Resurrection Proclaims Jesus' Identity
[17:01] - The Public Declaration of the Resurrection
[19:17] - The Uniqueness of the Resurrection
[21:42] - The Resurrection Body
[24:25] - The Gospel Concerning Jesus Christ
[30:26] - The Purpose of the Incarnation
[32:30] - The Proclamation of Salvation
[35:24] - Jesus' Present Position and Power
[39:26] - The Power and Authority of the Risen Christ
[42:51] - The Future Judgment
[45:00] - Our Response to the Resurrection

Sermon Clips

Now there is nothing that is more important then that we should do this that we should remind ourselves I say of the great fact of the resurrection now why is this important why do I say that this is something which is vital for us well the answer is what is still does here by the Apostle thus you see at the very introduction of this great person of the Epistle of Ian's to the Romans it is vital because it is essential to what he calls here the gospel of God. [00:01:32]

The moment Christianity loses its connection with the historical facts and events it ceases to be Christianity it becomes something that you put in line with your philosophies and moralities and cuts it's no longer Christianity that is the importance of observing a day likeness and concentrating our attention upon this unique event very well so I start by putting it to you like this the first thing that we must be clear about is the fact itself. [00:09:00]

What is the message of the resurrection it is this that he who was literally crucified and died upon that cross and whose body was taken down and placed in the grave and that a stone was ruled over the mouth of that grave and sealed and guarded by soldiers that that same Jesus literally rose out of that grave in that same Bobby which was now changed and became his resurrection and his glorified body that is the teaching. [00:10:56]

If Christ be not risen from the dead our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain you are yet in yourself you see my dear friends the business of Christianity is not just to give people a nice happy feeling and to make you feel a little bit freer while you're in this building it's not the build-up people in some psychological manner that's the very antithesis of Christianity. [00:13:06]

It is the resurrection that proves who he is you see you can't be clear about what he's done until you know who he is the first thing we've got to be clear about is as to the person of this Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified on that Good Friday and buried and rose again who is he you've got to start with that the person is much more important than the teaching everything depends here upon the person. [00:14:29]

He claimed to be the son of God though he was apparently men speaking to men he said before Abraham was I am he says he is the son of God they say to him one day well if you are the son of God give us a sign he says alright I'll give you a sign as Jonah was for three nights in the belly of the whale so the Son of Man is going to be but he's gone to live you remember that and he used other illustration. [00:22:47]

He was always the son of God but for a while he came into this state of son of God in weakness son of God as man son of God in the flesh but he's no longer there he is now son of God in power he was in the realm in effect he is now in the realm of the Spirit after the spirit of holiness or according to the spirit of holiness. [00:36:23]

He has a risen he is conquered all his enemies conquered the table conquered death conquered the grave conquered hell he's triumph over all and this is the message he's ascended he's seated at the right hand of God what's he doing the this is what I'm told he's waiting until his enemies shall be made his footstool he must reign until you've put all enemies under his feet. [00:41:37]

He is the son of God in car my friends don't think merely of the lowly Jesus the carpenter of Nazareth don't really think of him dying expiring in weakness upon the cross died in weakness raised power proclaimed to be the Son of God in power and he shall judge the whole world and reign from shore to show. [00:43:50]

The gospel of God concerning his son is eternal only begotten son who became man for me and my salvation but who is now son of God in power waiting until all his enemies shall be made his footstool and until he comes again in triumph to charge to destroy all he and to set up his everlasting kingdom of glory. [00:45:15]

Have you kissed the son have you surrendered your life to Him blessed are they that put their trust in him they have already passed from judgment to life they will not be terrified when they see him they will rejoice and they will be made like him and they will share his glory throughout the countless ages of eternity. [00:45:48]

Blessed are they that put their trust in him we do hope that you've been helped by the preaching of dr. Martin lloyd-jones all of the sermons contained within the MLJ trust audio library are now available for free download you may share the sermons or broadcast them however because of international copyright please be advised that we are asking first that these sermons never be offered for sale by a third party and second that these sermons will not be edited in any way for length or to use as audio clips you can find our contact information on our website at MLJ trust. [00:46:25]

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