Title: Week 3 This is Love – New Creation
Theme: Show how the resurrection brings a new creation.
Text: 1 Corinthians 15
There are many “noted” people in history who has wrestled with this concept of death.
1 Corinthians 15:12-20 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? (13) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. (14) And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. (15) Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up--if in fact the dead do not rise. (16) For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. (17) And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! (18) Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. (19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. (20) But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
I want us to go back to 1 Corinthians 15 and review what Paul is saying about the resurrection. Some of the Corinthians were dealing with this idea of the resurrection from the dead. There were some Jews (Sadducees) and philosophers of the day who didn’t believe that there was a resurrection.
From Wiersbe Commentary on 1 Corinthians 15:47 - 57
Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychiatry, wrote: “And finally there is the painful riddle of death, for which no remedy at all has yet been found, nor probably ever will be.” Yet, Christians have victory in death and over death! Why? Because of the victory of Jesus Christ in His own resurrection. Jesus said (after speaking of His death and preparation for us said in John 14:19, “Because I live, you shall also” (Joh_14:19).
Paul brings out some key points for Christians if the resurrection is not true:
1. Their preaching was in vain (v.14) - “vain” empty of purpose, devoid of truth
2. Their faith was in vain (v.14) - “vain” empty of purpose, devoid of truth, which is no faith at all
3. The apostles were false witnesses (v.15) - although over 500 people witnessed the resurrection, although historians have shown that the historical resurrection is true yet still some chose to doubt.
4. The Corinthian believers were still in their sins (v.17) – we talked about this this first day, the resurrection means the forgiveness of sins.
1 Corinthians 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
5. The believers who died in Jesus have perished (v.18) – the ones who have went on before is just dead with no hope. – perish – destroy
6. The Christians who placed their hope in Christ were of all people to be pitied (v.19)
1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Verse 20
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
CEV 1 Corinthians 15:20 But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.
Romans 8:10-11 But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. (11) Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.
Why is the resurrection so important?
It gives us hope that we should also be changed.
1 Corinthians 15:51-58 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-- (52) in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. (53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. (54) So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." (55) "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" (56) The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. (57) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (58) Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
John – It has yet to be revealed what we shall be like
1 John 3:1-3 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (2) Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. (3) And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
Creation and our bodies eagerly wait for this new creation
Romans 8:18-23 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (19) For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God. (This event of us being changed affects the whole creation) [Explained] (20) For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it in hope; (the fall was not just the fall of man but of all creation but there was hope prophesied in Genesis 3:15 of a serpent bruiser) (21) because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) For we know that the whole creation groans and labors with birth pangs together until now. (23) Not only that, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body. (begging for an answer to death, if you are a Christian you are eager for the fulfillment. If you are not you are begging for the answer)
Conclusion
This New Creation begins right here
Writing his second book to the Corinthian church he reminds them in 2 Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."
1 Peter 1:3 According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…vs 3
Jesus and Nicodemus “You must be born again”
John 3:2-8 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, "Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him." (3) Jesus answered and said to him, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (4) Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" (5) Jesus answered, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (7) Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' (8) The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."
Courson
The kingdom of God has past, present, and future application. If you don't understand this, your interpretation of Scripture will be muddled and your understanding unclear.
The past application of the kingdom of God is based upon the realization that when Jesus walked on earth as a Man, the kingdom was present on earth (Luk_10:9). The miracles and signs He ministered on this planet were but sneak previews of what the kingdom will be in its future state. The present application of the kingdom of God is based upon the understanding that it is presently not external but internal (Joh_17:21). The future application of the kingdom of God is based upon the belief that when Jesus Christ returns, we will see not only the internal manifestations of the kingdom, but the external aspects as well (Isa_11:6).
Thus, in essence, Jesus said to Nicodemus, "You'll not see the kingdom presently unless you realize who I am. You'll not experience it internally unless you open your heart. You'll not be there eternally unless you're born again."
Under his feet
1Co 15:25-28 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. (26) The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. (27) For "He has put all things under His feet." (Psalms 8:6) But when He says "all things are put under Him," it is evident that He who put all things under Him is excepted. (28) Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all.
Php 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, (21) who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
