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The Power of the Resurrection

Reasons to Rejoice - #3

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Psalm 69:1-3

“Save me, O God, For the waters have threatened my life. I have sunk in deep mire, and there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and a flood overflows me. I am weary with my

crying; my throat is parched; My eyes fail while I wait for my God.”

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1 Corinthians 15:16

“For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ

has been raised;”

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1 Corinthians 15:17-19

“and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. [18] Then those also who have

fallen asleep in Christ have perished. [19] If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be

pitied.”

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Freedom from Doubt•The Resurrection of Jesus stands as a witness to His deity.

•Friends and foes alike admit –… that Jesus was crucified–… that his body was placed in a tomb

–… And by the third day the tomb was empty.

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Freedom from Doubt

•The Resurrection of Jesus stands as a witness to His deity.–The issue is not whether Jesus’ tomb was empty,

–… but how it became empty.•Matthew 28:11-15

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Matthew 28:11-15“Now while they were on their way, some

of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had

happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples

came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.' …”

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Matthew 28:11-15

“… "And if this should come to the governor's ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble." And they

took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was

widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.”

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Matthew 27:62-66“Now on the next day, the day after the preparation, the chief priests and the

Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, "Sir, we remember that when He

was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I am to rise again.' "Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples

may come …”

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Matthew 27:62-66

“…and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last deception will be worse than the first." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as

secure as you know how." And they went and made the grave secure, and

along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.”

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1 Corinthians 15:6

“After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most

of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;”

Must Explain 500 Witnesses

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1 Corinthians 15:30-32

“Why are we also in danger every hour? I affirm, brethren, by the

boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. If from human motives I fought with wild

beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

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Acts 4:18-20

“And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to

them, "Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot

stop speaking about what we have seen and heard."”

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Acts 5:27-32

“When they had brought them, they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying,

"We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet,

you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's

blood upon us." …”

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Acts 5:27-32“…But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men.

"The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you had put to death by hanging Him

on a cross. "He is the one whom God exalted to His right hand as a Prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel, and

forgiveness of sins. "And we are witnesses of these things; and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey

Him."”

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Freedom from Doubt

•The Resurrection of Jesus stands as a witness to His deity.

•Jesus’ body was not stolen–… Not mistakenly identified.

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Freedom from Doubt

•The Resurrection of Jesus stands as a witness to His deity.

•All claims made by Jesus on earth are credible.–John 11:25-26

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John 11:25-26

“Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who

believes in Me will live even if he dies, and everyone who lives and believes in

Me will never die. Do you believe this?"”

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Matthew 27:63

“and said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver

said, 'After three days I am to rise again.'”

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Luke 24:6-7

“"He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified,

and the third day rise again."”

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Freedom from Fear

•1 Corinthians 15:55

“"O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?"”

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1 Peter 1:3-5“Blessed be the God and Father of our

Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection

of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and

undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation

ready to be revealed in the last time.”

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Freedom from Fear

No Savior?No hope!

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Because He Lives

•“…I can face tomorrow”•“…all fear is gone”•“Because I know He holds the future,

•And life is worth the living, just because He lives”

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Freedom from Sin

•Ephesians 1:7“In Him we have redemption through

His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of

His grace”

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Freedom from Sin•Romans 6:3-4

“Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through

baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of

the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.”

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Freedom from Sin

•Romans 6:3-4–Baptism is how we come into contact with the blood of Jesus.

–But what gives baptism its power?

–The Resurrection!

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Freedom from Sin•1 Peter 3:21-22“Corresponding to that, baptism now saves

you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good

conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of

God, having gone into heaven, after angels and authorities and powers had

been subjected to Him.”

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Freedom from Sin•Philippians 3:9-10

“and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the

Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes

from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His

resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His

death;”

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He Lives

“I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today;I know that He is living, whatever men may say;I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,And just the time I need Him He’s always near.”

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He Lives

“He lives, … He lives,Christ Jesus lives today!

He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow

way.”

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He Lives

“He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!

You ask me how I know He lives?

He lives within my heart.”

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Psalm 69:13-16

“But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, at an acceptable time; O God, in the greatness of Your lovingkindness, Answer me with Your saving truth.

Deliver me from the mire and do not let me sink; May I be delivered from my foes and from the deep waters. …”

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Psalm 69:13-16

“… May the flood of water not overflow me Nor the deep swallow me up, Nor the pit shut its mouth on me.

Answer me, O Lord, for Your lovingkindness is good; According to

the greatness of Your compassion, turn to me,”

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