Resurrection: The Foundation of Our Faith

 

Summary

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not merely a symbolic or spiritual concept; it is a literal, historical fact. This truth is foundational to the Christian faith. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then the entire Christian doctrine collapses, and our faith is in vain. The resurrection is not just an idea or a metaphor for renewal; it is a concrete event that has profound implications for believers. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that our faith is rooted in historical events and their consequences, not just liberating ideas.

The resurrection signifies more than just Jesus being alive to help us. It is about our union with Christ, which means that everything that happened to Him has happened to us. Just as we died with Him, we have also risen with Him. This union is not merely a future hope but a present reality. We are new creations, having left the old life behind. We are alive from the dead, and this new life is characterized by being alive unto God. This means that the power of God is at work within us, enabling us to live a life that is free from the dominion of sin.

The resurrection assures us of our ultimate victory over sin and death. Sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under the law but under grace. This is not just a hopeful wish but a categorical statement of certainty. Our future is secure because we are in Christ, and nothing can separate us from the love of God. This assurance is not a license to sin but a call to holiness, as the power of God enables us to live righteously.

Key Takeaways:

- The resurrection of Jesus is a literal, historical fact that is foundational to the Christian faith. Without it, our faith is in vain, and there is no Christian doctrine. This truth is not just a liberating idea but a concrete event with profound implications. [09:07]

- Our union with Christ means that everything that happened to Him has happened to us. We have died with Him and risen with Him, making us new creations. This is not just a future hope but a present reality that transforms our lives. [13:44]

- Being alive unto God means that the power of God is at work within us, enabling us to live a life free from the dominion of sin. This is not just an awareness of God but a dynamic relationship where God is the master power in our lives. [31:51]

- The resurrection assures us of our ultimate victory over sin and death. Sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under the law but under grace. This assurance is a call to holiness, as the power of God enables us to live righteously. [34:24]

- Our future is secure because we are in Christ, and nothing can separate us from the love of God. This certainty is not a license to sin but a motivation to live a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. [38:23]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[07:18] - The Fact of the Resurrection
[08:09] - Historical Events, Not Ideas
[09:25] - Theological Movements and the Resurrection
[10:55] - Meaning of the Resurrection
[12:11] - Union with Christ
[13:13] - Our Relationship with Adam and Christ
[14:01] - Dead to Sin, Alive in Christ
[16:28] - Overcoming Sin
[17:02] - Planted in the Likeness of His Resurrection
[20:31] - Alive from the Dead
[23:13] - Living with Christ
[26:48] - Alive unto God
[34:11] - Sin Shall Not Have Dominion
[39:35] - Certainty of Salvation

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 6:5-11
2. 1 Corinthians 15:17
3. Colossians 3:3

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 6:5-11, what does it mean to be "planted together in the likeness of His death" and "in the likeness of His resurrection"? How does this relate to our daily lives as believers? [16:43]

2. In 1 Corinthians 15:17, Paul states that if Christ has not been raised, our faith is futile. How does this statement emphasize the importance of the resurrection in Christian doctrine? [09:07]

3. Colossians 3:3 mentions that our life is "hidden with Christ in God." What does this imply about our identity and security as believers? [28:16]

4. The sermon emphasizes that the resurrection is a literal, historical fact. How does this understanding challenge or support your current view of the resurrection? [08:09]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of being "alive unto God" in Romans 6:11 influence a believer's understanding of their relationship with God? What does it mean to be under the power of God rather than sin? [31:51]

2. The sermon suggests that our union with Christ means everything that happened to Him has happened to us. How does this union affect our daily struggles with sin and our pursuit of holiness? [13:44]

3. In what ways does the assurance of victory over sin and death, as mentioned in the sermon, provide motivation for living a life of holiness? [34:24]

4. The sermon argues that the resurrection is not just a future hope but a present reality. How does this perspective change the way believers live their lives today? [19:08]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you felt defeated by sin. How can the truth of being "alive unto God" empower you to overcome similar struggles in the future? [31:51]

2. The sermon emphasizes that our future is secure in Christ. How does this assurance impact your approach to challenges and uncertainties in life? [38:23]

3. Consider your current lifestyle. In what ways can you more fully embrace your identity as a "new creation" in Christ, leaving behind old habits or mindsets? [19:08]

4. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of God's power at work within you, enabling you to live righteously? What practical steps can you take this week to yield yourself more fully to God? [20:17]

5. The sermon mentions that being in Christ is not a license to sin but a call to holiness. How can you ensure that your understanding of grace leads to a life that reflects your new identity in Christ? [34:24]

6. Identify one area of your life where you feel separated from the love of God. How can the certainty of your union with Christ help you address this feeling? [38:23]

7. The sermon suggests that sin shall not have dominion over us. What specific actions can you take to resist sin's influence in your daily life? [34:24]

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection as Historical Foundation
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just a symbolic or spiritual concept; it is a literal, historical fact that forms the bedrock of the Christian faith. Without the resurrection, the entire structure of Christian doctrine would collapse, rendering faith meaningless. This event is not merely a metaphor for renewal but a concrete occurrence with profound implications for believers. The Apostle Paul underscores that Christian faith is anchored in historical events and their consequences, not merely in liberating ideas. The resurrection is a testament to the power of God and the truth of His promises, providing believers with a firm foundation for their faith. [09:07]

1 Corinthians 15:14-15 (ESV): "And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised."

Reflection: How does the historical reality of the resurrection impact your daily faith and trust in God's promises?


Day 2: Union with Christ in Death and Resurrection
Our union with Christ signifies that everything that happened to Him has happened to us. This means that just as we died with Him, we have also risen with Him, making us new creations. This union is not merely a future hope but a present reality that transforms our lives. We are called to leave our old lives behind and embrace the new life we have in Christ. This transformation is not just about future glory but about living in the present as new creations, empowered by the resurrection to live lives that reflect our identity in Christ. [13:44]

Romans 6:4-5 (ESV): "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

Reflection: In what ways can you embrace your identity as a new creation in Christ today, leaving behind old habits and embracing new ones?


Day 3: Alive unto God
Being alive unto God means that the power of God is actively at work within us, enabling us to live a life free from the dominion of sin. This is not merely an awareness of God but a dynamic relationship where God is the master power in our lives. The resurrection empowers us to live righteously, not under the law but under grace. This new life is characterized by a freedom that comes from being alive to God, where His power enables us to overcome sin and live in holiness. [31:51]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV): "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved."

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to rely more on God's power to overcome sin and live righteously?


Day 4: Assurance of Victory over Sin and Death
The resurrection assures us of our ultimate victory over sin and death. Sin shall not have dominion over us because we are not under the law but under grace. This assurance is not just a hopeful wish but a categorical statement of certainty. Our future is secure because we are in Christ, and nothing can separate us from the love of God. This assurance is a call to holiness, as the power of God enables us to live righteously. It is a reminder that our victory is not in our strength but in the power of the resurrection. [34:24]

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (ESV): "The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

Reflection: How can you live out the victory over sin and death in your daily life, knowing that you are under grace and not the law?


Day 5: Secure in Christ's Love
Our future is secure because we are in Christ, and nothing can separate us from the love of God. This certainty is not a license to sin but a motivation to live a life that reflects our new identity in Christ. The assurance of God's love and the security of our future in Him should inspire us to live lives that honor Him. This security is a call to live out our faith with confidence, knowing that we are deeply loved and eternally secure in Christ. [38:23]

Romans 8:38-39 (ESV): "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Reflection: In what ways can you live today with the confidence that nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ?

Quotes


The resurrection now all these I say are hard literal facts they are things that have taken place there is no doubt there is no question about that at all and what we are reminding ourselves of today is this fact that the Lord Jesus Christ who was nailed to a tree and who was uh there seen and watched by men and women as he expired and died whose body was taken down and buried and placed in a grave and they rolled a stone unto the opening of the grave and sealed it you remember and took every precaution they could the fact is that our Lord literally arose in the body out of that grave. [00:07:05]

If all that is not true well then everything the Apostle argues in this sixth chapter is wrong and is a waste of time if all these things are not true there is no such thing as Christian doctrine there is no such thing as the Christian faith and we have no message whatsoever if Christ be not risen from the dead then our faith is in vain we are yet in our sins. [00:08:55]

The entire argument of the Apostle in this sixth chapter is derived from the facts and if we don't accept the facts there is no argument there is no gospel there is no message there is no comfort for us whatsoever in other words we do not preach liberating ideas we preach historical events and their meaning and their consequences. [00:09:52]

The key to the understanding of his Doctrine is this tremendous scriptural principle of the Union of the believer with the Lord Jesus Christ oh how we neglect it how we neglected in thinking about the cross as well as of the Resurrection how we forget that the most important and significant result of the of the of the death on the cross and the resurrection for us is something that results from our Union with him. [00:12:27]

Everything that Adam did we did when Adam sinned we sinned when Adam fell we fell all the consequences of sin that came to Adam have come to us very well that's one side here's the other everything therefore that has happened to the Lord Jesus Christ has also happened to us that's the first thing we deduce from his death upon the cross. [00:13:21]

We have been crucified with him we have died with him we've been buried with him we've risen with him very well then we are dead into sin he says also that we are freed from sin look at it in verse 7 for he that is dead is freed from sin he says it again in the 18th verse being then made free from sin he became the Servants of righteousness. [00:14:22]

If we have been planted together in the likeness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection in other words we teach the Apostle emphasizes here that as in our Union with him we have died with Christ so we have taken part in his resurrection Christ is risen we are risen that's the argument. [00:17:00]

We have risen with Christ to an entirely new life we are new men the old men and the old life have been left in the grave we are now something that is entirely new or the apostles are we're saying it if any man be in Christ he's a new creation old things are passed away behold all things are become new it is like a new creation the old has been left entirely behind this is a resurrection. [00:19:00]

The change through which the Christian passes because of his Union to Christ is no less than that the old man that I was by inheritance from Adam with all the consequences of the fall in me and true of me have been left behind in the grave I am no longer that men I am a new man I'm not the man I was by my natural birth by inheritance from my mother I was born in sin and shapen in iniquity we all have been I no longer that that's dead with Christ it's buried it's left in the grave what has come out something absolutely new I'm a new man. [00:20:27]

We are alive unto God not through Jesus Christ as the authorized unfortunately puts it we are alive unto God in Jesus Christ because of our Union with him I don't know of anything that is more wonderful and more glorious than this you you see before all this we are not alive unto God we are dead to God. [00:29:09]

Sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under the law but under grace now this is perhaps the most important statement of them all this is a categorical statement sin shall not have dominion over you he doesn't say sin must not have dominion of he shall not what's he mean by that he means this because of all the things I've been saying it is absolutely certain that sin shall not have dominion over the man who is a Christian and who is truly in Christ it shall not. [00:34:12]

If you are in Christ my friend I say there is no power in Hell nor anywhere else in the whole Cosmos that can prevent you are standing perfect and entire before God you are either in Christ or else you're not in Christ if you're joined to Christ you are joined to Christ and let me say this this is once and forever. [00:35:31]

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Transcript
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