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Big Apple Chapel is a New Testament based church in New York City, modeled after the pattern of the early church, with a strong emphasis on following Christ as a community of His disciples.

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  • Sunday - 10:30 am
  • 520 8th Ave, 16th floor
    New York, NY
  • phone: +1 (973) 837-1041
 

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BAC Sermons

Reasonable Fundamentals III: Resurrection pt 2

2007-04-08

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1Cor 15:17 if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins  19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable

 

IV. On What is the Christian Hope based?  The Resurrection of Christ

D. The Tomb is Empty, our Faith should not be

15:14  And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15  Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up——if in fact the dead do not rise. 16  For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.  17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 18  Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

 

D1. Our Faith is based on the promises of Christ to Return, Resurrect, Reward, and Rule over All

15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.  20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. 23 But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming.  24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.  25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26  The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.

 

D1a. Firstfruits Mt 27:52  and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised…

 

D1b. Those who are Christ’s  Gal 5:24  those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

Ro 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who influences/indwells in you.

 

D1c. Biblical Faith Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him

Lu 18:8  "I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?"

 

D2. Subjection to God’s Rule in our lives is not only Christlike, but something we should like

15:27 For "He has put all things under His feet." But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. 28  Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all  (cf Col 3:11).   29 Otherwise, what will they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead?

 

Rom 6:3  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection,6  knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him

 

D2a. Those who follow Christ on the highway called “The Delight of Denial” will exchange grief for glory

15:30 And why do we stand in jeopardy every hour 31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what profit is it to me? If the dead do not rise, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!"

 

2Cor 4:11 we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Rm 8:36

 

Mt 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

25  "For whoever desires to save his life/soul will lose it, but whoever loses his life/soul for My sake will find it. 26 "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 27  "For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works     (2Cor 11:26}

 

D2b. Those who Hang with the Holy will boldly follow Christ in the Light of Truth and Righteousness (Eph 5:9)

33  Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits/morals."

34  Awake to righteousness (Isa 26:19), and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

 

1Jo 1:7 if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin

Mk 12:24 Jesus answered and said to them, "Are you not therefore deceived, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?

Gal 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Eph 5:14 Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light  16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

1Co5 15:58…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

 

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1.  Is NT faith a Leap in the dark or a step into the light of Truth? Why do so many consider it an “unreasonable” leap?

2. What does it look like when we live with the expectation that God will act?  When are we most tempted to jettison our faith?

3. Do you view your Christianity as a fire insurance policy or a covert battle for the fate of eternal souls? Are you playing or fighting?

4. For what do you exchange the minutes of your life each day? What profit have you earned? Are you investing in your eternity?

5. Is God your “All in all”? What can you do this week to ensure that you are not deceived, and “are Christ’s at His coming”?