Crucified and Risen by Pastor Abidan Shah

CRUCIFIED AND RISEN by Pastor Shah, Clearview Church, Henderson

Introduction: When kids are little, they love to copy their parents. Little girls will pretend to be like their moms. They will try to do makeup, carry a purse, or pretend to cook in their toy kitchen. Little boys will pretend to be like their dads. They will shave, carry their little tool box around or pretend to cut grass with their toy lawnmowers. Nowadays, there are parents who are pretending to be like their kids but that’s a whole different problem. The point is that we copy those whom we look up to. It’s no different when we get saved. When we place our faith in the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus, not only are we saved but we also deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow after Jesus. In fact, true gospel demands that we daily consider ourselves dead to sin and daily live in the power of his resurrection.

Mark 8    34 When He had called the people to Himself,with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the lifewhich I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Question: Do you understand what it means to “pick up your cross” and follow after Jesus? Have you been “crucified with Christ?” Are you saved?

Context:  As you know, we’re in our series on the meaning of the true gospel. Last weekend, we learned that salvation is much more than our free ticket to heaven. It’s also our allegiance to follow and obey King Jesus. In today’s message, we’re going to learn that the gospel is much more than just believing that Jesus died and rose again 2000 years ago. It’s also a call to live daily the crucified and the resurrected life. In other words, salvation begins by trusting in the historical facts of the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus but it leads to a daily commitment to die to self and to live the resurrected life.

I. HISTORICAL FACTS

To begin with, listen to Paul’s definition of the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15    1“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,2by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.” 2 essential elements in the gospel:

1. The Cross:It was the most visible and shameful form of punishment in ancient world. It was probably invented by the Assyrians and the Babylonians and later perfected by the Persians, Greeks and Romans. God in his sovereignty and foreknowledge chose this form of punishment instead of hanging or stoning or decapitation or immolation because it simultaneously displayed his love for us and his wrath on sin.Paul captures this in Romans 5  8“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.9Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.” The early church was very careful about mentioning the actual physical death of Jesus on the cross in proclaiming the gospel.Listen to Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost – Acts 2    22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— 23Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death.” In other words, the crucifixion of Jesus was not some spiritual or mythological event. Jesus actually died on the cross. To be saved, you have to believe in the historical fact of the cross.
2. The Resurrection: God in his immense wisdom included resurrection as part of the plan of salvation.Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:17“if Christ is not risen, your faithisfutile; you are still in your sins!”In other words, if Jesus had stayed dead, he was just a human. No human can die for the sins of others. There is no proof that God’s plan worked. By coming back to life, Jesus proved that he was god. Humans don’t come back to life. He also proved that he was sinless. Also, 1 Corinthians 15:20“But now Christ is risen from the dead, andhas become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” In other words, by rising from the dead, Jesus also set the precedent for all of us who believe in him. One day we too will rise from the dead. Again, the early church was very careful about mentioning the actual physical resurrection of Jesus on the third day.Again, listen to Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost – Acts 2:24“whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.”Paul in I Corinthians 15gives a list of the witnesses – 5“and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6After 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. 7After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”Someone might say, “that’s not that many.” He had to be lifted up high so all could see but he had to be verified by a few so that faith would be the key.Bottom line: The resurrection of Jesus was not some spiritual or mythological event. It also happened. To be saved, you have to believe in the historical fact of the resurrection.

Application: Do you believe in the historical death of Jesus on the cross? Do you believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus on the third day?

II. PRESENT REALITY

Once you believe in Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection from the grave, we go on to believe in another cross and another empty tomb. This is our cross and our resurrection.

1. The Cross: Let’s read the passage we read in the opening again – Mark 8 34When He had called the people to Himself,with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.” What was Jesus saying here? He was not offering salvation by self-crucifixion but salvation that is willing to live the crucified life. He was calling them to count the cost. If you follow me, it will require you to die to self. Don’t misunderstand: This does not mean that you have to build a wooden cross and nail yourself to it. Some people may have to die physically because of persecution. Here, it was simply being willing to see yourself as dead to sin and your selfish desires. Listen to the other verse we just read in the opening from Galatians 2:20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live . . .” Also, Romans 6:11“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Meaning: Accept your old self as done. Don’t indulge sin. Don’t go back to the old life. It’s buried. Leave it buried.
2. The Resurrection: If you just stop with the self-crucified life, you will only live the morbid, musty, and miserable life. But, just as Jesus rose from the grave, you also rise from the old life to the new life. Listen to Romans 6:4“Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”It’s a call to be alive as Jesus came alive. Again, listen to Paul inGalatians 2:20“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live but Christ lives in me; and the lifewhich I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”Also, Romans 6:11“Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” It’s a choice to live in his resurrection power.

How is all this possible? Through the Holy Spirit – Romans 8:11“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” As you daily submit to the Holy Spirit, he gives you the power to live the victorious life. You don’t have to live in the bondage to sin. Yes, there will be times when you will fail but repentance and renewal is the answer.

Invitation: True Gospel is both Historical Facts and Present Reality. The Cross and Resurrection not only save us but they also set the precedent on how to live the saved life. Are you saved? Are you living the crucified and resurrected life? Are you daily submitting to the Holy Spirit?