INTRODUCTION: Several years ago I read a fictional novel called, A Skeleton in God’s Closet. It was about an archeologists’ that claimed that he had found the skeleton of Jesus. The chaos that followed was amazing as churches closed and the earth began to tear itself apart. What if I could convince you that the resurrection never occurred? I never read a book so fast because I had to know what happened in the end! What if somebody had really found the body? Despite the fact that fictional books like this may peak our interest; I want you to know that the resurrection is a proven historical fact and does not need to be the emphasis of what I say today. The point that I want to make today is that the Death, Burial and Resurrection is Good News and it is evidenced in Paul’s life; my life; and possibly in your life. I don’t know if you have ever thought about it in this way before; but our lives are in some ways a reflection of the gospel.
1.Witnessed By (well attested) Verses 5-10
Hundreds of years before Christ; Isaiah prophecied about how Jesus would die, be buried, and finally resurrected. He was seen at the time of his resurrection by:
Peter the twelve disciples, more than once
more than 500 others (some who had died since the time that the apostle Paul told the story)
James seen Him too!
I was reading….(The Third Day, Hannagraaf, 24-26) In the book, “Dr. Alexander Metherell, a prominent physician who has thoroughly investigated the historical and medical facts regarding the death of Jesus Christ, drove a fatal stake through the heart of the swoon hypothesis.” (you know, the swoon hypothesis) …. Another guy Gary Habermas says, “Even if Jesus were alive before he was stabbed, the lance would almost certainly have killed him.” …. Even a liberal scholar named David Strauss said, even if Jesus had survived his crucifixion, he could never have rolled a massive tombstone uphill out of its gully---especially in his weakened condition….” …. Had he accomplished this miraculous feat (that is rolling the stone away) he would then have had to limp around on pierced feet, find his disciples hideout, and then convince them that he had conquered death and the grave. Strauss pointed out that, far from fantasizing that this bleeding shell of a man was their Savior, the disciples would have run and fetched a doctor.
TRANSITION: But, not only did all those people see Jesus…………..“Last; but not least, Paul” saw Jesus!
I have seen the evidence of the gospel; very simply! But, what I find more intriguing than the evidences for the resurrection is this: “How was the death, burial, and resurrection reflected in the apostle Paul’s life?”
….Secondly, I do not want you thinking that I am forgetting the work of Jesus because I am just talking about people…. And talking to you people…my friends. The reason I am talking about people is to demonstrate the impact the gospel.
The gospel is “good news” and is evidenced in Paul’s life, my life, and your lives. The passage that I am helping you understand today has much to say about the resurrection; but I need you to understand that Paul includes the whole gospel here, not just the resurrection. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus!
2.The Gospel. Paul defines the gospel in verse 1-4. He preaches not because they need some proof that Jesus actually died, was buried, and was raised. He preaches out of encouragement!
For one, Paul says that he wrote to the brethren, and he describes them as having received it, standing in it, and being delivered by it. Paul wants so much for the people who hears him to be marked by a consistent faith.
My friend MacArthur(you know.... John) says, “The doctrinal problem on which this chapter focuses was not the Corinthians’ disbelief in Christ’s resurrection but confusion about their own. Paul was not trying to convince them that Christ rose from the dead but that one day they, too, would be raised with Him to eternal life.”
a.The things that I am telling you today are of the utmost importance! Paul even says, that the gospel was the first thing of importance; which had to be delivered to us.
TRANSITION: What was it, what was so important that it would affect our lives profoundly?
Death: 1 Peter 2:24 says, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. You know, it is important to know that Jesus was not just some phantom that could not relate to you and me; but that he was flesh and blood. I sometimes think about the love that a dog has for its owner. You have to think, the dog doesn’t know any better…it just is a licking machine. My point is: Jesus knew better. He died on a cross as your fellowman; someone who could identify with you in all your pain and suffering…and finally death.
Have you heard people say, “I could just die!” I think it’s representative of the fact that there are times in our lives that represent death. I will explain in a few minutes what I mean….
Burial: Why in the world did Paul have to mention the burial? I mean, don’t they normally bury dead people? Oh, yeah…that s the point. Jesus was indeed dead! When you bury somebody there is even more of a permanence than when they die. Don’t most people find their closure at the loss of a loved one at the memorial service or funeral? Luke said, (9:59) a man came to follow Jesus one day, but when Jesus asked him to follow him; he said, let me go bury my father first. So Jesus said, “allow the dead to bury their own dead;” Some people (scholars) say that it means, “let the spiritually dead bury their own dead” In other words, because this man denied Jesus, he might as well had been buried in the ground. Do you ever feel buried in life?
Resurrection: Yep, not only did Jesus die, and get buried; but he was resurrected. It means being raised up, restored, it means to bring into existence, it means to awaken. Jesus said, (11:25) “he who believes in me will live even if he dies.” Who could doubt the resurrection after Lazarus was dead for days before Jesus raised him?
