Essential To Your Faith

ESSENTIAL TO YOUR FAITH

SCRIPTURE: READ I Corinthians 15: 1- 8

I Corinthians 15:3 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day

according to the scriptures:”

INTRODUCTION:

Illustration: Two boys were playing basketball in Kentucky when one of the boys was attacked by a rabid Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other boy ripped a board off the nearby fence, wedged it down the dog’s collar and twisted it as hard as he could. The dog’s neck was broken before he could bite the other boy.

A Lexington Herald Leader reporter saw the incident take place and he rushed over to interview the boy. “Young Wildcat fan saves friend from vicious animal,” he wrote in his notebook. “But I’m not a wildcat fan.” The young boy responded. “Sorry” the reporter replied, “We’re in Kentucky and I just assumed that you were a Wildcat fan.” The reporter starts writing again, “Cardinal fan rescues friend from terrible attack.” The boy looked at the pad and said, “I’m not a Louisville fan either.”

The reporter looked at him and asked, “I assumed that everyone in the state of Kentucky was either for the Wildcats or the Cardinals. What team do you root for?” “I am a Tennessee Volunteer fan.” The boy said.

The reporter turned to a new sheet in his notebook and wrote: “Little redneck hoodlum kills faithful family pet.”

Certainly, people have varying viewpoints. Take for example the current Iraqi liberation war. Some news agencies made it sound like our soldiers were in the burning desert without water, food, ammunition, or fuel.

And then there was the Iraqi Minister of Information who reported that there was no presence of American forces in Baghdad when then could walk a block or two and see one another eye to eye. He said, “They are beginning to commit suicide at the walls of Baghdad and I encourage them to increase the rate of suicide. Their columns are being killed in the hundreds at the walls of Baghdad. We have fed them hell and death.”

When it comes to religion and especially Jesus Christ, people have various viewpoints concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Many are set in their ways and refuse to objectively examine the historic evidence of Jesus.

Everyone looks at Easter and the Resurrection with different views. In I Corinthians 15, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Some in the church doubted the resurrection of Jesus and others rejected the fact. Many in the congregation in Corinth were gentiles with a Greek heritage. (Copied from Sermoncentral by Ray Ellis)

I feel that many will believe the Gospel when presented with the clear Biblical evidence of His birth, death, and resurrection. Some would scoff like those who lived during the time of the actual events. There are those who when they first encounter Christ they will call Him Lord like one of the thieves who was crucified with Him. And yet a few will be like the thief on the cross who died lost though Christ was only a few feet away and Paradise or Hell was only a few breaths away, and still he chose to mock Him.

It will depend on whom you are listening. Just try to look for a church in a large area using a phone directory. There will be numerous denominations and within denominations, a great variety. I have a book at home called “Handbook of Denominations In the United States.” Though it is outdated, it lists some 225 major denominations. I agree with Paul when he writes to the Romans, “Let God be true, but every man a liar.”

Let us strive to support our every teaching by the Word of God. And, the one teaching that is absolutely essential for your salvation is the doctrine of the resurrection.

I. BIBLICAL TESTIMONY

A. What is the Bible? Why do I trust in it?

1. The most printed Book in the history of man.

2. The best-selling Book ever.

3. The Book that has been translated into more languages than any other book.

4. The Book that men and women give their lives for.

5. It is a Book that has survived:

a. Every agnostic and atheistic assault.

b. Every empire, kingdom, or government that has been established

throughout history.

6. It is a Book that has guided kings and presidents in time of trouble.

B. From Genesis to Revelation

1. Christ is the central figure of the Bible.

a. Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and

between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt