The record-union., 1893-04-03
UP FROM THE GRAVE.
Easter Sermon on "The Power of
Christ's Resurrection"
Preached by tie Rev. s. P. Davis Yes
terday at the Emmanuel
Baptist Church.

The following is a synopsis of an
Easter sermon delivered yesterday morn
ing at the Emmanuel Baptist Church at
Twenty-fifth street, by the pastor, Rev.
S. p. Davis, who used as text words
found in Phil. ill.,, 10: 'That l may
know Him and the power of His resur-
rection."
Christ's resurrection, said the speaker,
occupies very prominent place in the
New Testament Scriptures. 1t is dwelt
upon in historical narrative; it enters
largely into the preaching of the apostles;
it is often referred to in apostolic letters.
One reason, no doubt, for making
Christs resurrection so prominent was
that it established His claims as nothing
else could. For this is the great miracle
of Scripture. Others, in comparison with
it, are as candles compared with the sun
light. When the sun arises they are eX-
tinguished because no longer needed. So
when this great miracle had free cur
ency given to it all others ceased because
no longer needed.
But to the believer, now and always,
the truth that Christ arose from the dead
is an important one. Our faith is not
merely in crucified but also in a risen
and gloritied Lord. The Apostle Paul
felt the Importance of this truth. He
says, II count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord" Then in the text he
tells US what is included in this knowl-
edge, That may know Him and the
power of His resurrection"
First let US consider the power of
Christs resurrection in the establishment
and propagation of Christianity. 1t is
because of Christ's resurrection that the
Christian church ever came into exist
ence at all and has continued till the pres
ent day. When Christ had died and was
buried his disciples became respondent;
their hopes were also buried. They be-
gan to be scattered abroad, and if He had
not arisen all would have come to
naught. They had no hope that he would
rise from the dead, and when told that he
had done so they would not believe it.
Instead of being over-credulous and easily
imposed upon they could not believe i'll
his resurrection without the most incon-
testable evidence. But they had such as
surance OF the fact as wrought in them a
complete transformation. Former tim
idity was gone; subsequently great bold
ness was shown and prosecutions and
even martyrdoms were endured.
The ready reception of the Gospel by
great multitudes was IN view of Christ'S
! resurrection. This was more convincing
than all his previous works. Therefore,
within fifty days after this event as many
as 5000 became his professed disciples,
and that, too, not in some distant place,
but in the very city in which his death
and resurrection had occurred, and where
therefore, it would be easiest to detect
any effort at deception. Hence the
Savior once said to his disciples, Greater
works than these shall he do''-partly,
Il IN of hn
pouring of the Holy Spirit, but also be-
cause of the evidence in his behalf af-
forded by his resurrection. He was in
deed declared to be the Son of God with
| power by the resurrection from the
dead" This was the sign" promised to
the Jews, who asked for one; and it is the
one thing above all others which unbe-
Geving men cannot explain away, though
in various ways they have attempted to
| do so.
| Again, Christ's resurrection gave to the
| church the benefits of his own presence.
/ So when he commissioned his disciples
! to go forth on different mission he said:
| 'Lo, | am with you always" This gave
inspiration and help and assurance of
success. How often undertakings fail
| because of the death of the original lead
ers or prime movers. But Christ forever
| lives and rules in his kingdom and there
fore its future is secure.
| oSCOuuIys we Oh the power
of ChrlStS resurrection in the life of the
individual Christian. Paul was speaking
| of his own personal experience when he
used the language of our text. He
wanted to know not merely the fact of
/ Christs resurrection, but the power of it,
Our justification at the beginning of
the new life is because of Christ's resur-
rection, as well as his death. He was
delivered for our oifenses and raised
again for our Justification" According
to the sacriticial ideas of the book of He
| brews it would seem that the resurrec-
ton and ascension of Christ were neces-
sary in making an offering for sin that
the work of atonement might be COM
| plete. The sacrifice must be presented
| before God As were the priestly offerings
in the temple of old. But "ChrIst is not
entered into the holy places made with
hands belonging 10 the Jewish temple)
which are the figures of the true, but into
heaven itself now to appear in the pres
ence of God for u.s. And because he
does thus appear in our behalf we can
enjoy not only a removal OF guilt, but
| also restoration to divine favor.
The development of our spiritual life
! is also the result of Chrisrs resurrection
! Christians are not as the followers of Il
philosopher who proclaimed certain great
truths in which they are to believe. They
are the followers of an everything, ever
present Savior from whom they have re-
ceived new life which is being devel-
oped by communion with him. Faith in
dead Christ would accomplish but little
1t is the companionshir of IA living Christ
that sanctifies our natures. With him
his disciples have a living union as
branches with the vine. Therefore the
author of our text says: II live; yet not
| but Christ liveth in me-" There is
nothing so powerful in Christian life,
sustaining men under all circumstances,
as a sense of the presence of the risen
Christ.
Again, Christ's resurrection is an as
surance of our life beyond. He brought
life and Immortality to light" which be-
fore were only dimly seen. Gibbon is no
doubt correct in stating that one reason
why Christianity took such hold upon
men was because of the assurance which
it gave of the life beyond. The great