Message summary: The resurrection is God’s "exclamation point" to the good news in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

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“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy Scriptures, concerning His Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:1-6).

During the years following the French Revolution, there was a great turning away from the Christian religion similar to what we are witnessing today here in America and in other western nations. A certain man named La Revilliere concocted a new religion which he thought was far superior to Christianity, but he had trouble convincing others to follow him. Seeking help, he went to the great diplomat Charles de Talleyrand for advice. Talleyrand’s advice was simple. “To ensure success for your new religion, all you need to do is have yourself crucified and then rise from the dead on the third day.”

This brings to mind the lyrics of a song we sang on Easter Sunday, "He bore the cross, beat the grave let heaven and earth proclaim, this is our God, King Jesus!"

Our focus this week is the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!

The centrality of the resurrection is expressed in each major section of the New Testament. Today we examine the resurrection in Paul’s epistles, also known as the Pauline Epistles.

When I began to study the Bible seriously I initially had to get used to that term “Pauline Epistles”. All through my childhood my Mom had a very good friend named Pauline Harding. In fact I am told she changed my diapers! To the left is a photo of me with her about twenty years ago when she was in her nineties shortly before her death. (Yes I am very tall but she was also very short!) Years ago I wrote a message about the impact her husband, my 7th and 8th grade Sunday School teacher, had on my life simply titled “Mr. Harding”. (* see below for link)

Paul wrote thirteen epistles (letters) each one beginning with his self-identification, "Paul..." His first epistle, in the order of Scriptures, is Romans and it doesn’t take him long to state the foundation of the resurrection. In V. 15:3 he states, "His resurrection from the dead". All through his teachings we have many references to the resurrection, a truth he considered to be "of first importance".

The Precept Austin online commentary states, "The resurrection furnishes the most conclusive and irrefutable evidence of Jesus’ divine Sonship. By the demonstration of His ability to conquer death, a power belonging only to God Himself (the Giver of life), Jesus established beyond all doubt that He was indeed God, the Son."

The resurrection is God’s “exclamation point” to the good news of the resurrection life available in Christ Jesus through the gospel. Paul saw the resurrection as the foundation of our new life in Christ. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory” (Colossians 3:1-3).

Today and every day let us proclaim this truth:

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber