Title: Fear Not: For He is Risen
Text: Matthew 28:5-7
Date: April 12, 2020
Place: SGBC, NJ
Matthew 27: 50: Jesus, when he had cried
again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51: And, behold, the veil of the
temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake,
and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves
were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53: And came out
of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared
unto many. 54: Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching
Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared
greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. 55: And many women were there
beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56:
Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the
mother of Zebedee’s children.
57: When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named
Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: 58: He went to Pilate, and begged
the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. 59: And when
Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60: And laid
it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a
great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. 61: And there was Mary
Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. 62: Now the
next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and
Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63: Saying, Sir, we remember that that
deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64: Command
therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his
disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is
risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65: Pilate
said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66: So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a
watch.
28: 1: In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day
of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2: And,
behold, there was [or had
been] a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3: His
countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4: And for fear
of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5: And the angel
answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus,
which was crucified. 6: He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see
the place where the Lord lay. 7: And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he
is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there
shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8: And they departed quickly from the
sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9:
And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All
hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go
tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
11: Now when they were going, behold, some
of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the
things that were done. 12: And when they were assembled with the elders, and
had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13: Saying, Say ye,
His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14: And
if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15: So
they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly
reported among the Jews until this day.
Today is a day we call “Easter.” The word is found in the Bible in Acts 12: 4. Herod put Peter in prison “intending after
Easter to bring him forth to the people.”
The word should be “intending after Passover to bring him forth
to the people.”
Like Christmas, Easter is full of pagan tradition. The word “Easter” comes from an idol god whose
name is spelled similar—"Eostre, the goddess of love and fertility”—a
festival was celebrated in her honor in the month of April. Since the idol festival coincided about the
time of Christ’s resurrection the name came to be used. Then a rabbit, known for fertility, was added,
as well as eggs.
Be that as it may, the same as we rejoice that the world is forced
to hear of Christ’s birth at Christmas, we rejoice that the world is forced to remember
Christ’s resurrection at this time.
In the 12 years I do not think I have ever preached on the resurrection
on this day. But by the Spirit’s help, I
will try this morning. When the women
came to the tomb where they placed the body of our Redeemer, scripture says,
Matthew 28: 5: And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear
not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6: He is not here: for
he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7: And go
quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead;
Title: Fear
Not: For He is Risen
The first thing the women were told, “Fear not.” The reason, “For he is risen.” Then they were told: “Come see…And go tell…that
he is risen from the dead.” By faith
I have seen and I am here to tell you: Fear not: for he is risen!
Proposition: Believers have no reason to fear: "for”
our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.
Now it is not my goal for you to only believe
the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ is risen—though our Lord provided
many witnesses to confirm the fact.
Acts 1:3: To
whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs
[indisputable evidence] being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the
things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
He let
Thomas reach into his wounds; he ate with them; he preached the gospel to them;
all of this for 40 days.
1 Corinthians
15: 5: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6: After that, he
was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain
unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7: After that, he was seen of
James; then of all the apostles. 8: And last of all he was seen of me also, as
of one born out of due time.
But knowing the fact is not salvation. I want you to know and believe on the Lord
Jesus Christ himself; he is the Resurrection and the Life.
John 11: 23: Jesus
saith unto [Martha], Thy brother shall rise again. 24: Martha saith unto him, I
know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25: Jesus
said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me,
though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26: And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Salvation is not in baptism, not in
family ties, not in our denomination; not in our law-keeping nor in
our zeal for the Lord—salvation is in Christ Jesus alone!
Philippians 3: 8…I
have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I
may win Christ, 9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness,
which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith:
So I pray the Holy Spirit make you know the
Lord Jesus Christ and give faith to believe on him—I want to show you some of
the reasons we have not to fear.
THE SON OF GOD
Romans 1: 4: [Christ was] declared to be the
Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection
from the dead:
Concerning whether or not this man, Jesus,
was truly the Son of God: fear not, for he is risen. There is no reason, believer, for you to
think you have been beguiled. How do we know? For Christ is risen.
Everything the Lord Jesus Christ accomplished for his
people is eternal because the Man, Christ Jesus, is the Son of God—HE IS God in
human flesh, HE IS God all-powerful. How
do I know? For he is risen! Christ
Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God with
power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
He was not “made” the Son of God—he was made of the
seed of David, made the Son of man, made flesh.
But he was “declared” the Son of God—he has always, eternally, been the
Son of God with power. He is the Son of
God who had power to create all things out of nothing. He is the Son of God with power to uphold all
things by the word of his power. He is the
Son of God with power to govern the world, working all things that come to pass. He is the Son of God with power to accomplish
the eternal redemption of his people and raise us from the dead.
So believer when it comes to the Man, Christ Jesus,
being the Son of God, “Fear not: for he is risen!” He is declared to be
the Son of God with power? “By the
resurrection from the dead.”
LORD AND CHRIST
Romans 14: 9: For to this end Christ both
died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.
Acts 2: 36: Therefore let all the house of
Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have
crucified, both Lord and Christ.
Believer, concerning the sovereign saving reign of our
Redeemer as both Lord and Christ, fear not: for he is risen.
Every believer has the peace of knowing
that the Man, Jesus, is both our Lord and Messiah. We have the peace of knowing that “whether we
live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether
we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s” (Rom 14: 8) How do we have this confidence?—for he
is risen!
