Romans chapter 1 there beginning in verse 1 the Bible reads Paul a servant of Jesus
Christ called to be an apostle separated under the gospel of God which he had
promised before by his prophets in the Holy Scriptures concerning his son Jesus
Christ our Lord which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and
declared to be the Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by
the resurrection of the dead. And what I want to preach this morning is about the
deprelation of the resurrection. As you see there it says there and in
verse 2 that Jesus Christ was declared to be the Son of God with
power according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the
dead. So what does it mean to declare something? It's saying that he was
declared to be the Son of God. Well to declare something is simply just to say
something. It's to say something in a solemn or very emphatic manner to say
something with great authority. Now some of the synonyms that would give us an
understanding of what it means to declare something would be it would mean
to would be to say I proclaim something. We could say that Jesus Christ was
proclaimed to be the Son of God. It would be to announce something. We could say
that Jesus Christ was announced to be the Son of God or that he was it was
stated that he was the Son of God. Another way to declare something is to
reveal something. We could say that Jesus Christ was revealed to be the Son of God
by the power of the resurrection. It also means to declare something is to
publicize or to broadcast something. And isn't that what we do when we go out and
we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ? We're publicizing, we're broadcasting
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God by the power of the resurrection. That is
the declaration that we publicize, that we broadcast, is that Jesus
Christ is the Son of God. Now men have made many declarations. We could
probably think of at least one, the Declaration of Independence. Probably
everybody's at least heard of that in the room, that the Declaration of
Independence when our forefathers of this country declared their independence
from Great Britain, that they said that they were going to be their own
independent country and they declared their independence. That's a very
powerful document in terms of as men would esteem it. Men would esteem that as
a very powerful document. But God has made an even more powerful declaration
in His Word than that is that the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God. That's the declaration that God has publicized, that God has revealed,
that God has shown to us through His Word. The declaration of the resurrection.
And I want to look at that declaration this morning. What is that declaration?
What is it that God has declared or revealed? And how has He done it by the
through the resurrection? You see the resurrection proclaims something this
morning. It declares something, it announces something to the world, it
reveals something to the world this morning. Now the thing that it declares
is quite simply that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. As we just read there in
verse 4, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit
of Holiness by the resurrection from the dead. So what is it that God has
declared? It is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That is the declaration
that God has made to the world this morning. That Jesus Christ is the Son of
God. Now this isn't just a first mention of it here in Scripture. This
declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God is a declaration that God has
been proclaiming throughout His entire Word and is something that will be
declared in the future. And through all of eternity we will see that Jesus
Christ is declared to be the Son of God. If you would there turn over to the
book of Daniel chapter 3 and we'll look at some of the Old Testament allusions
to Jesus Christ the Son of God. As you're turning to Daniel chapter 3 I'll
read to you from Proverbs chapter 30. The Bible says in Proverbs 30 as you're
turning to Daniel 3, who hath ascended up into heaven or descended? Who hath
gathered the winds in his fists? Who hath bound the waters in a garment? Who
have established all the ends of the earth? What is his name and what is his
son's name if thou canst tell? So obviously here he's alluding to the
fact that it's God who can ascend up into heaven, who can descend, who can
gather the winds in his fists, who can bind the waters as a
garment, who can establish all the ends of the earth. Only God could do that. And
then it goes on and says, what is his name and what is his son's name? So we
see in Old Testament allusions the fact that God has a son. We can see here
that God, in the book of Proverbs even, is declaring that there is a son, that
there's not just the Father but that there is the Son also.
If you're in Daniel 3 chapter 24 we'll see an even more clear allusion to the
fact that there is one known as the Son of God. The Bible says in Daniel 3
verse 24, that Nebuchadnezzar the king was a stony and rose up in haste and
spake and said unto the counselors, did not we cast three men bound in the midst
of fire? So if you remember the story it was the three Hebrew children Shadrach,
Meshach, and Abednego would not bow to the image that Nebuchadnezzar had made
and were therefore cast into the fire. And now we see King Nebuchadnezzar is
astonished, he's a stony, he's standing up and he's looking in the fire and he's
saying, did we not cast three men in bound into the midst of the fire? They
answered and said unto the king, true O king. He answered and said, lo I see four
men. He says, we tossed in three but now I see four. That's why he's astonished. He
answered and said, lo I see four men loose walking in the midst of the fire
and they have no hurt and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. So you
see there at the end it says he is that fourth man, the form of him was like unto
the Son of God. Again another Old Testament allusion to the fact that God
has a son. This is the declaration that we find even in the Old Testament that
there is a Son of God and it is made clear, it is declared and revealed to us
that that Son of God is Jesus Christ in the New Testament. There are all of
course other passages that we could turn to in the Old Testament that would show
us that God is three. That there are more than, that God is as it says in 1st
John 5 that there are three that bear a record in heaven, the Father, the Son and
the Holy Ghost. That God is three in one. We can turn to Genesis 1, we won't
for sake of time, where God said to God in the very beginning of the Bible, the
first chapter over where it says let us make man in our own image. God speaking
to himself in a plurality there. Again in Genesis chapter 11 where they
came down to see the Tower of Babel that men had built and the Lord said
behold the people is one. They all have one language and this they begin to do
and now nothing will be strained from them which they have imagined to. Go to,
let us go down. Again these are Old Testament allusions to the fact showing
us that God is not just God the Father but there is also God the Son. That is
the declaration that we find in the New Testament. Now there are some very clear
New Testament statements. Obviously the New Testament is a clarification of the
things that we find in the Old Testament. Many of the things that are harder to
understand in the Old Testament are easily understood when we look at it
through the lens of the New Testament. It helps it sheds light on the Old
Testament. Matthew chapter 27 the Bible says in verse 41, likewise also the chief
priests mocking him with the scribes and elders said he saved others himself he
cannot save if he be the king of Israel let him now come down from the cross and
we will believe him he trusted in God let him deliver him now if he will save
him for he said I am the Son of God. So the Jews here are saying hey let him
come down from the cross because he said that he was the Son of God and it's
interesting that this declaration that Jesus made that he is the Son of God is
something that has been disputed even to this to this day. I remember I very
distinctly I've been out I was out soul winning once and knocked on that guy's
door he just wanted to argue and one of the things he's arguing maybe you've
heard this too if you've been out he said hey you know what Jesus never
claimed to be the Son of God he never said that he never said he was the Son
of God and I'm thinking how can you read the New Testament and not understand
that Jesus Christ plainly said that he is the Son of God and it's been a but
you know you go back and it's it can be kind of difficult to find an exact
passage where Jesus said I am the Son of God but he went about it in a very and
he did make that clear declaration that he is the Son of God and we see here
that the Jews who crucified him that was why they crucified him they said he said
he's the Son of God now were they lying here no it's coming out of their mouth
that he said this but we'll see that that the New Testament plainly declares
that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that you there you cannot I mean that is the
theme of the New Testament is it not that Jesus Christ is the Son of God if
you would turn over to Luke chapter 1 we'll see with a New Testament
specifically the narrator the Holy Ghost of the New Testament makes it clear that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God that is the declaration that God has made to the
world today Genesis chapter excuse me Luke chapter 1 verse 26 and in the sixth
month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee named Nazareth
to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David and the
virgins name was Mary and the angel came in unto her and said hail thou are
highly favored and the Lord the Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women
and when she saw him saw him she was troubled at this saying and cast in
her mind what manner of salutation this should be and the angel said unto her
fear not Mary for thou hast found favor with God and thou and behold thou shalt
conceive in thy womb and bring forth the Son and shall call his name Jesus he
shall be great he shall be great and shall be called the Son of the highest
and the Lord God shall give unto him that the throne of his father David
and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of this kingdom there
shall be no end jump down to verse 35 the angel said answered and said unto
her the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall
overshadow thee therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall
be called the Son of God so we see that the New Testament declares plainly that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God that was the declaration that the angel gave to
Mary that he would be called the Son of God that is the declaration today if you
want to turn over to Luke chapter 22 Luke chapter 22 Luke chapter 22 of
