Grateful for the Resurrection

Romans 1:1-4

The resurrection is the most assured fact of history and gives us the power, peace, and presence of God.

1. THE RESURRECTION IS CENTRAL TO CHRISTIANITY

   1. It is the proof of Jesus Divinity (Predicted, powerful, holiness)
   2. Oldest confession in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 from last week
   3. 260 Chapters in the New Testament and the resurrection is referenced over 300 times.
   4. It is central to the preaching in the New Testament
   5. It took down Rome

2. THE RESURRECTION IS CENTRAL TO ENDURANCE

   1. 1 Peter 1:3 The resurrection gives us mercy, new birth, a living hope
   2. Romans 8:18 Suffering cannot be compared to our hope
   3. Faith and hope are united, Faith in a living Christ means we will have a resurrection ourselves. Not hope in hope, it is hope in Christ 1 Peter 1:21
   4. With out the resurrection, there is not hope, no gospel, no power
   5. “We live in the tension between two resurrections, Jesus and ours.”Jeremiah J. Johnstone Ephesians 2:12

3. THE RESURRECTION IS CENTRAL TO HOPE

1. Hope can seem fragile Romans 8:35-39
2. We have hope in our destination 2 Corinthians 5:8, Luke 23:43
3. Jesus is the 5 elements of our hope (Story of Lazarus)
   1. The Person of Hope - “I Am” John 11:25-26
   2. The Power of Hope - John 14:19
   3. The Prerequisite of Hope - “Do you believe this?”
   4. The Promise of Hope - John 11:25 “He shall live” John 11:25
   5. The Permanence of Hope - John 11:26 (shall never die)

Conclusion:

1. Trust the truth of the resurrection and put all your faith in Jesus.
2. If you are suffering, remember the future you have with Christ.
3. Share your hope in Christ freely this week.