WHY WE ALL NEED EASTER
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: WHY WE ALL NEED EASTER
Scripture References: ROMANS 3:10; 23, ROMANS 5:6-8; 12; 18, ROMANS 6:23, ISAIAH 53:3-6; 59:1-2, HEBREWS 9:12; 10:1-7; 13:20-21, 2 CORINTHIANS 5:15; 17; 21, 1 PETER 1:3-4
Summary:
Whether we know it or not we all need what Jesus accomplished through the cross and resurrection. There’s a good reason why Jesus died on Friday and why He rose again on Sunday. There’s a good reason why we can be joyful amid despair and live a new life that looks nothing like our past. I hope to make sense of why we all need Easter so life will make better sense for you, moving forward.
The greatest problem in the world is not the economy, it’s not healthcare or warfare (the list could go on and on) . The greatest problem that runs through all humanity no matter where we live is sin. All other problems in our world are symptoms caused by sin. Our world likes to treat the symptoms, but God treats the source of the problem. We need Easter because it addresses humanity's greatest need.
Notes:
We all need Easter because…
WE ALL HAVE SINNED AND THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH [The Problem]
The Bible teaches us these truths:
No one is righteous—not even one. Romans 3:10
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. Romans 3:23
When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Romans 5:12
For the wages of sin is death… Romans 6:23a
This has been called “the problem of sin” or humanity’s fall into sin
Sin caused separation between us and God.
Isaiah 59:1-2 Listen! The Lord’s arm is not too weak to save you, nor is his ear too deaf to hear you call. 2 It’s your sins that have cut you off from God. Because of your sins, he has turned away and will not listen anymore.
In the beginning, we had a relationship and fellowship with God but sin put a relational and spiritual distance between us.
To sin is to disobey or rebel against God and this is what Adam and Eve did. Sin entered the world through Adam and its corruption spread to all people, including us.
The glorious standard of being in a relationship with God and in His presence is righteousness and holiness. This means a life without a single fault or sin. If you’re thinking this is an impossible standard you’re right. We would need a perfect human, but none of us are sinless.
God wanted to be in fellowship with us so He, Himself made a way for His people to be near Him. We read about this in the Old Testament, where God gave us the sacrificial system where the blood of animals would be poured out to atone, cover, and forgive any sins committed by His people. But year after year, and sin offering after sin offering it never removed our sins.
Hebrews 10:1-7 The old system under the law of Moses was only a shadow, a dim preview of the good things to come, not the good things themselves. The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship. 2 If they could have provided perfect cleansing, the sacrifices would have stopped, for the worshipers would have been purified once for all time, and their feelings of guilt would have disappeared. 3 But instead, those sacrifices actually reminded them of their sins year after year. 4 For it is not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. 5 That is why, when Christ came into the world, he said to God, “You did not want animal sacrifices or sin offerings. But you have given me a body to offer. 6 You were not pleased with burnt offerings or other offerings for sin. 7 Then I said, ‘Look, I have come to do your will, O God—as is written about me in the Scriptures.’”
Our world wants to dismiss sin altogether as if it doesn’t exist. Some may admit sin and evil exist but deny they are guilty of it. Some admit sin and evil exist but simply rebel because they don’t believe God exists. The list of different views goes on… But the truth is we're all feeling the ripple effects, the consequences, and the pain of sin. But God gives grace to the humble…to those willing to admit they have a sin problem. God in his mercy and love sent us help…
“If our greatest need had been information, God would have sent us an educator; if our greatest need had been technology, God would have sent us a scientist; if our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist; if our greatest need had been pleasure, God would have sent us an entertainer; but our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior.”—Max Lucado
We all need Easter because…
WE NEED THE CROSS OF CHRIST TO PAY THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS [The Solution]
If you ever need a reminder of how awful sin is, look at the cross. If you ever need a reminder of how loving God is look at the cross.
Romans 5:6-8 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.
God did this with full knowledge of your sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
Isaiah 53:3-6 He was despised and rejected—a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care. 4 Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God, a punishment for his own sins! 5 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all."It was not nails that held Jesus to that wretched cross; it was his unqualified resolution, out of love for his Father, to do his Father’s will—and it was his love for sinners like me.” D.A. Carson
But thank God the story doesn’t end there… Dr Tony Evans once said Jesus didn’t say, “I am finished,” He said, “It is finished.” He was just getting started… On the third day…
We all need Easter because…
THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS PROVIDES NEW AND ETERNAL LIFE [The Results]
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (This is easter in one verse)
Hebrews 9:12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.
1 Peter 1:3-4 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
The resurrection of Jesus confirms He was a sufficient sacrifice for the sin of the whole world. If Jesus didn’t rise again then sin and death won…Jesus wasn’t the divine son of God, and all His promises were false. But since Jesus did rise from the dead He adequately paid the penalty for our sins, conquered death, and provided the way to new and eternal life! This is great news!
The resurrection of Christ provides new life now.
Romans 5:18 Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone.
2 Corinthians 5:15;17 He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them…17 This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
If the resurrection of Christ is the death of death and the forgiveness of sin then life should be different now for all who put their faith in Him! Christ comes into our lives at salvation so this means the corruption of sin and the brokenness that came with it cannot continue ruling in us. For where Christ is there is freedom, hope, joy, peace, love, and faith. If the grip of death is gone and the promise of eternal life is awaiting us, certainly the grip of despair, fear, conflict, hate, worry, burdens, and much more, must let go! The old life is gone, along with all its shame and regret. We all need Easter because brokenness caused by sin can be fixed and made whole. We can endure and overcome trials because of Christ. We can live with joy in the face of despair because Jesus lives in and with us!
God did this for you so you wouldn’t do life on your own. God invites us to turn away from sin to believe and receive this gift of salvation and eternal life.
Romans 3:25 For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood.
Romans 4:24-25 …God will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was handed over to die because of our sins, and he was raised to life to make us right with God.
Hebrews 13:20-21 Now may the God of peace— who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood— may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever! Amen.
Happy Easter! Happy Resurrection Day!
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak to your heart or situation?
What part of the scripture stuck out to you and why?
Are there any areas in your life where you’ve been treating the “symptoms” but not the “problem”? If so, what can you start to do to give those things over to God?
What past regrets or habits from our old lives could we pick up again without realizing and need to let it go again (to walk in the new life Jesus died and rose again for)?
During the sermon today was there someone weighing heavy on your heart that may not know or believe they are capable of the promise of a new and eternal life? What ways can you build a bridge to that person?
What other notes did you highlight or write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!