“The Importance Of The Resurrection Pt. 1” 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 8/15/21 Message 28
Introduction
• Title of the Message is: “The Importance Of The Resurrection”
• Review
o We have been in a Study in 1 Corinthians
▪ We have been asking What was wrong in the Church of Corinth?
▪ But in Reality - We can ask –
• What is wrong with the church of today?
• So MANY Similarities
o This is a CORRECTIVE letter…
▪ The Corinthians Did not Like Being Corrected
• Tore up Paul’s first letter
• Sadly –
o There are “Christians” that don’t like being corrected
▪ Correction So far from Paul
• Division
• Carnality
• Immorality In The Church
• Serious Nature of Sexual Sins
• Marriage Issues
• Christian Liberties
▪ Chapter 11 - Marks Another Transition
• This next section is All About
o Correction in the church service – a Mess
▪ Chapter 12 - Spiritual Gifts
• A Mess in Regards to Spiritual Gifts
• Use and Misuse of Gifts
▪ Chapter 13 – Agape
• What Agape IS
• What Agape IS NOT
▪ Chapter 14 – Understanding & Order
• 1st It’s ALL About Order IN the Church Service
o We must Not Get bogged down on Just the gift of Tongues & Prophecy
o He uses Prophecy & Tongues to illustrate his point
o It’s ALL About Understanding & Order
• 2nd The PURPOSE of GIFTS is Edification
o Now to illustrate the need for Understanding & Order
• Now to Chapter 15
o 1st Chapter 15 - Doctrine of the Resurrection
▪ There is more teaching in this chapter about the Doctrine of Resurrection than in all of Scripture
▪ Why?!
1 Corinthians 15:12 (NKJV) 12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
• Because they had “Some that thought there was NO resurrection
• The Corinthian did not deny Jesus’ resurrection; they denied our resurrection.
o 2nd Importance of the Resurrection
▪ Without the Resurrection –
• Christianity is wishful thinking and is just like any other religion
• John Locke, the 18th-century British philosopher, said, “Our Savior’s resurrection is truly of great importance in Christianity, so great that His being or not being the Messiah stands or falls with it”
• If the resurrection is eliminated:
o The deity of Christ is eliminated
o Salvation from sin is eliminated
o Eternal life is eliminated
o Look at vs. 19
1 Corinthians 15:19 (NKJV) 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
▪ Jesus Said -
Mark 8:31 (NKJV) 31 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
John 11:25 (NKJV) 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
Romans 10:9 (NKJV) 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
▪ It’s not possible to be a Christian and not believe in the resurrection of Jesus
▪ The resurrection of Christ is absolutely essential
• 3 Main Points This Morning
o The Proclamation Of The Gospel vs. 1-4 o The Proof Of The Resurrection vs. 5-8 o The Purpose Of God In Paul’s Life vs. 9-11
The Proclamation Of The Gospel vs. 1-4
• First: Verses 1
1 Corinthians 15:1 (NKJV) 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
o 1st Reminder of The gospel which I preached to you:
▪ Paul Reminds them of the gospel -
• Remember
o When Paul arrived at Corinth he connected with Aquila and Priscilla
o Worked for them in their tent-making business
o He worked during the week and preached in the synagogue on the Sabbath
o Did this for 18 months – before heading on
▪ He Preached the Gospel – NOT
• NOT Good Works – Although they are Important
• NOT A Social Gospel – Although that is Important
• NOT Politics – Although that is Important
• NOT Self – Help – Although the Gospel Heals – Makes NEW
• He Preached the Gospel
o The word gospel means “Good News.”
o It is the
▪ GREATEST NEWS ▪ BEST NEW EVER ▪ “WORDS of LIFE” – Peter (John 6:68) ▪ SALVATION IN CHRIST
o 2nd Which also you received and in which you stand!
