The Church of Joy, Williamson Ga

Throughout history events and inventions have shaped the way we live. We are all affected by them… many things are so ingrained in our life that we don’t give it much thought to what it was before the event, before the invention.

Here’s a case in point…electricity.
We don’t give it much thought, we just have become use to having it. We don’t give it much thought of what life was without it. But life without it was very, very different.

What would life be without electricity?

In 1879, the great American inventor Thomas Edison was finally able to produce a reliable, long lasting electric light bulb in his laboratory. By the end of the 1880’s, small electrical stations based on Edison’s designs were in a number of US cities.

Now, we don’t give light bulbs much thought until we have to change one that is blown or the power goes out from a storm…

An even greater event - One event in history has changed everything… beyond what we can hardly even comprehend: Jesus’ resurrection.

Let’s look at this a little closer today.
Before Jesus’ resurrection - Here’s the truth of the how bad it was:

1. Sinful man is cutoff and alienated from God

Verse 5:18 says we were condemned. (doomed, lost)
The sentence of judgment came from God in Genesis 2:16-17

>We faced despair, condemnation, hopelessness, which leads to have fear in life and be helpless in the face of death.
>We were alone and in chaos.

2. Our sinful behavior made us the enemy of God

In Romans 8:8 Paul says that if we live in the realm of the flesh, we cannot please God. For the flesh is hostile to God.

What a really sad condition… man is destitute.

I love these two passages that show an interruption in the chaos… One starts with a “But Then”, and the other starts with a “But Now”…

These are significant moments - For in them, we hear the good news of how Jesus changed everything:

Jesus reconciled us to God.
"But now..."
(Col. 1:22)

Let’s look at these "But then, but now" history changing moments:
Luke 23:26-Luke 24:12

As a result of Jesus' death, burial and resurrection... everything changed. 2 Cor. 5:16-18

The significance of His resurrection is incredible. He is the first fruits of those to be raised from the dead, ensuring that we will be raised, too (1 Cor. 15:20-23; Rom. 6:4-5). The power that raised Jesus from the dead, the Holy Spirit, is at work in us now (Eph. 1:17-20). The Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead will give life to our mortal bodies. Rom. 8:10-11)

Communion: 1 Cor. 11:23-26
Zakar - remember so that you live in and live out what has been given