BUT NOW IS CHRIST RISEN FROM THE DEAD

1 COR. 15:20

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Over 50 years ago I heard a Josh McDowell say, “The resurrection is the most wicked, vicious hoax ever foisted upon the minds of men OR it is the most fantastic fact in human history”. There is no other option. Hoax or history. Fake or fantastic.

 

I. THE CIRCUMSTANCES BEFORE THE EVENT

1. Reported by Matthew - 27:60 Solid Rock Tomb, 27:60 Stone “Door”, 27:62-65 Roman Guard, 27:66 Roman Seal

2. Reported by Mark - 15:42-45 Jesus was Definitely Dead

3. Reported by John - 19:38-40 Jewish burial Customs, 20:19 Disciples were Frightened

 

II. THE FACTS AFTER THE EVENT

1. The Tomb was Empty [Lk. 24:1-3]

2. The Stone was Moved

-Lk. 24:2 apokulio, to roll away

-Mt. 28:2 “rolled back the stone from” apokulio- lithos; a primary particle; "off," i.e. away (from something near),

-Mk. 16:3-4 apokulio ek; a primary preposition denoting origin, from, out (of place)

-Jn. 20:1 airo; a primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away;

3. The Guard was AWOL [Mt. 28:4]

4. The Grave clothes were Folded [Jn. 20:3-9]

5. The Lord was Appearing [Acts 1:1-3, 1 Cor. 15:1-8]

 

III. THE EXPLANATIONS FOR THE EVENT

1. The Disciples Stole the Body [Mt. 28:11-15] not so- they fled while he was alive

2. The Unbelieving Jews Stole the Body - no reason to do so, they never produced a body nor did they deny it was missing

3. The Women went to the wrong Tomb - inconceivable that the disciples, the woman, the unbelievers, the Roman guard, the owner of the tomb, etc. would do so

4. The Swoon Theory - medically speaking-no! - the change in the disciples-unheard of unless He arose

5. The Resurrection [Jn. 20:24-31] - the only, true option

Romans 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

HE IS NOT HERE, FOR HE IS RISEN, AS HE SAID!

MATTHEW 28:6                                      

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. HE IS NOT HERE

1. Jesus is Not on the Cross- that would imply He is dying [Heb. 9:25-28]

Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

2. Jesus is Not in the Tomb- that would imply He is dead [Rm. 6:9-10]

Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

3. Jesus is Not in Hiding- that would imply He is afraid [Mk 14:61b-62, Rev. 1:7]

-Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.

-Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.

 

II. HE IS RISEN

1. This Declares He Has Conquered Death [1 Cor. 15:20-26]

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

2. This Declares He Has Paid for Sin [1 Pt. 3:18]

For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

3. This Declares He is God Almighty [Rm. 1:3-4]

Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:

 

III. AS HE SAID

1. He is Omniscient [John 2:19-22]

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

2. He is Omnipotent [John 10:17-18]

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

3. He is My Lord and My God [John 20:28]

And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

THE LORD’S SUPPER IN LIGHT OF 2 TM. 3:16

 

THE LORD’S SUPPER IN LIGHT OF 2 TM. 3:16

1 COR. 2:9-16

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

Some falsely accuse us, Fundamental Baptists, of worshipping the Bible- a charge which is untrue. We follow the Bible because it is the Word of the Living God. We worship God and so we follow His Word. Anyone who claims to follow God but does not follow His Word is only fooling himself.

The idea of “Good Friday” is a carry-over from the RCC and is not Biblical. In fact, it is decidedly unbiblical.

The Bible teaches God has revealed truths to us which should be compared to other truths – not to contradict them- but to complement and explain them [1 Cor. 2:9-16]. In 2 Tm. 3:16-17 we find four things the Scripture does for us:

 

(1) Doctrine- tells us what TO believe

(2) Reproof- tells us what NOT to do

 (3) Correction- tells us what NOT to believe and

(4) Instruction in righteousness tells us what TO do.

In 1 Cor. 11 we see these four things the Scripture does for us applied to the Lord’s Supper.

 

I. THE APPLICATION OF CORRECTION [1 Cor. 11:17-19]

In this church there were some false beliefs that Paul had to deal with. Heresies that needed to be corrected by the Word of God.

 

II. THE APPLICATION OF REPROOF [1 Cor. 11:20-22]

Often when our beliefs are wrong it can cause our actions to be wrong as well. Paul says they were coming together, even as we are admonished to do, but for the wrong reasons and in a wrong way. Paul reproves them.

 

III. THE APPLICATION OF DOCTRINE [1 Cor. 11:23-26]

Here the Apostle reminds them why they were coming together. The emphasis is on Christ, His Blood, His Body, His Coming Again- our blessed Hope!

 

IV. THE APPLICATION OF INSTRUCTION IN RIGHTEOUSNESS [1 Cor. 11:27-34]

After he reminds them what to believe, Paul reminds them of what to do- how to approach the Lord’s table.

THE KING IS COMING

ZECHARIAH 9

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE POWER OF THE KING [v. 1-8]

1. The Fate of the Heathen [v. 1-4] Alexander’s Conquests

2. The Fate of the Philistines [v. 5-7]

3. The Fate of Jerusalem [v. 8]

 

II. THE PRESENTATION OF THE KING [v. 9]

1. The King of the Jews [v. 9a]

Mt. 21:1-11, Mk. 11:1-11, Lk. 19:28-44, Jn. 12:12-19

2. The King of Salvation [v. 9b, Ps. 74:12]

For God is my King of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth.

