Good Shepherd Community Church

Sermon Outline: I. The Distress of the Psalmist - v. 1-3 II. The Relief of the Psalmist - v. 4-6 III. The Certain Hope of God's People - v. 7-8 As we read this Psalm we see that the psalmist is in great distress and is crying out for the mercy of God. The thing that is overwhelming him is his own sin, his great iniquity. He knows how righteous God is but is comforted in Yahweh's steadfast love and plentiful redemption. So the Psalmist waits in certain hope that God will redeem him as well as all his people from their iniquities. Knowing the Old Testament promises of the Messiah is where his ultimate hope rested: the coming One who would pay the price for the true removal of their sin and guilt. We, too, wait for the consummation of our salvation at Christ's return.

Jesus Christ gave and commanded two ordinances or sacraments for his followers to observe. Both are directly connected to and embody the gospel, the wonderful news of forgiveness and new life with God as our Father through the redemptive actions of Jesus- his life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension into heaven. Through these appointed rites we participate with Christ in his work on our behalf. To counter the all to common low view of the ordinances we must embrace a robust biblical view of their connection with our salvation through union with the Lord Jesu

Paul's words in Col. 3:1-4 cut across time: they begin with the past, come into the present, and look to the future. In all these phases we are united to Christ. Union with Christ has been called the "umbrella doctrine" because it covers the entire Christian experience. "In Christ" is the fundamental expression used over and over in Paul's letters to describe the position of the Christian in this world. In Gal. 2:20 we learn that we have been united with Christ in his death. All of our subjective blessings are based on his objective work on the cross. As Michael Horton says, "If Christ remains outside of us , it's useless to us - we must cash in through personal faith in Christ." When Christ arose and ascended, we also rose and ascended with him, not bodily, but spiritually. So in our present experience on earth, we walk by faith via the enablement of the grace of Spirit, to live our daily lives so as to please him. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 we read about our future at Christ's return: the raising of our lowly bodies from the grave to be changed like unto Christ's glorious resurrection body. Thus our present spiritual union will also become physical by the power of God.

Hymn singing that is the musical expression of Biblical truth in the form of vocal music is extremely important in the Christian life. What we sing and how we sing it shapes us in many ways. In the Bible singing plays a major role. This is especially true when believers gather. The Scriptures in both the Old Testament and the New Testament command us to sing and gives examples. The earliest recorded song I find in the Bible is Exodus 15:1ff Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to Yahweh, and said, "I will sing to Yahweh, for he has triumphed gloriously. He has thrown the horse and his rider into the sea. 2 Yah is my strength and song. He has become my salvation. This is my God, and I will praise him; my father's God, and I will exalt him. 3 Yahweh is a man of war. Yahweh is his name. WEB Moses concluded his mediator prophet role by composing and singing a song recorded in Deuteronomy 32. Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak. Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My doctrine will drop as the rain. My speech will condense as the dew, as the misty rain on the tender grass, as the showers on the herb. For I will proclaim Yahweh's name. Ascribe greatness to our God! The Rock: his work is perfect,for all his ways are just. A God of faithfulness who does no wrong, just and right is he. An example of the importance of singing God's truth is the experience of Paul and Silas recorded in Acts 16. After being grossly mistreated and thrown into jail, About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. This is the Paul who later wrote to the churches in Colossians 3.

"Union with Christ" is essentially "Christ in you" and "you in Christ." But it involves not only a union with Christ but a union with one another, with the body of Christ, fleshed out in the core of a Christian assembly. Louis Berkoff gives a good definition of union with Christ: it is the "intimate, vital, and spiritual connection between Christ and believers." M. Pete Johnson says "to be saved is to be united to the Savior." God saves us not just as individuals in union with himself but also to join us to his people. The Christian life cannot be lived in isolation from other believers. Rom. 12:5 says "we are members one of another." It is only in the local church that we can rub shoulders with fellow Christians and share our mutual life together. In Christ we are new men and women, but we are joined to other new men and women in the local assembly. We have all been washed of all our various sins by Jesus' blood. We have all been awakened from spiritual death to spiritual life by the Holy Spirit and brought into the same quality of fellowship with God and his people that the triune God has experienced in himself in all eternity. As Christian believers we are in union with Christ and the "new we" - the people of God, the body of Christ.

