Go! And Proclaim the Risen Christ- 1 Corinthians 15:1, 3-4
Introduction
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
Today is not just any Sunday—it is Resurrection Sunday, the day when everything changed. The stone was rolled away. The tomb was empty. Death was defeated. And the risen Saviour stands victorious!
The apostle Paul, writing to the Corinthian church, made it clear that the resurrection is not an optional extra. It is the foundation. It is the Gospel. Let us look together at these powerful verses.
1 Corinthians 15:1 (NLT): “Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.”
1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (NLT): “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
1. Go! And Remember the Good News (v. 1)
Paul begins by saying, “Let me remind you.” Church, we need reminders. Life distracts us. The enemy deceives us. But Paul brings us back to the Good News—the Gospel. Not good advice. Not religious opinion. But Good News—that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for us.
The Greek word for “Good News” is euangelion—a proclamation of victory, a declaration of salvation. This is not something we work for; it’s something we receive.
Romans 1:16 (NLT): “For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes…”
The Gospel is the power of God. It is not just how we start the Christian life—it’s how we continue. Paul says, “You still stand firm in it.” The resurrection isn’t just a past event; it is the present power by which we live.
As Charles Stanley once said, “The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to us today.”
What a powerful truth - this is not poetic exaggeration—it is biblical reality!
Paul wrote in Ephesians 1:19–20 (NLT), “I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead…”
Think about that—resurrection power! Not a secondhand supply. Not a diluted dose. But the same power that shattered the grip of the grave, that rolled away the stone, that filled the lungs of the lifeless Lamb of God—that power is at work in us who believe!
Church, don’t live as though the tomb is still sealed. Don’t walk in defeat when the Victor lives in you! The risen Christ empowers us to overcome sin, to endure suffering, and to proclaim the Gospel with boldness.
Church, we don’t serve a dead Saviour. We serve the risen Lord. We don’t walk in fear—we stand firm in resurrection power.
Go! And walk in resurrection power!
2. Go! And Proclaim What Is Most Important (v. 3)
Paul says, “I passed on to you what was most important.” Church, not everything in life is equally important. The cross and the empty tomb are central.
1 Corinthians 2:2 (NLT): “For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified.”
We live in a world full of distractions. But Paul prioritises Christ crucified.
The phrase “Christ died for our sins” is loaded with theological truth. The Greek word for “for” is hyper (?p??)—meaning “on behalf of” or “in place of.” Jesus didn’t die merely to inspire us—He died as our substitute.
Isaiah 53:5 (NLT): “But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed.”
Christ’s death was not an accident—it was a divine appointment. It fulfilled the Scriptures. It accomplished salvation.
As R.C. Sproul said, “Jesus didn’t just die to make you savable. He died to save you.”
Imagine standing before a judge, guilty. But then someone steps in and says, “I’ll take the punishment.” That is what Jesus did. He paid our debt. He bore our wrath. He secured our forgiveness.
That’s the heart of the Gospel! Christ didn’t merely open a door and leave the rest to us. No, He walked through the door, took our place, bore our punishment, and secured our salvation. His death wasn’t a potential offer—it was a definitive rescue. On the cross, Jesus didn’t make redemption possible—He accomplished it.
As the apostle Paul wrote in Titus 2:14 (NLT), “He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people…” He saved us, fully and forever. Hallelujah, what a Saviour!
3. Go! And Believe the Resurrection Is Real (v. 4)
“He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.”
The resurrection is not myth or metaphor. It is historical reality.
Luke 24:34 (NLT): “The Lord has really risen! He appeared to Peter.”
The Greek word for “raised” is egerthe (??????)—a passive verb, meaning He was raised by the Father’s power. Jesus didn’t resuscitate—He resurrected!
The resurrection was witnessed by many. Paul goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 15:6 that Jesus appeared to over 500 people. Eyewitnesses. Historical fact.
Acts 4:33 (NLT): “The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all.”
They didn’t testify timidly. They didn’t mumble it in secret. They proclaimed it with power.
And this power changed everything. Cowards became preachers. The fearful became fearless. Dead hearts came alive.
Tim Keller wrote, “The resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.”
The worst thing—death, sin, hell—was not the last thing for Jesus, and it’s not the last thing for us. Because He lives, we have hope!
This is the glorious hope of the Gospel! The cross was brutal. The tomb was cold. The silence of Saturday was heavy. But Sunday came—and with it, resurrection life, victory, and eternal hope.
In Christ, death is not the end—resurrection is. Grief is not the final word—glory is. The worst thing you may face in this life—sickness, sorrow, suffering—will never be the last thing, because Jesus lives.
The resurrection proves that God can take the darkest moment and make it shine with eternal light. And if God can raise Jesus from the dead, He can raise you out of despair, out of bondage, and into His marvellous light.
So, my friend, never lose heart. The tomb was not the conclusion—it was the doorway to new creation.
Because He lives, we can face tomorrow.
4. Go! And Respond to the Gospel Today
The Gospel demands a response. You cannot remain neutral.
Romans 10:9 (NLT): “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
The risen Jesus is not a religious figure to admire—He is Lord to surrender to. He is Saviour to trust.
The Gospel isn’t a message we hear once. It is the message we return to daily. It is the anchor of our souls. It is the reason we worship.
Application & Call to Action:
So, let me ask you:
Are you standing firm in the Good News?
Are you proclaiming what is most important?
Do you truly believe in the resurrection power of Christ?
Have you surrendered your life to the Risen Lord?
Then, Go! And Proclaim the Risen Christ.
Let your life reflect the resurrection. Live in joy, not fear. Live with purpose, not confusion. Live in victory, not defeat.
Invitation to Faith:
If you have never placed your faith in Jesus, today is the day. Not tomorrow. Not later. Now.
Jesus died for your sins. He was buried. He rose again. And He is calling you to Himself.
Pray:
“Lord Jesus, I believe You died for me. I believe You rose from the grave. Forgive my sin. Come into my life. Be my Saviour and my Lord. I choose to follow You. Amen.”
Conclusion:
He is risen. He is risen indeed.
Go! And Proclaim the Risen Christ!
