THE DAY THAT DEATH DIED! John 11:28 by Cooper Abrams |
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Introduction: 1. The most fearful thing man has to face is death. It comes many times unexpected. No matter how long a life one lives, death never comes to the sane invited.
2. Death is final. It closes a door that can not be reopened. Death is final! No one really likes it that way, but that is the way it is. Some are spending great sum of money on cryogenics trying to preserve the body, because they believe that one day man will conqueror death. The many thousands of religions on earth, exist because man fears death, and desires strongly that death one be the final end of man. 3. It is a fact, and absolute reality and truth, that death has been completely conquered and that there is a way that man need not fear death. I. TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO...DEATH'S HOLD ON MAN WAS BROKEN! A. Zacharias, recorded in Luke 1:79, at the birth of John the Baptist, just prior to the birth of the Lord proclaimed the work of Jesus Christ, in coming into the world: "To give knowledge of salvation unto his People by the remission of their sins, through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the sun rising from on high hath visited us, to give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." It is fitting and proper to meet as we do this Sunday morning the first day of the week, to remember and to learn of the day that the victory was won over death. B. Romans 6:22: "But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life." II. THE CROSS: THE PLACE DEATH MET ITS END. A. The Bible tells us in Colossians 1:12-23 what was accomplished when Christ paid the sin debt of the world for those that believe and receive Him. B. He died that we might have life eternal. C. But the victory was won, when Christ submitted himself to let death do to Him all it could. He endured it for our sakes, and then He arose victorious over sin and death. D. II Cor. 5:19, says: "To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself not imputing their trespasses unto them, hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation." E. Rom. 6:9-11 tells us that death was conquered by Christ’s resurrection. III. THOSE WHO BELIEVE AND TRUST IN CHRIST ARE ASSURED THAT DEATH HAS NO HOLD ON THEM. A. For those who believe in Christ, there is no death because it has been conquered, and the death of the physical body for the believer becomes just and incident in our life, which is eternal, and the moment we are ushered into the very presence of our God and Creator. B. The story is told that and father was walking through a cemetery with his 4 year old daughter. She asked, pointing to the graves, "what are these for?" The father struggled for an answer and then replied, "these belong to people who have gone to heaven", She ask again, Daddy, to the angels?" "Yes" he replied. "Ah!" she said, "that is where they left their clothes." This little girl was right, those that died in Christ, are with him even at this moment. They left their bodies, their covering on earth, and went to be with Christ Jesus. ILLUS: On the grave of Albert Durer, the great painter, is the simple word, "Emigravit", It means, he has emigrated, gone to another country. Nothing that is related to Christ Jesus can die, He is the Lord of Life! Early Christians in Rome, were buried after their death in the catacombs beneath the city. Some died in the circuses and were fed to lions and wild beasts for the entertainment of the pagan Romans citizens. Yet the real heart of what it means to be a Christian is found in two simple words inscribed on the tomb of a fallen Child of God. The inscription simply says, "Tentianus Lives!" IV. THE COMPELLING MESSAGE OF THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST! A. I Cor. 15:20-26, Paul concludes in v53-57. Death has not victory for the believer the one who trusts in Jesus Christ as their Savior. B. Song "He lives"! C. We who are so fortunate, to have heard this wonderful truth that we might believe and should flee to Him who conquered death for our salvation. And those who have been saved should strive to live our short lives for Christ that we might share this wonderful truth.V. WHAT DOES THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST MEAN TO YOU?
A. If you are a believer, God tells us that because of Christ’s resurrection and victory over death the believer’s death is simply a door that opens into the very presence of the Lord. READ 2 Corinthians 5:1-6 B. John 3:36 explains that “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” C. Everyone on earth will die and then face one of to eternities. 1. Not that John says the person who believes has everlasting life. 2. He also says that the one who does not believe shall not see life and the wrath of God abides on him. 3. Rev. 20:11-15 explains that for the lost there is a second death. First there is physical death, but afterward there is a second death in which the unbeliever is cast into the Lake of Fire for all eternity. D. The Good News is that Jesus suffered and died and was resurrected from death. He proved that He was God, because only God has power over death. Note the promise of God in the following passages: John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 6:27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. John 6:40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. John 6:47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. Note also the warning that God gives to all men:John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting
life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Conclusion:1. Everyone here is presently making a choice. You have heard God’s truth in which He lovingly tells us our need. We are sinners and because we are we are under the condemnation of sin. Hell is eternal destiny of all those who reject Christ and die in their sins.
You have already believed on Jesus Christ and received eternal life or you have not believed. You have believed and received full forgiveness of all your sins or you have not believed and are headed for the second death. 2. God desire is clear. God sent His only begotten Son to earth to suffer and die so that you and I might have eternal life. John 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. Romans 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 3. This morning right now what will you do? God in His love and mercy has given you the opportunity to hear His plan of salvation for you. Will you believe and receive eternal life. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Would you come to Christ and be saved?
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