3. The King of Peace [v. 9c, Is. 9:7, Heb. 7:1-3]

- Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

- For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

 

III. THE PERFECTION OF THE KING [v. 10-17]

1. His Covenant [v. 10-12]

2. His Conquests [v. 13-15]

3. His Crops [v. 17, Amos 9:13-15]

Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that the plowman shall overtake the reaper, and the treader of grapes him that soweth seed; and the mountains shall drop sweet wine, and all the hills shall melt. And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them. And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the LORD thy God.

WHO IS THIS?

MATTHEW 21:1-10

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. WHAT WAS THE WORD ON THE STREETS?

1. Jesus said He is “The Lord” [21:3]

2. The Spirit said He is “Thy King” [21:4-5, Zech. 9:9]

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

3. Some of the Multitudes said He is “The Son of David,” i.e., Christ the Messiah [21:9, 22:41-43]

4. Some of the Multitudes said He is “Jesus the prophet of Nazareth [21:11, 2:23]

And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene.

 

II. WHAT WAS THE WORD IN THE TEMPLE?

1. The Spirit’s Word and Jesus’s Affirmation is that He is God [21:12-13]

2. The Blind & the Lame recognized Him as an approachable Healer [21:14]

3. The Children said He is “The Son of David,” i.e., Christ the Messiah [21:15-16]

 

III. WHAT IS THE WORD IN YOUR HEART AND MOUTH?

1. Jesus asked, Who Do Men Say That I am?

[Mt. 8:13-14]

2. Jesus asked, Who Do You Say That I am?

[Mt. 8:15-16]

3. The Spirit says Your Answer Determines Your Destiny [Rm. 10:9-13]

I CONFESS [Part 1]

ACTS 24:1-15

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. THE FALSE CHARGE and GOD’S COUNTER CHARGES

Some falsely accuse us, Fundamental Baptists, of worshipping the Bible- a charge which is untrue. We follow the Bible because it is the Word of the Living God. We worship God and so we follow His Word. Anyone who claims to follow God but does not follow His Word is only fooling himself. [1 Jn. 1: 5-7] This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1. The Charge to Read [Is. 34: 16]

Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.

2. The Charge to Study [2 Timothy 2:15]

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The idea of “Good Friday”, along with infant baptism, a misunderstanding of the Lord’s Supper calling it a sacrament and the Mass, and a host of other things are carry-overs from the RCC and are not Biblical. They are decidedly unbiblical. Other cults have their own false doctrines.

3. The Charge to Serve [James 1:21-25, Rm. 12:1-2]

-Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the en-grafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man be-holding his natural face in a glass: For he be-holdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

-I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 

II. THE TRUE CHARGES

1. Read Publicly [1 Th. 5:27, 1 Tm. 1:3-4]

-I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

-As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine, Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.

2. Hold and Observe [1 Tm. 1:18-19, 6:17-21]

-This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightest war a good warfare; Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

-Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward. Against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses. Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear. I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

3. Preach and Endure [2 Tm. 4:1-4

-I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

WELL, THAT’S JUST GREAT

2 Kings 22:13 Go ye, inquire of the LORD for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that is found: for great is the wrath of the LORD that is kindled against us, because our fathers have not hearkened unto the words of this book, to do according unto all that which is written concerning us.

1 Chronicles 16:25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised: he also is to be feared above all gods.

Pastor Rick Jackson

 

I. YOU HAVE IN YOUR HEART THE WORLD’S GREATEST PROBLEM-SIN! Sin which corrupts, sin which condemns, sin which conquers. The Bible says the heart contains:

1. Wickedness and Violence [Ps. 58:1-2]

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth.

2. Wickedness and Deceit [Ps. 58:3, Jer. 17:9]

-The wicked are estranged from the womb: they go astray as soon as they be born, speaking lies.

- The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

3. Wickedness and Unbelief [Heb. 3:12, Mk. 16:14

- Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.

- Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.

Sin is not to be taken lightly. Sin is against a thrice holy God. BUT…

II. YOU HAVE IN YOUR HANDS THE WORLD’S GREATEST BOOK!

1. The Bible has God as its Author [2 Tm. 3:16]

-All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2. The Bible has Salvation as its End [Jn. 20:31]

But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

3. The Bible has Truth as its Matter [Jn. 17:17]

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

The Bible is for ALL people, in ALL places, for ALL time!

III. IF YOU TRUST CHRIST YOU HAVE IN YOUR SOULS THE GREATNESS OF SALVATION! [Hebrews 2:3]

How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;

1. I am a Great Sinner BUT I have a Great Saviour!

[1 Tm. 1:15, Titus 2:13, Heb. 4:14, 13:20]

- Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

-Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

-Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

-Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

2. I Owed a Great Debt, Jesus Paid a Great Price

[Ez. 18:4, 1 Pt. 1:18-19]

-the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

-Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

3. I Have a Great Knowledge, I Owe a Great Debt!

[Rm. 1:14-16]

I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise. So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.