THE POWER OF GOD AND THE RESURRECTION

(1.) BECAUSE JESUS HAS RISEN FROM THE DEAD AND IS ALIVE WE CAN HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ALL OF THE PROMISES OF GOD – Matthew 17:22-23
PROMISE #1 – Jesus will rise from the dead
-Matthew 28:1-6
-Mark 9:30-32
-Luke 24:6
-John 2:19
Numbers 23:19 – “God is not a man that He should lie”
-the Lord always keeps His Word
-we can count on all of the promises in the Bible
 – PROMISE #2 — Jesus is coming back again – John 14:1-3
-there signs occurring on earth right now pointing to the fact
***Violence – Matthew 24:37-39
***Corruption – Matthew 24:37-39
***Econoimc Issues – Rev 6:5-6
***Fear – Luke 21:25-26
***Disease and Virus – Luke 21:10-11
***The Rise of China – Rev 9:13-16
-PROMISE #3 – THE LORD WILL FORGIVE ALL OF OUR SINS
-we have all sinned – sin means to miss the mark
-1 Corinthians 15:12-22
-Psalm 103:1-3,12
a. When it comes to forgiveness we need to focus on the One who forgives and not on the sins of people – vs3, 12
-Who & He is Jesus Christ
-Jesus wants to forgive us and it is His nature to forgive
-Only Jesus Christ can forgive us
          (1.) JESUS FORGIVES ALL OF OUR SINS – PSALM 103:3
-anything that goes against the Lord and His Word
          (2.) JESUS FORGIVES US AS OFTEN  AS WE COMMIT SINS  – PSALM 103:3, 8-12
-These verses are not giving us the liberty to sin – the Bible says do not sin
-But there are times we will commit the same sin and Jesus will forgive us
-there are no respectable sins – sin is sin and the Lord forgives sin
          (3.) JESUS NEVER HOLDS YOUR SINS AGAINST YOU – Isaiah 43:25
-there are no records of your past sins….your past record is wiped clean
-the Lord forgives you the first time you ask for forgiveness
          (4.) FORGIVENESS ALLOWS A PERSON TO ENTER HEAVEN – Hebrews 12:1-3
-Listen to the crowd – those who have died and went to heaven
-they are telling us heaven is great & that the Lord keeps His promises