again reading in verse 66 in Luke 22 and as soon as it was day the elders of
the people the chief priests and the scribes came together and led him into
their counsel saying art thou the Christ tell us and he said unto them if I tell
you ye will not believe so we see this where Jesus is being arrested at the end
of his ministry where he's been taken by the by the by the Pharisees and arrest
and they begin to inquire and they begin to interrogate him to to to to see what
he has to say that they might find a reason to accuse him and have him put to
death verse 68 and if also I ask you he will not answer me nor let me go
hereafter shall a son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God then said
they all art thou then the Son of God and he said unto them ye say that I am
now is that a denial of the accusation are they saying art thou the Son of God
and he says ye say that I am is that him denying the fact that he is the Son of
God no that's not verse 71 and they said what need have we any further witness we
ourselves have heard him with his own mouth so they're saying that's good
enough for us the fact that you wouldn't deny being the Son of God is an
affirmation that you are claiming to be the Son of God John chapter 1 verse 32
of course the declaration is something that was made by many people we saw you
in the unbelieving Jews declared that Jesus Christ was the Son of God that he
claimed to make that that declaration that that was a claim that he made and
that's why they had him crucified because they considered it blasphemy we
see also that it was the declaration that the angel made to Mary he said that
thing which shall be born of these shall be called the Son of God and we see also
that is the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that's the
declaration that John the Baptist made if in John chapter 1 verse 32 and John
bear record saying I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and in
a boat upon him verse 33 and I knew him not but he that sent me to baptize with
water the same said unto me upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending
remaining on him the same as he which baptizes with the Holy Ghost and I saw
and bear record that this is the Son of God so we see again that that is the
declaration that God has made in the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is the
Son of God in John chapter 9 we'll see a very clear verse some great verses I
believe that we could even use up soul-winning these would be good to
highlight if you ever run into that person who wants to make that ignorant
and unlearned argument that Jesus Christ is never claimed to be the Son of God I
believe this is a great passage to turn them to you and show them in John
chapter 9 beginning in verse 35 Jesus heard that they cast him out and when he
found them he said unto them dost thou believe on the Son of God he answered
and said unto him us and said who is he Lord that I might believe on him and
Jesus said unto him thou hast both seen him and he it is that talketh with thee
he's saying who is the Son of God Jesus asked him you know dost thou believe on
the Son of God he said well who is he that I might believe who is the Son of
God and Jesus said it's me it is he that talketh with thee that is Jesus Christ
very very plainly and very clearly clearly and distinctly claiming to be
the Son of God in the New Testament it's right there in front of us so we see
that all these that it's been a little something that's been alluded to in the
Old Testament and the prophets we see that this declaration is something that
has been made by the angels and even by unbelievers it's something that's that
was declared by John the Baptist and even Jesus Christ himself declared
himself to be the Son of God now we'll look at a passage here in John chapter
11 through to John chapter 11 we'll see another great passage I believe where
Jesus shows us that he is the Son of God where he makes a very indirect claim
to being the Son of God because you have to remember that Jesus Christ's ministry
he wanted to keep some of the things about himself hidden until the
time would would be that he should be revealed there were certain things he
said you know to see that thou tellest no man you know others would anyone that
when the demons would cry out and proclaim him to be the Son of God and
would identify him he would tell them to be quiet to hold their peace but
Jesus often in the Gospels we'll see is is indirectly alluding to the fact that
he is the Son of God it's an indirect declaration now the one in John 11 that
we've just looked at that's pretty clear that's not very indirect he's saying
look the Son of God is the one who's talking to you that Jesus was the one
doing the talking that's Jesus Christ declaring to be the Son of God in John
excuse me but John 11 and verse 1 the Bible reads now a certain man was sick
named Lazarus the Bethany the town of Mary and her sister Martha it was that
Mary which anointed the Lord with ointment and wiped his feet with her
hair whose brother Lazarus was sick therefore his sister sent unto him
saying Lord behold he whom thou lovest is sick when Jesus heard that he said
this sickness is not unto death but for the glory of God that the Son of God
might be glorified thereby now notice here what Jesus is saying Jesus is
saying what what's happening to Lazarus what's falling out unto Lazarus this
sickness being so sick that he's on the point of death so sick to the point that
his sisters are crying out for Jesus and pleading with Christ to Jesus to come
and to heal their brother the whole reason this is falling out and
happening is that Jesus said there that the Son of God might be glorified
thereby he's saying this is all happening because when it's all finished
the Son of God is going to be glorified so it only stands to reason that if we
read the rest of the story all we have to identify is who it is that was
glorified and then we'll know who the Son of God is because Jesus is stating
here that the Son of God is the one who's going to be glorified verse 45
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself came coming to the grave so he's
gone to Lazarus Lazarus has died and now he's going to the grave familiar with