In Ephesians 4 we have a picture of the Lord Jesus ascending back to the Father in heaven. He has as the incarnate Lord entered into the spiritual battle with Satan on the cross. There he He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. Although Satan thought he was winning in the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus he was in fact being defeated. Christ Jesus dying for his own people given to him by the Father took away their damnation and since he had no sin of his own death had no hold on him. Thus he arose from the dead on the third day in an immortal body. Some 40 days later Jesus ascended into heaven and took a host of captives with him! We are those captives if we belong to Christ Jesus by faith. He rescued us from the domain of Satan and now leads us in victorious procession into heaven to be presented to the Father in union with His own person. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory in Christ Jesus the Lord! He disarmed the rulers and authorities and made a public example of them, triumphing over them in it. 2 Corinthians 2:14

The believer's union with Christ includes union with him in his ascension - this is accomplished by work of the Holy Spirit - it is a mystery, but it is also reality. Four key words will be used to describe this great union of the believer with their Lord in his ascension: 1) "glory" - the fundamental meaning of "glory" as seen in the Old Testament is something of great heaviness or weight, such as gold. Christ has always shared in glory with the Father and Spirit in eternity but when he was incarnated and suffered for sins at the cross his glory was manifested in a powerful way. In John 17:24 Jesus prayed to the Father that his people would be able to be with him and see his glory. 2) "home" - salvation fundamentally involves placing us in union with his Son. Since Jesus' home is with the Father, it is the home of his people also! Christ is in the home and we are in him, so it is our home also. 3) "victory" - we see in Colossians 2:15 that at the cross Christ disarmed rulers and authorities and in his resurrection and ascension he defeated these enemies so that he now brings his redeemed people with him into the Father's presence by the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 4) "seated" - the New Testament states that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father and therefore the believer's life "is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3). By the Spirit we are also seated with him there, though we still live on earth. Union with Christ involves these four great realities: glory, home, victory, and seated.

In times of affliction the presence of friends can be a great source of help and encouragement. Consider Job and the visit of his three friends.

In this sermon, we delve into the profound truth of our union with Christ. Discover how believers are spiritually resurrected with Christ, united in His death, burial, and resurrection through faith and baptism. Uncover the transformative power of this divine fellowship, where our sins are forgiven, and we are made alive in Christ, free from the judgment we deserve. Join us as we unpack the significance of participating in Christ's redemptive work and living as those identified and incorporated into His body, the church.

Paul writes in a number of places of our natural identity in Adam as condemned transgressors of God's law born spiritually dead and under condemnation. But the message he had delivered to the churches in Galatia was that the Lord Jesus Christ, had given himself on the cross for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father. No one can be saved by the works of the law because of our state in Adam and our transgressions. The Law can convict of sin but can not deliver those who break it. Accordingly ,we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2) For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. Paul's new identity is that of a forgiven sinner who is a new person in Christ. His old identity in Adam as condemned sinner is replaced because of Christ payment for our sins. Through Jesus identification with us and our identification and participaction in Him we are accepted sons of God. How Paul marvelled that Jesus loved because he died for him, even more by the Spirit's work of union with Christ in his death on the cross Paul as all true believers have been crucified with Christ so that Christ lives in us, in the New I.

Sermon Text: Galatians 2:20 Sermon Title: "Apprehending Our Union with Christ" The theme of being "in Christ," central to Paul's epistles, describes the believer's profound union with Christ, drawing us into the intimate fellowship of the Father and Son. Through the Holy Spirit, we are united with Christ by repentance and faith, becoming justified, sanctified, and glorified in Him—spiritual realities that transform and empower our Christian lives. When Christ died, our old sinful self died with Him; when He rose, our new self in Christ rose, so that "it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me" (Galatians 2:20). Living by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us, makes all things new. In today's sermon, "Apprehending Our Union with Christ," we explore this transformative union. By understanding Scripture's truth, we uncover the benefits of salvation—not just deliverance from hell but freedom from this evil age, bringing peace, joy, and harmony with God. Yet, a warning remains: we still sin, and God will judge. To resist sin and avoid the weight of judgment, we must continually study and apply Scripture, mortifying the deeds of the flesh. By apprehending our union with Christ, we live out the truth that Christ lives in us, revolutionizing our lives through the power of this divine fellowship. 00:00:13 - Introduction to Biblical Grammar 00:01:12 - Understanding Verb Tense and Audience 00:02:25 - Exploring Voice, Tense, and Mood 00:03:30 - Importance of Grammar in Scripture 00:04:05 - Introduction to Galatians 00:05:15 - Justification Through Faith in Christ 00:07:06 - Sin Beyond Actions: Thoughts and Motives 00:09:10 - The Law and Cov

Early believers in the Lord Jesus as the Christ or Messiah did not called themselves Christians. Paul never referred to himself as a Christian! How did he called himself and what name did he used to referred to believers. You discover this by looking at his salutations in his letters- he addresses them to the believers and gives them a designation.

