Lesson Notes John 20-21

Reasons for the Resurrection

February 23, 2014 Darryl J. Dawson, Sr.

The Resurrection: Reasons, Results, Rewards

Intro.: The Christian faith stands or falls based upon the resurrection of Christ. Therefore, there is no other doctrine more important than the doctrine of the resurrection. All of Christianity hangs in the balance of the resurrection. Without the resurrection: The creation narrative loses it importance Adam and Eves sin dealt us a fatal blow! The message of Noah and the flood - means nothing. The Exodus from Egypt loses its significance. The incarnation is unnecessary Jesus death on the cross was all in vain.

Read: John 19:38-42, 20:1-10, 1st Corinthians 15:1-19 What is a resurrection? Compare the account of Lazarus in John 11:41-44. Is this a resurrection? Why or why not? o Those who are resurrected never die again. All who were restored died again Lazarus died again The officials daughter died again Matt 9:18 The dead son died again Luke 7:11-18 The mass pre-resurrection Matt 27:50-54 o These are all restorations which means to bring something back to its original form. A resurrection is when the soul and/or spirit of a saint is reunited with his/her glorified body which has been transformed to a new state. o Those who are resurrected never die again. o They are recognizable Matt 28:9-10 o Their new/glorified bodies have miraculous power. See 1st Cor 15:42-58. Consider the comparison: Perishable - Imperishable Weak Powerful Natural Spiritual **Jesus resurrected body was not subject to the laws of physics: He walked through walls including His tomb! John 20:26 Jesus described Himself as flesh and bones Luke 24:39 Jesus ate fish after the resurrection Luke 24:42-43
2014 Darryl J. Dawson, Sr.

 Jesus was able to move instantaneously from one place to another Luke 24:31 (The Emmaus Road account) Reasons for the resurrection: Why did Jesus have to be resurrected? Why could God not allow Him to remain in the grave? 1. It validated His declarations: Matthew 12:38-40 Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, Teacher, we want to see a sign from you. He answered, A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 2. It proved that Jesus was the Son of God -Romans 1:4 who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, In Romans 1:4 Paul shows that the resurrection is the final and convincing proof that Jesus was the Son of God. Please note here that Pauls subject is the gospe l, the good news, of God. The Resurrection proves this. It proved that Jesus was the promised Messiah - He is declared both Lord (deity) and Christ (Messiah of Old Testament prophecy and expectation) on the basis of His resurrection (cf. Acts 10:36-43; Acts 2:22-36). 3. It fulfilled prophecy concerning Christ Acts 2:29-32 Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. (Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15) 4. It proved that Jesus was also fully human - Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead. Jesus said that he was flesh and bone after His resurrection. Luke 24:39 In Matthew 12:39-40, Christ Himself pointed to His resurrection as the final proof of His person. Compare Hebrews 10:4-18 - For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

2014 Darryl J. Dawson, Sr.

5. It proved that Jesus had no sin - Christ was raised on account of our justification, that is, to prove He was a worthy substitute and that we might be declared righteous by God (Rom. 4:25). Therefore, if He is risen, we become justified sinners through faith in Christ. The only proof or evidence we have of pardon, and acceptance, of justification and peace with God is the risen Christ. Faiths question is not how we feel, but is Christ risen. No sinner can have settled peace except on the ground of the death and resurrection of Christ (Cf. Romans 5:1). 2nd Cor 5:21 - He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. Compare Jesus to the lamb of the Passover Exodus 12 Results of the resurrection: What changed as a result of the resurrection? How are we affected? 1. God accepted His sacrifice as payment for our sins The sin debt that originated with Adam has finally been settled, once and for all! Jesus is our sacrificial Lamb of God! Compare to the Day of atonement Leviticus 23 (Luke 1:8-21) If Jesus had sin in His life God would have rejected His sacrifice. 2. It provided via faith in Christ, the only way to God and Heaven Romans 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (ESV) The resurrection marks Christ out as the one and only redeemer and the one means of access to God. It authenticates His own claims that He was the way, the truth, and the life, and that He came to give His life a ransom for many. Because the resurrection gives assurance to all, because it is the proof of His person and work, it also becomes the condemnation of all other religions, philosophies of men, and all who do not know the Lord Jesus as the their personal Savior by faith. The resurrection stands as either our proof of ones justification or as ones condemnation. It becomes a proof of a coming day of reckoning, a day when God will reckon with mankind on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. 3. It proved that we too will one day will be resurrected death has no power over us anymore - Because I live, you will live also (John 14:19). This everlasting life is based upon His resurrection. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25).

2014 Darryl J. Dawson, Sr.

4. God dealt with mans ultimate enemy death! (The second death or eternal death in Hell) Romans 5:12- 14 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned (1st Cor 15:54-57) Death was not a part of Gods original plan for humanity. Rewards of the resurrection: What changed as a result of the resurrection? How are we affected? 1. We were rewarded with the promise of a future resurrection death has no power over us anymore - Because I live, you will live also (John 14:19). This everlasting life is based upon His resurrection. Jesus said, I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live (John 11:25). 2. Christ was rewarded with glory, honor and authority: Glory And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed. John 17:5 (also see 2nd Peter 1:17) Honor Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phil 2:8-11 Authority- And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Why? Because He accepted the cup of suffering from His Father. The Father reward ed Him as He does all of His children who are willing to trust Him.

Some Notes taken from The Resurrection of Jesus Christ Study By: J. Hampton Keathley, III http://bible.org/article/resurrection-jesus-christ

2014 Darryl J. Dawson, Sr.

 2014 Darryl J. Dawson, Sr.

Author Bio
An energetic, talented, and Spirit-controlled teacher, Darryl J. Dawson, Sr. - a 2011 graduate of Luther Rice Seminary and former youth pastor - keeps it real. Honest, open and transparent, he makes it easy to open up and have a lively discussion by sharing his own struggles, shortcomings, and successes. Biblically-sound and true to God's Word, Darryl always positions us and challenges us to leave class and go apply God's principles to our lives. Darryl and his wife Shari have three sons, and make their home in Stockbridge, Georgia. They are members of First Baptist Atlanta. Darryl is active in youth sports, coaching championship teams in football, baseball, and basketball. You can listen to the audio that accompanies these notes at http://www.fbalifelines.org/lessons.html

2014 Darryl J. Dawson, Sr.