the story there was a cave and a stone lay upon it Jesus said take you away the
stone Martha the sister of him that was dead saith unto him Lord but this
time he stinketh for it hath been four days Jesus saith unto her say not I said
send on I unto thee that if thou wouldst believe it so thou shouldst see the
glory of God then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was
laid and Jesus lifted up his eyes and said father I think thee that thou hast
heard me and I knew that thou hearest me always because but because of the people
which stand by I said it that they may believe that thou hast sent me and when
that we had thus spoken he cried with a loud voice Lazarus come forth and he
that was dead came forward bound hand and foot with grave clothes and his face
was bound with a napkin Jesus saith unto them loose him and let him
go then many of the Jews which came to Mary and in seeing the things which
Jesus did believed on him so who is believed on in the end of the story who
is it that is that is glorified in the end of the story it's not Lazarus the
Jews here are not going to Lazarus and praising him or believing on Lazarus
they're believing on the one who said loosen they're saying lad that said
Lazarus come forth there glorifying the one who called Lazarus from the grave
and that is that not what Jesus said would happen he said that Lazarus would
die that all these things would happen that the glory for the glory of God the
Son of God may be glorified thereby and who was it that was glorified in the end
it was Jesus Christ Jesus Christ made the declaration that he is the Son of
God now it only stands to reason that if Jesus Christ is the Son of God that
would mean that he is God because you have to be careful today a lot of people
will say tell you they'll say oh I believe Jesus was the Son of God but
they will believe that Jesus is God the Mormons believe something like that they
believe similar to that they believe that Jesus was you know you know Satan's
brother they had these weird beliefs about who Jesus was and I'll say well
yeah he claimed to be the Son of God but he never never was God well would
only stand to reason that if Jesus is the Son of God that he is God and that's
the declaration that has been made to the world I'll read you in Hebrews
chapter 1 verses 1 through 8 God who had sundry times in a diverse manner spake
in times past unto the fathers by the prophets hath in these last days spoken
unto us by his son whom he hath appointed heir of all things by whom
also he made the world's who being the brightness of his glory the express
image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he
had made himself per when he had he him excuse me when he had had by himself
purged our sins sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high being made
so much better than the angels as he hath by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they for unto which of the angels said he at any time thou
art my son this day have I begotten thee and again I will be to him a father
and he shall be to me a son and again when he bringeth in the first begotten
into the world he saith and let all the angels of God worship him and he and of
the angels he saith who maketh his angels spirits and ministers of a flame
of fire but to the son he saith so God is saying about to say something to the
son we're gonna learn here in Hebrews 11 that God said something to the son
Jesus Christ and what is it that he said in verse 8 but to the son he saith thy
throne Oh God is forever a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy
kingdom the fact that Jesus Christ is God it's a declaration that has been
clearly made in the New Testament by God himself when God said thy throne Oh God
because it says there he said that unto the Son he called the Son God and we
seen here as we recall our passage there in John chapter 11 that the intent that
Jesus Christ would be declared to be the Son of God there's something behind it
what is the purpose of the declaration is it just to declare that Jesus Christ
is the Son of God there's always a purpose behind the declaration and we
seen that that we have seen that the declaration that that has been made in
the New Testament is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that's the powerful
declaration that has gone up that Jesus is God that we don't have to sit here
and wonder who God is what a wonderful truth that is but we've ever been one
that has sought for truth and wanted to know the truth and have looked into all
these other religions I know for myself I spent many years wondering and
wandering seeking for the truth looking into all these other ways into heaven
looking for all these other supposed you know holy books reading books that that
that claim to have the truth and it's God always seemed less a mystery as
someone that was you know he had to kind of grasp for so when you were kind of
you know stretching and reaching a fine but God has made it very clear who he is
he's made it very clear that who God is that God is Jesus Christ you know the
book the holy book the Bible is not something that's that's hidden from the
world we can find it in every dollar store it's something that has gone out
into all the ends of the earth it's something that has been declared to the
world who God is it's not hidden it's not secret it's not some esoteric
knowledge that has to be found on some mountaintop that we have to go through
some great lengths to find out who God is God is declared to us today who he is
and he said I am Jesus Christ Jesus Christ has come and declared himself to
be God but what's the purpose of that declaration what is the point of such a
declaration is it just so that we could know who God is and that's it that we
could just find out who God is and take in that declaration and hear it and say
well now I know that and go on about our lives know the purpose of the
declaration is that God would be glorified it's for his glorification
was that not the point there and it was we read in John chapter 11 when he rose
when he when he brought Lazarus out of the grave when he raised him did he say
that it would be that the Son of God would be glorified that's the point of
