The Gospel for Christians

As someone who has served as a pastor, I admit that sometimes when I read the first several chapters of Acts, I am tempted to either envy or despair. The description of the early church is so glowing that it is easy to think, “Why isn’t my church like that? What am I doing wrong? Why isn’t God blessing us like that?”

Acts describes a church freshly filled with the Holy Spirit, a church that is growing in number daily, a church willing to sacrifice so that its members needs are met, a church so spiritually vital that its members are willing to lay down their lives for Jesus.

As I read this description recently this thought struck me: “This church is my church?” Actually, it is Jesus’ church, and the churches that I have pastored are also his. Really, Jesus only has one church, and the blessings that he pours out on his people in certain times and places are blessings that belong to all of us his people in all times and in all places.

Rather than read these glowing descriptions with envy or despair, I should read them and thank God for what he has given me. I should thank him for allowing me to experience such tremendous blessing as I read about his mighty works in Scripture.

When Jesus died and rose again, he purchased for himself one people, HIS people. When we consider that any blessing he gives to his people in any specific time or place is really OUR blessing, we will soon begin to see just how much he has blessed us down through the years.

Not only that, it is pleasing to the Lord when we come to him and say, “Lord Jesus, please bless us again. You blessed us in Acts and we need that blessing again. We wait upon you for a fresh outpouring of your Spirit and your power upon us.” Isn’t that what the church in Acts did? In chapter 4, Peter and John were brought before the Jewish rulers and threatened, and yet when they returned to the church and began to pray, God re-filled them with His Spirit and they “continued to speak the word of God with boldness.” (Acts 4:31)

We need to see the difficult times in our lives and ministries as nothing more than God’s pauses between his blessings.

Today is the special day of the year we have set aside to remember the culmination of the single most important event in the history of the universe: the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We often fail to appreciate the manifold blessings that come to us because of Jesus’ resurrection, so I want you to think with me for a few moments on this idea: Because Jesus rose from the dead…

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can be saved. Rom. 10.9…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we who believe are forgiven, pardoned, justified, made righteous. Rom. 4:24-25 …It (righteousness) will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus, our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he is able to save the hardest of sinners Acts 9:1-5 Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord…. approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him…I am JESUS whom you are persecuting (Later, this same Saul would write in 1 Tim. 1:15) …Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he has defeated death. Rom. 6.9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he can raise us from the dead, and we will never die again! John 11:25 I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. John 5:21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he raises us from spiritual death. Eph. 2:4-5 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ…

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he can raise us from physical death. Rom. 8:11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. 1 Cor. 15:22-23 …so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he will raise our fellow Christians from the dead. 1 Thess. 4:14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he can heal the sick Acts 4.10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can receive mercy and grace in time of need. Heb. 4:14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have someone constantly praying for us Rom. 8.34 Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Heb. 7:25 …He is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he can fulfill his promise to give us the Holy Spirit. John 16:7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

Acts 2:33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he has authority over Satan… and everything else too. Eph. 1:20-22 …according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, the church belongs to him and him alone Eph. 1:22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fulness of him who fills all in all.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can be certain of his presence with us: Mt. 18.20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.

Mt. 28:20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Jn. 14.18 I will not leave you as orphans. I will come to you.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can have fellowship with him Jn 14.23 If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. We can eat with him Rev. 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. We can see him Jn 16:16 …again a little while, and you will see me.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he is present to see you through any trial. Acts 7:55 (Stephen, as he was being stoned to death said…) Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have the hope of an eternal inheritance! 1 Pet. 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you…

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can live a holy, new life. Rom. 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he will return just as he said. John 14.3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Acts 1:11…This Jesus, who was taken from you into heaven will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, he will one day settle all accounts with justice Rev. 22.12 Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done.

Because Jesus rose from the dead, we can enjoy his presence for all eternity. 1 Thess. 4:17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

All of this… BECAUSE this living, reigning, glorious Son ROSE, at dawn, on the first day of the week!