Why Seek the Living Among the Dead?
Topical SermonsScripture Reading: Luke 24:1-9
Why Seek the Living Among the Dead?
Intro.
1. The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation and keystone of the gospel, 1 Cor. 15:3-5, 14-19.
2. On that great morning, the angels said to the women: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” Lk. 24:5
3. Valuable lessons we can draw from this statement.
I. FIRST, THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS FACT, NOT FICTION.
-Why seek the living Son of God among the dead people of history?
A. Was Predicted (foretold) by the Old Testament Prophets, Psa. 16:8-11 (Acts 2:25-28, 29-32); Acts 3:18.
B. Was Promised by Jesus, Lk. 24:6-8 (Jno. 2:18-22; Matt. 16:21; Jno. 11:25).
C. It Proclaimed (declared) the Deity of Christ, Rom. 1:3-4.
-Knees do not bow to a dead man, but to the living Christ, the Lord, Phil. 2:8-11.
II. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS THE BEGINNING OF THE RESURRECTION OF ALL HUMANITY, 1 Cor. 15:20-23.
-Why seek resurrection among the false (dead) doctrines of men?
A. There Will be Only One Resurrection of All the Dead.
1. Premillennialism has a first and second resurrection, separated by 1000 years, Jno. 5:28-29.
2. One resurrection: “At His coming” (1 Cor. 15:23-25); “last trumpet” (1 Cor. 15:51-54).
B. There is No Endless Reincarnation of Souls, Heb. 9:27 (Rebirth or transmigration of souls). Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism. Buddhism sees death as the “beginning to a new life through reincarnation. What one will be in their next life is the result of how they lived in their past lives” (https://goo.gl/wFPvNV).
C. Wicked will Exist Forever, Matt. 10:28; 25:46; Rev. 20:10, 13-15.
-Annihilation/No hell doctrines are false, Mk. 9:43-44 (Jehovah's Witnesses, 7th Day Adventists, Universalists, 70 AD doctrine).
III. WHY SEEK THE SPIRITUALLY LIVING AMONG THE SPIRITUALLY DEAD?
-Why seek life in Christ where only spiritual death exists?
A. Water Baptism Marks the New Birth from Spiritual Death into Spiritual Life, Rom. 6:3-4; Eph. 2:1, 4-9.
B. Christians are Tempted to Go to the Spiritually Dead World Searching for the Answers to Life’s Difficult Questions.
1. Seeking spiritual counsel, Col. 2:20-23.
2. Seeking the purpose of life, cf. Eccl. 12:13-14.
a. To find out “who you are,” why you are here, and where you are going.
b. To define spirituality, faith and Christianity.
3. Seeking recreation/relief, Matt. 6:33-34.
-To shape and define our minds, values, and objectives in life (cf. Col. 3:1-4).
4. Christians go to the dead in search of life when we fail to assess this life in terms of Bible truth (2 Pet. 1:3).
C. Why Should Christians Go to the Spiritually Dead?
1. To teach them the gospel to help bring them to life in the Son, Matt. 28:19-20; Jno. 3:3-5. (salvation)
2. To restore the fallen (dead) to spiritual life, Jas. 5:19-20.
Conclusion
1. The living Christ left an empty tomb to testify that He is alive forevermore, with power over Hades and death, Rev. 1:18.
2. Seek Jesus among the living, and find Him.
3. Don’t look for Him where He will never be found: The wisdom, will and death of the world of sin.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: April 13, 2017
From Bible Answers, https://www.bibleanswer.com/topical-sermons/livingamongdead. Permission is granted to use the Bible study and teaching material found on this website to the glory of God and the spread of His gospel. We request that proper citation and/or hyperlinks are included when republishing material from website.