the declaration that God would be glorified which is the purpose that has
been declared throughout all of Scripture I'll read from you let me
turn to Ephesians chapter 3 but I'll read to you from Leviticus chapter 10
then Moses said unto Aaron this is that the Lord spake say I will be sanctified
and then that come nigh me and before all the people I will be glorified so
God is said and we could spend the hours going through all the scriptures where
God said I will be glorified I will be glorified glory belongeth unto me let
God be glorified it comes up over and over and over and over again my friend
that is the point of the declaration that is the purpose of the declaration
that God has made that he would be glorified that's why God has declared
himself under the world that we might be saved and glorify God you're there in
Ephesians chapter 3 look at verse 21 unto him be glory be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus throughout all ages world without end amen so we see that
the purpose of the church the purpose of the of Jesus Christ is that he would
receive glory and he would give glory to the Father unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages that has been the point of the
declaration throughout all ages throughout all the times that have passed
in the Old Testament through all the times that have come as it says they're
a world without end that will be what heaven is about that will be you know we
just got through our prophecy conference here in Phoenix and heard and heard some
great sermons about the new you know the new heaven and the new earth and we look
at that got a glimpse to look forward those things which are to come and the
point and although all those things is that God would be glorified throughout
all ages that is the purpose of the declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son
of God I'll read to you from a revelations chapter 1 but if you would
turn to Revelation 21 turn to Revelation 21 we'll see again at the purpose of the
declaration is the glorification of God that God received glory throughout all
ages you're turning Revelation 21 Revelation 1 the Bible says and he has
made us kings and priests of the goddess father to him be glory and dominion
forever and ever amen you're there revelation 21 look at verse 10 and he
carried away the spirit unto a to a great and high mountain and showed me
that great city the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God having
the glory of God and her light was like under the stone most precious even a
Jasper stone clear as crystal jump down to verse 22 and I saw no temple therein
for the Lord God Almighty and the lamb or the temple of it and they said he had
no need of Sun neither of moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten
it and the lamb is the light thereof and the nations of them which are saved
shall walk in the light of it and the kings of the earth to bring their glory
and honor unto it this is the new heaven the new earth this is the new Jerusalem
descending down and dwelling with man and we see that the purpose of it is
that the nations would and the kings of the earth would bring their glory and
honor unto it we see that the that God's presence is the glory of that city that
it's so glorious that it has no need of light that is the purpose of the
declaration that is the purpose of the declaration that Jesus Christ is the son
of God is that he would receive glory he didn't just say it for the sake of
saying God doesn't just like to hear himself speak there's a point behind it
there's a purpose it is that he would receive glory throughout all ages now
you're there I should have told you to bookmark Romans but in Romans chapter
wanted to get back there quickly we'll look again in our text because we've
looked and seen what is that declaration the declaration is that Jesus Christ is
the Son of God we've seen that the purpose of the declaration the point of
making such a declaration is that Jesus Christ would bring glory unto God that
God would be glorified through him throughout all ages you know the we
would you know going back to the Declaration of Independence there was a
point to that declaration wasn't there but there also has to be a power so we
have to see you know what the deckler what is the power of the declaration the
declaration of the resurrection is the power of the gospel that is the power of
the gospel that declaration that we make is the power of the gospel Bible says in
Acts 4 4 33 with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection so
that was the power of that declaration it's the resurrection that's the power
of the gospel that we preach it's not that we just go out and preach that
Jesus Christ is God but we preach that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead
that is the gospel the death burial and resurrection but if there was no
resurrection our gospel would have no power it would simply be yes Jesus
Christ died was buried and he's been there ever since and that's why that's
what sets us apart the Christianity apart from every other religion on earth
every Bible believing Christian you know a lot of people want to make a stink and
say well you guys think you're right and everybody else is wrong amen that's what
Jesus said he said no man cometh unto the Father but by me he said there's one
way he said I am the way the truth the life there's only one way to heaven it's
through Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ is the only one who has come back
from the dead he's the only one who has been resurrected resurrected and that is
the power of the declaration the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is the
power of the gospel that we preach that we declare to the world that Jesus
Christ is risen from the dead you know everybody else all these other all these
other religious you know idols and these religious icons they're still in the
grave today you know the Buddha's bones are still in the ground
very Christian his bones are still in the ground all these other religious
leaders that have claimed to be God their bones are still in the ground
because they're not God they're false they're liars it's not the truth Jesus
Christ is the only one that ever came back from the dead he's the only one
that even made the claim to have risen from the dead he's the only one that's
been declared to have risen from the dead by God himself so we see that the
declaration of the resurrection that is the power of the gospel that we preach
that's why Paul said in Romans 1 for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus
Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth to
the Jew first and also to the great you see the gospel is the power of God as he
said there the death and burial and resurrection that's the power of God the
resurrection so that is the power of the declaration that's the power of it and
when it's one thing to have an intent to say I'm going to declare something it's
one thing that those men our forefathers you know all those hundreds of years ago
he decided to sit down and say hey let's declare independence we've had enough of
this tyranny and oppression let's declare ourselves independent and free
men let's start a new nation it was one thing to sit down and write that
document up the Declaration of Independence there's one thing to say
what it is they wanted to do there's one thing to put themselves out there but
you imagine if the British should come over and they all just say you know
you're right and just lay down their arms what if there had been no fight
what if they had no power behind those words the Declaration would have been
pointless so a declaration without power you know makes no sense there has to be
power behind that declaration so what is the power behind the declaration that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God what is it that gives it its power why is it
that it has meaning and power behind it it's because of his resurrection that is
the power behind the Declaration of Jesus Christ you're there in Romans
chapter 1 look again at verse 3 concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh and declared to
be the Son of God with power it wasn't that he was just declared to be the Son
of God and and that's it no he was declared with power there was power
behind that declaration according to the spirit of holiness by the resurrection
from the dead so we see that it is the resurrection that gives the power to the
declaration that Jesus Christ is the Son of God without no resume with no
resurrection there would have been no power to that declaration that Christ
was God there had to be power behind the declaration and that declaration is that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God John 10 the Bible says therefore does my father
love me because I lay down my life that I might take it again no man take that
from me but I lay it down of myself I have power to lay it down and I have
power to take it again this commandment have I seen of my father so it wasn't
just that Jesus was talking here he wasn't just saying these words there was
power behind what he said and that power was that he was able to lay down
his life and take it up again if you would turn over to 1st Corinthians
chapter 15 we're looking at the power of that declaration we've seen the purpose
of the declaration is that Jesus Christ would be declared to be the Son of God
and that God will be glorified by it the purpose of the declaration is that God
would receive glory through Jesus Christ and we've seen that that
declaration is that Jesus Christ is the Son of God that he is God now we're
looking at the fact that that declaration must have power behind it
and that power is the resurrection you're there in 1st Corinthians I'll
read you from Philippians chapter 3 Philippians chapter 3 verse 8 yay
Dallin and I count all things but laws for the excellency of the knowledge of
Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and to
count them but done that I may win Christ and be found in him not having
mine own righteousness which is of the law but which is a which is through the
faith of Christ the righteousness which is of God by faith that I may know him
and the power of his resurrection and the fellowships the fellowship of his
suffering being made conformable unto his death see Paul here saying that he
counted all these other things lost he got all these other things that he had
attained unto but dumb why that he might know the power of the resurrection of
Jesus Christ that's why he suffered all these things he wanted to know that
power and that's what we ought to want to know it for ourselves today the power
of that resurrection and if we're gonna go through a difficult time in our life
if it seems like we're having a hard time that we're going through the
struggles of life we have to understand that we're not the only ones that have
done it and that Jesus Christ himself has suffered for our sins that he that
he endured hardest and he endured a great contradiction of sinners against
himself and that's something that we have to keep in mind lest we be weary in
our minds and faint that when we're striving against sin we have to
understand we did that we have not yet even begun to strive as Jesus Christ did
we have not striven on the blood as Jesus Christ did and we can know that no
matter what happens in our life no matter what trials and temptations and
difficulties we're facing that we can begin to know the power of the
resurrection when we consider the fact that you know one day our bodies are
going to get old and die we can have that hope and we can have we can have an
understanding of the power of the resurrection and that should give us
give us power to get through the difficult things in life the difficult
trials and temptations that come our way you're there in 1st Corinthians 15
verse 12 now Christ be preached that he rose from the dead I'll say some among
you that there is no resurrection of the dead but if there be no resurrection of
the dead then is Christ not risen and if Christ be not risen then as our
preaching vain and your faith is also vain so again we see that the
resurrection of Christ Christ being risen from the dead that's what gives us
the point that's what gives us power that's that gives us the our that's why
our preaching is not advanced why our preaching has a point that's why it