1 Corinthians 15:1 (NKJV) 1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
▪ Despite being a mess,
• Division • Mean to each Other • Lack of Love • Etc… • They are SAVED
▪ They Received THE Gospel
• It Must be Received –
o Not enough to just believe we must receive it
▪ They Stand on the Gospel
• We also must Stand on the Gospel –
o A way of life
• Second: Verse 2
o 1st Saved - Stand Fast v. 2a
1 Corinthians 15:2 (NKJV) 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
▪ The Corinthian had Done Well
• To received the gospel.
• To stand in the gospel.
▪ BUT they had to continue to do well
• Bold fast the gospel Paul preached to them.
• Hold fast also implies there were some people or some things which might want to snatch the true gospel away from the Corinthian Christians.
• All the more, this is why they had to hold on!
▪ Can You Lose your Salvation?
• I believe the Bible teaches - IN Christ NO
• And this is warning against non-saving faith
• Look at the last part of the verse
o 2nd Unless you believed in vain v. 2b
1 Corinthians 15:2 (NKJV) 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
▪ Unless you believed in vain.
• By this qualifying statement, Paul recognized and called to their attention that some may have had a shallow, non-saving faith
▪ It is Possible…
• To SIT in Church for YEARS – and NOT be saved
• To Teach the Word – and NOT be Saved
• To lead people to Christ – and NOT be saved
• Turn to Matthew 7
Matthew 7:13–14 (NKJV) 13 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:22–27 (NKJV) 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ 24 “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”
• Third: Verses 3-4
1 Corinthians 15:3a–4 (NKJV) 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
o 1st Born Into Sin
▪ Because of Adam and Eve
• Don’t worry we would have done the same thing
• The World Teaches were Good and we Learn to do bad
o Wrong
Psalm 51:5 (NKJV) 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, And in sin my mother conceived me.
▪ Penalty for Our SINS – IS DEATH
▪ Jesus came to pay a doubt we would could NOT PAY
Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
▪ We are Free from SIN -
The Proof Of The Resurrection vs. 3b-8
• First: The Teaching Of The Scriptures vs. 3-4
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (NKJV) 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
o 1st The term According to the Scriptures is VERY IMPORTANT
▪ The OT Declared This very Clearly
▪ The OT clearly predicted Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection
▪ Look at NT First
• Luke 24:25-27
Luke 24:25–27 (NKJV) 25 Then He said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?” 27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
• Also Acts 26:22-23
Acts 26:22–23 (NKJV) 22 Therefore, having obtained help from God, to this day I stand, witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come— 23 that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.”
• When the unbelieving Jews asked for a sign of Jesus’ messiahship, He responded
Matthew 12:39–40 (NKJV) 39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
o 2nd OT Verses on Salvation
▪ His Death, Suffering - For Our SINS
• Psalm 22 and Isaiah 52-53
Isaiah 53:3–5 (NKJV) 3 He is despised and rejected by men, A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him. 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.
▪ His Resurrection
• Hosea 6:2, Jonah 1:17, Psalm 16:9-11, & Job 19:25-27
Hosea 6:2 (NKJV) 2 After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight.
Jonah 1:17 (NKJV) 17 Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.
Psalm 16:9–11 (NKJV) 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope. 10 For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. 11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Job 19:25–27 (NKJV) 25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!
▪ Another Example Genesis 22
• Where Isaac, as a type of Jesus, is “raised” on the third day of their journey, at the beginning of which Abraham had reckoned his son dead.
▪ Over and over again, either directly or indirectly, literally or in figures of speech
▪ The OT foretold Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection
• Second: The Testimony Of Eyewitnesses vs. 5-8
o This is Paul’s 2nd Evidence for Christ’s resurrection
o NOTE:
▪ Throughout history the testimony of responsible and honest eyewitnesses has been considered one of the most reliable forms of evidence in a court of law
o 1st Jesus’ Appearance to Peter v. 5a
1 Corinthians 15:5 (NKJV) 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
▪ Appeared to Peter
• Peter was one of the first apostle to See Jesus
• We don’t know when this happened
• We only know that it was sometime after His appearance to Mary and before His appearance to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:34)
• We are not told why the Lord appeared to Peter first or separately
• But it possibly was because of Peter’s great sorrow over having denied his Lord
• In going to Peter first, Jesus show His grace
• Peter had forsaken Jesus, but Jesus hadn’t forsaken him
▪ Restoration Of Peter
• Turn to John 21
John 21:15–17 (NKJV) 15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (Agape) Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” (Philio) He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (Agape) Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love (Philio) You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love (Philio) Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love (Philio) Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
