Friday, April 21, 2006

RESURRECTION 2006

1Cor. 15:13-19
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.
19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

The RESURRECTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT HOLIDAY FOR THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH…no resurrection – our faith is in vain.

Why?
To find out we need to go back to the beginning…

Gen. 1:31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.

BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED!

Gal. 1:3-4 KING JAMES VERSION:
Gal. 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ,
Gal. 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

The idea is that, because of sin, DEATH crept into a world meant only for LIFE.

Somehow the world that God created to be VERY GOOD lost its goodness, thereby becoming EVIL.

This is called a biblical theodicy – A THEODICY is an explanation for all the pain that is present and all the evil that is present on this planet.

The biblical theodicy is that God did not create evil.
He created good.
Evil is simply PULVERIZED GOOD.

SIN is the great pulverizer.
It takes the good in us and deconstructs it.

A good marriage can be pulverized into a relationship of indifference and hatred—into something evil.
A great lifelong friendship can be pulverized into one filled with contempt and mistrust.
In the beginning two brothers, Cain and Able, had their brotherhood pulverized into fratricide = brother murdering brother.

Sin (lit means: missing the mark) diminishes God’s created good.
It pales it.
In sin, the good is perverted.

According to Christian catechism, sin was first FOUND in Satan – it was FOUND – NOT CREATED – Satan doesn’t create ANYTHING – he can only destroy things that were created.

Sin is NOT a created thing.

Satan simply took good and pulverized it = A PERFECTLY GOOD PEN GONE EVIL?

Satan is a deconstructionist—hence, he is EVIL.

The apostle Paul claimed that everyone on this planet has a problem with evil and the evil one:
Eph. 2:1-3
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins [we all miss the mark],
Eph. 2:2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Eph. 2:3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.

As a result of SIN – we miss the mark – we pulverize things – the good we do isn’t that good.

We’re like soda that’s gone flat, or curdled milk.

Rob sprained his ankle the other day…same ‘ol Rob, but he’s not getting around all that well…

Sin kind of does that to us…
It’s not that we can’t do anything good…we can…
But we always have a sprain in it…something ungood is in the mix:

Whether we are talking about our self-identities, our friendships, our marriages, our families, managing our money, our public policy, caring for the poor/disenfranchised, caring for our planet…whatever…sometimes we do pretty good, but we also have a lot of Un-good in the mix (remember the OTHER word for Ungood is EVIL).

The GOSPEL is a story of God sending Jesus to RESTORE our lives or to re-good our lives—LITERALLY THE GOSPEL MEANS GOOD NEWS.

Acts 10:36-38
You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace {gospel is news of “good”} through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.
Acts 10:37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached —
Acts 10:38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Paul tells us the POWER of doing GOOD:
Rom. 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

GOOD OVERCOMES EVIL.

As Jesus came into the world, he declared war on EVIL or the lack of good – and he went around doing good—HE RE-GOODS THE WORLD AND THE HUMAN LIFE.

And the Bible says,
Heb. 13:8
8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

He’s still in the DOING “GOOD!”

AND here is the wonderful part…people don’t have to be perfect to connect with the “good” Jesus came to bring – they don’t even have to be religiously smart…

EVERYBODY CAN GET GOOD FROM JESUS…
Talking about himself, Jesus said,
John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

ANY WHOEVER, can get in on this!

And you see it in the Gospels – everybody who was even a nobody was cared for by Jesus (ever feel like a nobody?):

Luke 5:12-13
While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Luke 5:13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

This guy was part of the “untouchable club”

Jesus got down and “goods” him. He mattered. Everybody matters to God.

Another e.g.
Luke 7:36-39
Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.
Luke 7:37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume,
Luke 7:38 and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
Luke 7:39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is — that she is a sinner.”

Jesus KNEW he would be judged for this…yet he didn’t care…she mattered.

JESUS RAN INTO THE LIVES OF THE VERY PEOPLE THAT OTHERS RAN FROM:
Luke 15:1-7
Now the tax collectors and “sinners” were all gathering around to hear him.
Luke 15:2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
IN RESPONSE:
Luke 15:3 Then Jesus told them this parable:
Luke 15:4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?
Luke 15:5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders
Luke 15:6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’
Luke 15:7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.

