Proper 27
November 6, 2016[1]
Luke 20:27–82
After death, anything
The Triune God Curbs Evil and Overcomes Death with
Resurrection
Christians live as “sons of God, being sons of the
resurrection” (Luke 20:36), for the Lord our God “is not God of the dead, but
of the living” (Luke 20:38). “Those who deny that there is a resurrection”
(Luke 20:27) neither know the Scriptures nor the power of God, but the baptized
faithful know “that the dead are raised” (Luke 20:37). For the Lord, who was,
and is and is to come, knows Israel’s sufferings and has “come down to deliver
them” (Ex. 3:8). Moses reveals the name of Yahweh to God’s chosen people, by
which He is “remembered throughout all generations” (Ex. 3:15). In contrast to
that sacred remembrance of His name, St. Paul warns against the antichrist, who
“takes his seat in the temple of God” (2 Thess. 2:4). That lawless man preaches
and practices the activity of Satan. Christians, however, are comforted by the
coming of the Lord Jesus, who slays the antichrist and refutes his false
doctrine “with the breath of his mouth” (2 Thess. 2:8). By His preaching,
“stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught” (2 Thess. 2:15).
Hear, receive and believe God’s promise of love, comfort and good hope.
According to a Gallup poll taken in 1976 - 60% of
American people believe there is life after death. While the figure is
encouraging it says that almost one-third do not believe anything follows
death. That was 40 years ago. What about today? The most recent poll suggests
that since 1997, belief in heaven has ranged between 72% and 83%. According to
Gallup's most recent Values and Beliefs poll[2],
81% of Americans currently say they believe in heaven, 10% are unsure, and 8%
do not believe. There are far less today than when Jesus lived. Do we have any
basis for a belief in life after death? Other than wishful thinking? Or a
personal longing to continue to live?
In Jesus’ day, the Sadducees used the ridiculous
story of a man with seven wives to prove there was no resurrection. We need to
know that life after death is not our doing but is God’s work. It is based on
the truth that God is an ever-living God and is the God of the living because
they live in Him. There is life after death because -
God is God only of the living – V. 38
God loves us in Christ – V. 36
God lives in us by faith in Christ – V. 38
By faith, we believe in the Resurrection for we are
Easter people.
1. The Old
Testament teaches the Resurrection.
A. The Sadducees try to us the Old
Testament to disprove the resurrection. (Vv. 28-33)
B. Yet, Jesus uses the Old
Testament to prove the resurrection. (Vv. 34-38)
C. Other Old Testament passages
support this truth. (See. Job 19:25-27; Isaiah 26:19;
Daniel 12:2)
2. The New
Testament teaches the Resurrection.
A. Jesus is “the resurrection and
the life” (John 11:25)
B. The resurrection consists of
1. The restoration and glorification of the body (1
Corinthians 15:42-49)
2. The reunion of the body and the soul.
C.
Our resurrection has its basis in Christ’s redemption of the human family in
His resurrection (Romans 10:9; 1 Corinthians 15:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:14)
D.
Jesus’ resurrection has significance for you not only on Judgment Day but also
right now. Already in this life it effects in you a spiritual resurrection,
empowering you to live even more and more in harmony with the Father’s will.
3. The
Resurrection is consistent with the nature of God.
A. God created human beings for
life, not death. (Luke 20:37-38)
B. The Father sent His Son to
rescue fallen humanity.
1. He buys us back and redeems us. (Mark 10:45)
2. He gives us a new life. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
C.
This gives power, purpose and meaning to our life. (Luke 20:38, “for all live
to Him”; 2 Corinthians 5:15; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:3)
The hope of the resurrection gives life an aim,
purpose and goal. The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your
life funning up and down the field, but you never score a point. We are more
then conquerors through Christ who loves us. Because of the cross and empty
tomb we are in fact Easter people!
Schnorr von Carolsfeld woodcuts © WELS for
congregational and personal use
Words –765
Passive Sentences – 4%
Readability –68.4%
Reading level – 7.2
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