Reading: 1 Corinthians chapter 15 verse 1-19.
Quote: Andrew Murray:
“Jesus Christ was born twice.
The birth at Bethlehem was a birth into a life of weakness.
The second time he was born from the grave – “the first born from the dead” – into the glory of heaven and the throne of God”.
• Corinth was a Greek city, 40 miles away from Athens.
• Corinth and Athens were very much like Edinburgh and Glasgow today.
• Athens was the University city where the philosophers lived and art festivals were held.
• Corinth was a bustling port.
• Greek philosophy was the background of Corinth’s beliefs;
• And the Greeks did not believe in the resurrection' of the dead.
Ill:
• In fact when Paul had first preached at Athens;
• (Read about it in Acts chapter 17 verse 32).
• They listened until he mentioned the resurrection of Christ,
• Then some of those listening actually laughed at him! They mocked him!
In New Testament times:
• Most Greek philosophers considered the human body a prison,
• And they welcomed death as deliverance from bondage.
• This sceptical attitude had somehow invaded the church and Paul had to face it head-on.
• So in this chapter Paul dealt with the subject of ‘resurrection’ by answering 4 basic questions.
Ill:
• Question 1: Are the Dead Raised? (That is answered in verses 1-19).
• Question 2: When are the dead raised? (That is answered in verses 20-28).
• Question 3: Why are the dead raised? (That is answered in verses 29-34 & 49-58).
• Question 4: How are the dead raised? (That is answered in verses 35-49).
This morning we are looking at the glory of Christ’s resurrection:
• And that overlaps the first question Paul answers in this chapter:
• Are the Dead Raised? (verses 15:1-19)
Note:
• The Corinthian Christians were a strange mix;
• No Church founded by Paul had more problems than the one at Corinth.
• As a result of their difficulties and struggles.
• We have two amazing letters.
This first letter and this chapter (15);
• Contains the earliest account of the resurrection appearances of the Lord in the N.T.
• Don’t miss that!
• 1 Corinthians chapter 15 was written about A.D. 56.
• This is the very first written record of the witnesses of the resurrection body of Jesus.
• Because Greek philosophy was the background of Corinth’s belief;
• This meant they too did not believe that they would be raised to life again.
• Ever since they were born they were taught the soul not the body is important;
• The human body was the source of man’s weakness and sin.
• They viewed it as a corpse, a tomb.
• They looked upon death with joy, anxiously waiting the time;
• When their souls would be liberated, unshackled from their bodies.
Note:
• Now although the Christians at Corinth denied the resurrection of their own bodies;
• They did believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ;
• So on this point Paul starts to build his argument.
• He presented three proofs to assure his readers that Jesus Christ;
• Had indeed had been raised from the dead.
PROOF No 1 - THEIR SALVATION (verses 1-2).
“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
In verse 1 the apostle Paul describes a three-fold process in conversion:
(1). THERE IS ALWAYS A VEHICLE OF KNOWLEDGE.
• “I preached to you”
• That vehicle may be a preacher, or maybe a Christian simply witnessing.
• It maybe a Bible that has been read or may be some other Christian literature;
• But in conversion there is always a vehicle of knowledge.
(2). THERE IS ALWAYS A RECIPIENT.
• “Which you received”
• There is always a recipient, beneficiary, a receiver;
• Who hears that preacher, or talks to that Christian, or reads that Bible or literature;
(3). THERE IS ALWAYS AN ACCEPTANCE.
• “On which you have taken your stand”.
• In other words you heard the gospel, you believed the gospel;
• And you embraced, or received the gospel.
• That gospel is a rock on which you are able to stand.
Paul explains what that gospel is in verses 3-4:
• That gospel was and is a message about Christ!
• His death and also his resurrection.
• After all, a dead Saviour cannot save anybody!
• And so an integral part of the Gospel message was the fact of Christ's resurrection.
Paul's readers had received the Word, trusted Christ, and been saved:
• They were now standing on that gospel as the assurance of their salvation.
• A gospel that proclaims the resurrect ion of Jesus Christ from the dead.
