Starting Over Is Possible

Genesis 3:1-24; 1 Corinthians 15:1-28 / Psalm 23:1-6

Come, ye faithful, raise the strain of triumphal gladness:
God hath brought His people forth into joy from sadness.
Now rejoice, Jerusalem, and with true affection
Welcome in unwearied strains Jesus’ resurrection.

I. Celebrate

A. God has brought His people from sadness to joy. “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 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:” (1 Corinthians 15:1-4)

B. Welcome the Resurrection. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” (1 Corinthians 15:20)

C. Because Christ rose from the dead, Christians expect to live again after death. “But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Romans 8:11)

D. Christians expect to start over both spiritually and physically. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,” (1 Peter 1:3)

E. The Resurrection is the fundamental message of the Christians; personality does not end at the grave. “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.” (John 5:28-29)

II. Christ Has Set the Prisoners Free

A. The human condition has been difficult from the beginning. “In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.” (Genesis 3:19)

B. Even birth itself is a painful experience. “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee.” (Genesis 3:16)

C. God comes to the aid of the oppressed. “For the LORD heareth the poor, and despiseth not his prisoners.” (Psalm 69:33) “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.” (Isaiah 42:7)

D. The risen Lord summons to Himself all those who are weary with the world. “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28-29)

III. God Makes the World Fresh

A. God restores what sin and the world tarnish. “And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.” (Revelation 21:5)

B. Heaven’s record of fulfilled prophecy is impressive; what could be more impressive than the Resurrection of Jesus? “Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them.” (Isaiah 42:9)

C. Believers are new people; old failures need not control people. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

D. People who listen to Jesus see new possibilities everywhere. “And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.” (John 8:3-11)

'Tis the spring of souls today: Christ hath burst His prison,
And from three days’ sleep in death As a sun hath risen;
All the winter of our sins, Long and dark, is flying
From His light, to whom we give Laud and praise undying.

[John of Damascus]