Apr 1 2018 The Wisdom of Resurrection: Sin, Death, Regret, Guilt and Shame are defeated!

In Christianity today, I think we tend to focus on the cross – and that is a good thing - if you think of the way we communicate, the songs that we sing, etc. – even Paul wrote, I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus and Him crucified, but I think we DON’T emphasize the resurrection as much as we ought to. I think this is because it is easier to get a handle on.
Today we will focus on the resurrection. Friday night we talked about the crucifixion – the power of darkness and evil being destroyed on the cross. But today, we focus on the power of God – because of the resurrection, we have a victorious life here and now that we can win.
When we think of the cross, it is easy to visualize that. Paintings, artwork give us a handle on it. But the resurrection – we can’t really see it. It is different – and a bit more difficult, but it is crucial to our faith.
In the book of Acts, there is a history of the spreading of the gospel.
There are many gospel sermons throughout the book of Acts – and each has the emphasis of the resurrection. The question we need to ask – How much do we talk about the resurrection? What part of our worship focuses on Christ being raised from the dead? What percentage of our Christian experience does focusing on the resurrection play? It is too low for all of us, if we are honest.
As one who gives sermons – I talk a lot more about the cross – and there is nothing wrong with that – but there needs to be a greater focus on the resurrection, I believe.
Matt. 28: And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. 3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.
6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."
These women are the first witnesses. The first to tell the gospel story. He is risen indeed! In saying those words, you are preaching the gospel.
Keeping with our yearlong study of Wisdom – I will read from 1 Corinthians:
1 Cor. 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised.
Here is what is going on in the New Testament world. The chief priests and Roman officials propagated the story that the body of Jesus had been stolen. For those of you who are conspiracy theorists – it is nothing new.
In the Roman world – the concept of resurrection is SO FOREIGN – like when Paul was speaking about the resurrection and they asked him to come back because it was something new to them.
After Christ had been raised – they got to touch Him – He ate fish with them. And as time went on - As these Christians were beginning to die, their loved ones were burying them – and the question abounded – is this really going to happen? Paul is making the importance of the resurrection known. If we only have Christ’s death, then sin and evil still reign. If we only have Good Friday and no future hope, when we die it is all over. If only in this life we hoped…
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.
Your loved ones are simply gone, without the resurrection – never to be heard from again – and then he says these words – and I believe this is hard to believe:
19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.
If Christianity is only good for this life, then we are a sorry lot! Last week I talked about the benefits of being a Christian – and there are many. We might think – sure, we have the resurrection – but we think – it is sure better to be a Christian than not.
Think of the benefits – being placed into a community.
On the other hand – many people wish they weren’t in that community. Some of you! Some of me! There are times when the community is a difficult place to be.
There are psychological benefits – we can think, we are right with God! But Christianity can also make us feel guilt and shame!
There is wisdom for living in Christianity. But so often we don’t apply that wisdom into our lives.
Sometimes that wisdom can be used to manipulate and control us – or we can use it to manipulate others.
Jesus said – don’t cast your pearls before swine! Why? Because swine can’t eat pearls! He has nothing against swine – Except he can’t eat them! He created swine – but pearls of are no value to swine. And we take our wisdom of God and try to give it to people who won’t get it.
Someone is down on their luck – and struggling financially – and we think – they need to learn about tithing and finances! – but that is not the need – that is a pearl – and casting it to that person is not wise!
Without the resurrection – Christianity could be a psychological manipulation and cause for discouragement. Not to be a downer on Easter – let’s look at verse 20!
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
This changes everything about everything. This is what is wholly different about Christianity. Without the resurrection, Jesus is just a martyr – with the resurrection – He can be Savior and Lord.
Firstfruit – Jesus is the firstfruit. Anyone who has a garden knows the longing for that first red tomato! First leaves – and then tiny green ones – and then it turns red – and you always pick the first one early – too early. And you pick it and eat it out in the garden because you don’t want your wife to know. And two weeks later, you don’t know what to do with them all!
Paul is saying – He is the firstfruits – but there is coming an explosion of resurrection. In this entire beginning – all of Creation is about to be transformed in front of our very eyes. We will get to see that take place! Revelation speaks of a new creation with this river and trees and this city – and we will see it all!
