SCRIPTURE READING:
Luke 24:1-8
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” 8 And they remembered his words.
His Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:3-7a
For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared…
Results of the Cross & Resurrection: Our Salvation
Reality of the Cross & Resurrection: Jesus Died & Rose Again
Luke 24:5-6
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen!”
Our Salvation
Philippians 1:27
Just one thing: As citizens of heaven, live your life worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Kingdom Living consists of:
- Selflessness
- Humility
- Love
- Self-sacrifice
- Obedience
- Holiness/purity
Philippians 3:1-3
In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for the evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh…
This is a warning against false teachings/teachers.
This is a command to guard against drifting into bad/incorrect theology (beliefs/teachings).
The cross & resurrection changes:
- How we view ourselves
- How we value things
- How we view our accomplishments
- How we view our goals
- How we view our future and eternity
Philippians 3:3-11
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh — 4 although I have reasons for confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; regarding the law, a Pharisee; 6 regarding zeal, persecuting the church; regarding the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. 7 But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. 8 More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
False teachers: Jesus + works = salvation
True Christians put their trust and confidence in Jesus Christ, not themselves.
Philippians 3:3
For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh…
Spiritual resume:
- Privileges/heritage
- Achievements
- Religious acts
- Good deeds
- Good living
Philippians 3:7
But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ.
Philippians 3:8a
More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Nothing in life compares to the value of knowing Christ.
Philippians 3:8b-9
Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith.
All of our good deeds are worthless when it comes to our salvation.
Isaiah 64:5-6 (NIV)
How then can we be saved? All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…
Salvation is described as knowing or gaining Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.
Salvation comes from the righteousness we receive in Christ through faith, not our own righteousness (religious resume).
Philippians 3:9-10
…and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ — the righteousness from God based on faith. 10 My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, 11 assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead.
1) The cross and resurrection allows us to be “found in Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! 18 Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ… 19 That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and he has committed the message of reconciliation to us.
2) The cross and resurrection leads to us being transformed by Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:18
We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is from the Lord who is the Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:13
We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope.