I'm going to read a lengthy passage to you. I'm just going to ask simply that you read along with me. You can read silently there at your seat. Acts chapter 2, I'm looking at verses 22 through 40. Acts chapter 2, verses 22 through 40. we have been trying to share with you when Messiah came the reason he's coming is because I want you understand something do you think God was happy about the conflicts that were going on with all the violence the division the greed the lust the immorality was he happy with that no but he's long-suffering is long-suffering He puts up with it for a long, long time. And God made very many incursions into all of the history of time. At times, trying to share with people, I want you. Please turn to me. Please turn to me. Please turn to me. And each time, they would have sometimes a little emotional rush, a little feeling, a little religious sentiment. But after a while, they went back to their old way of, I want things my way. the bitterness of the sorrow of the grief of I want things my way and they need to be my way and even being upset with God because he didn't happen your way no he was not happy with that and he'd been trying to say all along turn to me turn to me I'll give you life turn to me I'll give you life you're walking away from me it's killing you it's destroying you it's suicidal what you're doing do you not understand that the wages of your activity is your own death I want you back with me. I want you to have everlasting life. Well, something happened, a real big deal. In Jerusalem, they had crucified this son of God, the one who said he was the son of God, the one who said he's the king of the Jews. And then three days later, reports went all over the city that he was alive. Alive? People don't rise up from the dead. And yet those reports went everywhere. He was seen by a lot of people. And then 50 days later, an event took place that knocked everybody for a loop. Here, all these people gathered from all around the world, right here in Jerusalem, are witnessing something never seen before. They're seeing redneck Galileans preaching in everybody's language. How do those rural rednecks know all that stuff? And I'm not trying to demean them, I'm just saying simply, they were small-time folk, not educated, highly folk. How are they knowing all these different languages? We've come from one end of this to the other, and we're hearing this news about God raising his son from the dead. And that phenomenon just drew everybody's attention. Peter the leader of the group said I need to tell you something so if you would Acts 2 22 men of Israel hear these words Jesus of Nazareth a man attested by God to you by miracles wonders and signs which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves know in other words there's not somebody you don't know you saw this happen you knew it happened Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death. whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it. For David says concerning him, and now this is something written about a thousand years before this event, this is coming from David in the Psalms, I forswore the Lord always before my face. He is at my right hand that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced and my tongue was glad. Moreover my flesh also will rest in hope, for you will not leave my soul in Hades. You will not allow your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me ways of life. You will make me full of joy in your presence. Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore, being a prophet and knowing that God had sworn with an oath of him the fruit of his body according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. God has this Jesus God has raised up of which we are all witnesses Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God and having received from the father the promise of the Holy Spirit He poured out this which you now see in here for David did not ascend in the heavens But he says himself the Lord said to my lord sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified both Lord and Christ Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart. I guess so Can you understand why they were cut to the heart? They had crucified the Son of God and now they're hearing his life Where do you suppose you would go to run and hide from the Son of God being alive now I? they're scared they're terrified they heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest the Apostles men and brethren what shall we do then Peter said to them repent and let everyone of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ or the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promises to you and to your children to all who are far off as many as the Lord our God will call with many other words he testified and exhorted them and saying be saved from this perverse generation a twisted and perverse generation that's what we are we're always winning our own way we're always and that that that runs us into a conflict with everybody else who's doing the same thing They want their way, I want my way. We're gonna bump into each other somewhere along the way and have a conflict through it. God sent his son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to end that. That's what it was about. To create a whole new people. To create earth phase three and have a people who would populate it with him. A people that he could be with and could enjoy. But let's go back to verse 22. I want you to see this. What did he look like? What was he about? What kind of a person was he? It says in verse 22, where did I put it? There we go. Men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth. So it's a normal man. See, everybody was looking at him as a normal man. They called him Jesus of Nazareth. And they were appalled that he kept saying he was God's son. They kept saying that my father and I are one. He kept saying those things and they had him crucified because of the blasphemy. Man can't be God. But this is the God-man. It says, he was attested by God. God, in other words, God proved who he was by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through him in your midst as you yourselves also know. There were some of them in there who had aunts and uncles who had been blind, who had been deaf, who had been wounded, who had been hurt, that Jesus had healed. There were people in that crowd who had had demons removed from them. There were people in that crowd who had seen miracles. They had heard his teaching and knew that this truly was somebody really special. But when the crowds and the majority wants to, I shouldn't say the majority, it's really just the loudmouths. When the loudmouths wanted him dead, they cried out, crucify him, crucify him, crucify him, until they got it done. And like many other in a silent majority, they don't say anything. They're appalled by it. They think it's not right, but they don't stop it. Indeed, this one, you couldn't have stopped if you wanted to. This was God's plan. You see, God really did want to restore people. He really did want to end the conflict. He really did want to end the hurt. He really did want to end the demonic activity that went on. And he had the power to do it. He had to die. And he says that for the joy that was set before him, he endured the cross, despising its shame, knowing that God the Father had already promised him, if you lay down your life, I'll let you take it up again. he knew that when he takes it up every one of those that have believed in him and with him were going to share in that kingdom with him so for the joy that was set before him of seeing you sit here this day knowing that you have eternal life because you have trusted Jesus Christ for that joy he put up with all that suffering all that hurt all that rejection Listen, if you feel like you've been a rejected person, you couldn't be more rejected than Jesus did. Listen friend, when Jesus is living, I want you to get this picture because this is so important. When Jesus is living, He is living in your place. It's not just that He's dying for you. I understand that. Everybody gets that one. But I want you to get this picture. He is living for you. He is living the life you didn't. He's knowing every painful thing that you've had. He's knowing rejection from family. He's knowing rejection from friends. He's knowing what it is to be misunderstood. He knows what it is to have pain and agony. Well, that works good. He knows what it is to have all of that take place, and he's living it for us. The very thing every time we got mad at somebody because it didn't happen my way. Every time we felt like we had to deserve this or deserve that. He's living that. Living it properly. You see, it's that righteous life that's going to be given to you. It's that righteous life. He's saying, trade yours for mine. Trade that old junk you've been living take my life that's what I'm offering you that's why I'm giving you do you see why he wanted people then to say I'm done with the old life here's an expression here's the way I'm gonna publicly remember I said that I'm giving up that's why he said be baptized give it up walk out on that it's death walk into the new life of the Lord Jesus Christ he said in verse 23 look at this him being delivered by the determined purpose and for knowledge of God it was God who sent him this is this is not some guy that just appeared out of nowhere who decided he'd think of himself as a Messiah no God had planned that from here's my timeline kids all the way back here in eternity past he planned it back here and it's happening right here just like it's supposed to God planned it it was all a foreknowledge and he knows full well what we're gonna do to him Jesus is saying I'll take it I'll take it dad if we can restore all of this into a new world that's filled with people who really know how to live now who really have that life through our sharing our life then I'll lay my life down I'll do it Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working together to save our lives when we're too stupid to know we need to be saved. We don't know enough about how wicked we are to understand if we're not forgiven, we'll perish. There's not a way out of earth phase two, kids. There's not a way out of earth phase two except by death. And that death can result in a complete separation from God for all eternity. It's not what he wants. Can you see it? It's not what he wants. He wants us with him. He loves us and wants us with him. But he's not gonna make you do it. You're gonna choose him. He wants you. verse 23 once again he said by the determined by the purpose and for knowledge of God you have taken by lawless hands they knew what they were doing was against the law the trial was all wrong the way the handling was all wrong they use false witnesses that was all wrong it was lawless and crucified and put to death but boy verse 24 comes along whom God raised up having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be held. Not possible. What great words. It can't hold him. I love that. You may have seen that meme that says Joseph of Arimathea, the one who gave Jesus the grave, is standing before Pilate. And Pilate's saying, I don't get it. Why does a rich guy like you, who just made this beautiful new tomb, why do you want to give it to that guy? Why do you want to bury him there? And Joseph replies, it's only for the weekend. Because it's not possible to hold him. You get that? He had already told them. Told them in advance. Three days, guys. Three days. Three days I'm out of here. Three days you're going to see me again. Now, 1 Corinthians 15 again. So would you turn there with me? 1 Corinthians 15. Verse one, moreover brethren, I declare to you the gospel. Here's the good news. I've told you about the bad news that we're all twisted and perverted and the conflict and everything, but here's the good news. Here's the good news. Which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you stand, by which you also are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. Then he says, for I deliver to you, first of all, that which also I receive. Now, I want you to stop just for a moment. He says, that's this word by which we're saved. Now, sometimes we dwell on the negative. You're saved from wrath. That is true. You are saved from wrath. But kids, it's not just simply being saved from wrath. Let me see