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It's good to be in the house of our God on this Lord's day. Uh just a couple of announcements before we begin. The first is a reminder that our evening worship tonight is at 5:00. And just a reminder as well, there will be no Wednesday night Bible study. So this Wednesday, April 23rd, no Bible study. God willing, we'll recommence the following Wednesday. Also, there'll be no Saturday morning theology class this coming Saturday. As I always say, you'll probably get emails to that effect. Also, uh the conference is this Friday and Saturday. So, we pray that God's blessing will be upon that. And then as far as next Sunday's worship is concerned. At 9:30, we'll do what we did last year, have the various pastors in the association churches give a brief report concerning their churches. So from 9:30 to 10:30 most likely in this in in the sanctuary here several pastors from Western Canada will be giving a report. Then Dr. Doulzall will be preaching in the morning service and then Dr. Renahan will be preaching in the evening service. And in light of the conference, I just want to express a thanksgiving to all of the brothers and sisters in our church for the volunteering that's going on. Uh I just kind of hear bits and pieces. People are going to the airport to pick people up. It's good to be a part of a church to see that kind of service. Of course, the team that's sort of organized the whole thing. Many thanks to them and many thanks to all of the brothers and sisters in the congregation for housing people, for feeding people. It was also a blessing to witness Admiral Mine's visit a few weeks ago, just to see the kindness of the congregation. As I said, it's a it's a privilege to be a part of such a a wonderful group of people. Well, for our call to worship this morning, you can turn with me to Psalm 16. Psalm 16. The consistent testimony of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ has been the declaration that he is risen. And certainly we live on this side of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus. But we we look to Psalm 16 as a prophecy, a prophetic statement concerning the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. The Apostle Peter preaching on the day of Pentecost goes to Psalm 16 to to confirm, to declare, to prove the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. So I'll read Psalm 16 beginning in verse one. A victim of David. Preserve me, oh God, for in you I put my trust. Oh my soul, you have said to the Lord, you are my Lord. My goodness is nothing apart from you. As for the saints who are on the earth, they are the excellent ones in whom is all my delight. Their sorrows shall be multiplied who hasten after another god. Their drink offerings of blood I will not offer nor take up their names on my lips. Oh Lord, you are the portion of my inheritance in my cup. You maintain my lot. The lions have fallen to me in pleasant places. Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel. My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices. My flesh also will rest in hope. For you will not leave my soul in shield, nor will you allow your holy one to see corruption. You will show me the path of life. In your presence is fullness of joy. At your right hand are pleasures forever more. Amen. will please turn in your hymbooks to Psalm 72. Psalm 72A as in alpha. We'll sing stanzas 5 to 8.2. So that's on the right hand side of the page. When they arless on the heels, the glory preious life. He saves the weeping because of his presence in his sight. and she uses all the king throughout his glorious What a great and all awesome in the city and the town and the grasses of the praise worship. to the ground and as we bless you all nations calling blessing the Lord of the God of Israelel. For he alone does wonder in glory and blessed be his glor to all eternity. The Lord let his glory. Well, let us pray. Our blessed God and wonderful father, we thank you for this privilege to gather together on the Lord's day with your people in your house. And we pray that you would be glorified, that you would be honored. We acknowledge that you are the most high, that you are father, son, and holy spirit, the god who made the world, the god who governs the world, and the god who has redeemed his elect out of the world. and we bless you for giving us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. We thank you that you chose us in him before the foundation of the world. We thank you that in time you sent your spirit and he affectionately called us out of darkness into marvelous light to see that the Lord Jesus Christ is altogether lovely and chief among 10,000. We thank you for that salvation which is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. and we give all glory and honor and praise unto you as you would be pleased to bless us even now. We ask God that you would uh come and be in the midst of your people here as we consider the book of Revelation. We know the Lord Jesus is in the midst of the lampstand. This gives us great encouragement as we gather together for public worship. We pray that you'd bless our brother as he preaches the word this morning. fill our brother Cam with the Holy Spirit and may he speak the truth and love to us and may we receive these things and may it have that that effect upon it by the spirit of the living God. We pray for the salvation of any and all who've come here this morning dead in their trespasses and sins. We pray that that voice of the Lord that crushes the cedars of the le of Lebanon would be powerful today for the saving of sinners and our meeting together here and in other churches in Chilowak and throughout this country and to the uttermost parts of the earth. We know God that this is the day when the church collectively confesses once again that he is risen. We confess that empty tomb. We confess that that that life of obedience and that sacrificial substitutionary death on the cross and we see that that testifying of it in the in the empty tomb. And God, wherever these things are proclaimed, we pray that you would grant ears to hear and hearts to receive. We ask God that you would deal graciously with the people of God in this congregation. You would build us up in our most holy faith. you would cause us to go forward in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit. That we would honor you in this present evil age and that you would use us to shine as lights and to be faithful in terms of courageously declaring the truth as it is in