IF WE BELIEVE

Sunday Morning: February 27, 2000

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him."

APOSTLES' WITNESS

DAVID SPAKE OF HIS RESURRECTION

Acts 2:30-31 "Therefore [David, v. 29] being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31. He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, &ldots;."

DECLARED THE SON OF GOD

TO KNOW HIS POWER

Ephesians 1:19-21 "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe [present active participle], according to the working of his mighty power,

 POWER OF HIS RESURRECTION

Philippians 3:10-14 "That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

CONDITIONAL PHRASE

1 Thessalonians 4:14 "For if we believe [present active] that Jesus died and rose again, even so [ou]tos kai<, two adverbs "even so also" "likewise also" Mat. 17:12; modifies "them which sleep"] them also which sleep [aorist passive participle, them which sleep] in Jesus will God bring with him."

HOLD FAST IN MEMORY

WHO ARE THEY WHO BELIEVE?

1 John 5:4-5 "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

HIM THAT OVERCOMETH

DON'T QUIT

1 Corinthians 15:57-58 "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory (nikov, to overcome) through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord."