Sunday, March 31, 2024 AM
BECAUSE HE LIVES: Easter—What Does It Mean?
Mike Teel, Pastor

FOCAL PASSAGE:

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. —I Corinthians 15:13-17

RESURRECTION –

Reveal Answer

FOR CHRISTIANITY

–Our Easter celebration would have been a big

.

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. —I Corinthians 15:13-14

–Our faith would be

.

–Worst of all, we’d still

the

Reveal Answer

for every sin we’ve committed.

–If Jesus had not been raised, His death would have

nothing.

RESURRECTION – WHAT IT

Reveal Answer

–Jesus died in our place to satisfy the

for our atonement.

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. —Romans 6:23

–His resurrection proves that the father was

with His sacrifice.

25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, —Romans 3:25 (NLT)

–It also demonstrates it was counted sufficient for the

of all our sins.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. —I Corinthians 15:20-23

RESURRECTION – IT’S

Reveal Answer

TODAY

–This hope enables us to

every day, even in the midst of trials and sufferings.

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 8 You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. 9 The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. —I Peter 1:3-9

–It means we too will be resurrected and receive an

inheritance reserved for us in heaven.

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” —John 11:25-27

LIVE IT OUT

–What does the Resurrection (Easter) mean to you today?
–How will the Resurrection (Easter) affect your life until next Easter?