Jesus. We ask now that you would forgive us for all of our sins and transgression. We know that we are called by the apostle to live in a manner that is consistent with our high calling in the Lord Jesus Christ. And yet we confess with the himmwriter and with the apostle that our hearts are prone to wander and prone to leave the god that we love. So we rejoice lord not that we do sin but when we do sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous. So cleanse us now in that precious blood. Wash us and sanctify us and fit us for service to the most high God. We pray for your blessing upon our churches and the association. We thank you for all of the brothers that'll be gathering together for a meeting on Tuesday night and hopefully for conference on this coming weekend. Lord, bless that conference. Bless the brothers who are flying here to preach and teach to us these wonderful truths concerning who God is. We pray that these men would be filled with the spirit and that they would be very much encouraged to be in the life of our church for even a few brief days. We pray for all those who will attend the conference that it would be under edification and strengthening of the people of God and the churches of God. Again, with reference to our association churches, we pray for those brethren in Medicine Hat and and in Pinoa and in Regina. We think specifically as well of our brother Ryan and Hans and in Armstrong and be with our brother Mike and in Sururi. Just bless these men and cause them to labor in the word and in doctrine to show themselves approved unto God, rightly dividing that word of truth. And may they know the blessing of the spirit upon their ministries. We pray for your grace to be upon the missionary enterprise. We know that there are persons, men gathered in other parts of the world preaching the gospel, men unknown to us, but certainly known by our blessed savior who is building his church. So prosper them and bless them and uphold them and use them for your glory in calling sinners to faith and repentance. Be with those in the persecuted church. As we read in the last hour, we know that we have many blessings that we often take for granted. Be with those saints suffering under hard conditions. And may they be empowered to going forward with joy and with thanksgiving that they are counted worthy to suffer shame for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. We pray for our civil government. We live in a day and age that looks similar to what Isaiah prophesied when he said, "Woe to those who call good evil and evil good." We see your law rejected and rebelled against. We see all manner of lawlessness exalted in this present world. We see the sin of abortion, the sin of euthanasia, the sexual perversion. God, we don't look ultimately to political means. As we look to the power of the Christian gospel and pray that you would bless that word, for in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, the just shall live by faith. So bless that word by the spirit and may it go forth saving sinners for the glory of God Almighty. Lord, continue with us now as we sing, as we pray, and again bless our brother Cam as he preaches to us. And we pray in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. Will you could turn with me again to number 357. 357 will stand as we sing together. The day of resurrection with helover of the passover of God from death to the eternal to the Christ have brought us over with victory. Our heart is see the glory gra and listening to his Oh, and his all and hearing they raise the strength. Now let the hands be joyful. Let her song be. Let all the world be tri and all that is. Let all see and sing. Let all things for Christ our Lord have risen. our Lord [Music] at Well, please turn with me in your Bibles to Luke's Gospel, Luke chapter 2, as we continue our scripture reading through the New Testament in our mor morning worship. So, Luke chapter 2, we'll pick up reading the narrative at verse 25 and read to the end of the chapter. Luke 2 beginning in verse 25. And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared before the face of all peoples, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel." And Joseph and his mother marveled at those things which were spoken of him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, "Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against." Yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also, that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Now, there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Fuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of great of a great age and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity. And this woman was a widow of about 84 years who did not depart from the temple but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant, she gave thanks to the Lord and spoke of him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. So when they had performed all the all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee to their own city Nazareth. And the child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover. And when he was 12 years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and his mother did not know it. But supposing him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey and sought him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking him. Now so it was that after 3 days they found him in the temple sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. So when they saw him, they were amazed. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you done this to us? Look, your father and I have sought you anxiously." And he said to them, "Why did you seek me? Did you not know that I must be about my father's business?" But they did not understand the statement which he spoke to them. Then he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was subject to them. But his mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and men. Amen. Well, after the birth of our Lord Jesus, we see that his earthly parents, Joseph and Mary, were very uh fastidious in keeping old covenant law. Uh certainly they passed that custom down to our Lord Jesus. He had to keep the law in order to merit for us a righteousness that would eventually be imputed to us and received by faith alone. But here we see that particular scene. All the chapter is great to be sure, but Simeon, this older man filled with the spirit, sent to the temple so that he could see the Lord's salvation. It's a wonderful section of holy scripture and one that I've often thought is quite incredible in terms of what's going on here. So verse 25, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. And this man was just and devout. I think that summarizes old covenant teaching in terms of what a a faithful Israelite looked like. He was just and devout. Micah 6 chapter 8 to do justly and to walk humbly be uh justice and mercy and walk humbly before the Lord. But the main emphasis is waiting for the consolation of Israel. And I think it's rightly capitalized here because it refers to the Messiah, the promised Christ who was to come to save his people from their sins. So outwardly in terms of old covenant religion, what Simeon demonstrated was a justness and a devoutness. But it's that waiting for the consolation of Israel, looking forward to the Messiah, the promised one. From Genesis 3:15 all the way on, he was waiting for that time. And it had been revealed to him by the spirit according to verse 26 that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. So then we read that when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him according to the custom of the law, he took him up in his arms. So he takes the babe from Mary and then he starts to rejoice in the living and the true God. And he rejoices in such a way that it specifically background is Isaiah the prophet chapters 42 and 49. But notice what he says. Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen your salvation. To see the Lord Jesus is to see the very salvation of God. Jesus puts it this way in John's gospel in chapter 14 6. I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to me except uh uh no one comes to the father except through me. And so when Simeon is looking at the baby Christ, he's rejoicing that he is actually seeing the very salvation of God. As I mentioned at the outset, Psalm 16 announced his resurrection. The Old Testament also announced his perfect life. The Old Testament also announced his substitutionary sacrificial death. So verse 31, Simeon says, "Which you have prepared before the face of all peoples." This was God's doing, God's initiative. God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. And then the prophet Isaiah a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of your people Israel. But Isaiah prophesied under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in chapters 42 and 46 or uh 42 and 49 of his prophetic word such that the God of heaven and earth would send the son of his love and that one would be the light to the Gentiles. That one would be the salvation of Israel. That one would be the one for all those who look to him in faith to have the forgiveness of sins and a righteousness that is accepted by God. Well, let us pray. Our Father in heaven, we thank you for your word. We thank you for these gospel narratives about the the birth and the life and ministry of our Lord Jesus and what it tells us concerning his passion and his resurrection from the grave and his current session now at your right hand where he ever lives to make intercession for us and where he ever receives to himself all those who come to him in faith. Bless this time together, Lord, and cause these things to resonate in our hearts. And we pray through Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen. Well, you can turn with me again in your HIMYM books to 363. 363. We'll stand as we sing together. [Music] Jesus Christ is today our triumph with holy dayl through our suffer to redee [Music] ourlasting. Sing hallelu to Christ our heavenly kinglu who the cross and praylelu S to redee and singlelu [Music] A nation of [Music] hallelu angels ever single. Hallelu. Sing to our God. Hallelu. Praise eternal as his son. Hallelu. Praise him [Music] all. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Hallelu. Be seated. Good morning to everyone. You can turn in your Bibles with me to 1 Corinthians 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. We're going to read from verse 1 to verse 22. Our focus will be verses 1-4. As you're turning there, if someone were to ask you what is the gospel, there's a number of places you could go to, no doubt, in the holy scriptures. But I would submit that uh one of the better places to go that captures the essence and the content of the gospel of Jesus Christ is found in verses 3 and 4 of 1 Corinthians 15. a a protoced if you will in the Christian church and a wonderful rehearsal of what our savior did for his people. So this is the word of God beginning at 1 Corinthians 15 verse one. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day, according to the scriptures, and that he was seen by Cphus, then by the twel. After that, he was seen by over 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all, he was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace toward me was not in vain. But I labored more abundantly than they all. Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach, and so you believed. Now, if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how does some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty, and your faith is also empty. Yes. And we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ whom he did not raise up if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. Amen. Well, let's pray. God, we thank you for this time together and the preaching of your word. We rejoice in your goodness towards us and giving this giving us this revelation of the Lord Jesus Christ who came into this world sinners to save. We do pray that you'd help us in this act of worship. Be with your people by your spirit encouraging encouraging them in their faith. And Lord God, we pray this morning that by your spirit and through the preaching of the word that sinners in damning unbelief who came in these doors this morning would leave singing the praises of our glorious Christ. And it's in his name that we pray. Amen. Well, what a wonderful passage that we have here in 1 Corinthians 15. And it's a a wonderful passage, but in another sense, it's a very grievous passage to read because there were some who were being stolen away unto the idea that there is no resurrection of the dead. In fact, the very occasion of the writing of this portion of first Corinthians is found in verse 12. Now, if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? uh this was going on in the Corinthian church. And so the apostle Paul comes with this wonderful and heavy corrective in order to argue for the very certain truth that Christ is risen from the dead and therefore there is a