He Died to Get You Back (Matthew 16:15-23)
Gary McManus, 04/16/2023Part of the God's Love; Beyond Belief series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
First Sunday After Easter April 16, 2023
Today, we return to the topics of resurrection and death.
And then we can talk about God’s love for us.
Caution: The Bible is not a philosophy text book.
The Bible is not interested in explaining what death is,
defining death. . .the Bible is not a scientific text book.
Our God is the God of the living. (Matthew 22:32)
It is disobedience that led to death—disobedience is the
way leading to death (See Deuteronomy 30:19).
Our death has been certain. What about resurrection?
Remember, the best humans can do is resuscitation.
[The recent case of Damar Hamlin, NFL player.]
Resurrection is not difficult. . .for God.
At Jesus’ word resurrection happened. (John 11:43)
So, what is the big deal about Easter-Resurrection Sunday?
Jesus was God. Jesus was the son of God.
That is how Jesus could raise the dead with His word.
We often focus on Jesus’ resurrection as something
wonderful that God did for us. Fine.
Pastor suggests that the harder thing that God did for us
was that God, in Jesus, accomplished death for us.
With God, resurrection is easy and death is hard.
Jesus knew that his death had to happen. Peter refused
that plan.
God’s plan/as Jesus knew. . .a sinless man will be
in the power of evil sinners. They will kill him.
God in Jesus will die cursed by God’s own divine law.
(Deuteronomy 21:23 and see 2 Corinthians 5:21 )
God created life. Jesus is the life (John 11:25) so
that Jesus cannot simply die. God has to submit to death.
We HAVE to give in to death. We can’t stop death.
Our God will voluntarily give in to death.
(See Ephesians 3:11, 1 Peter 3:18)
Jesus resurrection is God’s promise to us.
(that we will also be raised)
Jesus’ death is God’s accomplishment for us.
Jesus’ death is where we are saved.
(Hebrews 7:27, Luke 22:42)
God was willing. . .to send God’s son.
God’s son was willing to do God’s will.
Jesus would drink from the cup. . .his death.
The natural question is “Why?”
The answer is God’s love.
God submits to death as we must submit to death.
God voluntarily submits to death while we must
submit to death.
God vanquished death. Death could keep God in
submission because our God is life. (Romans 6:9)
( See Paul’s phrase, 1 Corinthians 15:54)
But God accomplished death. . . FOR US
because of GOD’S love (John 3:16):
(See also 1 Corinthians 15:21-22)
Amen.
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