BECAUSE OF JESUS CHRIST’S

RESURRECTION?

What Can We Know

Famous Men Have Questions

…beyond ordinary human power to answer.A few years ago I heard Paul McCartney,

of Beatles fame, speak on a television interview. He spoke about marriage and money and other matters.

In the 1960s and 1970s the Beatles were not only famous for their music, but for elevating non-theistic religions above Christianity.

In this later interview

Paul McCartney reported that he and the other Beatles had promised each other something unique.

They promised that whoever died first would try to communicate with the living Beatles from the other side of death.

Do you think John Lennon kept that promise?

He didn’t.

Here is an important question.

What were the Beatles longing for when they made that promise to each

other?

I think

they were longing for three treasures that are actually hidden in the cross of

Christ.

Treasures Hidden in the Cross

(And Revealed by the Resurrection)

Every Christian should treasure the cross of Christ

because of these three treasures that are hidden there.

Treasure # 1: We can be sure that God has communicated in this world.

Treasure # 2: We can be sure that life goes on forever.

Treasure #3: We can be sure of God’s power to overcome evil.

Treasure # 1: We can be sure that God has communicated in this world.

We need communication from our good God. We long for communication

from Him. The Prophet Isaiah said “How blessed are all those who long

for God.”—Isaiah chapter 30 verse 18.

Treasure # 1: We can be sure that God has communicated in this world.

In the resurrection of Jesus Christ, we have proof that God wants to communicate with us.

More than 500 witnesses saw Him after He came back to life.

Some of the witnesses were His skeptical relatives--who did not believe in Him until they saw Him alive again after the cross.

Treasure # 1: We can be sure that God has communicated in this world.

Here is how the Bible describes Treasure #1. “God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers through the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us

by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom

also He made the worlds.”

Treasure # 2: We can be sure life goes on forever.

Don’t you think the Beatles were longing to know that life goes on forever?

The form of communication God chose in the cross and resurrection was exactly what we need to KNOW that life goes on forever.

The cross plus resurrection communicates to us that God does not wish our death. Instead, He took death in our place, so He could give us life forever.

Treasure # 2: We can be sure life goes on forever.

Hebrews 2:9 says it this way. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”

Jesus died so that we would not have to. Jesus came alive again to give us His eternal life.

Treasure #3: We can be sure of God’s power to overcome evil.

This treasure is in two parts. We can find Jesus’ resurrection power

to overcome temptation. His resurrection is stronger than

every evil in this world. Jesus’ life was stronger than the

horrors of death by crucifixion.

Treasure #3: We can be sure of God’s power to overcome evil.

Hebrews 2:18 says, “For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 says Jesus “shared in flesh and blood so that, through death, He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,

AND release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

Remember the promise the Beatles made to each other?

They could not keep that promise. Jesus made a promise like that, and He

kept it. John 10:17-18 says “My Father loves Me

because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down and I have power to take it up again. This command I

have received from My Father.”

Treasure #3: We can be sure of God’s power to overcome evil.

We can trust Jesus with our eternity because He kept that awesome promise.

Three treasures for everyone:

These treasures are worth thinking about and talking about.

You may have friends who need to know about the three treasures hidden in the cross of Christ. Why not ask God right now to cause those friends to begin talking to you about the Beatles? That will give you an opening to talk about the three treasures hidden in the cross.

What were those three treasures again?

1. We can be sure that God has communicated in this world.

2. We can be sure that life goes on forever.

3. We can be sure that God will win against evil.

A prayer the Apostle Paul prayed for the people in Ephesus

…I do not cease to give thanks for you, mentioning you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him,… that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.

If you would like to know more

We have free CD-ROMs available for those who send a 6” x 9” LARGE self-addressed stamped envelope to Mrs. Wilson, P. O. Box 1293, Bastrop, Texas 78602. Please specify which topic is your interest, and include postage for 3 ounces.

Toolkit #1 Ultimate IssuesToolkit #2 OriginsToolkit #3 Comparing Religious WorldviewsIf you would like to participate in a class,

please call the church office for times and locations.

More about the CD-ROMs:

Each one has a set of PowerPoint presentations on a weekly schedule, and a workbook/curriculum guide that coordinates with those presentations.

Each course uses textbooks, available by order from any local bookstore or at

CHRISTIANBOOK.COM. Each course requires either one or two

semesters to complete.

Contact Information

Mrs. WilsonP. O. Box 1293Bastrop, Texas 78602

512-303-3221 Church Office

Mrs. Wilson is doing an internship with the Certified Apologetics Instructor program of the North American Mission Board. She is available to speak to groups or other churches upon request at 512-303-3653.