resurrection for those who believe in his name. The very the very vital nature of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is brought forth here by the apostle Paul. And in this bringing forth we have a wonderful description or a wonderful definition of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Chrissum on this passage Paul uses great earnestness. For not of morals was his discourse henceforth nor about one man's being a fornicator, another covetous and another having his head covered, but about the very sum of all good things. That's what we have in this passage. the very sum of all good things. What is the gospel of Jesus Christ? It is here in contained. And in looking at verses 1 through 4, we're simply going to notice two things. Those two things are first the necessity of the gospel and secondly the essential content of the gospel. So let's look first then at the necessity of the gospel. And we're going to break this down into five things, but not take too long in doing so. So, the necessity of the gospel is seen first in a sanctified reminding. You know, as Christians, we need reminding. As the hymn says, we're prone to wander. We're prone to leave the God that we love. and the apostle among others. The apostle though know uh knew all too well of the necessity for a sanctified reminding. And this not not only is this something that's needful, but it's something that's glorious as well. As we read the Psalms in our Bibles, we very often find a a rehearsal of the redemptive victories of God. Oh, give thanks to the the Lord for he is good. for his mercies endure forever. And then a rehearsal of what God had done for his people. But we see this sanctified reminding that brings forth the necessity of the gospel. And we see it first because we are prone to forget. Christians are prone to forget. And CH Spurgeon captured this well. He's preaching here. He's he's touching upon the point that we can very often be found in in a coldness in a langanger as it pertains to reflections upon the glories of Christ. And Spurgeon preached these words, "He whom we should make the abiding tenant of our memories is but a visitor therein." The cross where one would think that memory would linger and unmindfulness would be an unknown intruder is desecrated by the feat of forgetfulness. Does not your conscience say that this is true? Do you not find yourselves forgetful of Jesus? Some creature steals away your heart and you are unmindful of him upon whom your affection ought to be set. some earthly business engrosses your attention when you should fix your eye steadily upon the cross. It is the incessant turmoil of the world, the constant attraction of earthly things which takes away the soul from Christ. While memory too well preserves a poisonous weed, it suffereth the rose of Sharon to wither. Let us charge ourselves to bind a heavenly forget me not about our hearts. for Jesus our beloved. And whatever else let slip, let us hold fast to him. That's why the Apostle Paul writes here, "Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received." He has to preach again the gospel of Jesus Christ, which isn't of course a bad thing, but he has to deliver it to a people who are forgetting the very glory of it. He writes again in verse three, for I deliver to you first of all that which you also received. Christians need a constant reminder because we are prone to forget, yes, but also because the very gospel of Jesus Christ is the lifeblood of our Christianity. And so a constant reminder, a constant rehearsal, a constant reflection upon the glories of Jesus Christ is for our nourishment as Christians. I I fear that it could often be the case that we we seek to, you know, set aside the ABCs of Christianity where God first began with us, where we first began with God. We set aside the the gospel, the the ABCs of Christianity so that we can move on to 17 analogies of how to live a better life and be a better you and you know those sorts of things. But these very ABCs of Christianity are to grow up into words, are to grow up into sentences, are to grow up into grammar and comprehension and vocabulary. If we use the the analogy of a of a of a school child, whether by a teacher or by his parents, he learns he or she learns their ABCs. And they don't stop there, but with the use of those ABCs, they move on to words and the structure of sentences and sentences and paragraphs and and those sorts of things. This is how the constant rehearsal of the gospel of Jesus Christ is supposed to serve. We begin there. We grow in that. And unto that day where we breathe our last breath and go into Emanuel's land, the very lifeblood and nourishment of Christianity is seen in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. The necessity of the gospel is also seen secondly in the authority of apostolic witness. Now, it might not be so clear, but it is certainly to be understood here. the authority of apostolic witness. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received. Apostolic declaration underscores and underlines and emboldens or boldens, if that's a word, the the importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It bears apostolic authority. And the declaration comes with the weight of apostolic proclamation of the blessed truth. I, the apostle Paul, declare to you by the very commission of the risen Lord whom you are denying. Thirdly, the necessity of the gospel is seen in the faithful handing down of the faith. Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received. That's a that is a formula of the transmission of the truth of Christianity. The truth is declared therein the gospel is preached and it's received by those who hear it and by the power of the Holy Spirit they're brought forth from the deadness of sin to life in Christ. The importance of the gospel is seen in this faithful handing down of the truth. We've noted it before. We can trace our lineage as Christians back to the proclamation of the G of Jesus Christ by the Apostle Paul. We, you know, people love to engage in genealogy, the research of our heritage familially and, you know, genealogically. It's cool to trace back uh where we came from, the countries from which those whom we came from came from. If that made any sense. It's wonderful as well to research our Christian heritage. What is our profession of the blessed Christ based upon? What is or what was the seed that grew up into our inheritance of Christian faith? It is the proclamation of the apostle Paul preaching to those both Jews and Gentiles the