1 Cor. 15:1-23 Assurances from the Resurrection
Intro: In our culture we have a tendency to set aside certain days to remember certain days of historical significance. For example:
July 4th – Day when Declaration of Independence was signed; the birthday of the USA
Dec. 7th – Day when Pearl Harbor was attacked in 1941
We could list other like: Memorial Day & Thanksgiving Day, VE Day, VJ Day
Well, we come together today because of one of the most important events that has ever happened in the history of this world. Though we don’t know for sure the exact date of the event for which we are gathered today. We do know that Jesus Christ was taken up on a hill call Golgatha, and was brutally crucified. After which, His body was taken and placed in a tomb for three days. Then on that third day, the earth shook, the tomb was opened, and Jesus Christ came forth from the tomb victorious over the grave & death.
Folks, the death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical event. It occurred just assuredly as the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It happened just assuredly as the bombing of Pearl Harbor.
We have set this day aside to help us remember what Christ did. This is important for various reasons. But today, I want to show you three assurances that are gained by the resurrection.
Prop: Everyone needs the assurances that the resurrection provides.
I. The resurrection assures us of the Deity of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:3; Rom. 1:14).
"Christ died for our sins"
"Christ" is a title, not just a name. "Christ" shows that He was different – not just an ordinary or even a good person.
It shows that He was indeed the long awaited for Messiah.
Rom. 1:1-4 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called [to be] an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared [to be] the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:"
A. The resurrection validated every claim that Jesus made.
The fact is that Jesus claimed to be the Messiah, God’s Son….
Either he was liar or a lunatic to make such claims if they were not true. Either He told the truth or He lied – there is not any middle ground. He was God in the flesh or He was a fraud…
Many claim to have a high regard for Jesus, saying He was prophet, or a good man…, but they reject who He claimed to be. A "good man" or a true "prophet" would not lie and make false claims…..
John 8:56-58 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad. Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham? Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am."
It is clear here that Jesus claimed His existence was uncreated & timeless. He claimed to an infinite being. Only God is inifinite, timeless & uncreated. The Jews knew this is what He was claiming and that is why the next verse says, "they took up stones to stone Him."
John 10:30-33 "I and [my] Father are one. Then the Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them, Many good works have I shewed you from my Father; for which of those works do ye stone me? The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God."
Jesus declared Himself to be God & the resurrection assures us that He told the truth.
B. The resurrection unveiled who Jesus truly was.
In some ways up until this time, His Deity had been veiled….
On several occasions Jesus actually commanded others not to tell who He was or what He had done.
Mt 8:4 "And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." Mt 16:20 "Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ."
Mt 17:9 "And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead."
The resurrection itself declares very loudly and clearly the Deity of Jesus Christ.
II. The resurrection assures us of forgiveness of sins (1 Cor. 15:17; Rom. 4:23-25).
Rom. 4:23-25 "Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification."
These verses are reminding us that Jesus died for our sins and that God raised up Jesus from the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea after three days. Therefore:
A. The resurrection is proof that God accepted the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.
You see, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is God’s gurantee that the full price for our sins were paid by the shed blood of Christ.
B. The resurrection is proof that Jesus died as our sinless substitute
C. The resurrection is proof that sin’s penalty has been paid in full.
The resurrection shows the truthfulness of 2 Cor. 5:21.
2 Cor. 5:21 "For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."
III. The resurrection assures us of our own resurrection (1 Cor. 15:12,13, 20-23).
A. It assures us that Christ’s resurrection was:
real – seen by numerous people (Cephas, the 12, & over 500 at one time; 1 Cor. 15:5-8).
tangible – Mary Magdalene & other women at the tomb, & the apostles (Matt. 28:8-10).
bodily – not a ghost Luke 24:36-40
yet a glorified, spiritual body (read; 1 Cor. 15:35-44)
a "first fruit" – indicating that we, His children, will also someday resurrect.
As believers we are looking to being resurrected someday, not because we understand it fully, but because God raised Jesus from the dead and promised we will be raised too.
B. It assures us that our resurrection will be like His:
We know that He was but a firstfruit, with many more to follow.
We see this confidence expressed in the words of Paul:
Phil. 3:20-21 "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
The resurrection gave Paul confidence that His body & our bodies too will be raised & changed to a body like Christ’s.
Conclusion: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is proven by all sorts of evidence. We can confidently say that it truly happened.
The resurrection is a true historical event. We set this day aside to help us remember it.
Remembering the resurrection helps to give the believer assurance:
Assurance of the Deity of Jesus Christ – Who Jesus actually Is.
Assurance of the forgiveness of sins – What has happened to those who believe that He died, was buried & rose again on the third day.
Assurance of our own resurrection – What will happen to those who have put their
complete trust in Him.
Invitation: If you haven’t ever seriously considered the resurrection of Jesus Christ, would you please do so today?
You need to trust in who He is – He is deity.
You need to trust in His work – He died to pay the penalty for your sins.
You need to trust Him so that you too can be raised and given a new glorified body.
If you don’t have these assurances, why not step forward during our invitation song….
