What The Resurrection Of Christ Means To You

WHAT THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST MEANS TO YOU:

(1 Corinthians 15)

Intro:

1 – Doctrinally, it means that Christ is who He claimed to be … God of very God

2 – Historically, it means that Christ rose as He claimed He would … after 3 days

Proof …

V 5 – Seen by Peter, Seen by the 12 (probably includes Matthias – Acts 1:22 … or may be just a “generic” name for the disciples)

V 6 – Seen by 500 brethren at the same time (many of whom were alive to testify to that fact)

V 7 – Seen by James, then by all the apostles

V 8 – Seen by Paul … a personal encounter with the risen Christ

This morning, I want to focus on What the Resurrection of Christ Means to you – PRACTICALLY –

1/ It Means that SALVATION IS AVAILABLE (1-4)

- The gospel consists of the death, burial AND RESURRECTION of Christ (3-4)

- The gospel is the SOLE means of salvation (2)

- It is the resurrection that causes us to triumph over the curse of death, give us victory over sin, gives us new life in Christ (14, 57)

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2/ It Means that RESURRECTION IS A REALITY (12 … 20 … 23)

- The resurrection of Christ gives the assurance of our own resurrection (20)

- The resurrection of Christ assures us that resurrection is universal … all men will be raised (22) – but not all will be saved (Jn 5:28-29)

- We shall be raised to reign with Christ (23-25)

- We have the assurance of a reunion with loved ones (17-20)

NOTE: Verse 20 – This life is not the goal, is not the reward, is not our focus

3/ It Means that CHRIST SHOULD RULE IN MY LIFE (25-27, 32-34)

- Christ, because He lives, will rule over all (25-27)

- We believers, because we shall be raised … because there is an eternity ahead … should be righteous, we should seek to avoid sin and ungodliness, we should spread the gospel to others (32-34)

4/ It Means that THERE IS A RAPTURE

- We will not all die – we shall be changed … all of us (51)

- We shall be victorious over sin and death and hell (54-57)

- We shall be caught up to be with Jesus – and those who have gone before us --- and we will be with Him forever (1 Thess 4:13-18)

5/ It Means that THERE IS A REWARD FOR FAITHFULNESS

- Your labor is not in vain in the Lord

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What do we do to earn the reward for Faithfulness?

- Be steadfast (Morally settled, fixed on a course)

- Be unmoveable ( unflinching despite pressures from without)

- Be ‘abounding in the work of the Lord’ (to excel in God’s work … to excel in effort, not ability … to excel in effort, not results …. Faithfulness is success in God’s sight)

The resurrection was the greatest moment in history --- it is history’s greatest event ….

If the resurrection is true and Jesus is who He claimed to be, then what He said about Himself is true …

John 14:6 – I am the way, the truth and the life --- NO MAN COMETH UNTO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.