glories of Jesus Christ. The necessity of the gospel is also seen in the reality that it is the very ground of our salvation. Look at the text here. Which I preached to you which also you received and in which you stand by which also you are saved. And so the necessity of the gospel is seen in that the gospel is the very ground and reality of our salvation. That is the message by which we are saved. At some point in your history, a Christian here this morning, you heard the gospel. Perhaps you heard it over and over again. But you heard the gospel of Jesus Christ that the son of God came down from heaven, assumed our humanity, lived a life of perfect obedience to the law of God, died a cursed death in ourstead, rose again the third day, and he brings many sons to glory, and all who believe on him shall have everlasting life. It is the very ground of our salvation. This is why the apostle Paul says, "This gospel is what you stand upon." and by which you are saved. Now, how is it the case that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? And fifthly, and lastly, under the necessity of the gospel, as we see it laid out in verses 1 to 3a, we see the gospel uh the necessity of the gospel is seen in its foremost position in Christian proclamation. Where do we see that in the text? Notice what we see in verse three. For I delivered to you first of all that which you also received. The the language being utilized here in first of all doesn't mean that the Corinthians were the first to hear the gospel message. It's not a chronological statement because we know that the Corinthians were not the first to hear the gospel message. Nor were they the first to hear the gospel message from the apostle Paul. So what does it mean? It bears the weight of I delivered to you of first importance of chief importance of primary of primacy of place the gospel of Jesus Christ. He's setting before them the what is the chief what is the out utmost what is the primary article of the Christian faith the very doing dying and rising again of the son of God and not only is do we see the importance of it in its foremost position in Christian proclamation because of its own merits its own content its own glory but the truths that are in back of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The very doctrine of God, the one who is most holy, most wise, most loving, forgiving transgression, iniquity, and sin. What's in back of the the gospel of Jesus Christ is the very decree of God that this God according to the council of his most holy will in his timing brings forth sinners from everlasting uh damnation to everlasting life. from the deadness of sin to life in Christ. And it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. The very reason for the incarnation of the son of God. Why did the son of god come come into this lower shame? He came for the very doing and dying and rising again that he victoriously engages in for the salvation of his people. So secondly, that brings us now to the essential content of the gospel. Notice what we see here. We see a a three-fold articulation of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse three, for I delivered to you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures that those two verses are the gospel. So remember as we noted at the outset if someone was to ask you what is the gospel that the the answer is not what we do. The answer is not what we feel. The answer is the very perfect work of the of the Lord Jesus Christ. That he died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. That is the blessed gospel of Jesus Christ our savior. And so breaking this down, let's notice first his death. The language is I delivered to you first of all that which I also received that Christ died. The the death of our Lord Jesus Christ is obviously central to the Christian faith. What a blessed thing we have in his death, in his in his crucifixion. And I and I want to note this. I I've I've noted this before because this brings forth I believe the weight of his death and crucifixion. Remember the some of you will remember this quote from Molo of Sardis. He's the one who said marveling in the Lord Jesus Christ that the one who fixed the stars in place is fixed in place upon a tree. He also said with regards to the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ that it is a terrible thing to tell and it's a terrible thing not to tell. And so when we see in the Bible that Christ died, I want that, if you will, to ring in our ears, it's a terrible thing to tell. That is because it is the son of God, the very creator of all things, the very upholder of all things by the word of his power who condescended to our lower shame, our lower existence, assuming our nature without sin, who goes to the cross. And the path to the cross was a terrible one. hated by his countrymen, reviled by his own people, uh being sought after to be murdered and cast down to the earth by wicked hands. He's spit upon, he's bruised, he's beaten, he's nailed to a cross, and he's he's hung upon it. It's a it's a terrible thing to tell. And yet, it's a terrible thing not to tell. Why? Because it is the very salvation of the sons of men. To not tell of the gospel of Jesus Christ, to not tell of the death upon that Roman gibbit of execution is to avoid is to miss the very lifeblood of Christianity. That the son of God incarnated went to the cross that he might bring many sons and daughters to glory. What a glorious thing we have in the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. It was an obedient cross death as pastor Butler has been preaching in Philippians 2. What was the purpose of the incarnation? That the son of God would assume the form of a bondervant coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient even unto the cross death. The Lord Jesus Christ in obedience to his mission comes and gives his life. notice for a particular reason that Christ died for our sins. And so it is the blessed Christian reflection to think upon the death of our Lord Jesus Christ. A terrible thing to tell, yes, but a terrible thing not to tell and a terrible thing not to reflect upon. The salvation wrought by Jesus Christ upon Calvar's cross. What a glorious thing we have in the death of our savior the lord Jesus Christ. And notice as well or listen to these words from first from serial of Jerusalem and then from Augustine. This is serial of Jerusalem because note that the death of our Lord Jesus Christ is not simply a historical event that took place but there is blessed salvation that is linked to it. It's not just Christ died. It's Christ died for our sins. Adam received the sentence Sirill preached. Cursed is the ground in thy labors. Thorns and thistles shall it bring forth to thee. For this cause Jesus assumes the thorns that he may cancel the sentence. You think about that for a moment. There was a sentence resting upon us. There was a wrath and a condemnation abiding upon us. We have all sinned and we have fallen short of the glory of God. And yet Jesus assumes the thorns that we may not that he may cancel the sentence against us. Augustine wrote, "He suffered what we deserved that we might receive what he merited." Christians, I you know, it's okay for you this morning to smile. You know, maybe not maybe not because I'm up here preaching, but because the gospel is so glorious. Smiling is not uh uh you know, uh against the regulative principle of worship. You can smile that Jesus Christ died for your sins, that Jesus Christ bore the curse, that Jesus Christ took upon himself the sentence that was against us. Turn to First Peter for a moment. A couple passages that speak gloriously to the work of Jesus Christ in dying for our sins. Notice in 1 Peter 2, and this is simply in the context of exhorting servants to be submissive. And notice in verse 21 of 1 Peter 2, for to this you were called, that is suffering for the cause of Christ, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow his steps. Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in his mouth, who when he was reviled, did not revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but committed himself to him who judges righteously. Now notice, who himself bore our sins in his own body on the tree, that we having died to sins might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. The the Apostle Peter here brings forth Isaiah 53 into the foreground and is calling upon Christians to reflect upon the fact that Jesus Christ bore our sins in his own body on the tree. By his stripes we are healed. What a blessed thing we have in this gospel content that Christ died for our sins. And notice as well, secondly, he was buried. The burial of our Lord Jesus Christ doesn't get a whole lot of airtime, I I don't think, in in Christian preaching, as at least as much as it as it should. The significance of the burial of Jesus Christ. What do we have in that blessed truth? because it's rehearsed in this proto creed as the very definition and content of the gospel. Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that he was buried according to the scriptures. And so there's something important about the burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. The first thing I believe we have in his burial is a testification to that is a a bearing witness to a testification to the reality of his death. He was buried because he really did die upon Calvar's cross against the the Muslims who would deny his death or in the very least his resurrection but who would deny his death against other god-haters who would deny that he really did die upon Calvar's cross. He was buried and that is a bearing witness to the reality of his death. And so then the reality of the bearing of the curse, if he really did die, then he really did bear the curse that was due to his people. The curse that was due for us having sinned and having sinned flamboyantly against the God of heaven and earth. He was buried as a bearing witness to the truthfulness of his death. And so then therefore the blessed truthfulness of the bearing of the curse. Secondly, it was a fulfillment of prophecy including the Savior's own. Christ prophesied his own burial. Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the belly of the earth. He prophesied his own burial. It is a fulfillment of this blessed part of the complex of gospel truth. And thirdly, it is a declaration of the reversal of the curse of Adam. Listen to Henry on this particular point. Matthew Henry in the Garden of Eden, death in the grave first received their power and now in a garden they are conquered. disarmed and triumphed over. In a garden, Christ began his passion and from a garden he would rise and begin his exaltation. He would go on to write, "Come and see a burial that conquered the grave and buried it. A burial that beautified the grave and softened it for all believers. The burial that once testified to our return to dust now testifies to our union with the risen Lord. Remember that the work of the Lord Jesus Christ is not disconnected from the history and the theology connected to Adam. Christ is the the second or last Adam. The first Adam plunges humanity into sin and the consequences for sin by his fall and the curse comes upon him. From dust you came and to dust you will return. Christ goes into the dust but he raises victoriously. From the grave, from the tomb, from that blessed sephiler. Christ raises again, but we're not there yet. the burial of the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice in 1 Corinthians 15, if you're still there, notice in beginning at verse 46, he's already been elaborating upon the Apostle Paul has the connection to Adam. Adam juxtapos juxtaposed with Christ. Christ as the one who brings life after Adam had brought death. Then notice in verse 46 of 1 Corinthians 15. However, the spiritual is not first but the natural and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust. And as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man. And so this burial among many other glorious things highlights the truthfulness that the curse of Adam will not be victorious for those who are in Christ. But the second Adam being victorious in bearing the curse, this burial will lead inevitably unto the blessed reality of the resurrection the third day. And so there is much significance to this burial. He took our nature, Owen wrote, John Owen, our infirmities yet without sin that he might die. And this death, this returning to dust, he bore not as one merely dying, but as one made a curse for us. And Thomas Goodwin, he was laid in the grave, not for his own sake, but for ours, that we might know he bore not only the guilt of sin, but its consequence, corruption, and descent into the earth. And so very often we you know we we speak of the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and that's glorious and that's fine. There are many creeds that leave out the burial not for any theological reason but just because it so happened to develop and it's biblically it's biblically um literate in its presentation. Christ died and Christ rose again the third day. Excuse me. But obviously death uh burial follows death and in order for one to rise one must be buried. So the burial is assumed when we say the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But the burial ought often to be reflected upon as theologically rich in a presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that brings us then to the fact that he rose again the third day. the blessed language of the passage and that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. And and brethren, this this language is glorious. That smile that I talked about as we move from death to burial to resurrection ought to progressively get wider and the curves of your lips ought to approach closer to your eyes as you reflect upon the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. What a glorious what a glorious things that thing that our eyes of faith can behold that this one put to death upon Calvar's cross. A terrible thing to tell. A terrible thing not to tell. Was buried in the earth and yet emerged victorious on the third day just as he had promised. We see in the resurrection first the demonstration and vindication of having perfectly completed the work he came to do. It punctuates that he really did obey his father. that it really was the case that his meat was to do the will of him who sent him. He promised that he would go to Jerusalem by the hands of wicked men would be put to death and crucified and yet be raised the third day. And that is a demonstration and a vindication of his victory over death uh victory over hell, victory over the grave and the devil. It's a demonstration that he completed the work he came to do. It is clear evidence secondly that our justification is real and that sin was truly paid for. The savior remains in the grave. Well, the savior of course couldn't have remained in the grave. But a messiah who remains in the grave and is not raised again is not one who can bring many sons to glory. That's why the apostle Paul writes what he writes in verses 12 to19. It's a wonderful movement from the the the necessity of the gospel to the certainty of the gospel in verses 3 uh to the work of the gospel and uh through from 9 through to verse 11. And then we have this logic of the gospel from verses 12 to 19. A messiah who remains in the grave brings no hope. A messiah who remains in the grave brings no faith that is uh or brings a a faith a believing that is van vanity and is emptiness. It is hopeless yet Christ has risen. What wonderful language we have in this uh in this word that starts verse 20 this but this but now you see because the implication is brought in verse 19 if in this life only a messiah who hasn't emerged from the grave if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all men the most pity pitiable and then one of the most glorious transitions in holy scripture but now Christ is risen from the head and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Pastor Butler read from Psalm 19. And when the apostle or excuse me, Psalm 16 when when the apostle is writing here and he was and he rose again the third day according to the scriptures, that's one of the chief passages that no doubt would have been in his mind. It's on the lips of the Apostle Peter in the book of Acts. But turn with me further back in the Bible to the book of Genesis in Genesis chapter 1. If the resurrection of Jesus Christ is proclaimed and promised in the Old Testament, where do we find it? And there are multiple places that we could go. But having noted Psalm 16, having had it read at the outset of worship, let's notice one that perhaps commonly is not referred to but one that touches upon the language that Paul uses. Notice in Genesis 1, this is the creation account. Genesis 1 11. Then God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb that yields seed, and the fruit tree that yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed is in itself on the earth." And it was so. And the earth brought forth grass, the herb that yields seed according to its kind, and the tree that yields fruit, whose seed is in itself according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. And note, so the evening and the morning were the third day. the the revelation of the original creation anticipates the blessed reality of the new creation. That on the third day, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep would rise. That on the third day, the first fruits of all those who would be resurrected, Christians throughout the ages, uh that first fruits rises again. And how do we know that this isn't just a coincidence of language? Because one might think that, oh, okay, so it, you know, it says the third day there, you know, big deal. It's just, you know, it's just a coincidence. It's a number. Well, turn to the Gospel of John for a moment. Our first answer should be, well, it's the holy scripture and God God doesn't do things according to coincidence. But notice in the book of John in John 12, Pastor Butler noted this in its connection to the crucifixion and resurrection when he was preaching through it. Notice in John 12 at verse 23, John 12:23, but Jesus answered them saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone. But if it dies, it produces much grain. You see the connection there to the the first creation and the new creation that Jesus brings in his death and resurrection. On the third day, the herbs and the trees that bear fruits raised up out of the ground. And on the third day in the new creation, the Lord Jesus Christ raises from out of the ground, from out of the tomb, having victory over death, over the grave, and over the devil. Notice the language again at verse 20 with regards to this connection. But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. What a blessed thing we have in our holy scriptures. It's not a disconnected piece of literature. It's not just this haphazard slapping together of documents into 66 books, but it's the mind and will of God through the superintending of human authors throughout the ages bringing to bear the message of the Christ who would come into this world, sinners to save. And from the outset of Genesis, we have that blessed truth anticipated, proclaimed in seed form, and it grows up into the blessed truth that in the fullness of the times, God sends forth his son, born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law. What a blessed reality we have in the life, in the death, and in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. John Owen wrote, "Christ was