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SERMON NOTES ON: REVELATION 1:1-20 TEXT: v18 [ALIVE FOR EVERMORE -WHAT BONES?]

JAMES CAMERON'S CLAIM THAT HE HAS FOUND
THE BONES OF JESUS CHRIST REFUTED

Preached in Cork Free Presbyterian Church on the Lord's Day 4th March, 2007
mp3 sermon here


Does this box contain the bones of Jesus Christ?
O
R


Does this Book contain the truth of God?


If you have never heard of James Cameron, then you will need me to tell you: He is an Oscar winning film director who directed the Hollywood Film: "The Titanic" and also created the franchise for "The Terminator" series of movies
 He is a very wealthy man, (Titanic movie bringing in $1.8 billion world wide)
If Cameron had stuck to film directing, then he would have done himself and the world a great favour

He has clothed himself this past week in infamy because he has made a claim that an limestone coffin containing the bones of Jesus Christ of Nazareth was found 25 years ago and he further alleges that Jesus was the husband of Mary Magdalene and they had one child, named Judas

We not only reject these claims, but we must abominate them
We abominate the idea that Jesus Christ married, not because marriage is ever wrong (Hebrews 13:4) but because of the silence of the NT
True: John 21:25 but marriage is not one of them
Every necessary detail/Christ's life is given - the silence here deafens
This denial then also covers the offspring claim as well

We need to remember (if the find is not an elaborate hoax) that there were many males in Israel called Jesus (Greek rendering:  Joshua)
This is why Pilate said; Matthew 27:22 What will I do with Jesus who is called Christ?
There were many Mary's at this time and many Judas' and to base the claim that Cameron does purely on the finding of a box beggars belief

He is doubted, not only by Christians, but also by archaeologists and others too without the vested interest that we have, so we do not view this claim as a real threat and it is likely that any who are foolish enough to believe it would be swayed by something else anyway

Why then this sermon?
Because it is an opportunity to preach the tremendous truth:
The bones of Jesus Christ will never be found, because he not only died, but He rose again and never died again, but (as text declares) He is alive for evermore
Our thought: Some reasons why death could not keep an hold on our Lord Jesus Christ and why He is alive therefore for evermore

1) HE WAS AND ALWAYS REMAINED GOD INCARNATE:

A/ Many of those who make allegations like that of Cameron are not always open enemies of Jesus Christ
As far as I know, Cameron is not an atheist, or at least, not one of those wackier sorts who denies that Jesus Christ ever lived
He says that he always believed in the historical reality of Jesus Christ
He noted that there is no physical evidence and now (feels) he has righted that shortcoming

B/ That Jesus Christ was a man - a real man - is obviously not contested
He is distinctly called "The man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5)
He manifested all the essential attributes of humanity (sin excepted)
He spent 9 months in the womb of His mother, Mary
He went through the growing up stages of life - childhood, adolescence etc., He was tired, hungry, thirsty, angry, happy etc.,
It is this that helps us relate to Him:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:16)  

C/ But Christ was not just a man, no matter, how great…He became man
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14)
Who was the Word? The Word was with God…the Word was God (1:1)
Existed before Bethlehem: "His birth…just another event in His life"
He never ceased to be God, even when He became man
He never ceased to be God even when He hung upon the Cross
Old Question: Did God die on the Cross?
Answer: The humanity of Jesus Christ died on the Cross, but His Deity did not and could die
I'm sorry if that sounds awkward, but it is a most Biblical answer
If God died, this world that by Him consists would fold and be no more
The God in whose hand thy breath is (Daniel 5:23)
What if God died?

D/ If the bones of Jesus Christ were found, then the whole Bible is a sham -
Christ Himself then was  the greatest liar, because He claimed to be and He happily accepted the worship of God (John 20:28-29)
But if Christ is God (He is) then these bones are not His (They're not)

Another reason why Christ is alive for evermore is:
2) HE CONQUERED SIN AND THEREFORE DEATH AT CALVARY:

A/ We have already alluded to the fact that Jesus Christ died
We cannot dispute His death nor the fact that He was buried
But we must state that His death was no ordinary death
Not referring to death by crucifixion - two others crucified beside Him
But to the fact that He died to conquer sin

