ROM 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

>>The resurrection of Christ is celebrated by most of the world, in so many deferent ways.

>>Today's celebration of Easter is a Pharisaical ritual.

>>Jesus teaches all the way through the gospel, how the scribes and Pharisees tried to please God with human reasoning.

>>The Pharisees did not worship God in the God ordained way

MAR 7:5-6 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

>>The tradition of using rabbits and eggs into today’s Easter celebrations is supported with a German superstition that a rabbit brought a nest of Easter eggs, because just as some children found a nest of eggs, a rabbit leaped away.

>>The tradition of using rabbits and eggs into today’s Easter celebrations is supported with a French superstition that chimes bring Easter eggs. Church bells don't ring between Good Friday and Easter. The superstition is that the chimes fly to Rome until Easter, and drop eggs on the way back for boys and girls to find.

>>In Italy it is the tradition for the priest to bless the Easter eggs before the holiday.

>>In the United States, many people come to church on Easter, even though they are never otherwise seen in church, just to show off their new spring cloths

>> In New York City, Fifth Ave is blocked off to allow thousands of persons to show off their new Easter clothes. Easter has become the time to wear new spring clothes for the first time.

>>In Romania, church goers carry lighted candles home from midnight mass. When they reach home, the young people gaze into mirrors by the light of the candles to try to see into the future.

>>In Mexico, at noon the day before Easter, thousands of persons fill the streets. They beat, hang, and burn images of Judas Iscariot, In many places, the Judas figure is a jar filled with candy. The jar is broken and the candy scattered for the delight of the children.

>>In Armenia, they celebrate Easter Monday as a Feast of the Dead. They take food to the cemeteries, where the priest blesses it.

>>In the Great Falls Tribune, is pictured a stage play scheduled to be presented Saturday evening and Sunday Morning at 2001 Central Ave. Women weep as Roman soldiers hang a man on a cross.

>>God's Word tells us in DEU 4:12-19 And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice.

13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.

14 And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it.

15 Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire:

16 Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female,

17 The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air,

18 The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth:

19 And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven.

>>Even David, the man after God's own heart was reproved by the death of Uzza not worshiping the Lord in the ordained way.

1CH 15:13 For because ye did it not at the first, the LORD our God made a breach upon us, for that we sought him not after the due order.

>>The Lord is pleased with that which He has ordained, and none other

ISA 1:12-15 When ye come to appear before me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread my courts?

13 Bring no more vain oblations; incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting.

14 Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hateth: they are a trouble unto me; I am weary to bear them.

15 And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.

ROM 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

>>We must first be planted together in the likeness of His death, before we shall have any right understanding of His resurrection.

FOR OUR FIRST POINT— lets consider what it is to be planted together in the likness of his death.

FOR OUR SECOND POINT— lets consider what it is to be in the likness of His resurrection.

>>Our chapter begins with ROM 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

>>The pulpits are filled with the expression, "I believe,"

>>What they believe is read into every Scripture preached from.

>>An add in the Great Falls Tribune, asks, "Do you believe in the Easter Bunny and Easter eggs?

>>Preaching today is not based upon the authority of God's Word

2TI 3:5-8 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. [Margin—of no judgment]

>>Today’s rituals in Easter, Christmas, Good Friday etc., are equal to

EXO 7:11 Then Pharaoh also called the wise men and the sorcerers: now the magicians of Egypt, they also did in like manner with their enchantments.

>>All these humanistic rituals are Pharisaical, adding to God's ordained way of worship, making the Word of God of none effect

MAT 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

>>All these rituals are only geared to the emotions over the literal meaning of Easter—as the Pharisees were cumbered over the letter of the law

>>The exalted Christ appeared to His people only—He never did appear to Caiaphas, nor Pilate, nor to the scribes and Pharisees

>>Those who have never learned to know Christ in His humiliation, shall never understand His exaltation.

>>Our text says, ROM 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

>>As that ugly monster self becomes crucified, we begin to understand our unworthiness.

>>Before we shall ever live with Christ, we must be planted together in the likness of His death>>We must die to our honor>>die to our pride>>die to our sin, but also to our righteousness.

ROM 6:6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

8 Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:

10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

>>Living unto God is dying unto self

ROM 6:11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

>>A faith's view of the our risen Saviour brings us to see our unworthiness

>>The angel said unto the women in MAR 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him.

>>This message from the Prince of Life was addressed to Jesus' unworthy disciples, but especially to Peter

>>Oh, how basely they had all acted, but especially Peter

MAT 26:38-40 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

39 And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.

40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

>>Judas, one of the twelve had betrayed Him

MAT 26:49-50 And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him.

50 And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus and took him.

MAT 26:56 Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.

>>We read in

MAT 26:58 But Peter followed him afar off unto the high priest's palace, and went in, and sat with the servants, to see the end.

>>This only gave occasion unto the enemies of Jesus to blaspheme

MAR 14:70-71 Surely thou art one of them: for thou art a Galilean, and thy speech agreeth thereto.

71 But he began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak.

>>Oh, how Jesus' true disciples learn to see how they filled Jesus' cup of suffering

ZEC 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

>>This remorse over sin is the mark of God's true disciples>> to be sure Caiaphas, Pilate, chief priests and Pharisees had no remorse

>>The Pharisee could again stand in the temple thanking God, he was not as other men

>>The unregenerate can overlook sin, or at most have a legal repentance with a remorse for fear of the consequences of their sin

>>True Godly fear, or love is what makes sin so bitter, love makes sin so grievous

ROM 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

FOR OUR SECOND POINT— lets consider what it is to be in the likness of His resurrection.

>>To be in the likness of Christ's resurrection we must first understand His death

ROM 6:3 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

>>Christ's resurrection was His victory over sin, death and the grave

ROM 6:4 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.

>>If we shall have any part in Christ's resurrection it shall be our victory over sin, and the things of death.

ROM 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?

2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

>>Our text says "IF", Oh, how we should stop and ponder when the Almighty says, "IF".

ROM 6:5-6 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:

6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

>>Herein is the key to being in the likness to Christ's resurrection

ROM 6:10-12 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.

11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.

>>When we learn the wretched nature of our sins, then the eternal wonder is that we should be counted worthy to have part in that blessed resurrection

MAR 16:7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.

>>That blessed message was to those disciples who had forsaken Him, but especially to Peter who had denied Him

>>"He goeth before you into Galilee" is so beautiful—That tells us two things

1). Jesus comes to us where we are, black as we are, just as we are

2). Jesus would again restore the joy of their former days, the place where He first drew them with cords of His love.

When Jesus' death becomes our death His life will also become our life.

The exalted Saviour is the same on who had been humbled and we will be humbled before we can take part in His exaltation

EPH 2:4-6 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Sheep can run away from their shepherd, but they cannot find their way back

>>The Easter Gospel condescends so low, it begins to those who are forsakers of God

>> The miracle of Easter rises from the grave of spiritual death and darkness

>>We are to return unto Galilee, when we have left our first love

>>When our hearts are returned unto Galilee, the message was "He goeth before you

ISA 45:2 I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:

>>The disciples command to return to Galilee was a command to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

>>This following of Christ was now different than before Christ was crucified—all expectations of an earthly empire was now cut off

>>Now following Christ was truly following Him in the way of the cross

ROM 6:3-4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?

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.