The Truth About Easter (033124)

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Pastor Joseph Campbell

South Charlotte Baptist Church

Sunday Morning • Sermon • Submitted a month ago • Presented a month ago • 55:24

Acts 13:13–49

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Scripture Reading: Acts 13:26-30.

Message

Illustration: Recently, as I was out in a neighborhood taking our Resurrection Sunday seed packets door to door, I came across a young boy and his sister who were playing on the sidewalk outside their home.

The young boy (who couldn’t have been any more than 8 or 9 years old) asked me, “What are you doing?”

My response, “I’m inviting people to come and celebrate Easter with us.”

I then immediately followed that up with a question of my own, “Do you know what Easter is?” I asked the little boy.

Without even thinking about it, he blurted out, “The Easter Bunny is coming!”

Then, this past week, I was in another neighborhood. As I walked up to a particular home, the owner of the home pulled into the drive way. I waited patiently for him to exit his vehicle. When I introduced myself, I help out one of the seed packets and said, “Easter is coming up and we are inviting families to come and celebrate with us.”

He declined the invitation by saying, “We are not Christian.”

The longer I thought about his response, the more I realized that even he did not understand the truth about Easter. Why? Because if he truly understood the truth about Easter, he would know that Easter is for everyone - not just “Christians!”

If we truly believed the truth of John 14:6

John 14:6 KJV 1900

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Then it would/should bother us when we see homes with these:

Home 1

In all honesty, for every 1 home which had a “Christian” easter decoration, there were hundreds of homes that had these types of “Easter” displays.

Home 2

Many homes had these…

Home 3

This is the depiction of one of the most well-known and most worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon of gods.

Many homes also had these…

Home 4

Many homes worship the “god” of sports…

Home 5

I saw one home that a flag which stated, “As for me and my house, we will cheer for Clemson!”

Then, there was this home…

Home 6

All of these homes, taken collectively, do seem to indicate that there are many in the Charlotte, NC area - which, according to the American Bible Society, is the 6th “most Bible-minded city” in the United States - either do not know, do not fully understand, or do not care about the truth of Easter.

Paul and Barnabas, on their first missionary journey, came to Antioch of Pisidia.

As was their habit, they went to the Jewish synagogue and, after the reading of the law and the prophets, Paul was asked, “Do you have any word of exhortation for the people?” (Vs. 15)

Paul then took the opportunity to preach a message centered on the truth of Easter, seeking to point others to salvation through Jesus Christ.

Not to get too side tracked but, are you ready/prepared to share the truth of Easter with others?

1 Peter 3:15 KJV 1900

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

Truth must be declared.

Acts 13:32 KJV 1900

And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers,

So, what is the truth of Easter?

The Truth

Acts 13:30 (KJV 1900)

But God raised him from the dead:

Acts 13:37 KJV 1900

But he, whom God raised again, saw no corruption.

Easter is the celebration of the fact that Jesus Christ rose from the dead the third day after His crucifixion. Also, it cannot be separated from Christ’s death and burial.

Easter has nothing to do with chocolate bunnies or bunnies of any sort.

Easter has nothing to do with eggs.

Easter has nothing to do with pastel colors.

The Basis of Truth

Truth must have a basis; it must have a foundation.

The truth of Easter does not find its foundation in fairy tales and stories.

The truth of Easter does not find its basis in popular culture.

The truth of Easter does not find its basis in religion.

The truth of Easter finds its basis in God’s Word.

Turn to and read Acts 13:46-49.

vs. 46: the Word of God

Vs. 48: the Word of the Lord

Vs. 49: the Word of the Lord

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (KJV 1900)

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how 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:

Where do you turn for truth?

Family and friends

Social media

News outlets

Educators

Ultimately, you can only find truth in God’s Word.

John 17:17 KJV 1900

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

And that’s exactly what Paul was giving to the people in Antioch.

The Reason for the Truth of Easter

For many, Easter is…

The unofficial start of spring

It’s a long weekend.

It’s the start of Spring Break.

It’s the opportunity to buy a new “Easter” outfit or to switch from their winter wardrobe to the spring wardrobe.

It’s an opportunity to have a “special” meal with family or friends.

However, in all reality, Easter has nothing to do with any of those things.

Acts 13:38–39 KJV 1900

Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

The forgiveness of sins.

Romans 3:10 KJV 1900

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Forgiveness of sins comes only through Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:23 KJV 1900

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 15:3 (KJV 1900)

…Christ died for our sins…

All that believe are justified from all things.

Justified/Justification: Declared to be righteous.

Romans 4:24–5:1 KJV 1900

But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

Romans 10:9–13 KJV 1900

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

You cannot be justified by keeping the law of Moses.

Ephesians 2:8–9 KJV 1900

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Titus 3:5–7 KJV 1900

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Results of the Truth of Easter

Truth - real truth - is life changing!

After Paul declared the truth of Easter in Antioch, it demanded a response.

Many believed

Acts 13:43 KJV 1900

Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

Acts 13:48 KJV 1900

And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed.

Some rejected

Acts 13:45 KJV 1900

But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.

Acts 13:50 KJV 1900

But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.

So the question then for us this morning is this:

How will you respond to the Truth of Easter?

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