matters that's why our faith is not in vain because Christ is risen from the
dead yay and we are all we are found false witnesses of God because we have
testified of God that he raised up Christ if Christ be not risen from the
dead then we're false witnesses we're going out and preaching something that
isn't true and we have no power for verse 16 for if the dead rise not then
Christ is not raised and if Christ be not raised your faith is in vain and ye
are getting your sins verse 18 then they also which are falling asleep in Christ
are perished but if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are all are of
all men most miserable you know if Christ is only going to get us through
this life and we are miserable we'll just like everybody else we're just like
the Buddhist we're just like the Hindu we're just like the Muslim we're just
like all these other ones we have no hope in this world we're still facing a
death and uncertainty because Christ Christ be not risen we are just as
miserable as the rest but now is Christ risen from the dead Christ is risen from
the dead that's what we need to understand this morning is that we're
serving a Savior who is alive today that there is power behind the gospel
that we preach that we have heard a declaration that has power behind it and
that that power comes from the fact that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead
that's what we need to understand this morning that we have a we believe
something that has power that we are not at most men most men most miserable that
we don't have to go through this life you know fearing what is to come because
we've understood that Jesus Christ is God we've heard that declaration and we
know that it is true because it has power and that power is the resurrection
so we see the power of the declaration is his resurrection that's what gives it
because it's it's punched its power that's why that our declaration of the
gospel has force behind it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ but it's
also our own resurrection if you go back to if we refer back to the the
story of Lazarus we won't turn there but that was the power that was behind it
the power and great Jesus Christ was glorified not through his own
resurrection but also the resurrection of Lazarus and we know that we too one
day we will be raised up by the power of Christ that there is a there is a
resurrection coming you know that we are not as others which have no hope but
that you know we have a hope that one day we too will be raised up in Christ
that is the power of the declaration that we preach 1st Corinthians 15 go
turn there we'll close here in 1st Corinthians chapter 15 1st Corinthians
15 verse 42 you see the power of the declaration is the resurrection of
Christ that's what gives its power as it said there in Romans 1 you know and
declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead that's
the declaration that God has made that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that
declaration is given power by the fact that he is risen from the dead and it's
not only his resurrection that gives us hope that gives us power that but it's
also our own 1st Corinthians 15 verse 42 so also is the resurrection of the dead
it is sown in corruption it is raised in incorruption it is sown in dishonor it
is raised in glory it is sown in weakness it is raised in power you see
we have power this morning through the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have
power we have hope we have we have a message a declaration to declare the
world that is not weak it's not soft it's not limp it's something that is
firm and strong and powerful because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and
it's not only our own resurrection it's the fact that we can go and tell others
that there were as it says that they were bondage all their lives they were
subject to fear by the by the fear of death they were subject to bondage
because they're fearing death they're not they don't know what's to come and
we have the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ that he was buried and that
he was that he died he was buried that he rose again and then if a person will
put their faith and trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation that they too
one day will be raised again in newness of life that they will be given that
glorified body that they will be able to live throughout all eternity with Jesus
Christ and all his saints that's a powerful declaration that we have it's
like the application would be are we declaring it are we are we just sitting
on a stack of dynamite when there's a gold mine out there that we could go out
and blow up and get some treasures are we just sitting on this power doing
nothing with it or we exercising the power that has been given us through the
resurrection of Jesus Christ that's the challenge this morning you know the
encouragement is the fact that you know no matter what comes your way in this
life you know you have that power you have that that hope of that powerful
declaration that Jesus Christ is God and he's risen from the dead but remember
the point of that declaration is that God will be glorified and God is
glorified when we go out and we preach his word and others call upon his name
and they will be there to glorify God as well are we doing that are we declaring
the power of the resurrection are we declaring the resurrection this morning
let's pray Heavenly Father again thank you for your word thank you for the
power of your word thank you for your Holy Spirit thank you for the
resurrection of Jesus Christ thank you that you know that we do not serve a God
who is weak we do not serve a God who has no power that we serve a God who has
power and strength and Lord that you've risen Christ from the dead and Lord that
we can rest assured that if we put our faith and trust in you that we all
so one day though our body will grow old and die and we also will be risen from
the dead what a great hope you've given us in Christ where I pray you'd help us
to to use that power of that declaration to see others say that they also would
know the power of God through Jesus Christ our Lord it's in his name we pray
amen