Intro: Tonight we are beginning the Chapter
that has been called the great "resurrection" chapter, the
fifteenth chapter of First Corinthians,
A) In Many
ways the climax of this letter.
B) In the first eleven chapters the Apostle Paul has
been dealing with what some have called "the carnalities," the
things concerning the flesh,
1)
the
hurtful, false and divisive things that were occurring there in the church at
Corinth.
C) Ch. 12-14
Gifts , manifestations & function of the H.S. in the body of
Christ
!!!!!
D) Here in Ch. 15 focus is on the REALITY OF THE
RESURRECTION.
Unlike most of
1 Corinthians, chapter 15 is devoted entirely to doctrine, and to a single
doctrine at that.
A)
In
these 58 verses Paul gives the most extensive treatment of the resurrection in
all of Scripture.
Just as the heart pumps life–giving blood to every part of the body, so the truth of the resurrection gives life to every other area of gospel truth. The resurrection is the pivot on which all of Christianity turns and without which none of the other truths wound much matter. Without the resurrection, Christianity would be so much wishful thinking, taking its place alongside all other human philosophy and religious speculation.
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”
B)
If the resurrection is
eliminated, the life–giving power of the gospel is eliminated, the deity of
Christ is eliminated,
1)
salvation
from sin is eliminated, and eternal
life is eliminated
A) Important thing that we need to understand is The doctrinal problem on which this chapter focuses was not the Corinthians’ disbelief in Christ’s RESURRECTION
1)
but
confusion about their own.
A) basic thought of much ancient Greek philosophy was dualism, a concept that has generally been attributed to Plato.
1) Dualism considered everything spiritual to be intrinsically good and everything physical to be intrinsically evil.
A)
To anyone holding that view the idea of a resurrected
body was repugnant (Athens – fine until
brought up the Resurrection.)
1) Since the body was the source of all of man’s weakness & shortcomings Death was seen as the great Liberator
So Paul was not trying to convince them at Corinth
that Christ rose from the dead but that one day they, too, would be raised with
Him to eternal life.
A)
But
in order to lay the foundation, in the first eleven verses he reviews the
evidences for Jesus’ resurrection,
B)
In
doing so Paul gives five evidences, or testimonies, of the REALITY OF THE
RESURRECTION. Of Jesus in order to lay the foundation of his case
C) Break down tonight / then look at the DEVASTATING
CONSEQUENCES if the
RESURRECTION is not true /
1)
Rap
up be considering what Christ Resurrection. means to us in our everyday lives
READ V.1-19
1ST
TESTIMONY V. 1,2 TESTIMONY OF THE
CHURCH
A)
This first testimony is not stated explicitly but it is definitely implied
B)
Paul came preaching a gospel – a message of good news & they
received it & there was a definite transformation that took place
C)
The Corinthian church was a strong testimony to the power of the
gospel. 1) Who but the risen, living Christ could have taken extortioners,
thieves, adulterers, fornicators, homosexuals, liars, idolaters, and such
thoroughly worldly pagans and transformed their lives so greatly?
D)
Growing up / My Dad – TESTIMONY JESUS WAS ALIVE !!!!
E)
Paul says that it was the Power of this message that saved them / Power
through which they STAND !!!!!
WHAT IS MENT
HERE THAT SOME BELIEVE IN VAIN.
A)
Many who believe I vain (
Worthless – not true)– Wrong motives
B) FIRE INSURANCE / FAITH TEACHERS – GET SAVED SO YOU
CAN GET RICH
C)Result is that many who PROFESS CHRIST / don’t hold fast to Christ &
His word / going gets tough they Bail / focused is short lived
1) Like seed sown amongst stones – NO DEPTH / THORNS – gets choked out by the cares of this life.
A) Sad that a person can believe in the truth about Christ – He is the way / died & Rose – yet never entrust their heart truly to Christ .
Once saved always saved – person walks away – not saved to begin with
A) If you are saved you will hold fast
B) I agree with that in theory – sounds good –
who would walk away from Jesus
C) Scripture
indicates it does happen !!! Paul
mentions Demas &
NOTE – CAN’T FALL AWAY – SOME WALK AWAY / DEPART FROM THE FAITH
WHAT HAPPENS
? Strong warnings – Don’t want to find
out
Chuck – Secure as
long as I am ABIDING !!!!!!!!
SO 1ST TESTIMONY IS OF THE CHURCH
Though it is
largely a subjective proof, the endurance of the church of Jesus Christ through
2,000 years is evidence of His resurrection reality. A) Many attempts to stamp
it out – through skepticism, persecution,
heresy, unfaithfulness, and disobedience.
A) Critics have denounced the resurrection as a hoax and fabrication, but have never explained the power of such a fabrication
1) to produce men and women who gave up everything, including their freedom and lives when necessary, to love & to follow a dead Lord!
Church historian Kenneth
Scott Latourette wrote in History of the
Expansion of Christianity,
It was the
conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which lifted his followers out of the
despair into which his death had cast them and which led to the perpetuation of
the movement begun by him.
But for their profound belief that the crucified had risen from the dead and they had seen him and talked with him, the death of Jesus and even Jesus himself would probably have been all but forgotten
So the Church is the 1st Evidence that Paul mentions
#2 TESTIMONY OF THE O.T. SCRIPTURES V.3,4
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,
A) Paul Preached a gospel that stated Christ died…. Sins / Buried & Rose
1) Many OT passages speak of Crucifixion / Pas 22 / Isa 52:12 / 53
A) What about the Resurrection. – Peter on the day of Pentecost quoted from Pas 16
25 "For David says concerning Him: 'I foresaw the LORD always
before my face, For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken.
26 Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; Moreover my
flesh also will rest in hope.
27 For You will not leave my
soul in Hades, Nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption.
28 You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full
of joy in Your presence.' ( TALKING RESURRECTION HERE )
29 "Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the
patriarch David, that he is both dead
and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.
EXPLANATION
30 "Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn
with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He
would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,
31 "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of
the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see
corruption.
32 "This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all
witnesses.
33 "Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and
having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out
this which you now see and hear.
34 "For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says
himself: 'The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand,
35 Till I make Your enemies Your footstool."'
B) Jesus spoke of the SIGN OF JONAH
C) Time when God spoke to Abraham – take your only Son – up to MT. Moriah to Sacrifice him there –
1) 3 days journey – good as dead - the lad & I will return / Hebrews Says Abe believed God would bring him back
D) Isaac says to Dad – fire & Wood – where is the sacrifice
1) God will PROVIDE / 2,000 yrs later - Same Mt. –
Creation story – 3rd day – trees & fruit why Christ Rose 3rd day
3rd TESTIMONY
IS THE EYEWITNESSES –
A)
Court of law – slam
dunk a case – Good eyewitness / someone there someone involved -
B) Pres. Clinton in the News again / Lewinisky – testify
1) Those who saw her - / sounds like they have a pretty good case
John Singleton
Copley, one of the great legal minds in British history and three times High
Chancellor of England, wrote,
"I know
pretty well what evidence is, and I tell you, such evidence as that for the
resurrection of JC has never broken
down yet."
Paul names 5
eyewitnesses
1st Peter - When not sure ? Why - Hurting the most / Like our Lord
A) Go tell Peter - Special plans for him
2nd the
12 upper Room / Minus THOMAS …… MY GOD
That which was from the
beginning, which we have heard,
which we have seen with our eyes,
which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life; 2 the life was
manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal
life which was with the Father and was manifested to us; 3
that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may
have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with
His Son Jesus Christ.
3rd 500 - HALLUCINATIONS
A) Along w/ the Apostles many were Martyred !!!!
4th James the Brother of our Lord – Skeptic - unbeliever – until after Resurrection.
Became a powerful witness !!!
5th – PAUL
HIMSELF !!!!
V.11 CONCLUSION OF
FIRST SECTION 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we
preach and so you believed.
So First – Paul gives 7 Testimonies or Evidences of the REALITY OF A Bodily Resurrection. Of Christ
2nd IMPORTANCE OF
THE RESURRECTION
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?
A) Paul is going to point out the Devastating affects if we take this thinking that there is no Resurrection. To its logical conclusion .
B) Here is what He lays out - If there is no Resurrection. / then
V.13 CHRIST IS
NOT RISEN - CAN’T HAVE ONE W/ OUT THE OTHER
2ND – V.14 Our PREACHING IS IN VAIN –no good news / nothing to talk about
3rd v.
14 YOUR FAITH IS IN VAIN
A) Hebrews 11 is no longer the hall of faith it is the hall of the foolish
4th v.
15 All those eyewitnesses are liars
5th – V.17 All men would still be in their sins
6th v.18 Those
who have fallen asleep ( DIED) have perished
A) No hope of seeing again
B) Funerals of Believer
1) Courson & Heaven – 3 people I love are there
7th v. 19 Christians
are to be Pitied – those foolish people
Lastly what does it mean for us today / name a few
A)
Living Hope
B)
Power in this Life
Ephesians 1 / Romans six
C) Inheritance to look forward to
D) Freedom from the Law - Romans 7 No longer married to Mr. Perfect
E) Something to sing about
F) New Bodies / 2Cor. 4/ 5