if I can illustrate it to you this way. Back here in time, when the children of Israel were in slavery to Egypt, they wanted out of slavery. But once you're out of slavery, what are you going to do then? OK, so you're out of slavery. Now what? You're poor, and you're living in the desert. You don't have a house. You've got nothing. So what are you going to do? You see, it wasn't just to get them out of slavery. He had somewhere he wanted to take them. He wanted to take them to a land that he was going to live with them in, and he was gonna partner with them. They're gonna drive out the enemies. They're going to set up a place that is so fertile, all the whole world's coming to say, what do you got here? What's going on with you? So righteous, the whole world's gonna wanna come and say, what kind of people is this? What God do you serve? You see, it was not just simply to get them out of Egypt. So I'm going to get this picture to you. It's not just simply to save you from hell. It will do that. But it's to get you into the new heavens and the new earth, earth phase three. Why? Because you're human! You're not an angel. You're not going to be living in heaven. You're living in the new heavens and the new earth because you're human. You were given a body. That's why you're going to have a resurrection just like Jesus had a resurrection. Follow that? You have to have a resurrection. You have to have a new body where you're going to live because you're human. Listen to how he says it. This is the gospel, plain and simple. For I deliver to you, verse 3, for I deliver to you first of all that which also I received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. That means that the Old Testament already said he would die for our sins. So when Christ is dying, he's dying for our sins. He's dying to pay for that which is separating us from God. He's getting that full payment done. Alright? That I also, according to the scriptures, that he was buried. Why is that important to remember? He didn't just pass out on the cross, kids. He didn't just swoon. He was dead. they pierced him to make sure that they knew he was dead and they buried him and thank goodness just think what wonderful thing they did they decided we better seal him in there because the disciples might take him out well they just didn't realize the disciples were scared themselves and not ready to come around either so they sealed it so it wouldn't be possible to get into it they set a guard around it thank you We appreciate that. Because if that tumor is rolled away the next day, that means no human did that. He did that. Boom. It's out. He's out. And he's alive. Now, how do we know? He was raised again according to the scriptures. Again, the scriptures said he had to come back to life. And that he was seen by Cephas. Great. Let's get this started. Now we got Peter gets to see him. Mary gets to see him. John gets to see him. All the disciples get to see him. Okay, that's good for day one. But what if they're all just having a vision? Okay, so let's meet next week, too. Only this time, make sure you got some food, guys, because I'm going to eat. And then let's go to Galilee. And when you get there, I'm gonna make a fire for you, I'm gonna cook some food for you, I'm gonna have it ready for you. In other words, he's being seen over and over and over again. 40 days worth! Not one day, not just a couple of hours, not just a vision, but fully seen by 500 at one time! This is Jesus, guys. This is the Son of God, the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, who's inviting people every day of the week. Come home. Come home. You're not living the way I made you. You're not living the life I gave you. Come home. You're separated from me. I've given my Son in your place. I'll accept you through Him. Just believe Him, and I'll bring you home. You'll be mine. He was raised up to give us eternal life, to be citizens of earth phase three, the kingdom of God, the new heavens and the new earth. Earth phase two is coming to an end, kids. Its age is coming to an end. The way things have been done, John tells us in 1 John chapter two, the old way of life is coming to a close. It's all passing away. Don't hang on to this one. There's nothing in this one for you, don't you see it? If you retire rich, if you retire rich, you're gonna die anyway. If you retire poor, guess what? You're gonna die anyway. If you never get to retire, guess what? You're gonna die anyway. Doesn't it make sense? A better investment of your life to invest in the eternal instead of this one? This one's not got it. Earth phase two is coming to a close. Don't hang on here. Come to the new one. Come today. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Trust him. To the citizens of the kingdom of God, he gave us a commemoration to remember our covenant marriage with him. It's to enter into life with him, the ultimate teamwork, the union of God and man, partakers of the divine nature. If you're one of those believers, I'd like to ask you to join us at this table right now. You see, he gave us two things to do. He told us we could baptize people, and as we baptize them, teach them how to live the way Christ said. And then he said, I want you to remember me as often as you want to. At that table. It speaks of my body, it speaks of my blood. So come. If you're a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, But let me make sure you understand this. If you're not a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, please pass it by. It's only a condemnation if you take it. It's only a proof that you're lying about life. Don't be a liar. Tell the truth. If you're believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, you're welcome to the table. If you're not believing in the Lord Jesus Christ, please pass it by. I want you all to notice also, if there's anything between you and the Lord God, Confess it right now. The scriptures say, if we confess our sins, he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Be clean. Come to this table clean. Come to this table believing. Come to this table confessing. Let's look to the Lord. Father, thank you for what you're going to do with us just now. Thank you for this which speaks of the body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank you, Father, that he is God come in the flesh. And by taking this, we state very plainly and openly before you, before all the holy angels, before all the unholy angels, before all who are around us here, that we are saying Jesus is God come in the flesh. And thank you, Father, for this blessed cup, which reminds us of the blood of Jesus Christ that was shed for us. And we partake it knowing full well we're receiving the life of Christ in us every day of our life. We're trusting you and using these symbols as a way of expressing that. In Christ's name and for his sake, amen. Please wait till all have received to participate. You do not have to be a member of this church to participate with us on this grand Easter day, but you must be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and him alone for your salvation. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he may have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him all the fullness should dwell, and by him to reconcile all things to himself, by him, whether things on earth, or things in earth, or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of his cross. I love you, Lord, and I lift my voice to worship you, O my soul. Rejoice. Take joy, my King, in what you hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in your ear. Jesus on the same night which he who betrayed took bread and when he had broken it he passed it out to the disciples and he said take eat do this remembers for me this is my body which is broken for you let's remember he is Jesus God come in the flesh I hear the Savior say, Thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray. Find in me thine all in all. Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, he washed it white as snow. Lord, now indeed I find Thy power and Thine alone Can change the leper's spots And melt the heart of stone Jesus paid it all All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. For nothing good have I, Whereby thy grace to claim. I'll wash my garments white, In the blood of Calvary's Lamb, Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. In the same manner, he took the cup. And when he had drunk it himself, he handed out to the disciples and he said, take this drink. This is the New Testament in my blood. Do this as often as you remember me. So let's remember him together, shall we? For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you show the Lord's death till he comes. And when before the throne I stand in Him complete, Jesus died, my soul to save, my lips shall still repeat. Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow. Thank you, Father, for the privilege of having this time to celebrate the Lord's table together. Thank you for what you're gonna do in us now, as we commit our hearts to that hymn, just as Jesus had done on the night he dismissed his disciples. In Christ's name, amen. Let's stand for a final song, singing about not just him rising, but the glorious day when he returns. One day when heaven is filled with His praises, One day when sin was as black as could be, Jesus came for you to be born of a virgin, dwelt among men like you. is The death could not hold it, the grave could not keep it. Dying He saved me, bearing me, carrying my sins far away. Yahoo! Glorious day. Yahoo is a good Hebrew word, I'm sure. It means hallelujah. Brothers and sisters, you had a bulletin that was given to you today. Inside that bulletin, you'll note that was not my sermon outlines. It is God's sermon outline. It is an outline that's given to you to this. If you're here today and you don't know, understand what the gospel is, then just take out a Bible and follow all those scriptures through. It'll teach you. And it shows you Old Testament and New Testament. So the people, if you understand, the people of the first church did not have New Testaments to carry around with them. They didn't have tracts to carry around with them. What they had was the Old Testament. So to be able to know the gospel is a complete message all the way through the Bible, not just New Testament. It's all the way through the Bible. So we gave you Old Testament verses there too. So if you're gonna use it as a witnessing tool, use it as a witnessing tool. If you wanna use it just to remind yourself where the gospel is and that you're believing a whole book. Yeah, there are 66 books in the Bible with one message. It's got multiple themes in that message. But it's got one message, it's got one author, even though it used 40 people to get it done. That book is a solid book that tells you one great truth. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. There will not be an evening service tonight. We know that many of you will spend some time with your family. We encourage you to not only spend that time with them, but spend that time celebrating the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. You have a new life. You're a new order of being. You're being trained and prepared now for eternity. For the new heavens and the new earth, you're in boot camp, kids. Enjoy it. Enjoy every part of it. Or if you don't like that, then you're in the university of God, where you're getting your PhD. I won't tell you what that means. I'll just tell you, you'll think about it. It'll come to you. You're earning your doctoral degree in suffering, in challenges, in blessing, and blessing others. Praise the Lord. Let's look to the Lord in prayer. Father, thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ. I'm asking, Father, in Jesus' name, because of who you are, because of your great gospel, do not let anyone leave here today without the full conviction that they can trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and be saved this day. No magic, nothing, just the mystical, wonderful, miraculous gift of you converting a soul to the Lord Jesus Christ. Please, Father, in Jesus' name, let no one pass here passing into death. Let them have new life today. Let this great Resurrection Sunday of April in 2025 be the beginning of the rest of their life. And I'll thank you for it in Jesus' name and for his sake. Amen. God bless you.