Through all this explanation that I am giving you; did you realize that Paul’s life (his everyday life) was a reflection of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ?
I like to say, “Last But Not Least is Paul.” But, Paul said he was both…last and least! He was least because of his actions and last because he met Jesus later than the others. He said he was, (v.8); “last of all, as one untimely born…or born at the wrong time.” I am sure that Paul would have rather been born of God earlier in His life, so that he would have come to known Jesus earlier. Do you ever think about all the wasted time that could have been? I do.
But, you know…before meeting Jesus, I really think that Paul led a life of hopelessness. He felt he was least for persecuting the church before his acceptance of Jesus. I am sure that he felt great pain in his heart for all of the wrong things he had done to persecute innocent people.
But, you know what?.... he also accepts who he is in Christ Jesus when he says, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me (vs. 10). Paul was transformed from a ‘dead and buried’ state of life and resurrected to a new purpose and mission.
TRANSITION: Why does Paul call the gospel the good news? What is the impact of ‘good’ on a life?
(THOUGHTFUL) Yet not I, but the grace of God with Me! How might that be ‘Good News?’ You see, when you and I come to a full realization of what the grace of God does for us….now that is GOOD NEWS!
3. IMPACT of “Good”
Let me tell you what the impact of ‘good news’ is….. I told you about brother Paul and how the gospel was reflected in his life; but let me tell you about me.
First of all, I don’t think that we give our testimonies much today, nor do we explore the implications of the gospel because the gospel includes death and burial; which in our lives include ….sin,… pain,… and suffering.
I can hear the silence already….don’t get to personal…don’t pry! While talking about faith this week I found ways that I was a reflection of the gospel.
When I first thought that I was saved, I confessed Christ and was evidence-driven. I could not understand how anybody could deny the irrefutable evidence of its truth. My life was all about undeniable proof.
But in looking back, I was still very ‘light‘on faith because, although I believed the truth of the Bible; I still generally lacked trust in the practical living of life.
My faith is objective in the sense that it is based on the historical truth of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. Again, ….to me this is an irrefutable historical fact, and is currently solidified in my heart as even more than that.
But my faith is also subjective in the sense that I now believe it in my heart and mind. But, the believing (faith) in my heart took much longer than the thinking faith in my mind.
It might be described as ‘certitude’ which is a cross between certainty of the mind and attitude of the heart.
How do we know we have faith? We believe it (gospel and God’s Word) with our mind; accept it with our hearts; and practically live it out by faith.
I bet that you have never thought of your faith as, “what came first…the chicken or the egg?”
What came first, the thinking or the heartfelt attitude?
I felt like I believed it in the mind first and then later had stronger faith in the heart. Much of that faith became like a ‘dead and buried’ corpse because of many complex reasons. But, when I look back now, my life was so decimated that I questioned whether I was really alive. ... in fact, have you ever hurt so much that you just want to stop the pain? I have .... I might as well had been dead and buried.
But then,…. .... something happened to me....(Cresendo).. not all at once..... and I didn’t even recognize when the particular moment was when I was changed! Through a reading of the Scripture in context and without commentary help; and times in prayer, just telling God about the suffering of all the things that happened to me.... he changed me!
I don’t understand it.... so many of my natural desires began to change. I began to have a joy that is indescribable, even when the world was falling apart around me. Imagine that, a depressed guy who has joy!
TRANSITION: Not only did the gospel give life to Paul; and to me; but it can give life to you too! I can identify with Paul when he said, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” (Galations 2:20).
Do you recognize how the gospel is reflective upon your life? Take some time this week in prayer with God and simply give him thanks for rescuing you from whatever your death and burial might figuratively represent.
Please bow your heads and close your eyes as we pray.
INVITATION: Our passage today says that believers receive the gospel…. which means that they accept it and take it with them.
…. They stand in the gospel….which means they consistently hold onto it for a prolonged time.
…. and finally that they are delivered by the gospel…. which means they are rescued! (Brought to my mind Romans 4:25-For he was delivered over to death for our sins, and raised to life for our justification.)
Paul received it; stood in it; and was delivered by it. I received it; stand in it; and am being delivered by it. Will you? Will you… receive Him, Stand in Him, Be delivered by Him?
Receive it? John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God….” That is all it takes to become of His children, just receive Him.
Stand in it? The book of Romans contrasts those who were compared to branches that were broken off of a vine and those who stand in their faith. When you stand for Jesus, you stand for life, not death. You travel a road that leads to life, and whose bridge is Jesus. You travel the way of life and not the way of destruction. Standing is a posture that is opposed to lying down.
Be delivered by it? Psalms 68:20 says, “God is to us a God of deliverances; and to God the Lord belong escapes from death.” David also says,” I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer.” (Psalm 18:2).
--Finish praying with: Philippians 3:8-14
