Message Notes

INTRODUCTION

1. Easter is the celebration of the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ

10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

Romans 5:10-11

2. What do we celebrate?

a) That we are reconciled to God

b) That we have a confirmed Reconciliation through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ

THE BELOVED SON OF GOD

1. The first Declaration

16 When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him.

17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

a) At the Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ the Holy Spirit descended upon the Lord Jesus like a dove

b) God the Father spoke, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”   Matthew 3:17

2. The Second Declaration

While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

Matthew 17:5

a) At the Mount of Transfiguration

b) A bright cloud appeared

c) God spoke, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”   Matthew 17:5

AN IMPORTANT EYE-WITNESS ACCOUNT

16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.

17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

18 And we heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with Him on the holy mountain.

2 Peter 1:16-18

1. Three apostles were present at the Transfiguration of the Lord Jesus

(Peter, James and John)

2. Eyewitnesses of this event

a) Of the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ

b) Of the power and majesty of the Saviour

c) Of the voice God

“This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”   2 Peter 1:17

A VERITABLE HOST OF WITNESSES

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,

2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,

5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.

6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.

8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

1 Corinthians 15:1-8

1. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus

a) It is an integral part of the Gospel

i) The Life of the Lord Jesus

ii) The death of the Lord Jesus

iii) The resurrection of the Lord Jesus

b) It is the gospel of salvation

i) It is to be received with faith

ii) It is to be steadfastly held with assurance

iii) It is to be proclaimed

2. A short list of eye-witnesses

a) Cephas (The Apostle Peter)

i) It is an Aramaic word

ii) It means “Rock”

b) The Twelve Apostles

c) Five hundred brethren on one occasion

d) The Apostle James

e) The Apostle Paul

AN EASTER RENEWAL

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.

57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:51-58

1. The Resurrection of the Lord Jesus

a) He was raised from the dead

b) He was given a new Resurrection body

c) Death has been conquered

d) The Risen Saviour is victorious over death

2. A Renewed Faith

a) To be steadfast

b) To be immoveable

c) To always abound in the work of the Lord

d) Our labour in the Lord is not in vain