“The
Resurrection Changes Everything” (1 Corinthians 15)
(Eastside; 4/20/14; Easter AM) The
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead changes everything. Everything, and
I mean everything, hangs or falls on whether or not Jesus of Nazareth died on a
Roman cross, was buried, and then came to life again physically and bodily on
the third day after his crucifixion. For
a few minutes this morning, I want us to reflect on the eternal significance of
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 1 Corinthians 15.
“The
Resurrection Changes Everything” (1 Corinthians 15)
(Eastside; 4/20/14; Easter AM)
The
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead changes everything. Everything, and
I mean everything, hangs or falls on whether or not Jesus of Nazareth died on a
Roman cross, was buried, and then came to life again physically and bodily on
the third day after his crucifixion.
For
a few minutes this morning, I want us to reflect on the eternal significance of
the resurrection of Jesus Christ from 1 Corinthians 15.
1.
Without the
resurrection we have no good news (gospel).
2.
If there is
no resurrection, then the apostolic witness and our Bible is all a fraud.
a. More than that, we are then found to be
false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised
Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not
raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.
(1 Co. 15:15-16, NIV
3.
If there is
no resurrection, then Jesus himself was a fraud and his death had no lasting
significance.
4.
Without the
resurrection we have no atonement for our sins.
a. And if Christ has not been raised, your
faith is futile; you are still in your sins. (1 Co. 15:17, NIV)
b. He was delivered over to death for our
sins and was raised to life for our justification. (Romans 4:25, NIV)
5.
Without the
resurrection we have no faith and my preaching is pointless.
a. And if Christ has not been raised, our
preaching is useless and so is your faith. (1 Co. 15:14, NIV)
6.
If there is
no resurrection, then Jesus of Nazareth is dead. There is no kingdom of God now
or in the future. There is no hope of return to Eden or of peace, justice, and
righteousness in the world.
a. Then the end will come, when he hands
over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion,
authority and power. For he must reign
until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (1 Co. 15:24-25, NIV)
7.
Without the
resurrection there is no escape from the power of death and we have no hope
beyond this life for ourselves or for those who have gone before us.
a. Then those also who have fallen asleep
in Christ are lost. If only for this
life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Co.
15:18-19, NIV)
8.
If there is
no resurrection, then there is no good reason to place any moral restraints
upon ourselves because there will be no judgment before God (Acts 17).
a. If the dead are not raised, "Let
us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Co. 15:32, NIV)
b. "Therefore since we are God's
offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or
stone-- an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance,
but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the
world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to
everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:29-31, NIV)
9.
If there is
no resurrection, then there is no ultimate answer for the power of sin and its
penalty of death. Death is the victor, and the grave is the final end of all
people.
a. For he must reign until he has put all
his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Co.
15:25-26, NIV)
b. "Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power
of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our
Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Co. 15:55-57, NIV)
10.
If there is
no resurrection, then all of our labors and hardships, for the Lord or even for
ourselves, have no lasting value or significance.
a. And as for us, why do we endanger
ourselves every hour? I face death every day-- yes, just as surely as I boast
about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no
more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,
"Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." (1 Co. 15:30-32, NIV)
Listen, I tell you
a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed--in
a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will
sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. (1 Co.
15:51-52, NIV)
Main
Idea: The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the most important
event in the history of the world. It therefore orients everything around it.
In faith our lives must be oriented around the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ from
the dead changes everything.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile;
you are still in your sins. (1 Co. 15:17, NIV) If only for this life we have
hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the
dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. (1 Co. 15:19-20, NIV) Therefore, my dear
brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves
fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is
not in vain. (1 Co. 15:58, NIV)