LOST PEOPLE – PEOPLE WITH LITTLE GOOD – ARE WORTH HUNTING DOWN AND GOOD-ING.

Luke 15:8-10
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it?
Luke 15:9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’
Luke 15:10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

JESUS GOES RIGHT INTO THE FAMOUS PRODIGAL = waster…the un-good guy…
Luke 15:11-24
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.
Luke 15:12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
Luke 15:13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living.
Luke 15:14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need.
Luke 15:15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.
Luke 15:16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. [TO THE JEW, THIS WAS EVIDENCE THAT THIS GUY WAS A LOST CAUSE]
Luke 15:17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death!
Luke 15:18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
Luke 15:19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’
Luke 15:20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
JESUS IS AN ICONOCLAST HERE…THE FATHER GOD IS NOT WHO YOU THINK HE IS…HE IS A LOVER! AND HE IS THE INCAUTIOUS, RECKLESS FORGIVER OF HUMANITY!
Luke 15:21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
Luke 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Luke 15:23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
Luke 15:24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ THE FATHER DOESN’T EVEN LISTEN TO THE REPENTANCE…DOESN’T NEED TO – HE SAW HIS HEART…So they began to celebrate.

To top it all off, listen to this:
Luke 23:39-43
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
Luke 23:40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
Luke 23:41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Luke 23:42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Luke 23:43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”

This story created a lot of trouble for the early church – ancient world thought it was a crock…

How could a criminal going to his death be pardoned?
Ancient world was full of Aristotelian thought.
Aristotle preached VIRTUE – something that took a lifetime to develop – and it was the “good” that people needed to have.

Tradition says this guys name was Dismas – called him St. Dismas.

HOW COULD GOD MAKE HIS WASTED LIFE MATTER MOMENTS BEFORE DEATH?

Because God is so good, HE conquers the lack of good in our lives.

Theologically we understand this to be true for us today because of what Jesus’ sacrifice, burial and resurrection:

Because of what Jesus did, there is hope for everyone….no matter how badly their lives have been pulverized and seem ungood!

NOW a heart that is chock full of evil…can be made good.
A life that has been hurt and stolen from…made right.
A childhood destroyed, restored.
A train-wrecked career can get back on track
A home gone bad can be made good.
A marriage ravaged by horrible betrayal, can be restored with trust, hope and love….
A person who has lost everything and is bound by horrible debilitating vices CAN HAVE A HOPE AND A FUTURE!

In ISRAEL’S darkest hour – in Babylonian captivity…lost…
Jer. 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

It doesn’t matter WHO you are OR WHAT you’ve done OR HOW badly you’ve trashed your life…Jesus Christ will never turn you away…
you may not be very religious at all
but He is after you!
I LOVE THIS…I LOVE FAITH. I LOVE THAT THERE IS ALWAYS HOPE.

“DON’T GIVE UP…SOMEONE REALLY LOVES YOU…”

GET THIS:
This whole “re-gooding” thing has its crowning glory in the resurrection of Jesus.

ON THE CROSS JESUS took all the evil of the world…all the un-good; and then he took it to the grave.

When he came out in the resurrection…the theological reality is – THERE IS NO WAY UN-GOOD CAN STAY IN OUR LIVES – JESUS OVERCAME IT.

THE RESURRECTION IS THE GUARANTEE THAT ONLY GOOD WILL PREVAIL IN THE LIFE OF A PERSON WHO FOLLOWS JESUS!

ERGO
Rom. 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Everything that gets broken in our lives can be reconstructed because of the resurrection. Every evil thing becomes a seed for new life. – BULB.

No ‘EASY’ button…not simple…but what if that is true?
We believe around here that it is!

ALL YOU NEED TO DO TO START THE PROCESS—SAY “YES”

2 Comments:

Blogger Dennis said...

This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

2:37 PM  
Blogger Dennis said...

I am not going to toss my notebook, but this is way to cool.

2:38 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home