B/ What is sin? Sin is the breaking of God's law (1 John 3:4)
Sin is the great enemy of God that seeks to deface Him and His rule
Sin separates all men (but especially the elect) from God
God sent the Lord Jesus Christ to deal with sin once for all
The Lord Jesus Christ knew no sin and did no sin
He became the Lamb/God who took away the sin/world (John 1:29)
If you are a Believer tonight, then all your sins were laid on Christ
He made a full and complete atonement for them
They will never be remembered against you any more
They will not rise up in the Day/Judgement and condemn you

C/ In this death, Christ destroyed the works/Devil (1 John 3:8)
You have the picture of the ancient Romans who paraded their captives in chains in their grand victory parades:
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:15)
Same thought captured in Psalm 24:7-10  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King/ glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King/glory shall come in. Who is this King/glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King/glory. Selah.

In conquering sin, He conquered sins fruit i.e. death, also:
Text says that He has the keys of hell and death in His hand
Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; (Hebrews 2:14)  
Death is an enemy - the last enemy - but it will be destroyed:
The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:26)
Why is it in the future if accomplished through Christ's death?
Ans:- Because God's purposes must be fulfilled, which include the Believer experiencing death without fear, because of what Christ did
But we can speak of its defeat in the past tense because it is based on what Christ has already done - All prophecy is history to God

This is why the child/God need not fear death
Some do, because of various reasons, but no reason relates to sin
Death with all its angry roars cannot touch the Christian
He need not fear death, for its fangs have been removed
Therefore Paul could calmly face death: I am now ready to be offered
Many a saint/God has entered the shadow/valley of death without fear
This is because Christ conquered sin and therefore conquered death

D/ Our Lord Jesus, in His humanity, lay for 3 days in the tomb
He really did die - No swooning or whatever
We read in Acts 2: 24  Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
According to Cameron, it was not only possible but actual
His claims do not admit of the mere possibility
But God says : Not possible for Christ to be detained by death
Therefore these claims are those of a knave or a fool
 
Another reason why Cameron's claims cannot  be true:
3) THERE IS NO SALVATION IF JESUS IS NOT ALIVE FOR EVERMORE:
A/ Consider the following statement from Romans 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
The word "for" (x2) means " on account of" so Christ was resurrected from the dead because (as evidence) of our justification
As said earlier: This is because He swallowed up death and defeated it
But if He died and rose again and then died again (hence the bones) then death has still got the power and our justification (which keeps us out of an eternal hell) is smashed and we are still in our sins
Jesus said in text "I am alive for evermore" - No possibility/death

B/ Another reason why it is so important is that a dead Christ cannot impart eternal life to those who believe in Him
All the things that accompany salvation cannot be if He is still dead:
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)
See the basis of this uttermost salvation? He ever liveth…
How can a dead Christ intercede for us? Simply put: He can't

C/ Those who believe: Christ's bones are in this (or any other) tomb cannot be saved, unless they abandon this unbelief and embrace/truth:
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. (Romans 10:9)
A faith in a dead Saviour is a dead faith that cannot save the soul
This is why Christians have out these things on the list of absolute fundamentals/faith, refusing fellowship with all who deny them
We have got to, for our own spiritual wellbeing  

D/ According to the BBC, residents nearby the place of Christ's supposed tomb are anticipating a rise in the value/houses as "Christians will want to move there"  - Why? Who would call himself a Christian if these things be so?

4) HELL'S INTEREST IN DENYING THE RISEN SAVIOUR:

A/ Whether Cameron is a knave/fool… let others judge, but beyond the foolish notions of a Hollywood mogul and I hear the hiss/serpent
Hell has always promoted the idea of a dead Saviour
Satan has always questioned the credentials of Jesus Christ - not because he does not accept them as being true - Even Satan knows better - but because he is so twisted and perverse that he wants to damn as many people with him as he possibly can - hence the lie
There is nothing new in this kind of attack - It seems almost old fashioned in that it has come from outside the church - but there will be those who will use it further to strengthen themselves in unbelief

B/ Is Cameron on an ego trip? Motivated by money? Is he just a nutter?
God knows and judges his heart accordingly, but we may judge (as done) the claim he has made and we condemn it as absolute rubbish!
Appeal to seek the Lord

THE END

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