Resurrection: The Key to Everything B

The resurrection not only proves the truthfulness of the word of God, it proves the deity of the son of God. God is the one who raised Christ and he did it to give testimony to his deity is becoming his resurrection or an Christ shame and unspeakable suffering Jesus endured on the cross and yet what followed his sacrifice is so remarkable so monumental. Only the sinless son of God could accomplish it and it's the reason that sorrow and mourning give way to joy. You'll see that today on grace to you as John MacArthur continues his study called Easter through the eyes of God with a message titled resurrection. The key to everything. Now follow along as John introduces the lesson with a series of questions about what exactly happened at the tomb of Christ. What did the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean what didn't verify. What did it accomplish. What did it prove first of all, the resurrection proves the truthfulness of the word of God. Secondly, the resurrection not only proves the truthfulness of the word of God, it proves the deity of the son of God.

God is the one who raised Christ and he did it to give testimony to his deity. He is becoming his resurrection, both Lord and Christ, the resurrection, Peter says in acts 236 shows him to be Lord and Christ. So the resurrection not only proves that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, but it proves that he was God. Romans 425 maybe the most wonderful, the most powerful verse with regard to the application of his resurrection makes 1/3 point and I want you to get this third point. The first point is resurrection proves the truthfulness of the word of God. The second point. His resurrection proves the deity of the son of God. Thirdly, his resurrection proves the completion of the salvation of God, the completion of the salvation of God. Listen to Romans four wonderful truth truth on which we build our lives. He was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification. In order for God to justify us in order for God to declare us righteous. He had to raise Jesus from the dead when it says his name shall be called Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. That's exactly what God wanted. But in order to accomplish it. He had to raised Christ from the dead. That was indispensable evidence of the completion and efficacious value of his death, it was the father's way of saying your death accomplished its intended purpose. It was God raising him from the dead to affirm that what he did on the cross satisfied God's holy justice.

There are so many essential features in our salvation contingent on the resurrection I can take.

Romans 425 and split it into component parts. The bestowing of eternal life is dependent on the resurrection as an animal died. So in Christ shall all be made alive because I live, you shall live also. In other words, it was in the death of Christ and his resurrection that he granted to us eternal life if he never rose that he showed he couldn't conquer death if he never rose he wouldn't be alive if he wasn't alive.

He couldn't give us life, but he didn't arise. And he said in John 1125 I am the resurrection and the life.

Whoever believes in me, even though he dies, shall live again so eternal life is dependent upon the resurrection. That's component in the completion of God's salvation. Secondly, the sending of the Holy Spirit. If Jesus that Jesus had risen from the grave he never would've ascended back to the father if he hadn't ascended back to the father he never would've sent the Holy Spirit, he himself said that he could not send the Holy Spirit until he had gone back to the father John 16 seven I tell you truth it is to your advantage that I go away if I do not go away, the Holy Spirit will not come to you, but if I go I'll send them to you.

And when he comes, he will convict the world of sin and righteousness and judgment when it comes to lead you into all truth when he comes, he will bring all things into remembrance when he comes, he will place you into the body of Christ when he comes, he will become the guarantee of your eternal life when he comes, he will take up residence in you and you will become his temple when he comes, he will empower you for service when he comes, he will guide you when he comes, he will instruct you in the word of God, he will be the anointing the teachers you show you so that you need no human teacher. The whole full-blown ministry of the Holy Spirit was dependent upon the resurrection of Christ if he didn't rise. He couldn't ascend if he couldn't ascend. He couldn't send the spirit know resurrection, no ascension, no ascension, no Holy Spirit, no Holy Spirit, no church when you talk about the resurrection proving the completion of the saving work of God you're talking about the heart of Christianity. He had to rise to give us eternal life, he had to have the life to give it. He had to rise to go back to the father to send us the Holy Spirit. Thirdly, he had to rise to forgive our sins. If he hadn't risen from the dead, then we would know the father was not pleased with his sacrifice.

His sacrifice was not efficacious.

It was not successful. It didn't work.