Death once lorded over us—now only Christ:
how do I know—for he is risen! Satan
once lorded over us—now only Christ—how do we know—for he is risen! Sin once lorded over us—now only Christ—how do
we know—for he is risen!
Fear not, believer,
the Lord Jesus is our one and only Lord and Christ. All creatures and all things are subject to
him and he is working all things together for good to you that love the Lord,
to you that are the called according to his purpose—for he is risen!
OUR JUSTIFICATION
Romans 4:25: Who was delivered for our offences,
and was raised again for our justification.
Believer, concerning your justification from
your sins, fear not: for he is risen.
The Lord Jesus Christ bore all the offenses of his
people and was delivered into the hands of divine justice in our room and
stead. When
he cried “It is finished” he declared that he put away all the sins of God’s
elect. He satisfied God’s justice for
his people and God is well-pleased with us for his righteousness sake. Each sinner who God brings to cast all our
care on him is accepted in the Beloved!
Hebrews 8: 12: I
will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities
will I remember no more.
Jeremiah 50:
20: In those days, and in that time, saith the LORD, the iniquity of Israel
shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and
they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I reserve.
Every accusation the devil makes or anyone
else makes against us falls to the ground.
How can I be sure? “Who is he
that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, THAT IS RISEN AGAIN who is
even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom 8: 34)
OUR REGENERATION
1 Peter 1: 3: Blessed
be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his
abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead,…
Believer, concerning our regeneration and
the regeneration of each sinner for whom Christ died, fear not: for he is
risen.
When Christ arose
to newness of life all his people arose in him: this guarantees that each
sinner Christ justified, each sinner who arose in him, shall be regenerated and
given faith in Christ.
Ephesians 1: 19:
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according
to the working of his mighty power, 20: Which he wrought in Christ, when he
raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly
places,..1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
[we were sinners even as others]…4: But God who is rich in mercy, for his great
love wherewith he loved us, 5: Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened
us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6: And hath raised us up
together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7: That
in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus.
It is impossible for a natural man, a
sinner dead in sins, to believe on Christ Jesus—it takes the same power as it
took to raise Christ from the grave to regenerate a dead sinner to life and
faith in Christ. Listen to this:
1 Timothy 3:
16: Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in
the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles,
believed on in the world, received up into glory.
Did you catch that? “Without controversy great is the mystery of
godliness:…the Lord Jesus Christ was believed on in the world and received up
into glory.” To create life
within a spiritually dead sinner so that he believes on the Lord Jesus Christ
is as great a mystery of godliness as the Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection from
the dead. In fact, God says it takes the
same power of God.
But for you fathers and mothers who have children who
are yet in unbelief, hear what the angel of the Lord said to those women at our
Lord’s grave, Fear not! Do not
fear that your child is incapable of faith in Christ. Why? For
he is risen. Each one who arose
in Christ from the grave, shall arise in regeneration for he is risen! Him
hath God raised to grant repentance! (Acts 5:31)
DO NOT FEAR THE DEVIL NOR ANY ENEMY
Colossians 2: 12: God…hath raised him from
the dead…15: having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them
openly, triumphing over them in it.
Brethren, we have no reason to fear the
devil nor any enemy. Why? Fear not: for he is risen. Concerning the devil and all unseen enemies—"God…hath
raised him from the dead…having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a
shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.” Christ arose having publicly humiliated and
spoiled all satanic principalities and powers, triumphing over them in his death,
burial and resurrection. When Christ
removed our sin, he removed the devil’s only weapon of accusation.
The apostle Paul gave us the
consequence if there be no resurrection.
But we have no fear of these consequences because Christ is risen. So as we look at these negative consequences,
behold the positive and know they are sure promises.
1 Corinthians
15: 13: If there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen—fear not: for he is risen!
1 Corinthians
15: 14: and if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain—fear not, for he is risen!
1 Corinthians
15: 14…and your faith is also vain—fear not, for he is risen.
1 Corinthians
15: 15: Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified
of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead
rise not. 16: For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17: And if
Christ be not raised, your faith is vain;--fear not, for he is risen
1 Corinthians
15: 17:…ye are yet in your sins—fear not, for he is risen
1 Corinthians 15: 18: Then they also which
are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19: If in this life only we have hope in
Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits
of them that slept.
Romans 8: 11: If the Spirit
of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, dwell in you, he that raised up Christ
from the dead, shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth
in you.
1 Corinthians 15: 21
For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in
Christ shall all be made alive… 51: Behold, I shew
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 trump: for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall 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 shall have put on incorruption,
and this mortal shall have 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 thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56: The sting
of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us
the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ so conquered death by putting away
sin, scripture says, “God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because
it was not possible that he should be holden of it.” (Ac 2:24)
1 Corinthians 15: 58: Therefore, my
beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of
the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Romans 6: 5: For if we
have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in
the likeness of his resurrection: 6: Knowing this, that our old man is
crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we
should not serve sin. 7: For he that is dead is freed from sin. 8: Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe
that we shall also live with him: 9: Knowing that Christ being raised from the
dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. 10: For in that he died, he died unto sin
once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11: Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead
indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
So
believer, fear not: for he is risen!
Amen!