THE VICTORIOUS IMPACT OF CHRIST’S RESSURRECTION ON BELIEVERS | Mike Prah Bible Study
- The central message of Christianity is the redemptive death of Jesus Christ. The entire sacrificial system of the Hebrew Bible was focused on Jesus.
- John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world” (John 1:29). Without the death the ministry of Jesus is meaningless.
- One of the most significant evidence of Jesus’ resurrection was the transformation of Jesus’s disciples. The power of His resurrection changed their lives forever from cowardice, despair, and confusion to the confident proclamation and the willingness to suffer persecution, hardship and even martyrdom for the sake of Jesus and His gospel.
- The origin and rapid spread of Christianity across the face of the ancient world is attributable to the resurrection. The same disciples who could not pray for one hour with their Lord before His crucifixion and who scattered after His capture became the same evangelists who braved persecution and martyrdom for a resurrected Jesus.
- The resurrection of Jesus Christ demonstrates God's power at work in us. The miraculous power that gave Jesus new life after three days in the grave can do the same for us.
1. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN MY FAILURES ARE NOT FATAL
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How do personal failures limit a person’s life?
Jesus: “For this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many” Matthew 26:28-29, NLT
“Christ died for our sins and rose again to make us right with God, filling us with God’s goodness.” Romans 4:25, LB
“If Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, NLT
“But the fact is that Christ did actually rise from the dead and has become the first of millions who will come back to life again someday.” 1 Corinthians 15:20, LB
APPLICATION: AS A BELIEVER BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION, I DO NOT THAVE TO BE AFRAID OF ANYTHING
2. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN, MY PRESENT LIFE IS MEANINGFUL
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How might a person feel trapped in an empty or pointless life?
“I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope God has given to those He called—His holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 1:18-20, NLT
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Jesus’ core message to all of us is, “Follow Me.” Below are some “Follow Me” passages with blessings for Christ-followers.
“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19, NIV
"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” John 19:27-28, NIV
“Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.” John 12:23-26, NLT
“As you get to know Jesus better, He will give you, through His great power, everything you need for living a truly good life: He even shares His own glory and His own goodness with us!” 2 Peter 1:2-3 (LB)
APPLICATION: AS A BELIEVER BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S RESURRECTION, MY LIFE IS NOT OUT OF CONTROL
3. BECAUSE CHRIST IS RISEN, DEATH IS NOT FINAL – MY FUTURE IS SECURED
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In what way does the reality of physical death make someone feel hopeless?
Jesus said, “I am the One who raises the dead and gives them life again! Anyone who believes in Me, even though He dies shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in Me and shall never perish.” John 11:25-26a (LB)
“Now we live with great expectation because Christ rose again from the dead. And God has reserved for His children the priceless gift of eternal life; it is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And God, in His mighty power, is protecting you by His power until you receive this salvation, because you are trusting Him … So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead” 1 Peter 1:3b-6 (LB+NLT)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23, NLT
“The truth is that Christ has been raised from death, as the guarantee that those who sleep in death will also be raised. For just as death came by means of a man, in the same way the rising from death comes by means of a man. For just as all people die because of their union with Adam, in the same way all will be raised to life because of their union with Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, GN