THE PATH OF THE RESURRECTED SAINTS

Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:45-54

Matthew 27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

Introduction: Today the world is celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ, crucified for our sins according to the scriptures, and buried, ROSE AGAIN the third day according to the scriptures! We serve a risen Savior, and He is seated at the right hand of God the Father. He lives to ever make intercession for us! I'm glad that my Lord is alive!

One of the interesting events that accompanied the resurrection of Christ is almost never preached. That is the fact that after Christ arose, many of the bodies of the Old Testament saints arose and went into the city.

Wow! Can you imagine the scene?

Have you ever wondered what the walk of people was like after they rose from the dead? A number of people were raised from the dead in the Bible.

We who are saved have been raised from spiritual death to walk in newness of life. The following verse, which doesn't deal with water baptism but rather spirit baptism, shows that a believer should walk differently when he trusts Christ as Savior. It should be a NEW walk, for we walk in NEWness of life:

Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Those resurrected saints walked into the city and appeared unto many. What a testimony! Likewise, OUR resurrected life and walk should testify to the power of the risen Lord, working in our lives!

Today I want to point out some things about the new walk, and I'm going to take my points from the converts at Pentecost. So if you would like to follow along with me, you can take your Bibles now and turn to Acts 2, where I will be telling where the new walk leads:

I. THE NEW WALK LEADS TO BAPTISM

Acts 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Notice that those who GLADLY received the word were BAPTIZED. Any believer who is GLAD to be SAVED, should be GLAD to be baptized!

A. Baptism should be prompt

• It appears that they were baptized that very day!
• In Acts 8:35-40, the eunuch who got saved in the desert got baptized just as soon as they saw water!
• In Acts 10:48, Cornelius and his household were baptized immediately after hearing the message and getting saved!
• In Acts 16:33, the jailor who got saved was baptized the same hour, which was after midnight!
• I like the way that Paul and Sarah Dunn and Shane Williams all got baptized the very same service in which they got saved!

B. Baptism should be a picture

• It should picture the gospel: Christ's death, burial, and resurrection.
• It should picture what took place in the believer's heart: he died to self, and rose to walk in newness of life.
• The only way for this to be done properly is to baptize AFTER salvation by IMMERSION.

II. THE NEW WALK LEADS TO THE BIBLE

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine ...

The new believer in Christ should

A. Revere the Bible

• It is GOD'S Book, not man's!
• You have something HOLY in your hands when you read this Book!
• Don't let it get dirty! Don't let it get dusty from lack of use! "Dust on the Bible, dirt in the heart!"

B. Read the Bible

• Read it from front to back. It is divinely laid out. Last night I finished reading my Bible through for the 54th time. I wish I had started earlier than I did (1972) and read it more often.
• Read it daily! It is more needful than physical food, as I preached last week!

C. Receive the Bible

• Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
• The new converts continued STEDFASTLY in the doctrine. It is sad that the average preacher or teacher cannot help many of his students with a Bible series, because they won't come often enough to get the information!

D. Research the Bible

• See the above verse!
• Study it!

E. Remember the Bible

• For holiness!
• Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
• So that you can help others!

F. Rely on the Bible

• Your English Bible, the King James Bible, is translated perfectly. Don't think that you have to go to Greek or Hebrew to uderstand it. Just learn your English Bible, and the English language, using a good English dictionary.
• Rely on it to open your eyes.
• Psalms 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.

G. Respond properly to the Bible

• Conform your beliefs to it!
• Conform your behavior to it!
• Raise your children by it!
• Spend a lot of time getting right with God after hearing it taught and preached! That is what our church altar is here for.

III. THE NEW WALK LEADS TO THE BROTHERHOOD

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship ..

Every Christian should

• Acts 9:26 And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.
• 2. For identification
• 3. For involvement
• 4. For influence - upon you, and you upon others

B. Be a participant in a local church

• Volunteer! The preacher will die of a heart attack!
• Do something! The preacher will have something that you can do, regardless of your stage of Christian growth!

C. Be present n a local church

• Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
• 2. Don't miss a single service!

IV. THE NEW WALK LEADS TO BREAKING OF BREAD

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread ...

A. In the house of God, this refers to communion

• The Lord's supper is a communion service.
• Likewise, every church service is in a sense a communion service. It has to do with a common union between believers and each other and between believers and our Lord.

B. In the houses of saints, this refers to companionship

• Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,
• We should endeavor to spend time with godly people while we are away from the assembly.

V. THE NEW WALK LEADS TO BESEECHING GOD IN PRAYER

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

A Christian should engage immediately in:

A. Private praying

• The key to power with God in public is praying to God in private.

B. Public praying

• Pray naturally.
• Pray audibly in private, and you will be more comfortable with praying in public.

C. Persistent praying

• 1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

D. Powerful praying

• James 5:16b ... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

VI. THE NEW WALK LEADS TO BEARING THE BURDENS OF OTHERS

Acts 2:44-45 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need.

Communism twists the verse to its own ends. These believers sold their possessions voluntarily and gave the money voluntarily.

A. Believers should love one another

• John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

B. Believers should look to one another

• Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

C. Believers should lift each other

• Hebrews 12:12 Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;

VII. THE NEW WALK LEADS TO BRINGING THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION TO OTHERS

• Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

This should be done

A. Deliberately

• A believer can choose to be a soul-winner.
• He can choose to go soul-winning.
• He can choose to open his mouth and witness.
• He can choose to give out a tract.

B. Dutifully

• This should be one of our highest priorities in life.

C. Delightfully

• What a joy it is to have the opportunity to tell someone how to be saved!
• Acts 26:2 I think myself happy, king Agrippa, because I shall answer for myself this day before thee touching all the things whereof I am accused of the Jews:

D. Daily

• Acts 2:47b ... And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
• The only way that could happen was for the saints to have been soul-winning DAILY.

As the resurrected saints did in Matt. 27, let us who have been spiritually raised from the dead engage in "the new walk." Let us go into the city, and be a witness unto the people.

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