THE RESURRECTION IS OUR HOPE OF FUTURE GLORY
Psalm
24:1-10
When Jesus cried out “It is finished” and yielded His spirit up to the Father.
He was truly dead. Meaning! His
spirit left His body and went to be with the Father, and the body (the shell of Jesus)
left behind was a corpse. He
had no heartbeat, no brain waves, no blood pulsating through His veins. Jesus was dead….He died a
literal death, just like what we see around every day. Hebrews 2:14 we read
“Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise
partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has
the power of death, that is, the devil,”
We need to understand…. Jesus
had to be forsaken by the Nations and this world system. Jesus
had to take the place of the guilty (you and me, rebellious sinners). Jesus
had to be forsaken and abandoned by the Father, as He poured out the cup of
wrath on His only begotten Son. See Jesus had to say “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Matt 27:46. He
said these words so that “we never have
to” when we come to the end of this earthly life. Jesus
had to declare to the world with His last breath “It is finished” See
the story of Jesus doesn’t end at the cross. David desired to see that day be fulfilled for him “I foresaw the Lord always
before my face, for 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, nor will you allow your Holy One (Jesus) to see (undergo) corruption” Psalm 16:8-11. David
had great hope and believed in the promises of God even before Christ was
physically born. David
believed in a real resurrection and this brought rest and joy to his heart.
See the resurrection……. Testifies
to character of a holy God in His entire splendor, in all His glory. Seals
the promise of His divine providence for redemption. Cries
to the world “that all things are under
His sovereign control and power.” Displays
that His word is truth and His authority and promises will stand forever? Is
confirmation that “God says what He means and means what He says” Do you realize the entire Trinity
participated in the resurrection of Jesus Christ?
The Father, it says in Rom 6:4 “...raised
by the glory of the Father...”
The Spirit, it says in Rom 8:11 “...the
Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead...”
The Son, it says in John 10:48 “I have the power to lay it down, and I have
the power to take it again”
The resurrection is a pivotal doctrine of the Christian
faith! Some would ask the question! “What is
more important the death or the resurrection of Jesus?” Where I would say,
“Both! they are equal in importance to
redemption, justification and eternal glory.” They
are equal and pivotal for the Christian Church. They
are inseparable because to have one without the other we are still without hope
and lacking to stand before a holy transcendent God. Why do I say that because Paul said so? As Paul said
“Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say
that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of
the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your
faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we
testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true
that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ
has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” 1 Cor
15:12-17. The
death and resurrection of Jesus were the core of the disciples message. Jesus
had taught his scattering disciples out of the Old Testament. Jesus said
“Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them,
"Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day
rise from the dead, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be
proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are
witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:45-48. This
is all part of God’s perfect plan to redeem lost sinners like you and me
through His death and resurrection.
I want us to see a glimpse of the resurrection before Christ
came in human form to save us from our pending death and judgement. Turn to Psalm 24 with me this
morning. This
Psalm is very familiar with us all because this is part of a trilogy of psalms
that tell a future story of as future hope in Christ Jesus our Lord.
What do I mean?
Psalm 22
we see that the Savior’s Cross takes
care of the past.
Psalm 23
we see that the Shepherds Staff takes
care of the present.
Psalm 24 we
see that the King’s Crown takes care
of the future.
Psalm 24
is a beautiful Psalm and reminder and a hope for David and his people who love
the Lord. It
is a great reminder for us as well. The fulfillment of prophecy that gives us a
hope as it did for David and his people. Why do I say that? There
is only one person able to enter these gates and live and speak to these guards
the way the Psalmist writes! His Name Is Jesus Christ! The Savior, the Messiah, the Great Shepherd, the
Son of God, the Lord, the King of glory!
First…. David
describes the sovereign God of the universe by praising Him for His mighty
power and rule over everything. The
sovereign, transcendent holy One, who is worthy of all praise and adoration. (v1-v2)
Second David says….. If
God is holy and sovereign and ruler over such a place who may dare enter in a
sinner such as David or you and me. (v3) The
only way any man or woman can enter in is described in. (v4-v6) This
is depressing and hopeless if the Psalm ended there. We
don’t have clean hands or a pure heart. “I’m
a sinner” See
this is why we this Psalm is so amazing because David is speaks about someone
who can enter this place and live to tell about it. A
place that is only reserved for the holiest of people who are spotless and
sinless. This
Psalm reveals to us the future hope and blessings of the gospel through the
resurrection of Christ.
Third…..We see evidence of a resurrection in the conversation
that follows for the remainder of this Psalm. A
glorious resurrected King who speaks to the gates to open. Look
what He says to these ancient doors....the gates of Heaven! (v7) The
Heavens must have been speechless or amazed that a man would dare speak to
these doors with such authority and boldness!
