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
bruise his heel.”
b. Numbers 24:15 “And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose eyes are open hath said: 24:16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, which saw the vision of the Almighty, falling into a trance, but having his eyes open: 24:17 I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” [Balak of the Moabites]
c. Matthew 3:16 “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
d. Revelation 1:12 “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 1:14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 1:16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:”
e. Revelation 22:20 “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come
quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. 22:21 The grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
2. The resurrection is a reoccurring theme.
a. Job 19:25 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the
latter day upon the earth: 19:26 And though after my skin worms destroy
this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: 19:27 Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”
b. Psalm 49:15 “But God will redeem my soul from the power of the grave: for
he shall receive me. Selah.”
c. John 11:21 “Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. 11:22 But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee. 11:23 Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again. 11:24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 11:27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.”
d. The resurrection of Lazarus was a type of the coming resurrection.
John 11:43 “And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus,
come forth. 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot
with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith
unto them, Loose him, and let him go.”
C. From Peter to Paul
1. There were numerous appearances.
a. Mary Magdalene John 20:11-17
b. Peter Luke 24:34
c. The Ten Disciples John 20:19 – 23
d. The Eleven Disciples John 20:26 – 29
e. To 500 Brethren I Cor. 15:6
f. Paul Acts 9:3 – 6
2. There have been numerous witnesses in the Bible
a. Peter
II Peter 1:16 “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made
known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
1:17 For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.”
b. John
I John 1:1 “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which
we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 1:3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with
the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.”
II. HISTORICAL TESTIMONY
A. The accounts of Christ spans time.
1. Have you ever considered the meaning of the terminology that has been used
in times past to date the history of man?
a. B. C. Before Christ
b. A. D. anno Domini year of our Lord
How could so many men over such a long period of time (4000 yrs) write 66
books (letters, historical accounts, psalms, etc.) that could be compiled into one
collection and called a bible? It is because each writer had his inspiration by the
same source, the Spirit of God.
2. I wonder why History was so named? Some say because it is His story.
How many agnostics or atheists have started out to disprove Christianity by digging up all the evidence concerning this man named Jesus to then find themselves face to face with so many facts and so much faith that all they can do is fall down and cry like others, “Lord, save me!”?
III. PERSONAL TESTIMONY
A. Thomas
1. Missed the first visit of Christ after His resurrection. Where was he?
a. Sorrowing due to the death of his great Prophet.
b. Embarrassed for giving his every waking hour to a Man who was now dead.
2. Would not believe until he could see.
B. We have not seen the Lord, yet we believe.
1. I have not touched Him, but I believe He has touched me.
2. I have been transformed by Christ.
IV. ESSENTIAL TO SALVATION
A. Resurrection is Foundational
1. The Resurrection of Jesus is the foundation fact on which Christianity is built.
Clarence Larkin pg 129 "Rightly Dividing the Word"
2. The most significant event in history is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the
strongest evidence that Jesus is the Son of God. This event gives men and women
the sure hope of eternal life a hope that not only gives joy as we look to the future
but also provides us with powerful reasons to live today. "The Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?" Pat Zukeran
3. Hebrews 6:1 “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on
unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.”
B. Resurrection is Essential
1. Romans 10:9 “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt
believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
2. Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under
heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Belief accepts Christ at face value. The thief did not understand everything about Christ or the Bible, but he did understand that he was a sinner. He came to Jesus just as he was. Don’t wait until you know everything about Christ or you can change and be better. Come to Jesus just like you are, and then He will begin to help you change. “Death To Sin” by Shawn Drake @ Sermoncentral.
CONCLUSION
Before the Easter morn the trumpet had seemed to the apostles to give an uncertain sound; there was either a trembling in its notes or a trembling in their ears; but now, with the resurrection, all uncertainty had gone, and the trumpet rang out its glorious blast, firm and rich and clear. “Declared with power to be the Son of God by the resurrection from the dead!”
“Declaring His Suffering” by John Henry Jowett
John 5:28 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”