It didn't atone for our sins and therefore the father did not exalt him in taking the glory because he didn't do what he was supposed to do on the other hand, if Jesus was raised from the dead taken to the right hand of God seated at the throne of God on his right hand, affirmed by God as having perfectly accomplished our redemption. Then there is forgiveness of sin, then it is accomplished. Then he who came for the express purpose of dying to put away death and sin accomplished his purpose. He it says was made like his brother and in all things that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining God to make propitiation for the sins of his people. That's Hebrews 2 later on. It says in Hebrews that he has perfected for ever them that are sanctified by the offering of himself that his sacrifice did work. Our sins were completely covered in the father affirmed it in the resurrection. Fourthly, Jesus must rise from the dead. In order to be at the right hand of God interceding for us is resurrection is inseparably linked to his work of intercession as you protect presents his petitions on behalf of the weak and tempted Christians and intercedes for them before the throne of grace. John says in first John two wanted to. We have an advocate with the father was always pleading our case.

Hebrews chapter 4 and Hebrews chapter 7 says we have a merciful faithful high priest in all points tempted like as we are yet without sin, and he ever lives to make intercession for us. He is always at the right hand of God. Satan is there accusing us he is there defending us. He is our lawyer, our advocate, our defender, the resurrection, therefore, is necessary not only for forgiveness of sins, but for perpetual intercession that we might never be tempted above that we are able and that there always will be a way of escape for fleet resurrection is crucial to the bestowal of spiritual gifts to the bestowal of spiritual gifts. One of those. Those are the divine enabling abilities that the spirit of God gives to every Christian, so that we can serve God in Ephesians chapter 4 it says that Christ ascended and after he ascended, he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets and evangelists and pastor teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service for the building up of the body of Christ. He went back to heaven and then he began to work through gifted men and spiritual gifts to build his church strong to each one of us. Verse seven says was given grace according to the measure of Christ's gift and he gave us that gift when he ascended on high, when he led captivity a host of captives and gave gifts to men. Jesus risen from the dead ascends to heaven sends back spiritual gifts, gifted men, so that we can serve God. That's all based on his resurrection if he does arrive, arise. He doesn't ascend.

He doesn't send gifts nor the enabling spirit sexually resurrection also grants spiritual power spiritual power. Jesus said in Matthew 2818, all power is given on to me in heaven and earth and in acts 180 says when the spirit comes on passing it to you and you now are able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think, according to the power that works in you. You have the power. Ephesians 1 says that raised Jesus from the dead working through you. Jesus Christ then sends us power.

The enabling power and authority of the spirit of God and give your seventh component of the salvation of God and that is Jesus Christ and his resurrection has given to us a new position of blessing a new position of blessing in Ephesians chapter 1 and verse three it says we are blessed with all spiritual blessing in the heavenly's in Christ.

Christ is in the heavenly's and because he is there. He pours out all spiritual blessing on us. Chapter 2 of Ephesians and verse seven says forever.

He will pour out the surpassing riches of his grace in his kindness toward us what immense blessing the salvation of God demanded eternal life. The coming of the spirit, the forgiveness of sins, ongoing intercession, the bestowing of spiritual gifts. The granting of spiritual power and the outpouring of eternal blessing and all of that hinges on the resurrection of Christ doesn't rise none of it happens.

None of it. The question then is not what proves the resurrection.

But what is the resurrection proof it proves the word of God is true, it proves that the son of God is deity. It proves that the salvation of God is complete. Fourthly, the resurrection proves the establishment of the Church of God, the establishment of the Church of God, our Lord said he would build his church. Remember these words in Matthew 16, I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

One of the gates of Hades, the Jewish expression meaning what death I'll build my church and death won't stop it, not your death and not mine. Jesus was in effect saying I'm going to die, but I'm going on on the rise. Death is not going to stop me from building my church. Ephesians 120 says that Christ was raised from the dead, seated at the right hand in heavenly places, far above all rule and all authority, power, dominion, every name that his name not only in this age and the age to come, and he put all things in subjection under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

When he rose, took his seat. He became the head of the church resurrection is essential to the establishment of the church. If there is no resurrection, there is no church. Anybody that says they belong to a church that doesn't believe the resurrection doesn't belong to a church true church is the church of those who've been given life through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

John Calvin wrote this is the highest honor of the church, but until he is united to us the son of God reckons himself in some measure imperfect without consolation. It is for us to learn that not until we are in his presence. Does he possess all his parts or does he wish to be regarded as complete. In other words, the Messiah himself is not complete without his body. He is ahead without a body, the church is his completion and the church was born in the resurrection it was the resurrection to transform the apostles from scattered fearful faithless doubters and cowards in the world changing apostles the little band of disciples maligned and persecuted grew to fill Jerusalem with their teaching and soon turn the world upside down Jews meeting on Sabbath for centuries and millennia all of a sudden became Christians meeting on Sunday, Sabbath was no more the day Sunday was because Jesus arose in the church is March through time triumphant in the power of its risen Christ resurrection proves than the truthfulness of the word of God. The deity of the son of God, the completion of the salvation of God. The establishment of the Church of God fitfully and sadly resurrection proves the inevitability of the judgment of God. The inevitability of the judgment of God. When our Lord came into the world.