Early believers in Messiah Jesus were known as Followers of the Way and Nazarenes, treated as a sect within Judaism . They were first called Christian as a pejorative term Acts 16 but the term given in derision stuck. However the term that the Apostle Paul used for believers was the "in Christ". This sermon begins the exploration of union with Christ.

The word Christian, while meaning many things to many people in our modern world, has one essential meaning: "to be in union with Christ." The apostle Paul repeatedly uses the term "in Christ" in the introductions to his letters to the Romans, Thessalonians, Colossians, Philippians, and Ephesians, where the doctrine of union with Christ is plainly evident. These greetings highlight the truth of Christ's incarnation and His indwelling presence in believers. John Calvin captures this, stating, "We do not, therefore, contemplate him outside ourselves from afar in order that his righteousness may be imputed to us but because we put on Christ and are engrafted into his body—in short, because he deigns to make us one with him" (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book III, Chapter 2, Section 24). In the reality of union with Christ, we find the external work of His incarnation. This work is applied internally to us through the Holy Spirit, what we have termed "one-inness in Christ," the center of our salvation and sanctification. The New Testament provides four metaphors to understand this mystery: marriage, the body, the temple, and the building. In our modern day, Louis Berkhof has perhaps phrased it best: "That intimate, vital, and spiritual union between Christ and His people, in virtue of which He is the source of their life and strength, of their blessedness and salvation" (Systematic Theology, Louis Berkhof).

Sermons on the wrath of God and the final judgment and hell are missing today. This has been true for several decades. But we avoid the message at our own peril and of those who most need to hear God's summons to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus. Revelation 6 contains the vision of the six seals of Revelation. The fifth seal is that of the martyrs calling for vindication and the sixth seal is the response. Consider the wrath to come from the holy God against all who do not know him and do not obey the gospel by belief in the Son. He who is the Lamb of God that bore the sins of his people and took their punishment is also the One to whom judgment is given. "the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:22f Peter preached to Cornelius that God appointed Christ to be the judge of the world. "[Christ] is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead" by his resurrection from the dead.(Acts 10:42). Paul declare the same truth to the Athenians:"[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead. Acts 17:21 The only refuge from the judgment of the Lamb is personal faith in the Lamb. Psalm 2:11b Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

The Lord Jesus Christ is not only the promised Savior of his people but he is also the coming Judge. The one who bore the wrath of God against our sin is also the one who will mete out his wrath on sinners when he returns. The wrath of God is a reality revealed in the scriptures that we need to be reminded of. It is a terrifying prospect for those outside of Christ, but there is escape from this wrath when a person flees to Christ in repentance and faith. In Christ is refuge, life and never-ending joy and fellowship with God.

What happens when a human dies? Many ideas have been suggested. However, the Bible gives a clear but reserved answer. The focus in the Scripture is on the believer in Christ Jesus. Jesus gives a story of the rich man and Lazarus to warn us to heed the words of God now in order to prepare. Jesus also gives great assurance to those who believe on him. He says he gives them eternal life and will raise them from the dead on the last day. Until then he is with them even in death and they enjoy his presence while they await the day of his return to earth. Paul states that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord, indicating a conscious and immediate presence with Christ after death. 2 Corinthians 5:8

The great awaited "tsunami of salvation" broke out 2,000 years ago with the advent of Messiah Jesus, his death, resurrection and the outpouring of the Spirit. But the thousands gathered into the kingdom of God needed training and discipleship. So the Lord Jesus led the apostles to form groups of believers around Jerusalem. Acts 2:42 describes the holy activities of these discipleship groups: "they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching, the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." Why do Christ's churches gather weekly? It is to be instructed in the faith as Jesus passed it on through his apostles, it is to fellowship with Christ and his people by the Holy Spirit, it is to be reminded of Christ's suffering for our sins at the Table of the Lord, and it is to present our praises and petitions to our God in prayer with one mind and heart. The local church gathering is the only place on earth where this happens - it's why the Christian needs to be there and must be there when the saints gather for corporate worship.

