2 in 3 Americans believe in Jesus’ resurrection.
The Resurrection Answers Our Doubts About Jesus
John 10:27-28 CSB – My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.
Jesus’ first followers doubted
Mark 16:6 CSB – You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.
Mark 16:8 CSB – They said nothing to anyone, since they were afraid.
Mark 16:11 makes it clear: After Jesus appeared to Mary from Magdala, she went and told His disciples… but, when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe it.
Mark 16:12-13 CSB – After this, he appeared in a different form to two of them walking on their way into the country. 13 And they went and reported it to the rest, who did not believe them either.
Mark 16:14 CSB – He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who saw him after he had risen.
“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn’t true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.” – Soren Kierkegaard
“We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid.” – Benjamin Franklin
Acts 1:3 CSB – After [Jesus] had suffered, he also presented himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 CSB – Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all… he also appeared to me.
The Resurrection Gives Us Confidence: We Can Be forgiven!
Mark 16:15 CSB – “Go into all the world and preach the gospel. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Two ways to confidence
Legalism
Romans 3:20 CSB – For no one will be justified in his sight by the works of the law, because the knowledge of sin comes through the law.
Grace
John 3:16 CSB – For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
Hebrews 4:15b CSB – [Jesus] one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin
Romans 2:22-24 CSB – The righteousness of God is through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; 24 they are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
How does a person receive grace?
Mark 16:16 CSB – Jesus said, Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Acts 2:38 CSB – Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 6:3 CSB – Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life
The Resurrection Gives Us Purpose Worth Living For
Mark 16:15-16 CSB – Then he said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
Luke 14:25-26 CSB – Now great crowds were traveling with him. So he turned and said to them, 26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, and even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Matthew 13 Jesus said, “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46 When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.
John 8:32 CSB – You will know the Truth and the Truth will set you free.
2 Corinthians 5:15 CSB – he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the one who died for them and was raised.
