EVIDENCE OF THE RESURRECTION
EXHIBIT A: THE CHURCH
I Corinthians 15:1-2
Conspiracy theories are nothing new, but with the invention of the internet and social media, these theories are more prevalent than ever. There are a number of theories surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Others believe there was a cover up concerning the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001. Some believe that certain secret societies control the world. There are people who believe that the moon landings were faked and that the earth is flat. Almost 50 years after his death, many people are still convinced that Elvis Presley is alive.
The actual truth behind these “theories” has no real impact on our daily lives. But there are some who allege that Jesus Christ did not rise from the grave, and this is a subject that not only has an impact on our daily lives, it is one that has serious implications concerning our eternal destiny.
We can agree to disagree on many doctrines in the Bible, but the resurrection is a doctrine about which there is no room for debate. The scriptures make it clear that one cannot by saved if they deny the reality of Christ’s resurrection. Paul said in Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Ultimately the context of I Corinthians 15 is Paul’s defense of the future, literal bodily resurrection of Believers. However, in the process, the Apostle delivers a dynamic defense of Christ’s own resurrection. This is fitting because (as we will learn in this chapter) we would have no hope whatsoever if Christ had not risen. But praise God “Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
In a court of law, certain documents, photos, animations, and other devices that are formally introduced as evidence are called “exhibits”. As Paul defends the doctrine of the resurrection, he submits several “exhibits” (or pieces of evidence) that prove the reality of Christ’s resurrection. He presents the scriptures and Jesus’ fulfillment of prophecy as evidence. He mentions the fact that after Jesus rose from the grave that He was seen by Peter, James, and the rest of the Apostles. He also declares that Jesus was once seen by over 500 of His followers at one time. Finally Paul inserts a personal testimony of the resurrection, saying that “last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.”
When you look at the entirety of Paul’s defense, I believe that he has presented overwhelming evidence that Jesus Christ lived, died, was buried, and rose again. However, there is one more piece of evidence in this passage that is sometimes overlooked. I am referring to the truth that the Corinthian Christians were living proof that Jesus is alive. This is true for all Christians past, present and future.
The Corinthians heard the gospel message, received it, and responded by putting their faith in Jesus. Paul says “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand”. The Christians at Corinth were proof of the power of the Gospel and the reality of Christ’s resurrection.
In the same way, we who are “in Christ” are visible, living proof that Jesus is alive. As the old hymn says:
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living, Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
He Lives! He Lives! Christ Jesus lives today!
He Walks with me, And talks with me,
Along life’s narrow way.
He Lives! He Lives! Salvation to impart.
You ask me how I know He lives,
He lives within my heart!
There are multitudes of people in the world today who scoff at the idea that the Son of God lived, died, and rose again, but we are evidence that the resurrection is a reality. I would like to take the next few weeks and consider several different truths that serve as evidence that should prove beyond any reasonable doubt that Jesus is alive. Furthermore, because He lives, we have the assurance that we will live eternally!
- The first piece of evidence that I would like to submit to you is:
Exhibit A: The Church
Each of you woke up today and made the conscious decision to come to church. We call this structure a church building. The sign out front says Stockdale Baptist Church. However, this building is not “the church”, it is simply the location where this segment of Christ’s Church meets to worship Him. Ultimately the Church is the universal assembly of Christ’s people. (Those whom Paul describes in Ephesians as “the Body” and “the Bride” of Christ.)
The Greek word for Church is ekklesia, which is defined as “an assembly” or “the called-out ones”. This universal Church that we speak of is an assembly of called out people who have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. As we have already seen, this relationship is only available to those who have placed their faith in Jesus for salvation.
- I would like to consider a few truths about Christ’s Church, beginning with the fact that:
THE CHURCH IS COMPRISED OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE HEARD THE GOSPEL
The Gospel of Jesus Christ is central to correctly understanding this passage. Often you will hear the word gospel defined as “good news” and that is certainly true. But what is this “good news”? Well, it is perhaps best defined in the verses that follow our selected text.
- Notice how Paul defines the gospel in verses 3-4, he says:
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures”.
The gospel is the good news that “Christ died for our sins, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day”. This is the message that had been delivered to the people in Corinth. Likewise, every person here has at the very least “heard” the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. This is not something that happened by accident; the fact you have heard the gospel is a testament of the amazing grace of almighty God.
It was only by the grace of God that the Corinthains were able to hear the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. It was not by accident or happenstance that Paul came to their region preaching the gospel. It was not within Paul’s power to decide when and where he would evangelize. He was led by and obedient to the direction of the Holy Spirit.
In Acts 16 the Apostle had an intense desire to go and minister in Asia. However, the Holy Spirit had other plans and sent Paul and his associates to Macedonia. In the same way, God orchestrated the events of Paul’s life and ministry in such a way that he would arrive in Corinth at an appointed time and reach the people there with the gospel.
Before Paul made his way into that region, the people were dead in trespasses and sins, and they possessed no hope of salvation. Some had spent their lives enslaved in the bondage of Jewish legalism and lifeless rituals, observances, and ceremonies. Others had been involved in the detestable actions surrounding idol worship. Others held no formal religious affiliation, and they simply lived their lives seeking and enjoying the sinful lusts and pleasures of this world.
Before Christ, the Corinthian people were not much different from the people you will find in our own communities. Each day we encounter people who are involved in organized religion that will lead them straight to Hell. Some are Muslim, Buddhist, or Hindu. Others are involved in cults that profess to know and serve God but have no true relationship with Him. There are many others who are associated with and even faithfully committed to protestant Christian churches who are just as lost as the professing atheist. Tragically, the odds are pretty good that there are some within this very assembly who are in the same devastating situation. I am referring to people who are actively involved in religion, but they have never truly experienced regeneration. The only hope for such people is to hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ.
The only reason that we have received forgiveness of our sins and possess assurance of salvation and the hope of eternal life is because we have heard and received the gospel. We must never forget that this was made possible because of the sovereign grace of our loving Lord. Our Heavenly Father orchestrated the events of our lives in such a way that we were confronted with the gospel message. God put certain people in our paths who were faithful to tell us the good news that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again. Moreover, that same God has called and commissioned us to be that person for someone else. Just as He sent some faithful witness to share the gospel with you, He would have you to be a faithful witness who shares the gospel with others!
You may have entered this building today having never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ. But when you walk out those doors you will never again be able to claim that you have not heard the gospel. You were able to hear the gospel because the Father in Heaven graciously provided you with such an opportunity.
Those of us who are part of Christ’s Church are able to enjoy this amazing privilege because we were blessed to hear the gospel. However, it is not enough to simply “hear” the gospel. Becoming a member of the Church requires responding accordingly to what we have heard. This leads us to the second truth I would like to consider about the Church and that is:
THE CHURCH IS COMPRISED OF
PEOPLE WHO HAVE SURRENDERED TO CHRIST
“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved”
It is truly a beautiful thing to observe the powerful transformation that God performed in the lives of the Corinthian Christians. There are numerous passages where Paul references their lives before Christ and the new life that they had received in Him. This all started when they heard the gospel message.
However, hearing was not enough. You see, the Holy Spirit led Paul to that region; God opened a great door for ministry and the Apostle was faithful to walk through it and declare the necessity of trusting in Jesus for salvation. The “brethren” that Paul is writing to were willing to repent and believe in Christ and they were saved as a result. However, there were multitudes in Corinth who heard the same message and willfully rejected it.
Once again, there are many similarities between Corinth in Paul’s day and the world in which we live. Untold millions of people have heard the pure unadulterated gospel. They know what the Bible says about salvation only being available through Jesus Christ. Though they have heard the truth, they refuse to believe it. Even worse, some actually believe it but still refuse to accept it.
There are many negative things that we could say about the Church at Corinth. Paul’s first and second epistles to them contain many rebukes and much instruction about the changes that were necessary within their assembly. However, in spite of all of their flaws, the members of that Church had done at least one thing right and it was what mattered most; they did not stop at hearing the gospel, they “received” it! In verse 1, Paul addresses them as “brethren”. By referring to them in this way, Paul identifies these people as his brothers and sisters in Christ. Together, they were all part of God’s eternal family.
Many of us are part of that same eternal family of God. We are authentic members of Christ’s Church. As such, we are visible evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are living proof that our Savior lives! This is possible because we have heard and received the gospel.
Can the same be said of you? If not, it is imperative that you go beyond merely hearing the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ. Like the Brethren at Corinth and like so many others throughout the history of the Church you must “receive the gospel”. Eternity hangs in the balance, therefore we invite you to repent and believe in Jesus today. If you will trust in the risen Lord, then you can live the remainder of your life with full assurance of your own future resurrection.
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