Ressurection Truth

Resurrection proof

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Introduction- Good Morning Church

If you would turn to 1 Corinthians 15 and would prepare your heart for the word, I believe the words recorded by the apostle Paul are life-changing. There are few subjects in God’s word that have more eternal value than the text this morning.

Paul wrote most of the New Testament for us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

Nothing in scripture will point us to Jesus more than the cross and the resurrection.

This probably should be part one of the message preached on Easter Sunday but I felt lead to preach it today because we are living in a day and age that some do not know the importance of the resurrection and there are some that have allowed the world to pollute the message of the resurrection.

Let me just say if you proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and savior of your life and you do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God who was raised from the dead than your faith is in a man-made religion and not the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Prayer-Father, I come this morning with a heavy heart as we dig in the text of the resurrection of Jesus. I realize today that the cross and the blood of Christ has not been talked about as it should. The world has polluted and watered down the message of Christ.

I pray this morning that our hearts are not longer closed but open to hear the gospel message and that it will encourage, change and empower us to live for Christ. I pray your Holy Spirit might have liberty to flow through this room and touch each one of us and to draw us close to Christ. May the cross and His resurrection be shown in new light that we might have a better understanding and gratefulness of what was done for us by the savior of the universe and one that desires to have a relationship with each one of us. In Jesus Name Amen!

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Read from Bible

The believer hinges everything…eternity, on the fact that Jesus did what He said He did and that what He did would forgive us of our sins.

That Jesus lived, was crucified on the cross, died on the cross, was buried in the tomb, and then experienced the resurrection from the dead. If that is not true, if that did not happen than our faith is worthless and we will die in our sins.

Unbelievers either do not believe it happened or don’t care that it happen-

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. (1 Cor. 18)

For the believer “if we confess with our mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Eternity for each one of us hinges on what you believe and what you do with the cross and the resurrection. Each one of us will live for eternity somewhere but for a believer to be with Christ for eternity, it is because of the cross and the resurrection.

Paul in our text is reminding the church at Cornith of the gospel. The “Good News”

The gospel preached to you.

The gospel you received

The gospel that you have taken a stand for.

If you hold on to that gospel … than you are saved from your sins.

Paul tells the church this is the gospel that I bring to you. It is the gospel that you received. It is the gospel that you have taken a stand for. If you are preaching or listening to any other gospel than your faith in is in vain.

He calls it first importance- (3) he did not invent it, he received it from the Lord. The clause first importance makes three affirmations-

It was Christ who died

Christ death was redemptive

Christ death was keeping with Scripture

These things are important for the good news- on the third day as said in scripture, he was raised and more than 500 witnesses saw him.

The hope of all believers – ETERNAL LIFE verses ETERNAL DEATH and everlasting punishment. But our hope is more than just for this life, it is for all eternity.

Jesus has told us that He is the way the truth and the life (John 14:6) and Jesus Himself is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). Our eternal hope is based squarely on the resurrection of Jesus.

Our hope is not wishful thinking, or relying of luck. You can know where you will spend eternity.

Our hope is in God Himself who through out the ages has proven faithful over and over again.