The Life and Ministry of
Pastor Andrew Ray
The Ongoing Work of the Resurrection
Acts 17:22-32
INTRODUCTION: We ought to begin this morning by thanking God for the crucifixion! It is truly unjust on our part to belittle any part of the earthly ministry of Christ. That being said, it seems the overwhelming emphasis of the apostolic preaching was the resurrection of Christ. Why? What was the distinguishing power of the resurrection?
I. THE ASSURANCE OF A COMING JUDGMENT (Acts 17:31)
A. The Declaration of the Resurrection (Romans 1:1-4)
1. His life, in many ways, declared Him the Son of David (Romans 1:3).
2. The resurrection plainly declared Christ to be the Son of God (Romans 1:4; see John 5:22-30).
B. The Appointment of a Day (Acts 17:30-31)
1. A day void of God’s winking (Acts 17:30)
2. A day of righteous judgment (Acts 17:31; Hebrews 9:27)
C. The Initial Message of the Resurrection (Acts 17:30-31)
1. Repentance is necessary (Acts 17:30).
2. Judgment awaits (Acts 17:31).
II. THE DISTINCT WORK OF THE GOSPEL (Romans 4:23-25)
A. The Work of the Crucifixion (Romans 4:25)
1. He was delivered for our offences.
2. He bare our sins in His own body on the tree (1 Peter 2:24).
3. He was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5).
4. In other words, the crucifixion offered payment for sin and forgiveness of sins.
B. The Work of the Resurrection (Romans 4:23-25)
1. The imputation of Christ’s righteousness (Romans 4:23-24)
2. The declaration of the believer’s justification (Romans 4:25)
3. In other words, the resurrection served to make us righteous and declare us as such in the presence of the Father.
III. THE MESSAGE OF THE RESURRECTION
A. The Purpose of His Resurrection (Acts 3:26)
1. The end-goal of blessing
2. Turning away every one of you from his iniquities
B. The Power of His Resurrection (Philippians 3:9-10)
1. A power desired by saints (Philippians 3:9-10)
2. A power associated with righteousness (Philippians 3:9)
C. The Product of His Resurrection
1. Walking in newness of life (Romans 6:4)
2. Living unto God (Romans 6:5-18)
3. The crucifixion bought our forgiveness—past, present, and future, but the resurrection gives us a power to refuse to commit new sins. In other words, the crucifixion forgave our wrongdoings, but the resurrection gave us power to go and sin no more.
CONCLUSION: Sin is no accident. When we sin, we do so knowingly and on purpose. Worse yet, we do so in resistance to the availability of the power of the resurrection of Christ. Sin does not have to have dominion over you.