A Moment of Change
Romans 8:10-11 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
PROBLEM
Have you ever had a moment that changed everything for you in a moment?
There are certain moments, for good or bad, that define the rest of our lives. The resurrection changed history, but it is really about a moment that can change you.
I’m glad you are here but do people understand why we are here? Ancient tombstone: “I was not. I was. I am not. I don’t care.”
How can such an old event possibly have any significance for us today in the 21st century? People still die.
Importance of Jesus and the resurrection: If Christianity turns out to be false, then at least I’ve lived a good and moral life.”
GOD
The Jews had long believed that the world is a mess and humans can’t fix it. God would change the outside before he would change the inside of a person. It all would happen at the end of history.
Instead of believing that life was an endless cycle, the Jews believed that history was headed somewhere.
Jesus did not wait until the end of history. Not a whole lot on the outside changed with the resurrection, but what did change was what changes first is on the inside.
Instead of reacting in… is it possible to react… self interest-concern for others; resentment-joy; anxiety-peace; desperation-patience; payback-kindness; malice-goodness; betrayal-faithfulness; impulse-self control
APPLICATION
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the supreme evidence of the power of God in history. That same resurrection power, which God displayed in Jesus Christ when he raised him from the dead, is available to us today. He can raise us from the death of alienation into a life of close, personal communion and fellowship with God
For us today the power is not about resurrection as much as it is about God’s will (love). Romans 8:10-11
The resurrection is personal, personally stirring faith. It wasn’t long before he realized that his issue was no longer a lack of information but commitment. Change from in to out of church. Baptism.
VISION
Heart of the matter, why this matters. The resurrection is personal because the power that raises us to life physically is first the power that raises us to life spiritually.