Look at the response by one brave soul who speaks up and says
“Who is this King of glory” (v8a) I
love the answer by Jesus! (v8b-v9) And once again the brave and
faithful watcher of the gate proclaims “Who
is the king of glory?” (v10) To
paraphrase this question “what man dares to speak to
these doors?” I love the answer Jesus
Christ gives to the watcher of the gate (v10b) The Creator God is the King
of glory and has come down to dwell in the midst of the city of men as a
man........Jesus Christ! This man who stands at the
gates commands them to open those doors is Jesus Christ the God man. And for the first time a man
enters in those gates......walks up to His Father with boldness and says “it is finished” and sits down and the
Father looks at His son and says “it is
finished in deed”
Jesus
sits on the throne in all His glory! The King of king’s sits on the throne is
all His glory! Not just any King, like
David, but the One David described, who created all things for His glory (v1-v2)
The One that said “let there be light”
The One who said “lets create man in Our image”
The One that said “it is was good”
The One who establishes
everything by His authority and power, “And
the fullness thereof”
Who
has the right to speak to these gates?
What
man can enter this place and live?
David
already told us the conditions in entering in! Those who have clean hands and a pure heart! Those who are washed by the
cleansing blood of Jesus Christ! Those who put their faith in
trust in the finishing work on the Cross through His death and resurrection. Those who are have an outward
expression of an inward change! Someone who has been transformed by the Gospel. “Therefore,
if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold,
the new has come.”
2 Cor 5:17. It’s Hands
and Heart that are lifted up with affections set on things
that are pure, lovely, holy and just through the gospel confession. Remember what
David said when he was faced with his dreadful sin “create in me a
clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Psalm
51:10.
This
is what the King of glory did for you and me! He made it possible for us to
have clean hands and a pure heart! That’s what the Gospel
delivers to sinners who put their trust in Jesus Christ alone. His death and resurrection
are both equally important to us entering this place that David hoped for and
believed. The mighty King who is our
powerful and faithful warrior who has defeated the grave and Hell and all
things for His GLORY. John Piper said
“The ultimate good of the gospel is seeing and savouring the beauty and value
of God. God’s wrath and our sin obstruct that vision and that pleasure. You
can’t see and savor God as supremely satisfying while you are full of rebellion
against Him and He is full of wrath against you. The removal of this wrath and
this rebellion is what the gospel is for. The ultimate aim of the gospel is the
display of God’s glory and the removal of every obstacle to our seeing it and savoring
it as our highest treasure. “Behold Your God!” is the most gracious command and
the best gift of the gospel. If we do not see Him and savour Him as our
greatest fortune, we have not obeyed or believed the gospel."
There
is only one man who is capable and allowed to enter into the glory of Heaven
and live to tell about it. His name is Jesus Christ the
Son of man. And
we can enter in through His saving grace! Charles Spurgeon said
“Dear reader, it is possible that you are saying, “I shall never enter into
Heaven of God, for I have neither clean hands nor a pure heart.” Look then to
Christ, who has already climbed the holy hill. He has entered as the forerunner
of those who trust Him. Follow His footsteps, and repose upon His merit. He
rides triumphantly into Heaven, and you shall ride there too if you trust Him.” The
ascended Savior is seated on the throne and He is calling out to the hillsides
and streets.....for people to come and enter into His rest. Who
is the glorious representation for creation to see and look upon with adoration
and praise!
As the Hebrew writer penned “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the
exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his
power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the
Majesty on high,” Heb 1:3. This
Psalm gives David hope and reminds of what has been done through His death and
resurrection. The
gospel reminds of this truth as does this Psalm of His mighty power over death
and the grave.
Remind yourself!
The
resurrection gives evidence that the Word of God is true and reliable.
The
resurrection means that salvation is complete, Christ conquered Sin.
The
resurrection establishes the church “I will build MY church” Jesus said and the
“gates of Hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt 16:18).
The
resurrection proved that death itself could not prevent Christ from
establishing His church.
The
resurrection of Christ proves that Heaven is waiting for the true believer.
As Jesus said
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.
In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you,
I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be
also. John 14:1-3. This
is a precious and wonderful truth for you and me this morning! John Calvin said
“He alone has full profited in the gospel
who has accustomed himself to continual meditation upon the blessed
resurrection.” The
resurrection is a wonderful reminder and promise as we anticipate His wonderful
return!
Can I ask you!
One day we will stand before
this King in all His glory?
Does that excite you or scare
you?
My Sunday question is for the unbelief, the ones on the
fence, the doubters, and the sceptics.
What more does He need to do for you in order for you to
believe?
He
breathed life into existence
He
Spoke to Abraham
He
was with Moses at the Burning Bush
He
was born of a virgin
He
died a sinners death
He
was buried for 3 days
He
rose again and the tomb is empty
He
was seen by 500 plus eye-witnesses at His resurrection.
Paul said
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried,
that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that
he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five
hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have
fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all,
as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the
apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God.” 1 Cor 15:3-9
He
was truly man and truly God.
He
ascended into the heavens
He
is seated on the Throne the Majesty on High
He
is preparing a place for those who believe (who trust in the promises of this
book) and call upon Him by faith!
He
showed the greatest act of love by loving us first.
As John Piper says
“The highest act of love is the giving of the best gift, and, if necessary, at
the greatest cost, to the least deserving. That’s what God did. At the loss of
His Son’s life to the totally undeserving, God gave the best gift – the display
of the glory of Christ who is the image of God.” Jesus
Christ has Risen from the grave and
defeated death for us!
“WHAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE
FOR YOU BELIEVE?
For He is RISEN!
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