• NOW GET TO WORK
o 2nd Jesus’ Appearance to the Twelve v. 5b
1 Corinthians 15:5 (NKJV) 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve.
▪ Jesus next appeared to the twelve which was used to refer to the eleven plus Mathais
▪ The Apostles
• Laid the foundation of the church (Eph. 2:20)
• All saw Him in His resurrected body (Acts 1:22).
• They were capable, honest, and reliable witnesses to the most important event of history
o 3rd Jesus’ Appearance to the Five Hundred v. 6
1 Corinthians 15:6 (NKJV) 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
▪ After that He appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time.
▪ The quantity of witnesses is seen in the 500 brethren who all saw the risen Christ at one time.
▪ We Don’t Know Who they were
• Scripture doesn’t tell us who these people were, or where Jesus appeared to them
• But they were surely well known in the early church, and, like the twelve, would often have been questioned about seeing the risen Savior.
• Even when Paul wrote this, more than 2 decades later most of the witnesses were still alive
o 4th Jesus’ Appearance to James v. 7a
1 Corinthians 15:7 (NKJV) 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
▪ Many believe that this James was the half-brother of the Lord
• Who wrote James and was a key leader in the Jerusalem church
▪ Remember –
• James originally was a skeptic
• Like his brothers he did not believe at first that Jesus was the Messiah
o 5th Jesus’ Appearance To All The Apostles v. 7b
1 Corinthians 15:7 (NKJV) 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles.
▪ This refers to a few different meetings, such as in
• (John 20:26-31, John 21:1-25, Matthew 28:16-20, and Luke 24:44-49)
• There may have been many more meetings that are not described in the gospels.
o 6th Jesus’ Appearance To Paul v. 8
1 Corinthians 15:8 (NKJV) 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
▪ Paul – Was an Unbeliever – Murder – Persecutor of the church
▪ Turn to Acts 9
Acts 9:1–8 (NKJV) 1 Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.
The Purpose Of God In Paul’s Life vs. 9-11
• The truth and power of the resurrected Christ had brought three great changes in Paul
• First: He Experienced A Deep Recognition Of Sin v. 9
1 Corinthians 15:9 (NKJV) 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
o 1st For I am the least of the apostles:
▪ Paul would argue hard for his apostolic credentials, because he knew he had to be respected as an apostle.
▪ But he had no desire to compete with other apostles for the “Most Valuable Apostle” award.
▪ He would gladly say, I am the least of the apostles.
▪ In fact, Paul believed he was not worthy to be called an apostle.
• Second: He Experienced A Revolution Of Character v. 10
1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJV) 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
o 1st By GRACE
▪ From a persecutor of the church he became her greatest defender
▪ His life was transformed from one characterized by self- righteous hatred to one characterized by self-giving love
▪ He changed from oppressor to servant, from imprisoner to deliverer, from judge to friend, from a taker of life to a giver of life
o 2nd GRACE is Everything
▪ 1st Without His GRACE we are nothing!
• We would be completely LOST
▪ 2nd Remember Stay off the PERFORMANCE tread mill
• You Can NEVER earn Salvation
▪ 3rd Grace for Others
• A return to grace in our treatment of others!
• Third: He Experienced A Dramatic Redirection Of His Life v. 11
1 Corinthians 15:11 (NKJV) 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
o 1st Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed:
▪ Whether Paul or one of the other apostles brought the message, the result was the same.
▪ They preached the resurrection of Jesus, and the early Christians believed the resurrection of Jesus.
▪ The verb we preach is in the present continuous tense;
• Paul says that he and the other apostles habitually preached this message.
Closing
• The Resurrection is a critical, essential part of the Gospel…and it must be believed
John 11:25–26 (NKJV) 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”