Imagine, No Resurrection

Easter or Resurrection Sunday is based on the death, burial, and especially the resurrection of Jesus from the dead to never die again.

But can you imagine what it would be like if Jesus was not resurrected?

 The result will determine your anxiety level, your joy, well, every aspect of life now, much less eternity later. I will show your outcome if there was no resurrection.

Intro 4

Today, we are imagining what it would be like if there was no Resurrection of Jesus.

This is a Biblical approach that Paul used in 1 Cor 15: 1-8

One of the core issues of having no resurrection is a matter of trusting / believing God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and what they have delivered for us in the pages of the Bible.

If you are capable of imagining no resurrection, then you will have a God, Jesus, a Holy Spirit that lied to you.

• They predicted it for many centuries.
• Psalms 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
• Aand it didn’t come true. Can you trust them?

Peter lied in Acts 2.24, saying Jesus resurrected.

• And all the other apostles were liars too
• Including Paul
  • Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead),
  • Ephesians 1:20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,
  • Colossians 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.

And what about Matthew, Mark, and Luke, that wrote the gospel accounts? They are also liars.

So everything you read in this book becomes meaningless.

If they lied about the resurrection, then none of it can be trusted.

So, now consider everything that you have ever trusted may become un-trustworthy.

Your religion is empty.

Paul said, “1Co 15:14  and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

• No preacher can be trusted.
• He may not able to lead you to a better life or eternity because how can you trust what he says, when he is quoting the Bible.
• Can you believe what they preach about being with Jesus and God in heaven with all its joys, and peace, and comfort and praise.
  • Is it really something to be looked forward to?
• And Hell may not be something to be scared of.
  • I mean, it may not be so bad after all.
  • It may not be a place of pain, suffering, or torture.
  • It might be enjoyable to be with all those liars, cheats, immoral, the angry, the murders, and the cowards for ever

And let’s read the verse again.

• Paul said, “1Co 15:14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
• Jesus, the object of our faith.
  • He is the one we keep our eyes fixe on, according to Heb 12:2
    • Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
    • Wait! This can not be true
    • If he was not resurrected, if he is still in the tomb, then he can not be sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.
      • Both facts can’t be true.

If you can imagine there is no resurrection, then you should be able to imagine not being resurrected yourself.

• Was Jesus the first one to be resurrected to never die again?
• But if there is no resurrection, then when you die, you just go out of existence.

Since Jesus was not resurrected, then those who mourn can’t be consoled, or encouraged.

Since Jesus was not resurrected, then nothing will be able to satisfy your hunger for right living.

Since Jesus was not resurrected, what value is there in having a pure heart?

Since there is no resurrection, nothing is gained by living peaceably or being a peacemaker. Romans 12:18 says, “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

• But, why should I??

If you can imagine no resurrection, then also imagine the effects of insults, bullying, and lies become the norm. 

• This is acceptable.

Imagine there being no penalty from God or man for murder.

Why should you ever help the poor, or any victim?

• They will just lie about you, cheat you, and do anything to become rich

This is what it might be like if Jesus was not resurrected.

BUT ALL THIS IS JUST IMAGINATION.

THE RESURRECTION IS TRUE. It has been proven.

This means that everything God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit has given us in the Bible is true.

You can depend on it.

All the apostles and Bible writers were truthful.

Jesus’ one church is:

• absolutely necessary
• Fulfilling
• profitable for you.

A Bible-guided preachers can point you to better living AND eternity.

• But only through scriptures, and not their thinking.
  
  

Heaven is real with it joys, and peace, comfort and praise.

• You can look forward to it.

And Hell should strike fear deep in your bones.

• You do not want to spend time with liars, cheats, angry people, murders now,
• and you sure do not want to be with them forever.

You will be resurrected.

• You can trust what Jesus said in John 5.28. “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, (29)  and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”
• You will not go out of existence.

The sad will be comforted

Those hungering for right-living will be satisfied.

There is great value to having a pure heart

So much is gained when we live, as much as possible, at peace with everyone,.

Bullying, insults, and lies will never be the norm.

People will be punished for murder.

And we should Help the poor.

 So, since there is a resurrection, you need to be prepared for what happens afterward.

• Few will be going to the wonders of heaven
• Not everyone.
• Jesus said, Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.  (14)  “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

And you sure do not what to end up in Hell.

If you have any question as to getting into heaven, or avoiding Hell, please allow me to use the greatest tool of all to point you in the right direction. Email me using the contact page