But it all starts with the inner transformation of our souls and spirits.
To be transformed as a Christian – means going to church more and doing outreach and service. Those are the byproducts of soul transformation. That is not what transformation is all about!
Then we think it is about character and behavior modification. Again – byproducts of transformation.
Fruit – fruit of the spirit – that is what soul transformation is all about.
Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, and self-control – but then he says this – against these things – there is no law. The law does not apply to these things. The rules do not belong with these things.
What He is saying – when we are transformed in our spirits and souls – and we love like Jesus loved – the command to not murder is irrelevant. It is impossible to love like Jesus and break a commandment!
When you are patient with the patience of Jesus, it is impossible for you to get angry! It just can’t happen. And God is talking about this complete transformation. When our souls are changed – we naturally do the things that God wants. That will be just who we are!
It will not happen fully until the end – when we see Him – we shall be like Him. When we stand before Christ – and enter that space, we will be transformed more fully into His image – all the garbage stuff in us will be gone.
50 Now this is what I am saying, brothers and sisters: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I will tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– 52 in a moment, in the blinking of an eye, at the last trumpet.
Wow!
For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 Now when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then the saying that is written will happen, "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
Amen! Swallowed up in victory. There is a clothing metaphor here – This mortal body – this Mike Marette – will put on immortal Mike Marette. Imperishable – and the same for you! Meaning that it is going to be the same me and the same you – only not perishable and not mortal. We will fully recognize and be recognized. When you think of loved ones who lived years ago – in heaven – we will know them, instantly!
Tony and Janelle came up yesterday – when they walked in – I didn’t say, Who are you guys?! I’ve known Tony his whole life! When we get to heaven – we won’t say who are you? We know you!
55 "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!
We have victory over sin, death, and evil – the trinity of darkness, it is called. And then He says this. Let me go to this here first: We, our tendency, sin and guilt tend to have an incredible impact in our lives – guilt and shame affect so much about us. Sin will be done away with.
Think of the negative thoughts and feelings of guilt, shame, and regret. In the moment you stand before Jesus – in that blinking of an eye – from that point on – you will never have a negative thought or feeling. You will never again feel shame – or guilt, or unworthiness – or regret. I look so forward to that! Never having sin, regret, guilt, or shame.
The resurrection is very practical! It may be hard to grasp, but it works for the real world right now.
58 So then, dear brothers and sisters, be firm. Do not be moved! Always be outstanding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
What Paul does – 57 verses on the resurrection – and 1 verse – here is the practical way of living – our tendency is to work for the Lord out of I have to or I’m supposed to – maybe a fear of judgment – but that never lasts and never works. Don’t motivate anyone else that way! We think it may work short term – but it doesn’t. God wants us to use the motivation of hope and new life with God.
So Paul gives practical advice – because of the resurrection and new life – the victory that we have – WORK for the Lord!
We should think of outreach and gospel work – as one of the things. But we think of it as the only thing of the work of the Lord. That is a mistake – it is one part.
We are going to make June an outreach month for the church!
We have been talking about it – doing a series that we can invite people in – maybe doing some evangelism and outreach – but the COOL project is going to be on June 2.
On Wednesday – I left church – and saw a red car parked out back here – I got home and got a phone call from the COOL people – do you know where we are? We are in your parking lot! I asked, Are you in a red car?! I wish they had stopped me before I got home! Anyway - they have been led to the neighborhood of our church. The whole outreach will be done around here – and they want to use our building and parking and some meetings for the homeowners – and doing prayer walks around the neighborhood.
Later I realized – this really fits in –
The week after COOL – we have our yardsale – where we invite our neighbors to set up tables and sell stuff – and we have hundreds of people come through this building! There will be a lot of activity!
Ministry and activity for the church – other ways we abound in work for the Lord – but what I want to say is this – we abound in the work of the Lord when we represent Him and bear his image to those around us. We are His image bearers – everywhere we go.
We need to get up every day – knowing that we have this new life in Christ – we have a hope for the resurrection – that our sins are forgiven – and we make that the foundation of everything we do – and as a result, we go to our jobs and have friendships – and look like Jesus.
Colossians 3:1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.