The Greatest Victory

The Greatest sacrifice culminated with the greatest victory of all time. The resurrection of Christ Jesus.

Review:
● Out of love, God gave us freewill
● Out of our freewill, we rebelled against God and sinned.
● Our sin separated us from a Holy God.

Isaiah 59:2 (NIV) But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.

● Our sin is so grievous to God that payment for our sin could only be satisfied by God Himself.

Romans 6:23 (NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

● We all face an inescapable problem, a physical and spiritual death because of our sin.
● God’s solution is a person – Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

● We cannot earn our way out of sin. Only Jesus can pay for our sin.
● Our part is to humble ourselves, turn from our sinful ways and respond in faith to God.

Romans 10:9-10 (NIV) If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

● Faith in Jesus is the only way to receive salvation and a right standing with God.
● This gift of salvation is completed through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Hebrews 2:14-15 (NLT) Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

● Jesus had to experience death and be raised from it in order to claim victory over sin and death.

Mark 16:4-7 (NIV) But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

1. Because of the resurrection, Jesus redeems our past.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV) For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Psalm 103:12 (NIV) as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

● Those in Christ are rescued, redeemed and forgiven.

Galatians 2:20 (NIV) I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

● We have been given new life through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection.

2. Because of the resurrection, the power of God is available for those who put their faith in Christ.

Ephesians 1:19-20 (NLT) I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

● We have the same power that God used to bring Jesus Christ out of the grave, available to us to help us live a fruitful life as we face trials and challenges.

2 Peter 1:3 (NLT) By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence.

● Through the power of the Holy Spirit, our lives are being transformed into the image of Christ.
● We have the power to say no to sin.

3. Because of the resurrection we have a guaranteed future and hope.

Hebrews 10:23 (NIV) Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

● Our certainty is that Jesus is returning for us, He will make all things new.

1 Peter 1:3-4 (NIV) Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,

● We are born again to a living hope because we have eternal life in a resurrected savior.
● Our hope lives because it is based on an inheritance that is incorruptible because it is reserved in heaven.

Revelation 21:3-4 (NIV) And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Small Group Discussion:
Exodus 17:8-16 (Aaron and Hur Lifting Moses’ Hands); 1 Corinthians 15:56-57; Romans 8:1-2

Questions:
1. Who are the different people in the Exodus story and what roles did they play?
2. Which role do you think was the most important?
3. Who do you relate to the most? And why?
4. How do you think God has designed and gifted you to play a part in His victory?
5. How would you describe victory? What does victory look like in your life now?
6. Who would you choose (or have chosen) to go into battle with you? Why?
7. How do you keep the victory we have in Jesus in perspective when you are going through the battles of life?