• In verse 2 Paul says the fact that they were standing firm in their faith;
• Was proof that their faith was genuine and not empty.
Note:
• Paul puts the word in the present tense;
• “By this gospel you ARE saved”.
• He did not say; “By this gospel you WERE saved”.
• He did not say; “By this gospel you WILL be saved”.
• He says that we are now being saved;
• It is a continuous and ongoing process.
Verse 2 is a sombre verse:
“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
• Sadly some people have a superficial faith;
• The profess Christ but do not posses Christ!
• They have all the answers;
• But they do not allow this gospel to change their lives.
• The test of true faith is that it does not quit;
• The gospel holds us more than we hold it!
In the New testament salvation is spoken of in three ways:
• We are saved, we are being saved and we shall be saved!
• We are saved (from sins punishment),
• We are being saved (from sins power);
• And we shall be saved (from sins presence)
PROOF No 2 - THE OLD TESTAMENT SCRIPTURES (vs 3-4).
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”
• "Christ died ... He was buried ... He rose again ... He was seen"
• Are the basic historical facts upon which the Gospel stands.
The apostle Paul says this message was of “First importance."
• The Gospel is the most important message that the church ever proclaims.
• While it is good to be involved in social action and helping to meet the needs of people.
• First and foremost the gospel is a message;
• Social action and helping to meet the practical needs of people.
• Should not be a barrier or get in the way of the Gospel message;
• Rather they should compliment the message.
The apostle Paul then reminds the Corinthians of the heart of the gospel message:
(1). CHRIST’S DEATH:
“Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures”
• This statement is the theological explanation of the historical facts.
• “Christ died” are the facts – “For our sins” is the theological explanation.
• We noted last Word & Worship service;
• That many people were crucified by the Romans,
• But only one "victim" ever died for the sins of the world.
• He was unique and his death was unique!
Note:
When Paul wrote "According to the Scriptures"
He was of course referring to the 39 books contained in our Old Testament.
Much of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament;
Pointed to the sacrifice of Christ as our substitute and Saviour.
Ill: The annual Day of Atonement (Leviticus chapter 16);
Ill: And prophecies like Isaiah chapter 53 & Psalm 22 would also come to mind.
(2). CHRIST’S RESURRECTION:
“That he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”
Ill:
This might surprise you;
• But there is only one consistent point or truth;
• Made in all the evangelistic sermons in the book of Acts.
• It is not the virgin birth;
• It is not the sinlessness of Christ;
• It is not even the CROSS!
• The cross is not mentioned in every sermon in the book of Acts.
• It is not the blood of Christ;
• Nor is it the second coming of Christ.
• It is not repentance that is always mentioned;
• Nor is it grace, faith or forgiveness.
• In the recorded text, the print on the paper;
• The only constant in the recorded sermons in the book of Acts is the resurrection!
• Now I am not saying that the apostles did not preach the cross;
• What I am saying is what the text records.
Question: Where does the Old Testament declare His resurrection on the third day?
Answer:
Ill:
• Jesus pointed to the experience of Jonah;
• (Matthew chapter 12 verses 38-41.
There are of course many prophecies in the Old Testament;
• That refer to the Messiah's resurrection in the Old Testament:
• These are is quoted and explained in the New Testament.
• e.g. Psalm 16 verses 8-11 is quoted and explained in Acts chapter 2 verses 25-28;
• e.g. Psalm 22 verse 22 is quoted and explained in Hebrews chapter 2 verse 12),
• e.g. Isaiah chapter 53 verses 10-12, and Psalm 2 verse 7;
• Are explained in Acts chapter 13 verses 32-33.
On the third day:
• To the amazement of the disciples;
• Jesus fulfilled all the Old Testament predictions.
• He was not really resuscitated;
• (that is restored to the same mortal life that he had before)
• He was resurrected!
• He came back to life in a form of glorified immortality that the world had never seen before!
Ill:
• It was the same body yet different;
• It was different but the same!
• He had a body that the disciples could touch and inspect;
• It even contained the wounds of the cross an d the holes in his hands & feet.