The first time he was mocked and scorned, hated, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. He was humbled he allowed himself to be treated so terribly. The people said he was from hell they battered him. They spit on him.

They pushed a crown of thorns into his head that drove nails through his hands and feet. They rammed the spear into his side, they put them on display naked as a laughingstock. But that's not the last scene.

The world will have of Jesus.

He rose from the dead to be their judge. They executed him as a criminal. He will come back as their judge was in the John eight a very very powerful powerful testimony, he says to the Jews who have rejected him. Verse 26 I have many things to speak and to judge concerning you. This thing isn't over. He said back in verse 21 he said because you do not know me, you will die in your sins and where I am going, you cannot come.

I have more to say to you, he says, and to judge concerning you back in John chapter 5 he speaks specifically about that judgment. In verse 22.

He says all judgment is given to the son God has made him judge and given to him all judgment.

Verse 21. Just as the father raises the dead and gives them life, so the sun also gives life to whom he wishes and then not even the father judges anyone, but he has given all judgment to the son, Donna, verse 25.

Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is when the dead shall hear the voice of the son of God and those who hear shall live.

For just as the father has life in himself. Even so, he gave to the son to have life in himself, and he gave them authority to execute judgment.

What kind of judgment. Verse 28. Someday the tombs are going to hear his voice, the going to come for those who do good deeds to the resurrection of life, those who committed evil ones to resurrection of judgment. I can do nothing on my own initiative, verse 30 says as I hear, I judge in my judgment is just, he's coming back is a just judge he's coming back as judge, jury, sentence or executioner, and God has testified to that he was killed as a criminal. He will return as a resurrected judge listened to acts 10 verse 42 actually started verse 40 God raised him up on the third day after being hanged on a cross verse 39 God raised him up on the third day, acts 10 verse 40 and granted that he should become visible, not to all the people, but two witnesses were chosen before hand by God. That is, to us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

Why did he appear to the apostles. Verse 42 and he ordered us to preach to the people and solemnly to testify that this is the one who has been appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead.

He will come back as a God appointed judge in acts chapter 17 Paul is preaching on the Areopagus, known as Mars Hill in Athens, and Paul says in verse 30 of that sermon.

But God has patiently overlooked the times of man's ignorance, but he is now declaring demand that they must repent verse 31 of acts 17 because he has fixed a day. The day of the Lord in which he will judge the world in righteousness through a man he has appointed, and how did he furnish proof that Christ was the man by raising him from the dead, says Paul resurrection then is the act of the father, by which he appoints Christ to be the judge.

You can see how many sweeping realities in the Christian faith are unlocked to us in the resurrection of Christ, he is raised not only for our justification, who believe for the damnation of those who do not believe in the father attested to him as Savior, as son and as judge by his resurrection from the dead. Thinking of Romans 14 nine which says, Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead end of the living and the next verse says we must all stand before the judgment seat of God.

He is not only the judge of the unbeliever. He is the judge of the believer. We must all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. Paul says in second Corinthians chapter 5 and he will be there to test our works to see if there would hay and stubble or gold silver and precious stones. Lord Jesus Christ, risen from the dead proves the truthfulness of the word of God. The deity of the son of God, the completion of the salvation of God. The establishment of the Church of God, the inevitability of the judgment of God in one last point, the eternal bliss of the people of God's resurrection is the guarantee of our eternal heaven listen to these wonderful and familiar words, Jesus speaking John 14 let not your heart be troubled. Believe in God believe also in me. In my father's house are many dwelling places.

If it were not so I would've told you, for I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also write their Jesus is predicting his resurrection he said to death, but he says I'm going right through death, into the father's house to get a place ready for you and I'll be back to get you if there's no resurrection. There's no place prepared for us if there's no place prepared for us. There is no heaven for us. Everything depends on the resurrection.

Again I say what I said at the beginning, the real issue is not can you prove the resurrection.