The church, those people who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and gather to worship him, are very important to God. This message sets forth the importance of the church to God the Father, to Jesus the Son and to the Holy Spirit. In light of these facts how important is the church to us, to you?

The Nicene Creed's statement regarding the church is taken directly from Scripture: it is the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church. The New Testament epistles show the vital connection between Christ and his church. To be a Christain is to be intimately involved in the life of a local assembly. A New Testament church is a gathering of regenerated people who belong to the Lord Jesus by the ministry of the one Holy Spirit and who are summoned to belong to the one Lord to commune with him and to mutually upbuild one another. It is "holy" because it is separated from the world and separated unto God as his holy people. The church is "catholic", meaning it is trans-historical and trans-cultural - comprising all who are cleansed by Jesus' blood and inhabited by the Holy Spirit. The church is "apostolic," meaning it exists under the teaching authority of the apostles as expressed in the New Testament. The church is composed of those who are baptized "for the forgiveness of sins." Baptism is the initiation rite into the Christian church for those who have come in repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ; it is the outward mark of those whom God has called to himself through Christ. These believers function as living members of Christ by participation in local assemblies before God under his Word.

Happy Independence Day/ Happy Birthday to America There is a greater freedom than political independence from a foreign power. It is the spiritual freedom that Jesus accomplished for those who believe on him. He came on the divine mission of the rescue of rebel sinners from the slavery of Satan and sin and its consequence of death and hell. (Genesis 3:13-15) His incarnation- the Word, the eternal Son taking mortal flesh - was necessary to free us from slavery to sin, death and ultimate hell. (Hebrews 2:14) He did this by undergoing, submitting himself to the suffering, death on the cross in our behalf in our place. (Colossians 2:15) For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death! He is the true Liberator who fought and won the battle for all who place their faith, their trust in Him. If the Son sets you free you are free indeed! (John 8:36)

How important is the church to God? To answer the question we will need to understand what is meant by the word "church". There are many misconceptions. However the Bible in both New and Old Testaments define the church. The world and time spanning company of believers take visible forms. How important is the assembly of Christians in particular places and time?

Paul and his two companions wanted to clear up any doctrinal cloudiness that the believers at Thessalonica needed in regards to the events that would occur at Christ's return. Some were evidently confused about the fate of loved ones who had already died in Christ. So in this passage Paul gives four basic reasons that they should take great comfort in Christ's coming: I. The Fundamental Fact of Jesus' Death and Resurrection II. II. The Happy Fate of Those who Had Previously Died in Christ III. III. The Good Fortune of Those who Will Be Alive at Christ's Return IV. IV. The Never-ending Face-to-Face Fellowship of All Believers with Their Lord will take place. For all believers, deceased or living, Christ's return will commence blessed resurrection life with the Savior.

The Holy Spirit is called the lifegiver in the Nicene Creed that was published 1700 years ago. This universal creed of the Christian church is thoroughly biblical. I considering its declaration concerning the Spirit as the giver of life we noted this points to his regenerating work of giving spiritual life to dead sinners followed by his indwelling presence in the lives of believers corporate and individual. We are made the temple of the Lord. Also his presence in our mortal bodies in the reason for our resurrection from the dead with immortal bodies like our Lord Jesus at his return.

Jesus' constant companion was the Holy Spirit. He told his disciples that he would send another person "just like me to be right beside you forever." His own presence would be communicated to them by the Holy Spirit. His Spirit was Christ's greatest gift to all God's people. The Holy Spirit is so necessary to us, we need to be aware of him, and to know him. He is not impersonal energy but a person; he is, in fact, God. He is the "life-giver;" we owe our lives to him.

The Holy Spirit is essential to the existence and reality of the church. Jesus makes this truth clear to his apostles in the Upper Room just hours before his arrest and an execution o the cross. John 14 records Jesus promise to return to the disciples after he goes away. His first return was his post resurrection appearances and after he return to the Father he promises to send the Helper, the Comforter who is the Holy Spirit. John 14:18-24 contains the great truth of the Tri-unity of God and the essential ministry of the Holy Spirit to make the ones believing in Jesus a dwelling place of God. By the Holy Spirit Jesus said "will come to him and make our home with him."

