Resurrection Matters

Resurrection Matters Acts 17:16-31 3 Resurrection Responses 1. Believer: historical fact that demands worship (Matthew 28:9-10) 2. Skeptic: impossible; the resurrection is either an invention of hope or an instrument of repression (John 20:24-29) 3. Self-Assured: • • Question: What does the resurrection really matter? Rationale: at peace with one’s religious journey; God will accept all good and genuine people. Confronting the Self-Assured 1. Cain: “The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted?’” (Genesis 4:6) 2. Solomon: “there is a way that seems right to man, but its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; “he who trusts in himself is a fool” (Proverbs 28:26). Confronting the Self-Assured 3. Jesus: “‘God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’ The woman said to Him, ‘I know that Messiah is coming, (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.’ Jesus said to her, ‘I who speak to you am He.’” (John 4:2426) 4. Paul: Paul’s message to the Athenians Paul to the Athenians (Acts 17:16-32) 1. Full of Idols: ancient writers claimed that the city was had more idols than people; Paul’s was provoked, that is, jealous for God’s glory 2. Philosophers: • • • • Epicureans: sophisticated hedonism Stoics: serious, moralistic, self-denying Responses: dismissive; misunderstanding Areopagus: lit, “the hill of Mars”; flat-topped rocky outcrop where intelligentsia debated Paul to the Athenians (Acts 17:16-32) 3. Unknown God: we get the word “agnostic” from unknown; in a city full of idols, a final attempt to cover one’s bases 4. God is Close: • • • He created and sustains all things; He needs nothing He is close to everyone as all religion maintains He dispels ignorance about Himself Paul to the Athenians (Acts 17:16-32) 5. God will Judge by a Man: • • • The Old Testament speaks of a “Son of Man,” who will judge the world (Daniel 7:13-14) Jesus Christ will be the judge all men (2 Timothy 4:1) Jesus Christ will Himself be the standard of judgement (John 4:22-24) 6. God Commends our Judge: • • God raised Jesus from the dead to prove to us the certainty of His judgment God will judge us by a resurrected, wound-bearing man Conclusions • • For Unbelievers: “God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God” (John 3:17-18) For Believers: “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20)