Before get started I need to say a few things. I have been consistent in trying to bring in my own research and a different set of eyes to the Scriptures. I could have taken the thirty-plus years of Dr. Gene Scott's teaching, not done any of my own homework, and just delivered the proofs of the Resurrection in a way that's already been presented to you. I really wrestled with this, but even though I'm keeping in line with Dr. Scott's style, I will take some liberties today. So before anyone says that I don't give credit where credit is due, I first acknowledge the man Dr. Gene Scott. It doesn't bother me what the world thinks him, I only care what God thinks of him. And when I think of him, I remember not only the person who helped me understand the gospel message, but also the man who got me back into church.
So let's get started. It's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that some people are just too bad to be saved and the gospel message is not for them. But, with my own eyes I have seen the power of God take someone who has lived a life of crime; has committed a crime; or been party to something that's put them in that darkened condition behind bars. Only the power of God can enter in and Resurrect and put new life into an emptied vessel like that. So when I talk to you about the Resurrection, I want you to remember that Jesus Christ died for every single person -- He bought the whole field. He paid the price for EVERYBODY, and this church exists to proclaim that truth. So for those people who are so self righteous they cannot believe that Jesus can save whom He will, please realize that this church is not for you. The church exists to proclaim the message: HE IS RISEN.
I want us to look at the proofs for the Resurrection, but first if you remember earlier, I looked at the seven signs in the gospel of John. If you haven't listened to that message, I urge you to. It will help you catch up to where I am today. The seven signs in the gospel of John are each a "type" of the life of a believer. Let's just quickly review them:
1) The filling of the waterpots, the marriage at Cana, represents the life of the believer. A life that goes from being emptied to being filled with joy.
2) The nobleman's son close to death. The second sign is we pass from death to life. "I am the life."
3) The third sign, the man who waited at that pool for 38 years. Jesus is the good Shepherd, we rise to light to walk in newness of life with Him.
4) The fourth sign, feeding the five thousand. He says, "I am the bread of life." In the life of the believer, Christ is the all sufficient supply.
5) The fifth sign, Jesus walking on the water. His followers are in a storm. How it truly reads in the Greek is: "I am, be not afraid," representing that He is with us in the storms. Jesus didn't say, "I am, be not afraid, and by the way I'll take away all the storms for the rest your life..." No, he just said, "I am, be not afraid." In other words "I'm with you no matter what."
6) The sixth sign, the man born blind, "I am the light." He gives sight to those of us who could not see or discern spiritually. He gives us sight.
7) And the seventh one, raising Lazarus from the dead. This is a type of the Resurrected life for the believer.
8) And when we get to the eighth sign, New Beginnings, when Jesus Christ rose from the dead.
Our approach will be to look at the eighth sign first. We will examine whether or not Jesus truly rose from the dead, because if He didn't rise from the dead, then why are we even here talking about the rest of it?
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