In June of 325 AD the Roman emperor Constantine called 318 bishops of Christian churches scattered throughout the Roman Empire to convene at Nicaea (in present day Turkey). The purpose of their gathering was to discuss a thorny theological controversy regarding the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. After two months of careful discussion the bishops wrote the Nicene Creed, a short document of about 35 lines in careful and concise language describing the Biblical doctrine of the Holy Trinity, the One God revealed in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The majority of the Creed is given over to a delineation of the divinity and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, him being equal in all the divine attributes with the Father and the Holy Spirit. For 1,700 years this Creed has been the cornerstone of the Church's confession of the being of God, especially as regards the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus is known to refer to himself under a number metaphors that usually pertain to something in the history of Israel or to its system of laws. Leviticus 23 lists the festivals and among them are the Feast of Firstfruits and the Feast of Weeks, known as Pentecost. Both of these festivals concern the firstfruits of a harvest. The first one relates to the barley harvest but the second one relates to the wheat harvest. Jesus in John 12 says that he is the kernel of wheat that falls into the ground and sprouts as a new plant bearing much fruit. His death by crucifixion, burial, and resurrection on the third day was prefigured by the wheat harvest of the Feast of Completion. It is for this purpose he came into the world.

What is the relationship of the Christian to the kingdom of God? The New Testament has a lot to say about the kingdom. John announces it soon arrive in the Christ. Jesus came preaching the kingdom. He was going around from one city and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him. Luke 8:1 And he asserted to a group of Pharisees in Luke 11:20 if I cast out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. and in Luke 17:20f, Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed, nor will they say, 'Look, here!' or, 'There!' For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst." He as God's appointed King was there in their midst, among there. Where the king is there is the kingdom. How do people enter the kingdom of God? It is through the new birth, the supernatural birth of the Spirit. John 1:12 and John 3:3,5 1 Peter 1:23 you have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, that is, through the living and enduring word of God. The Bible teaches that the Christian, the Christians are citizens of the kingdom.

Jesus Christ's ascension back to heaven is just as crucial to God's saving and sanctifying work of his people as is his death and resurrection. In this passage we discover the following truths: I. The Ascension flowed from the Resurrection. II. The Ascension was the exaltation of Jesus Christ to Kingship and Authority. III. The Ascension set the stage for the defeat of the enemies of Christ. IV. The Ascension triggered the pouring out of the Spirit on the Church.

Jesus' life did not end with his death and burial. No, on the third day he arose bodily from the dead. Also he did not simply arise and disappear. He spent 40 more days on earth visiting with his disciples before he ascended back to heaven. Luke gives us this summary in Acts 1:1-3 "The first book I wrote, Theophilus, concerned all that Jesus began both to do and to teach, until the day in which he was received up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God's Kingdom. A review of a number of these instances are recorded in the longer ending of Mark 16 plus the more detailed events recorded in Luke 24 and John 20-21. Here is the longer ending of Mark 16 plus the shorter ending for your reference from the Berean Standard Bible. This podcast is an overview of these appearances. They function as proof of the physical resurrection of Jesus in an immortal state. In this body he ascended into heaven on the 40th day after he arose from the dead. Mark 16 shorter ending,9 But they quickly reported all these instructions to Peter's companions. Afterward, Jesus Himself, through them, sent out from east to west the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. Amen.

The kingdom of God has been defined by Anthony Hoekema as "the reign of God, dynamically active in human history through Jesus Christ, with the purpose of redeeming God's people from sin and demonic powers, and ultimately establishing the new heavens and the new earth." The kingdom of God began to be manifested among men when Jesus Christ began his public ministry and proclaimed that it had arrived in his person. His kingdom is now manifested in the lives of his redeemed people, especially as they gather in local churches for worship and instruction. The book of Acts, in fact, begins with Jesus teaching his disciples about the Kingdom of God and it ends with Paul "proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ" Acts 28:31. As we await the full revelation and consummation of Christ's kingdom at his return, we Christians are ambassadors for King Jesus as we proclaim his Gospel, and as we pray, live, and teach by the Holy Spirit.

Peter no doubt received Jesus' forgiveness for his sin of denying knowing him when the risen Christ visited him on resurrection Sunday. But it was later at another meeting on the seashore in Galilee that Jesus restored Peter to his place of pastoral leadership in the early church. We see here the vital role the ministry of pastor (under shepherd) was then and now for the people of God.

We meet Peter on numerous occasions in the gospel narratives. He was the great confessor at Caesarea Philippi for all Twelve of the apostles when he declared, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." But we also encounter him at the last Passover with Jesus when he declared his unwavering loyalty, "Even if they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away. Peter said, "I will lay down my life for you." Jesus replied, "Will you lay down your life for me? Truly I say to you, a rooster will not crow until you deny me three times." Then tragically we read of his warming himself in the courtyard where Jesus was being interrogated. Three times he was ask if he was not a follower of Jesus. But he denied it. Even asserting, "I do not know the man." On tge third denial he even cursed in his denial! What will happen to Peter? Surely his sin has permanently disqualified him as chief of the Apostles. John records for us the gentle beautiful interaction of Jesus with Peter on his third appearance to seven of the apostles. John 21:12-19. Jesus asked Peter the love question.

The Apostle Thomas is often called "Doubting Thomas," but that is only part of his story. We see that at one point he was the "Fearless Thomas" - urging the other disciples to join him in going to Jerusalem and dying with him. At another point he was the "Inquiring Thomas," asking Jesus to show the way to the place he was going. He clung to unbelief during that first week after Christ's resurrection because he had not been at that initial appearance of Christ among the disciples. But then Jesus appeared again when Thomas was with the disciples and he told Thomas to throw aside his unbelief and come forward to touch the wounds he bore from the cross. At that point Thomas saw, believed, and confessed, "My Lord and God!" Jesus' word to the church from then on is, "Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have believed."

Witnessing is very important in the Christian life. We are commanded by the Lord Jesus to be his witnesses to others. This involves a focus on him as he is revealed in the Scriptures. The content of our witness is Christ Jesus not a plan of salvation or a story of our experience, although we can use what has happened to us as an example of believing. Too often we are focused on a few prooftexts that support steps to salvation. This can lead to faulty conversions that center on the wrong focus. The story of Jesus Christ in fulfillment of prophecy given in the Old Testament leading to an acknowledgement of his identity and the meaning of his death-burial-resurrection and ascension in our behalf must be the substance. Belief is expressed in a change of mind and direction of life (repentance) and faith in Jesus himself expressed in confession that is marked by baptism. This is our calling by the command of Christ our Lord. "You shall be witnesses unto Me." Tell people who I am and what I have done in fulfillment of the promises made to the prophets ."

On that first Resurrection Sunday, Cleopas and his companion's walk to Emmaus that afternoon proved to be monumental, not only for them, but for the Christian church. The stranger who accompanied them turned out to be Jesus, who pointed them to the OT scriptures which spoke of him.At the conclusion of their walk, Jesus showed them he himself had resurrected. Hurrying to Jerusalem with the good news of their encounter, the disciples had their resurrection joy strengthened by the news that the risen Lord had also appeared to Peter. And so for us today it is also the scriptures which prophesied and then testified to Jesus' death and resurrection that is our strength and help when we face sadness and fear. The risen Jesus is alive and always with us by his Spirit!

I believe in the resurrection of the dead because Jesus Christ arose from the dead. He is the first fruits of all the harvest that is to come,that is all those joined to him in faith. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn: Christ the firstfruits; then at His coming, those who belong to Him. 1 Cor. 15:35 But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come? Our resurrection body will be like Christ Jesus' resurrection body.

After Christ's execution on the cross his disciples were in fear that some similar fate might happen to them. Christ's appearance to them brought the astounding realization that he had risen physically from the dead. He had defeated death so they did not need to fear death. His presence assured them that they need not feel guilty for deserting him. The "peace" he extended to them included his forgiveness. The resurrected Christ breathed on them imparting the person of the Holy Spirit to them. They were not alone! And he gave them a mission and purpose in life - to declare the Gospel to the world. These formerly fearful men had become faithful servants of the living Christ.

I believe in the resurrection of the dead because it happened in history. It happened when Jesus of Nazareth arose from the dead. What difference does the resurrection of Jesus Christ make?

"The glorious resurrection body of Jesus Christ is the first fruit of the glorious resurrection bodies of his people which will occur at his return. Among the characteristics of Christ's body that will also mark the body of resurrected Christians are:1) Continuity with their pre-resurrection bodies2) Actual physical resurrection3) Immortal (never dying but eternally living) bodiesChrist went through death and all of its destruction and came out the conquering victor to God's glory and the great benefit of his people.

It is Friday afternoon. All is quiet now. The crowds have gone. Darkness has lifted. The earth has violently quaked. Jesus' mother and two close friends are waiting to receive his body for burial. Jesus of Nazareth is dead but ...Luke 23:44-56

The time for Jesus to complete the mission of redeeming his people arrived. It was Passover and Jesus gathers with his 12 special disciples. He will soon go through the horror of his sufferings climaxing in his crucifixion. He will actually be the true Lamb making atonement for people. During the course of this ceremonial meal Jesus gave his followers three commandments. Two are recorded in John and Matthew, Mark, Luke and Paul record the other commandment. Three words can help us to remember the 3 commands he gave at this last Passover: wash, love, eat.

When Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday we see three things happening:1) The plan of God being carried out as the ancient prophecies are being fulfilled that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem as the descendant of David.2) The praises of the people as they hail him King and Deliverer in the words of Psalm 118:26, "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" Their praises were likely based on political hopes for freedom from Rome, rather than a recognition of Jesus is the true Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 3) Jesus weeping painful tears as he predicts the coming destruction of Jerusalem because they had not recognized their "time of visitation," (v. 44) when God's Messiah would visit them. Jesus had entered the final countdown to the cross that momentous Sunday.

Don't you rejoice when good news comes? When someone is very sick, but they are now well and healthy. Or when a bad situation is reversed.This is Paul's announcement in Colossians and in Ephesians. He tell us first the very bad news of our spiritual situation outside of Christ Jesus - dead, condemned, sold under transgressions, without God. "But God..."This simply phrase is how he introduces the good news, the gospel.God intervened in Jesus Christ to save us, to rescue us from a bad, impossible situation and condition. He acted out of his nature by his electing love in the person of his Son Jesus and the activity of his Spirit, making us alive!

The Victory of Jesus' cross, that is, his death in behalf of his people, is seen in this text as follows: I. The Hour of Crucifixion was the Hour of Glorification.It was through his sacrificial substitutionary death on the cross Jesus gained glory for his obedience to the Father and his love for his people. II. A Seed Must Die to Produce Life. As is true in the natural world, it is even more true that Jesus had to die to purchase the multitude of his people, ransoming them from the slave-market of sin. III. The Seed that Dies Bears Much Fruit. Jesus' death brings much spiritual fruit in the salvation of an innumerable number of people from every place and age. IV. We Must Lose our Life to Gain Eternal Life.Surrender to Jesus' Lordship results in manifold blessing including eternal life.

Jesus' death on the cross of Calvary is the remedy to at least three barriers that separate sinful humanity from the all-holy God. First of all, we are slaves to sin, to Satan, and to the world system of thought and behavior. Jesus' death on the cross is the ransom that paid the release-price so set us free from these enslavements (Matt. 20:28). Secondly, we are legally condemned before the court of God; we are guilty because of Adam's sin and because of our own personal sin. Jesus' death and resurrection removed our guilt and credited to us his righteousness (Rom. 3:21-26).Thirdly, we were enemies of God (Rom. 5:6-11) because of our wicked behavior. By his sovereign initiative, God stepped into our lives and reconciled us to himself because of the work of his Son on the cross. Through the work of the cross the ransom was paid, guilt was replaced by justification, and former enemies were adopted and made friends of God.

No one likes to hear bad news. However, sometimes bad news is necessary and can not be avoided. At other times bad news is helpful if it leads to a good result where the bad news becomes good news. Paul in writing to the Ephesians states the bad news bluntly in chapter 2 verse 1-3. He introduces the good news that had come to the believers with these promising words, but God.

Many people have a mistaken view of the role of the law in salvation. In fact it is common for people to think they will be accepted by God because their out weights their bad. Others believe God saves you by his grace initially but you must began to keep the law in order to be saved in the end. Exactly what role does God's Ten Words (Law) play in the ultimate salvation when Christ Jesus returns.