• Yet it was a body that did no have the fragility and limitations of the former body.
• It could appear and then disappear!
PROOF No 3 - CHRIST WAS SEEN BY WITNESSES (vs 5-11).
“And that he appeared to Cephas,
and then to the Twelve.
6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
(1). CEPHAS OR PETER.
• “And that he appeared to Cephas,
• Peter is probable mentioned first in this list for several reasons:
• (a). He was known to the Christians in Corinth.
• (b). According to Luke chapter 24 verse 34 Peter received a special appearance.
• It was Peter who failed the Lord by denying him;
• Yet it was Peter who the Lord singled out for a special visitation!
(2). THE TWELVE (THE DISCIPLES COLLECTIVELY).
• This was the ‘official’ term to describe the apostolic band.
• Judas was obviously not there he had hanged himself.
• Matthias chosen to replace Judas had not yet been appointed;
• But the ‘twelve’ was the collective term to describe the remaining disciples.
(3). CROWD OF 500 PEOPLE.
“After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”
• The 500 plus who saw Him refutes once and for all;
• Any idea that the resurrection had been a hallucination or a deception.
• One person might experience a hallucination;
• But 500 hundred at one time – unthinkable!
Paul does not say where this sighting occurred:
• He speaks about this event as if it was commonly known;
• Some commentators suggest this event took place on a mountainside just before His ascension;
• Had you been in Corinth you could have found an eye witness and asked them!
• Because this letter was written 26 years after that event.
• Unfortunately for us we live in 2008 those witnesses have now all fallen asleep!
(3).JAMES.
• James was a half-brother of Jesus;
• John chapter 7 verse 5 tells us that at the start of his ministry he did not believe in Jesus.
• In fact all of his step brothers and sisters were actively hostile towards him.
• In fact we are told that; “They thought him to be mad.”
Once again (as with Peter) the Lord appeared to someone who had hurt him deeply;
• But in Acts chapter 1 verse 14 after he met the risen Christ;
• He too became a believer.
(4).THE APOSTLES.
Question: How does this group differ from the twelve?
Answer:
• (a). This appearance may have been at the ascension and so included Matthias.
• (b). Another suggestion is that the twelve saw the Lord in their unbelief,
• On this occasion the Apostles would have seen the Lord in their belief.
(E). PAUL.
“And last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born”
One of the greatest witnesses of the resurrection was Paul himself:
• Paul is a unique witness in this list;
• All the others mentioned saw the Lord on earth;
• Paul saw the Lord from heaven;
• When he appeared to him on the Damascus Road (Acts chapter 9).
• Paul was not only an unbeliever but also a persecutor of Christ.
• He was soundly convinced that Jesus was dead.
• The radical change in his life from unbeliever to believer.
• Was not an easy one.
• It caused him to experience incredible persecution and suffering;
• But he endured it because he knew that the Lord had indeed been raised from the dead.
Paul describes himself as “One abnormally born”
• The Greek word means “Miscarriage”.
• Paul saw himself as a miscarriage, an abortion.
• In Paul’s thinking the other disciples, apostles were all born normally;
• He was born abnormally.
Ill:
The other disciples knew Jesus as:
• The man, the teacher the miracle worker from Galilee,
• Eventually they understood him to be the Christ/Messiah
• Suddenly when they fought he would set up his kingdom,
• He was arrested & then became Jesus the crucified,
• Eventually after the darkest,
• Longest three days of their lives,
• The penny drops and they discover,
• That Christ is risen, alive from the dead.
Ill:
Saul of Tarsus / Paul the Apostle:
• Had it all in reverse.
• His first conception of Jesus was in his risen glory.
• Everything else he knew about Jesus he had extracted by persuasion or torture;
• From Christians he had sought out and arrested!
But now Saul/Paul had encountered the risen, glorified Christ:
• He was speaking to him, he was as real to Paul,
• As were the other people Paul was travelling with!
• We to are here because we have met with the risen Christ!
• Like Saul our appreciation of Christ is growing day by day!
