"Victory Over Death!"

 Easter Sunday!                    

Introduction:

     A.   Today we begin the celebration of the Resurrection!

 

     B.   I would like to look at one of the results or outcomes

of the resurrection!

 

     Trans.

Because of the resurrection, we have “Victory over

Death!”

                            Prayer

Luke 24:1-12

                     I Cor. 15:20-21, 50-58

 

I.   When did death come into the world?  vs. 21

 

A.      Whether we believe Gen. 1-11 to be historic (an actual

account of the beginning of the world (Fiat Creationism) or a parable teaching some things about

our relationship with God (maybe Theological Evolution for the creation)), we see in Genesis an explanation for the human condition.  We see several theological truths about why things are as they are:

 

          1.   God did it!

          2.   Humankind is the Crown of God's Creation.

          3.   People were made with a choice and chose to sin.

          4.   The penalty was set for disobedience to God even                 before people chose to sin: death.  Gen. 2:17.

          5.   People chose to sin!  Gen. 3:6

          6.   God pronounced the sentence that people had                      chosen (Gen. 3:19).

 

     B.   Because of this, all people will die! 

 

          1.   People who are close to us will die.

          2.   We will die.

          3.   It is a fact of life as we know it.

              "And just as it is appointed for mortals to die                  once, and after that the judgement, so Christ,                   having been offered once to bear the sins of                    many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."           (Heb. 9:27-28 NRSV)

 

     C.   This death is not only physical but also spiritual:              Eternal separation from God and all that's good!

 

II.  Physical Death & Sickness are a consequence of people's     choice for sin from the beginning; Death & Sickness are not   punishment for our individual sins!

 

     A.   Death and sickness can be a consequence of our                   individual sins or someone else's! Death can be                  rushed along by how we live or how someone else lives!

 

          1.   examples:

              a.   If we drive drunk or do drugs, it could                         speed our own death or someone else's!

              b.   Terrorism!

 

          2.   Death is not always God's will, but God can help                 us through it!

              a.   Please hear this!

              b.   When someone is killed in a tragic car wreck

because they were hit by a drunk driver, it

is not God’s will! Please do not tell

someone, “Oh, it was just God’s will!”

              c.   We will all die, but because of Free will,

we can influence when that will happen for

ourselves and others!

              d.   But God is always in the business of helping

us to pick up the broken pieces! Point

people to a God who wants to do that for

them!

 

     B.   Physical death and sickness as a whole are not                   controlled by how good we live; in this life, no                 matter how good we live we will still have sickness and eventually die.

 

1.      The only human who has ever lived a sinless life since the death sentence was pronounced was Jesus Christ, and Christ still had to pay the consequences for people's choice to sin!  Think about it!

 

2.      What makes us think if we live good enough we won't get sick and die?

 

 

 

a.   I once had a conversation with a man who was

arguing that if you got sick and prayed for

healing, you would be healed, and if you

were not, it was because you had sin in your

life or a lack of faith!

              b.   That is just not true.  Sometimes, you will

be healed; sometimes, you will not be healed

in this life!      

              c.   Good, faithful people die every day!  They

do not need to die feeling defeated because

they weren’t good enough to be healed!

              d.   It is appointed onto people once to die ….

 

III. Through Christ's death, we can have "Victory Over Death!"

 

     A.   Victory over death could not be attained by humans               (vs. 50).

 

     B.   But we can have victory through Christ (vs. 57);                 Christ won the victory over death.  The grave could              not hold him!

 

     C.   Because Christ lives, we can live too!  All we have to           do is trust in what God has done through Christ.

 

     D.   Sin brings Death - Christ brings life!

 

     E.   We will live again in a place where there will be no             more death and pain.  Read Rev. 21:1-8.  That is the             Victory!.

     F.   Christ has taken the sting out of death for the

Christian!

 

Conclusion:

     A.   It never was God's will that people die!

          1.   Let that one sink in!  That is another thing we

get from the Genesis accounts of the beginnings;

death did not come into the picture until people

chose sin.

          2.   Not necessarily our own sin, but all of

humanities tendency and choice to sin!

          3.   Since those early beginnings, we chose to not

follow God’s will!

          4.   As a result, the death sentence was pronounced!

          5.   Tell this to your friends instead of “Oh, it was

just God’s will that your love one die!”

 

     B.   God’s answer to people's choice for sin and death was            Jesus Christ!

          1.   This life is not all there is. We will live

again! Relationship restored!

 

          2.   But also, we begin a new life in relationship

with God today; relationship restored! Thanks be

to God!

          3.   God desires a relationship with us!

4.   As we encounter Christ at the table today, do you

need to receive for yourself this gift of life

today because of the resurrection of Jesus

Christ?

          5.   You can!  That is the invitation, and if you do,

let me know so I can help you with your new life

in Christ!

          6.   Because of the Resurrection, we can have life!

 

Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion