BECAUSE HE LIVES > >by Mark Hardgrove > >TEXT: 1 Cor. 15:12-24 > >Introduction: > >In this text, Paul is defending the resurrection of Jesus Christ. There were some, perhaps representing the influence of Sadducees, who did not believe in a resurrection at all. More likely, however, it was a doctrine of Doceticism which did not believe in a physical resurrection, but only the resurrection of the spirit, which Paul is confronting. For the Docetics, the glory of man was for his spirit to be released from the body, and the thought of a physical resurrection, where the spirit was reunited with a physical, all-be-it glorified, body was not acceptable. This teaching became very influential and later developed into a religious system known as Gnosticism. > >Paul would have none of this. Paul said that everything we believe as Christians hangs on the physical, literal resurrection of Jesus and in Him eternally living and existing in the heavenlies. > >We often hear people discount the need for Christian practices of worship. They will concede that the teachings of Jesus were good, and that every man ought to live the kind of loving and sacrificial life that Jesus lived. They will say that the themes of love, of doing good to others, of caring for our brother, are all good things, but they do not believe that Jesus rose from the dead. > > "If Christ is not risen, we are of all men most miserable." If Christ is not risen our faith means nothing, we are all still sinners, and everyone who has died has perished, passed into oblivion. > > There is no middle ground. Either Christ is risen or He hasn't. If He hasn't then let's call the whole thing off. But Paul, who personally knew many, many people who had seen the resurrected Lord, and who, himself had seen the resurrected Lord, was absolutely positive that Jesus Christ was crucified, was buried, has risen from the dead, was seen by many witnesses, and is today at the right hand of the Father where He ever lives to make intercession for the Saints. > > Paul said, "If Christ is not risen we are of all men most miserable," but then he immediately follows that by saying, "But now Christ is risen. . . ," no doubt, no question. > > And because He lives . . .Paul goes on to list the implications of Christ's resurrection for the believer. > > I want to explore the implications of the resurrection of Jesus. I will cover some of the same things Paul lists, but I want to expand and expound somewhat upon the thought, "Because He Lives. . . " > > > (I.) First of all, Because He lives, I have the HOPE OF SALVATION. > > A. Salvation is a present hope. > > Paul said, if Christ is not risen, then we are still in our sins. But because He lives, we know that the sacrifice was made and that it was received by the Father. Salvation is a present hope because I am forgiven now. Right here, right now I stand with a clear conscious because all my yesterdays, all my sins, all my mistakes, all my rebellion, all of it is gone. > > "It is underneath the blood of the cross of Calvary, as far removed as darkness is from day. In the sea of God's forgetfulness, that's good enough for me! Praise God! My sins are gone!" > > B. Salvation is a future hope. > > Paul told Timothy, "godliness if profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Tim. 4:8). > > In Romans Paul says, "we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan with in ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body. [24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? [25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. > > There's more, the future hope of salvation is the day when this corruptible puts on incorruptible and this mortal puts on immortal. The future hope is of an endless day where the Lamb of God wipes away the last tear we shall ever shed, where there'll be no more dying, no more pain and disease, no more death and despair. > > Thank God for the present hope, but praise His name, there's more, there's a whole lot more where that came from. "Eye hath not see, ear hath not hear, neither hath entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him" (1 Cor. 2:9). > > > (II.) Second, Because He lives, I have the HELP OF THE COMFORTER. > > Because He lives, He is the One who baptizes His children in the Spirit. John the Baptist said, "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but there cometh another, who shoes I am not worthy to unlatch, He shall baptize you in the Holy Ghost and fire." > > Jesus told us in John 16:7, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you." > > Because He died, He was resurrected and He ascended to the Father. But when He got to the Father, He said, "Father, we're not going to leave them down there alone like a bunch of orphans. We need to send them a Helper, a Paraclete, someone to walk with them and guide them along life's narrow way." > > Then the Father and the Son looked over to the Spirit, and before they could ask, the Spirit said, "Yes, I'll go! I'll give them words to speak. I'll give them power to persevere. I'll give them comfort when they hurt, guidance when they're lost, company when they're lonely. When they don't know how to pray, I'll pray for them. I'll anoint them to do what they cannot do. I'll give them the boldness to say what must be said. I'll testify of you Jesus. I'll speak through them in other tongues. I'll fill them with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Yes, Father...yes Son, I'll go!" > > Because He lives, I have the help of the Holy Spirit. I have the power of the Holy Ghost. I have the anointing of God on my life, just because He lives! I'm Pentecostal, because Jesus lives! I'm Spirit filled, because Jesus lives! I speak in other tongues, because Jesus lives! I feel His anointing today because Jesus lives! > >(III.) Third, Because He lives, I have a HOME IN GLORY. > > Jesus said, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. <[>2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. <[>3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:1-3). > > I like what Jesus said, "In My Father's house are many mansions. . ." Before Jesus even ascended, there where already rooms in the Father's house, there were already mansions. But Jesus seems to say, "They're not good enough yet. I'm going to prepare them for your arrival. I'm going to put the finishing touches on your mansion. > > I've got a nice home here. It is the nicest home I have ever lived in and it is possible only because of the good people of this church. But if you think the place I'm living in now is nice, "just wait'll you see my brand new home." > But it's not just a house I'm looking for. It takes more than four walls, a floor, and a roof to make a home. I know some folks who live in million dollars houses, but they don't have a home because there is no sense of family, of love and acceptance. I thank God, I'm not just looking forward to a new house, cold gold streets, and hard glittering gemstones for walls. It's a home, a home where friends and family are waiting for me. A home were a Heavenly Father waits to welcome me. Thank God! "I've a home prepared where the saints abide, just over on the glory land." > > One song writer expressed it like this: > That heavenly home lies over death's sea, > There loved ones I know, are waiting for me, With Jesus we'll live in glory divine, > That heavenly home will surely be mine. -Frank White > > >(IV.) Finally, because He lives, I have a HAND TO HOLD. Jesus said, in Matthew 28:19-20 "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: <[>20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." > > In Hebrews 13:5, God gives us this assurance, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." > > I've had friends I thought I could depend on, leave me high and dry. I've had people I though I could trust, let me down. There have been times when it seemed like there was no one to turn to. But thank God, because He lives, I have a hand to hold. He is that friend which sticketh closer than a brother. He is the friend who will never fail. > > What a blessing it is, when the world seems to be crashing in around me, just to be able to reach into the darkness of despair and find a nail scarred hand waiting there. To find that He is always as close as the mention of His name and because He lives, I know I'll never walk alone. > > Even if friends and family forsake, I'll never walk alone. When the enemy comes in like a flood, I'll be all right, because I never walk alone. When I pass through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, because I never walk alone. Because He lives, I have a hand to hold and I never walk alone. > > > Conclusion: > > He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life's narrow way. He lives, He lives, salvation to impart. You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!" > > He lives, but the benefits of His resurrection are lost to you until you come to Him and ask Him to become Lord of your life. > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- Mark Hardgrove (M.Div. Church of God Theological Seminary) is the senior pastor of the Suwanee Church of God in Suwanee, Georgia. Pastor Hardgrove has many sermon titles and outlines available upon request. You can access Pastor Hardgrove through the Suwanee Church of God Home page, located at www.churchnetwork.com/suwaneecog