The Proof And Hope Of Resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:1-26 Series

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Open your Bible 1 Corinthians 15. This is perhaps the greatest chapter in all the Bible on the resurrection. Resurrection is the very heart and soul of Christian truth. It is the very cornerstone of everything we believe. This morning I want to speak to you on the hope resurrection brings to the ones who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul speaking to the Corinthian church presents the gospel.

Now what is the gospel? 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 2By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. The gospel is the undeniable fact that Jesus came, lived, died, and rose again according to the scriptures. Now, Paul gives us the evidence or proof of resurrection.

The proof of resurrection.

1. The testimony of transformed lives.

1 Corinthians 15:1 I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

Like Paul preached to this church, someone shared to us the gospel. We have heard the gospel and have taken a stand. Once we have taken a stand to live for the Lord Jesus Christ, we have experienced a transformation in our life. So, the first great evidence of the resurrection, evidence that Jesus is alive is the experience of a transformed life. How do I know that Jesus Christ lives? Because He changed my life. How do I know that Jesus Christ is alive? Because I’ve seen Him change your life. The evidence of salvation. All those who have received a transformation can you shout a Hallelujah.?

2. The testimony of the Word of God.

1 Corinthians 15:3-4 3Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

The word of God is the proof of the resurrection. Luke, in writing the book of Acts talks about proof of resurrection. Acts 1:3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. We have not only the testimony of transformed lives, but we have the testimony of the Word of God. Scripture affirms, both Old Testament and New Testament, the resurrection of Christ.

3. The testimony of the empty tomb.

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple. So, Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

John 20:8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. The empty tomb is the proof of resurrection.

4. The testimony of the Eyewitnesses.

1 Corinthians 15:5-8 5and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

In other words, the eyewitnesses were still living when Paul pens this letter. After that, He was seen by James, and then by all the apostles. And last of all, He was seen by Paul who persecuted the church of God.

So, there is the testimony of experience, the testimony of Scripture, the testimony of the empty tomb, the testimony of the eyewitnesses, including the Apostle Paul. All of this to say that that the facts of the resurrection are irrefutable. It is, indeed, one of the best attested facts of ancient history. Jesus Christ arose from the dead. That is a monumental truth.

And in spite of that, some deny and mock the resurrection. 1 Corinthians 15:12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?