The real issue is what does the resurrection prove you take out the resurrection and you have cut out the soul of the Christian faith, and you have non-Christianity without the resurrection. All of God's complete redemptive plan depends on this key reality and that brings it right down to us doesn't all of the redemptive plan of God in its fullness completed to the resurrection of Jesus Christ will either mean to you heaven, or it will mean to you. Hell, he will either be back to take you to the place that he has prepared for you or he will be back to send you to the place he has prepared for the devil and his angels. He will be back either to gather you into his heaven or to send you to the hell that is outside of his presence forever. He will be back to pour upon you eternal blessing or eternal punishment, you will rise from the dead. Someday to the resurrection of life, in his presence to the resurrection of damnation out of his presence all gospel realities hinge on his resurrection and your eternity is at stake you can make your choice doesn't seem to me to be much of a choice to choose heaven forgiveness blessedness joy, fulfillment in his presence, or damnation, punishment, hell forever out of his presence, but that's the choice pray with me.

Her father were very much aware of the fact that this is not just a message. This is a command believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved.

The gospel as a command when the father said this is my beloved son, listen to him. That was a command and either we obey it and respond in faith to Christ. Give them our lives asking to save us from our sins and take us to heaven or we rejected and disobey and or appointed a place with the damned and the wicked father I pray that your Holy Spirit would work in every life, every heart every mind, so that no one can shirk this message. This truth, this is not just something that can be ignored treated with indifference, eternal destiny turns on the issue of will I commit my life to the one who rose to be my Savior or will I rejected and facing as my judge, Lord, I pray that heaven will be rejoicing because many will be turned from death to life, darkness to light hell to heaven despair to hope soon to righteousness. Work your work in every heart for the glory of Christ, we ask a that's John MacArthur. He is the teacher each day here on grace to you.

He's also Chancellor of the Masters University in seminary. He calls his current study Easter through the eyes of God. John, I love the title of today's lesson resurrection. The key to everything and really it is the key to everything.

All of history prior to the resurrection looks forward to it and everything since then looks back at it. It's the most graphic demonstration of God's love ever in the proof of our salvation is also something that demands a response. You know years ago there was a Canadian scientist by the name of GB Hardy who said I was looking for the truth in religion and he said I only had one question. Did the leader of that religion rise from the dead. Because if he didn't rise from the dead, that I have no reason to put my eternity in his hands. That's pretty insightful and there's only one one religious leader who ever rose from the dead.

That's the Lord Jesus Christ. The resurrection is everything. It makes all the difference boot is in the grave and Mohammed's in the grave and on and on and on in religious history, but the grave is empty because Jesus rose from the dead of this is the validation of Christianity, God declared him to be his son by the resurrection from the dead, God declared that he was satisfied with the sacrifice of Christ that it was a sufficient atonement for the sins of his people, and God declared that satisfaction by the resurrection from the dead, God declared him to be heir of everything and you have a right to come and sit on his throne and receive his inheritance by the resurrection from the dead, so the resurrection is everything, and a part of understanding the immense reality of the resurrection is to understand what came before the resurrection and that is the death of Christ and even backing up a little from that you need to understand what forces were in action leading to the death of Christ and then to the resurrection and then to the full validation of Christianity by that resurrection and to do that.

I want to mention a book called the murder of Jesus.

If you've never contacted this ministry before will send you a free copy of this is a full-size book the murder of Jesus is an amazing story of all the trials and everything that was leading up to the death of Christ and culminated in the glory of his resurrection. See the role that God played that Satan played the Jews played the Romans played.

It's a tremendous story, no story like it you will be able to put it down once you open the cover.

So if you've never been in touch with us before do it today and request a copy of the murder of Jesus.

Yes, this book shows you why Christ died. Who is responsible for his death. And what Jesus final hours mean for your life today to get a copy of John's book the murder of Jesus it's free if it's your first time contacting us.

Get in touch today. Our number here 855 grace or go to the website TTY.org, with its focus on the death and resurrection of Christ and how that makes salvation possible. The murder of Jesus is ideal to put in the hands of an unbeliever, you know, again, the murder of Jesus is our gift to you never contacted us before. Just call 855 grace or go to GT Y.and if you're looking for more biblical truth that explains the profound significance of Christ's death and resurrection. Let me encourage you to go to our website and download some of grace to use Easter themed studies like condemned and crucified the crucifixion Chronicle and the empty tomb. These studies or any of the more than 3500 of John's sermons are available free of charge@ourwebsitetty.org will also find daily devotionals video clips from John's various conference appearances and much more.

All of it free@tty.org now for John MacArthur on Phil Johnson encouraging you to be here again tomorrow, Good Friday, when John looks at the many reasons you have to believe in Christ's resurrection.

It's another 30 minutes of unleashing God's truth was at a time on grace the