What if Santa Clause was real?

What if the tooth fairy was real?

What if...?

Big deal. But what if Easter were true? What if is not?

What is the easter claim?

1 Corinthians 15:1-5  Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,  (2)  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.  (3)  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  (4)  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  (5)  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

1 Corinthians 15:11  Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

What if Jesus really did rise from the dead?

What if What He said about His life, death and resurrection was meant to taken at face value? 

Why It Matters? What's Wrong with the World?

It doesn't take us long to understand that all is not right in this world.

Death...of infants (babies, abortion), toddlers, young kids, older kids, teens, young adults, middle aged, empty nesters, senior citizens and the aged.

The abuse, rape, starvation, incest, torture, slavery, exploitation, neglect, manipulation, of children, women, certain ethnic groups...

The wars and wars and wars...killing of millions upon millions under the umbrella of marxist regimes, dictators. 

The use of drugs of all kind that has lead to addictions, fueled greed, murder, political corruption 

I Watched a movie that (for the most part) I don't recommend but I was profoundly impacted by the realness of the pain.

- Movie producer painfully dying in hospice and tortured by his abandonment of his son and dying wife 25 yrs ago

- The son, now a male bigot pervert, is tortured by the abandonment of his dead and lives a life of exploiting and destroying women and helping other men to do it.

- The current wife of this man is now tormented by the fact that she married him only for his money, has cheated on him repeatedly, and now wants to take herself out of his will because of her guilt. She is an alcoholic prescription drug addict who almost kills herself as she secures a liquid morphine to euthenize her dying husband

- His wife is a wreck as she contemplates her husbands death...a man who to the world is a household name and outward success story. She has accepted his infidelity but leaves him over his alienation of their daughter.

- His daughter is a drug-addict young lady who sleeps around with old men, cannot stand the sight of her dad, was sexually abused by him when younger and cannot imagine that a good man could actually love her so she pushes everyone away from her life.

- The man that comes into her life is a decent guy (also a cop who is the laughing stock of the police force) whose response to a domestic disturbance call to her apartment. He is a divorcee, who is lonely, somewhat religious and longing for a soul mate and person who will accept him. 

- The game show with young kid geniuses has not had its negative consequences on the kids both now in the past. The current kid genius is exploited and treated like a pawn by his overbearing dad who wants to get rich. He is treated with contempt and is being used and not loved.

- The other boy genius is now 45 years old who was the first game winner and consequently a child celebrity who was manipulated and exploited by his own parents, who is confused about his own sexuality, longs to be excepted, is living in the past and is convinced that getting braces on his teeth would be the answer to his problems.

A world with sin...A world with death...A world in which the domain of darkness is at work and has worked.

Three big problems in the world that relate to Easter.

The problem of sin - our sin.

The problem of death - spiritually and physically.

The problem of evil domain.
 

1 Corinthians 15:14-17  And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.  (15)  We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.  (16)  For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.  (17)  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

 

Romans 4:25  who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

 

Acts 13:35-39  Therefore he says also in another psalm, "'You will not let your Holy One see corruption.'  (36)  For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption,  (37)  but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.  (38)  Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you,  (39)  and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.

Easter makes Good Friday Good.

If Easter did not happen - we are lost. We are foolishly deluded. 

Without the resurrection, the crucifixion meant one thing - Jesus is not who He said He was. It means that Jesus is not the Messiah - they hoped in another. Messiah's don't die - or at least, they don't stay dead.
The guilt and condemnation for our sins is heavy upon us..

But this is not how the early church - the apostles and early disciples - talked and lived. Jesus death meant the death of sin in their lives because of the resurrection. 
 

Romans 6:1-8  What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?  (2)  By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  (3)  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  (4)  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  (5)  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.  (6)  We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.  (7)  For one who has died has been set free from sin.  (8)  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

Do you believe? Christ has freed you from sin by his death and resurrection if you trust in Him!

2. If Easter is True, His Life is the Death of Death for those who believe

If Christ was not raised:

 

1 Corinthians 15:18-23  Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  (19)  If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.  (20)  But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  (21)  For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.  (22)  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.  (23)  But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

 

Hebrews 2:14-15  Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,  (15)  and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.

Romans 8:23-24   (23)  And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  (24)  For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 
 

Colossians 1:18  And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

 

Romans 8:10-11  But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.  (11)  If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.

 

2 Corinthians 5:17-18  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  (18)  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

 

1 Peter 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Easter is the death of death - in the life of Christ's new resurrected Body - and by the Holy Spirit which is the firstfruits in us.

If Easter really happened - death has lost its sting. 
If Easter really happened - We have hope!
If Easter really happened, all who believe are given a new life already in His Son!

This is the only explanation for the way the disciples talked and lived. 

Paul said:
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

Is that true of you?

If Christ's did not rise from the dead - give up! It is not worth it! Live your lives as you please - your best life is now so go get it in your own way. 

Christianity is the hope of the resurrection in Jesus and in the power of the new birth in our lives. 

Do you really believe? If your life is marked by constant frustration and futility - there is more...Christ rose from the dead marking the end of death beginning now in your hearts!
 

1 Corinthians 15:24-28  Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power.  (25)  For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.  (26)  The last enemy to be destroyed is death.  (27)  For "God has put all things in subjection under his feet." But when it says, "all things are put in subjection," it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.  (28)  When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
 

Matthew 28:18  And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Acts 10:36  As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

Easter means that Christ is the Lord of the world!
 

Ephesians 1:19-23  and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might  (20)  that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,  (21)  far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  (22)  And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,  (23)  which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Easter means that the Conquerer has conquered and will conquer.

It means we have a new Master! It means that Jesus is King and not Obama, ourselves, your friends, or...

If Easter did not happen, the old rulers of this world are in control.
If Easter did not happen, We are toast!

Bow the knee to King Jesus!
 

Romans 10:9  because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 

CONCLUSION