UpRiver Bible Church
250420 - Sunday Worship
  • “All the Praise”… what an amazing song. But, you know… for as much as that song was and is an amazing musical offering—it is also a bold confession of the glory of the risen and reigning Christ. The lyrics...
    Only One left Heaven for a cross, Only One knows every pain and loss, Only One could die my soul to save, Only One the name above all names. Only One could crush the curse of sin, Only One was raised to life again, Only One is King of every king, Only One is comin' back for me.
    All the praise goes to Jesus, All the praise to Him alone, All the glory and honor forevermore, All the praise to Him alone.
    And so, the choir has helped us lift our hearts heavenward, declaring that Christ is not merely admired—He is enthroned. Not only remembered—but reigning.
    And this is where our sermon begins. Because last Sunday, we stood in awe as Jesus declared in John 8:58: "Before Abraham was, I am."
    That was not a poetic flourish—it was a thunderous proclamation of deity. Jesus was not simply claiming to be older than Abraham; He was identifying Himself with the I AM of Exodus 3—the eternal, self-existent, unchanging God.
    This same Christ—this eternal Word made flesh—was betrayed, crucified, and buried. But today, we proclaim the breathtaking reality: the Eternal I AM lives!
    The tomb could not hold Him. The grave could not silence Him. Death could not conquer Him. He is risen! He is reigning! And He will return!
    We are not here to eulogize a fallen teacher. We are here to exalt the victorious King. This is not a ceremony of grief—it is a celebration of Christus Victor. The stone is rolled away, the grave clothes are folded, and the voice of heaven thunders: "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain… to receive all the praise!"
    This is Resurrection Day—the day that changed the course of history and secured the hope of eternity.

    The Resurrection: The Thunderclap of History (Matthew 28:1–6)

    Matthew 28:1–6 sets the scene:
    Matthew 28:1–6 ESV
    1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
    These words are not mild. They are the thunderclap that echoed through all of history. Jesus, who was crucified and buried, has risen from the dead, just as He promised. This moment is not merely a miracle—it is the vindication of the Son of God, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the centerpiece of our faith.
    As Paul says:
    1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV
    17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
    But Christ has been raised. And because He lives, we are not in our sins. We are not condemned. We are not hopeless. We are not bound. We are free!

    Christus Victor: The Theme of Scripture

    This victory was not improvised. It was promised.
    From the very beginning, in Genesis 3:15, after Adam’s fall and the curse pronounced upon the serpent, God gave the first promise of redemption:
    Genesis 3:15 ESV
    I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.”
    This is more than a poetic phrase—it is the protoevangelium, the first gospel. It is a war cry. The Seed of the woman—Christ—would come to crush the head of the serpent. And indeed, He did just that through His death and resurrection. Satan bruised His heel at the cross, but Christ crushed his head in resurrection victory.
    And here is the glorious calling: as Christ crushed the dragon, so too are we, His people, called to take up the same mission. This is not abstract theology—it is our daily mandate.
    In our home, we’ve often repeated a phrase around the Sabbath table with our children and grandchildren: “Kill the Dragon and Get the Girl.” It’s a vivid summary of the Christian life for every believer, especially for the men of God. The Dragon is Satan—the great deceiver, accuser, and destroyer. The Girl is the Church—the Bride of Christ, the people of God whom He came to rescue and purify.
    This theme runs through Scripture and Reformed theology: that the victory of Christ is not only past and future, but present and active in the church. The call to kill the dragon is a call to resist temptation, crush sin, reject compromise, protect the Church, and advance the kingdom.
    Men—you are called to be dragon-slayers. Not in fantasy, but in faithfulness. In your home. In your marriage. In your fatherhood. In your workplace. In your church. You are called to live out the resurrection by putting sin to death and defending the bride of Christ.
    And sisters—you too are warriors in this calling. You have not been left behind in this cosmic battle. The armor of God in Ephesians 6 is not gendered—it is given to all who are in Christ.
    Christ has won. Now we fight with His victory in hand.

    The Ascension: The Coronation of the Conqueror

    But Christ did not only rise—He ascended. Forty days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven and sat down at the right hand of God.
    Hebrews 1:3 ESV
    3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
    And,
    Psalm 110:1 ESV
    1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
    This is His enthronement—His coronation as King. And He reigns, not in silence, but in sovereign power.
    And here, the call continues: Christ is subduing His enemies, and He calls us to engage in that same work. This is what it means to live out Christus Victor in our daily lives. We war against lies with truth. We confront sin with holiness. We protect the Church with loyalty and love. We kill the dragon and guard the girl.
    Men—lead your homes in righteousness. Rebuke the lies of Satan that creep into your gates. Stand between the serpent and the bride, as Christ stood for you. That is Christus Victor made visible in your living.

    The Promise of Complete Victory: All Things Under His Feet

    Paul writes:
    1 Corinthians 15:25–26 ESV
    25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
    And again in Philippians:
    Philippians 2:9 ESV
    9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,
    The final act of this glorious drama has yet to occur—but it is as sure as the empty tomb. Revelation shows us what is coming:
    Revelation 19:11 ESV
    11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.
    Revelation 19:16 ESV
    16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
    Here is the final image of Christus Victor: a Rider, not entering in humility on a donkey, but descending in splendor on a white warhorse. The Dragon will be finally, fully, and eternally destroyed. The Bride will be adorned for her Husband.
    Until that day, the church is called to be vigilant, to be valiant, and to join in the victory. Christ is placing all His enemies under His feet—and He is doing so through His Spirit-empowered people.
    So men—kill the dragon.
    Women—stand firm in faith and adorn the gospel.
    Church—protect the Bride, proclaim the King, and prepare for the wedding feast.

    Why the Resurrection Matters for Us

    What does this victory mean for us?
    Our sins are forgiven. Romans 4:25
    Romans 4:25 ESV
    25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
    Our faith is secure. 1 Peter 1:3
    1 Peter 1:3 ESV
    3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
    Our future is certain. John 11:25
    John 11:25 ESV
    25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
    Our mission is urgent. Matthew 28:18–20
    Matthew 28:18–20 ESV
    18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
    Because he lives:
    You can face your failures without fear.
    You can walk through suffering with hope.
    You can confront death with courage.
    We are not clinging to religious sentiment. We are standing on resurrection ground.
    Conclusion: Sing the Song of the Victor
    This morning, we do not whisper our praises. We lift them. We do not shuffle out of church as if we are unsure of what happened. We go forth declaring the triumph of our Lord.
    Jesus Christ has conquered. He has risen. He reigns. And He is returning.
    So now, church, as the people of the Risen King, let us lift our voices in the anthem of the ages.
    Let us declare what heaven is already shouting!!
  • Christus Victor (Amen)
  • I Know That My Redeemer Lives
UpRiver Bible Church
pastorbrian@upriverbible.com
(208) 245-2258
http://www.upriverbible.com
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