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Why Seek Ye The Living Among The Dead?
Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21). The perfect, sinless Son of God never sinned, not one time. Yet, He willingly laid down His life as a ransom for many. God poured His wrath over sin out upon His own precious Son as Jesus hung on the cross. Jesus died, was buried and rose again victoriously three days later. That’s right, Jesus rose from the dead. On the morning of His resurrection, several women came to anoint His body with spices and an angel asked the women this question: “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
Luke 24:1-10 says: Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He Is Not Here
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles.
Why seek ye the living among the dead? What a great question. My friends and I are out here tonight because we serve a risen Savior. Jesus is not among the dead. No, He is risen. He now sits at the right hand of God the Father in Heaven. We are out here sharing the Good News, Jesus died in the place of guilty sinners who repent and trust Him. Salvation is for all who recognize that they can’t save themselves and who turn to Christ Jesus. You and I cannot work our way to Heaven. We can’t clean ourselves up enough for God to accept us. Only the shed blood of Jesus Christ can cleanse you.
Who Are You Trusting For Your Salvation?
Who or what are you trusting in tonight? Maybe you are trusting in a prophet or a religious leader that has died and is still among the dead. Maybe you are a Muslim and you follow Muhammad. Where is Muhammad right now? He’s buried in Medina, Saudi Arabia. Muhammad did not rise from the dead. He is dead and buried. A dead man cannot save you from your sins. Islam cannot save you. Joseph Smith was killed in Nauvoo, Illinois. His body is buried there. Mormonism cannot save you. Joseph Smith is dead. A dead man can’t save you. Why seek ye the living among the dead?
Being a Jehovah’s Witness will not save you. Charles Taze Russell is dead and he’s buried in Pittsburg Pennsylvania. He cannot save you. Dead men can’t save your soul. L. Ron Hubbard started the Church of Scientology. He’s dead and his ashes were scattered in the Pacific Ocean. You may not be able to go to his grave site, but he’s still dead. Dead men can’t save you so why seek ye the living among the dead?
What Do False Religions Have In Common?
We could name countless other cults tonight, but you get the drift. All the founders of these cults, these false religions are dead. Why do you want to follow a dead person? Do you know what all of these cults and many others have in common? They wrongly tell you to work your way to Heaven. It’s all dependent on you being good enough or working hard enough to go to Heaven. Nothing, could be farther from the truth.
You and I cannot earn salvation. And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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 (Ephesians 2:1-9).
Only Jesus Saves
Salvation is of the Lord. Only Jesus saves. None of the dead people I mentioned earlier can save you. Only Christ Jesus can save your soul. There is no other savior and Jesus is very exclusive. He says that He is the only way of salvation. Oh, don’t trust in yourself, don’t trust in your own good works. Don’t trust in anything or anyone else except for Jesus. He is not in the tomb. He is risen. Come to Jesus and be saved. Repent and surrender your life, utterly and completely to Jesus.
The Lord doesn’t ask you to repeat a prayer. He doesn’t ask you to clean yourself up enough for God to accept you. No, Jesus tells you to repent and believe the Gospel. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel (Mark 1:14-15).
In Matthew 16:24-26, then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Don’t Die Trusting A Dead Man Or Dead Woman
Tonight if you are trusting in anyone other than the risen Lord Jesus then I ask you: why seek ye the living among the dead? Oh, don’t foolishly die in your sins. Don’t die trusting in a dead man or a dead woman. Trust in Jesus alone. Our Lord and Savoir says that you must be born again. You had a physical birth and now you need a spiritual birth. You must be born again or the guilty of your sins remain upon you. God’s wrath also remains upon you if Jesus is not your Lord and Savior.
Oh, come to Jesus and be saved. Recognize that your sins have separated you from God. There is nothing that you can do to save your self or make yourself right with God. That’s why we need a Savior. Jesus is that only savior. Not a dead man or dead woman. Only Jesus saves us from our sins. But you must come to Him through repentance and faith. There is no other way of salvation.
The Bible says that we are to have repentance toward God and faith in Jesus. In Acts 20:20-21 the apostle Paul says: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sacrificing To Demons
If you are involved in any cult or if you are worshiping a “god” of your own making, then you are worshiping demons. You may not believe this tonight, but listen to Deuteronomy 32:16-18: They (the Israelites) provoked him (God) to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
They sacrificed unto devils (demons), not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not. Of the Rock that begat thee thou art unmindful, and hast forgotten God that formed thee. Oh, don’t foolishly worship demons tonight. Don’t continue seeking the living among the dead. Instead, repent of your sins and submit your life to King Jesus. Oh, do this and be saved. Turn to Christ and live.
(This message was proclaimed in downtown Springfield, MO on August 19, 2022)