The Resurrection

Lesson 5:  Because He Lives

What the Resurrection Says About Our Lives Now and In the Future

By John Orlando

I.  Faith

            A. What it is Not:

                        1.  Futile (1 Cor 15:17) 

2.  A magical force whereby you can manipulate God to create you own reality.

                        3.  A blind leap into dark chasm. Rather, it has its foundation on irrefutable evidence.

4.  The abandoning all rationality and logic.  The height of irrationality is to not have

faith (trust) in the living God of the universe, who is Himself the ultimate expression of Logic.

B.  What it is:

            1. Evidential (1 Cor 15; Lk 1:1-4): founded on objective historical fact: the Resurrection

2. Absolute certainty of what we hope for even though we can’t see what lay’s ahead.

3. Relying solely on the finished work of Christ for salvation and fullness of life.

4. Being completely assured God will do exactly as He promised.  

            C. It Works!  It is the means by which we:

                        1.  Appropriate forgiveness/eternal life (1 Cr 15:17; Ro 5:1-2)

                        2.  Appropriate God’s blessings/spiritual filling (Jn 14:12-14; Eph 5:18)

                        3.  Overcome fears/circumstances in our lives (Jn 14:27)

II.  Hope (Romans 8:18-39)

            A.  Our Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13-15)

            B. I Can Face Tomorrow (Ro 8:18,23-25):  Christ has not promised us the absence of the presence of trials and suffering, but the assurance of His presence in the midst of them.

            C. Eternally Secure (Ro 8:28-39; Jn 10:14-30): 

1. His love: Christ has set His love on His sheep from all eternity.  He gives eternal life

to His sheep, and His sheep shall never perish, because God is greater than all, and God never fails.

2. His power:  By His sovereign power He raises His people to spiritual life, and He

preserves His people by His sovereign power; He does for us what we could never do for ourselves.

III.  Love:

A.  Definitions:

1.  Expresses itself in action not merely words, and is self-sacrificial in nature.  It is the

giving of oneself in order to bring about the blessing or good of another, even to the most wretched.                   2. "God's love is his doing whatever needs to be done, at whatever cost, so that we will see and be satisfied with the glory of God in Jesus Christ." - John Piper

B. Essence of the Faith (1 Cor 13): “Love is the Queen of the Christian Graces.” - A.W. Pink.
            C. Poured in Our Hearts (Ro 5:5): supernatural work and our source of comfort: “The Holy Spirit takes the historical facts of Christ's death and opens the eyes of our heart to see the all-satisfying divine beauty of the love of God in it... He pours that love experientially into our hearts.” John Piper

            D. Living By The Love Principle (Matt 22:37)

1. God: the supreme object of our affections and of our entire lives.

                        2. Neighbor: the same regard we have for our well-being should be manifested to others

3. Enemies (Matt 5:44): doing good to those who hate/oppose

4. One another (Jn 15:12): not condemning one another/bearing one another’s burdens

IV.  Resurrection Power! (Eph 1:15-23)

            A.  Enlightening Us

                        1. Knowing Hope of His calling and riches of His Glory (v. 18)

                        2. Exceeding Greatness of His power (v 19-23)

B. He works in us/We work out what He has put in us (Phil 2:12-13):

                        1.  To Minister (Eph 2:8-10)

                        2.  To Live (Ro 8:11; Gal 2:20; 1 Pt 1:3-6)

V.  Victory Over The World (1 John 4:4)

            A. Vain Philosophies (Col 2:8)

            B. Renewed Minds (Rom 12:1-3): we are to be transformed non-conformists

VI.  Victory Over The Flesh

            A. New Creature (2 Cor 5:17):  No longer controlled by sin nature (Rm 6:5-6, 12)

            B. Growing in Grace (2 Pet 3:18)

VII.  Victory Over the Devil

            A. Our Adversary

                        1.  Still on the prowl (1 Pet 5:6-11)

                        2.  Our Heavenly Armor (Eph 6:10-18)

B.  A Disarmed Foe (Col 2:15): the devil still has weapons, but they are rendered ineffective in Christ (Isa 54:17).  We must walk in the Spirit and not give place to the devil (Eph 4:27).

VIII. Victory over The Grave (1 Cor 15:50-55)

            A. New Bodies (1 Cor 15:50-53)

            B. Death Where is Your Sting? (1 Cor 15:54-55)

God sent His Son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal, and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, an empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives.  How sweet to hold a new born baby, and feel the pride, and joy he gives; but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives.  And then one day I’ll cross the river; I’ll fight life’s final war with pain; and then as death gives way to victory, I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives.  Because He lives, I can face tomorrow; Because He lives all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives. - Bill Gaither

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