that true seed who by falling into the ground in death brought forth a harvest of many sons to glory." What can we take from this passage? In in conclusion, one of the things that we ought to note is the certainty of the resurrection and so the certainty of our salvation. you we we didn't spend time on the the meat and potatoes of the his historical uh the historical authenticity and scriptural authenticity of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. But note that in closing this is the life, death and resurrection. The life, death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is first according to the scriptures. So our our certainty, our confidence as Christians is grounded in the inherent, infallible and inspired authoritative word of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christ really did come in the incarnation. He really did live a perfect life of obedience to the law of God in the place of all who believe in his name. He really did die upon Calvar's cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for all who believe in him. He really was buried. He really did rise again the third day. And he really did ascend to the right hand of the majesty on high where he intercedes for his people. Isn't that a blessed truth that the one who conquered death, the grave, and the devil currently intercedes for you on your behalf. What a what a blessed thing we have in our savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. What a what a blessed passage we have that opens up the truth and the certainty. And as the apostle Paul goes on to write, notice the confidence ought to be born as well in the fact that there were many eyewitnesses. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the most certain and most documented and uh and most reliable report in the history of literature and historical reporting. Notice the language that we have here in verse 5. and that he was seen by Cphus, then by the twel. After that he was seen by over 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles, then by Paul. In in other words, this isn't some sort of crazy fable born out of a cave in the Middle East by a single individual with no eyewitnesses. This isn't some whippers snapper in the plains of Utah saying that he found a golden tablet in the earth and and is going to inaugurate some wacky religion. Th this is a religion born on the certainty of the scriptures by the will and the power and the mighty awesomeness of the triune God testified to these events by eyewitnesses. It is certain. It is it is certain for you Christians. But notice as well, it it's certain for those who are here in unbelief. But if you are in unbelief, the certainty comes with the fact that Jesus will not be your savior, but your judge unless you believe in his glorious name. the the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is also a testification to a bearing witness to the fact that he will judge the wicked on that great and final day. It's a blessed confidence for Christians but a terror for you if you sit here in unbelief and you do not believe on the blessed savior who came into this world sinners to save. The the world steals away your heart with its allurements. Your flesh rails against the truth. The the devil assails you and seeks to seeks to steal you away so that you will not rest with the God of heaven and earth and the Christ whom he has sent. And the the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a testament to the fact that he will judge you on that great and final day. And it will be righteous and it will be just to cast you into the lake of fire reserved for the devil and his angels. But what a blessed hope. What blessed glory we have in the fact that he rose again the third day and all who lick look to him in uh in faith will have everlasting life. As well we ought to reflect often upon the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is the the gospel of Jesus Christ? It it has to do to to paraphrase Owen with the excellence of the per person of Christ and the virtue of his saving work and efficacy. We ought to to pray for the transmission of truth. We we noted very briefly that there is a declaration and a preaching of the truth and a reception of the truth. What ought that cause the Christian to do? to rejoice in that, but also to pray for it, for the furtherance of the proclamation of the gospel throughout the world. That we would pray for the transmission of truth that the the dying one, the one who died, the crucified one, the buried one, the one who rose again would be proclaimed to a multitude of sinners throughout the earth. What a blessed message that we have in the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Christian, he is risen. That that ought to raise our souls to to to high and and lofty reflections upon so great a savior, so great a God who gave us this gift of salvation and and sinner, he is risen. So don't have him as your judge. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you have him as blessed savior. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. We rejoice in your goodness to us in revealing the gospel of Jesus Christ. This blessed account, this blessed truth that Jesus Christ came into this world sinners to save. That he did so. That he did so perfectly. That it was not an atonement of maybe or perhaps but a definite atonement upon Calvar's cross for a multitude of people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation. that he was raised again the third day after that burial into the earth and that he has ascended to your right hand where he does ever live to intercede for his people to judge his enemies as well. We pray that you would help us to reflect often upon our precious Christ that we would go from this place returning in the evening having reflected upon your glory, your wisdom, your holiness, and your condescending mercy and sending forth the son of your love to redeem us from our sins. Do go with us now and help us to have such minds that do not forget so great a gospel. And we pray in the name of Jesus Christ our savior. Amen. Well, let's stand and sing together. Hymn 572, The Gloria Patchy. 572. Let's stand and sing together. to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. [Music] Amen. Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy. To God our savior who alone is wise be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and forever. Amen. Well, please be seated. We'll have a brief time of prayer. When the piano is finished, you're dismissed. [Music]