I. Can’t Keep a Good Man Down

Mt 28:6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Ro 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

II. Life And Death Are Overvalued: A. Life is to be spent (invested) for God’s glory  B. Death can be reversed

1Co 15:55 O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is thy victory? Ps 49:15 But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave...Ho 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death... Job 19:26 Ps 16:10 Ps 49:15 Isa 26:19

Jn 12:24...Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abides alone: but if it die, it brings forth much fruit.

III. His Resurrection Assures our Resurrection and Participation in the Resurrection Power

Jn 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

Ro 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

1Co 15:17 if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man death, by man also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Mt 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Php 3:10  I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, conformable to his death;

IV. Our Future Resurrection (And Judgment/Reward) Is A Motivation For Sacrificial Obedience

A. 1Co 15:32 If...I  have fought with beasts what advantage to me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 58 be steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

B. Ac 24:15 And have hope toward God...that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.

C. Da 12:2 them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever. 13 But go thy way till the end be: for you shall rest, and arise to receive your inheritance at the end of the days.

D. Lu 14:14 you shalt be blessed; for they cannot recompense you: for you shall be recompensed at the resurrection of the just.

E. Jn 5:29 they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

F. 2Ti 2:18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

G. Heb 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:  H. Php 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

I. 1Pe 1:3 to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

V. God Offers All We Need To Believe

Mt 12:39 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah: 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Jn 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed.

VI. Fellowship With The Risen Christ Is Dependent Upon Obedience

Mt 28:7 go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there shall you see him:

VII. Unbelief Is A Problem Of The Heart, Not The Head

Lu 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:

VIII. Sometimes People Just Don’t Get It  [Some Will Have Their Focus Only On This Life]

Mt 16:21 Jesus show his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things...be killed, and be raised again the third day.17:23 And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Ac 23:8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both.

Mt 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, You do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God.

Questions for Reflection/Discussion/Response:

1. What are some other implications of the Resurrection? What’s emphasized in the Scriptures? What’s emphasized in the world?

2. In the Scriptures what is the relationship between resurrection and reward?

3. Why don’t people “get it” even despite repeated instruction by the Master Teacher? Suggestions for correctives?

4. What do most people do with their lives?  Why does God permit them to live? What’s the difference between spending and investing?

5. How are you different/ordering your life in response to the reality of the resurrection of Christ?