Receive the Gospel and Receive Great Hope (2)

Receive the Gospel and Receive Great Hope

1 Cor 15:1-28

LaFayette Baptist Church

04/02/2023

By: Jacob Winters

Introduction

This week we are starting our Easter Bible Read through plan. So, today’s sermon text is from the first day of that reading plan. We find ourselves in the first book of the Bible, the book of Genesis and in one of the great scenes of Scripture. If you will all please go ahead and turn your bible’s to 1st Corinthians. 1stCorinthians 15:1-28. In a few moments we will read it from the screen together, but please go ahead and have your biblRee open so you can follow along.

Have you ever seen anything that was so hopeless that it was sad? I saw something like that this week. You see, just across the street from our house, there once stood a beautiful red brick 2 story Victorian house. This house, was probably once the pride and joy of large and fairly well off family. More recently though, it was removed to be apartments and so it remained. That is, until about 3 weeks ago in the middle of the night the place caught fire. To my knowledge, no one was hurt, but the place has sat vacant for weeks. Then, after weeks of no movement, the place seemed that it would never be occupied again. This thought I had, while sitting in a rocking chair on front porch and drinking coffee, was confirmed this past Tuesday morning, when I saw large machinery being brought onto the property. Then, within a span of only about three hours, the once strong looking red brick and metal roof home, was reduced to rubble. The hope of this home is gone. It has passed, just like any other hope we find in this world and in worldly things. I will tell you with most assurance, there is only one person that you can ever find true and lasting hope. This person is God. This hope is gained through accepting the Gospel. This brings us to our main idea and sermon title today, Receive the Gospel and Receive Great Hope

Scripture

If you would all please rise for the reading of God’s Word today. The words to the scripture will be on the screen, please read along with me as we are reading. When I am done I will say “this is The Word of The Lord” if you will all please respond with “Thanks be to God.” First, let’s pray.

Father God, thank You for who you are and what You are doing to us in this place. Father, make us, mold us, transform us more into the image of Christ. Help us be better lovers of both You and all of mankind. Take away everything in our lives that keep us from doing us and help us put our eyes and attention on You and You only. We ask this day, that as we are about to participate in the reading of Your Word together, that you sanctify us with it Father. Take any distraction as far away as it can possibly go, because We want to know more about You and what that means in our lives. Then, as we learn this, help us apply it to every part of our lives. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and Precious name that I pray, Amen. 1stCorinthians, in Chapter 15.

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. [1]

Context

So, we continue in our Easter series and begin our second week of our Easter Bible Read through, with what many people call the greatest summary of the Bible and the plan of God in all the bible. So critical is this chapter, that I have heard pastors and theologians say that if in some odd situation they got to choose only one chapter of The Bible to survive, it would often times be this one.

This book of The Bible, 1st Corinthians, was itself written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Corinth sometime around 53 or 55 AD, so some 20 years after Christ’s death on the Cross. This city was known for worshiping many false gods, and for its generally lewd culture and behavior. 1stCorinthians in and of itself was a corrective letter from Paul to that church, because of reports of the church falling away from it’s one time pure, God honoring ,and God seeking ways. So, Paul loving his spiritual children in Corinth, wrote them this letter; to get them back on track. In the same ways, as Paul had application for these believers, the same application applies to believers everywhere today, including you, including us here today. With all of that context in mind, I want you to see from the text these points about The Gospel and the Hope that lies within.

Message

The first point is: The Gospel is of greatest importance.

15 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

We begin here with a reminder from Paul to the Corinthians church, this reminder was the most important and most critical thing for all believers everywhere for all things to know. This was of course, The Gospel of Jesus Christ. He begins here, saying that he preached to this to them, however a quick look at the original languages of these the word “preached” in both occurrences better translates lates to the word “Evangelize or to share,” as we had briefly spoken about last week. So, Paul wants to remind them of the gospel that he shared with them, that they received, and in which they stand. To not understand this, means that they (and you) believe or practice being a Christian in vain. Meaning, that it is useless, that really you are not a believer or disciple of the Lord Jesus yet if you don’t have this fact understood and accepted.

So, what is this important information, what is This Gospel that I am talking about? Paul states it here in the text: That Christ died for our sins (just as the scriptures said he would), the was buried and rose on the third day (just as the scriptures said he would, and then appeared to Cephes (Peter), the other apostles, and more than 500 people all at one time (many of whom were still alive at the time of the writing of this letter and could all confirm that they in fact did see Jesus alive after His death. Then, last of all, he appeared to Paul also. So, Jesus did all of these things that foretold about Himself, and He was seen by so many eyewitnesses, that it is IMPOSIBBLE to truthfully deny that He did not do these things!

You can see it plainly here, it Paul it was critical that the believers in Corinth knew and understood this. It is important that you believer, know and understand this. That Christ died for Your sins and the proof was in the pudding, that He was and is God when he rose from the dead as the scriptures said He must. As God, He is able to provide the sacrifice to pay for your sins, both before and after becoming a convert to Christianity. Believer and non-believer alike, do you have something that You need to turn towards The Lord Jesus about? I can say most assuredly to everyone hearing my voice, that in fact you do. Don’t let Satan deceive you, we all (each and every one of us) have some kind of sin that needs to turn aways from and no longer done (what we call repentance). I know, that many of you are trying to do this, and maybe you are trying to do this on your own and don’t know where to start. Let me tell you how you start and let me challenge you to do this today, remember that to overcome anything, The Gospel is of greatest importance, start their; confess to God and repent, and then you are on the right path.

The second point to see about The Gospel and the Hope that lies within is: The Grace of God Changes people

9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

One things to know about Paul, if you didn’t know it, was that Paul before becoming a believer, a follower of Jesus Christ, was not a good person. In fact, he was a great persecutor of the church, meaning that he sought and did do hurt and harm to anyone he found out was a follower of Christ. He was a man of blood of vengeance, and though he many have never lifted the sword or weapon himself, he was a great murder; seeing murder, delighting it, and working to make it happen to many people. He was what we call, the worst of the worst of the sinner of mankind. But God, changed him. God changed him and used in a great and might way, instead of being a killer of Christians, an enemy of the church of God, a man to be feared; God’s grace filled Him and God used Him as the most successful missionary mankind has ever known and even promoted him to the very exclusive Biblical office of Apostle, a title and office that was only for those that were closest to Jesus and were chosen by Him to lead and found The Church (the bride of Christ). So, Paul was a bad guy, but God changed him into the best good guy.

Much like the huntsman from snow white, who first sought to kill snow white then when he realized he was doing wrong, he let her go and warned her to run away; Paul changed. Paul Changed because of God’s Grace given to him. He changed his whole. The same can be, and is true for you. It doesn’t matter how bad who you are, God’s grace is more than enough for you. It doesn’t matter what is, remember Paul was a horrible murderer. Maybe your sin isn’t like this. Maybe you are lie, to the point that it creates your own reality; Maybe you are frequently harsh with others; maybe your look at images or pictures that you know you shouldn’t be; maybe you are hiding something from someone (and you have been for a long); maybe you steal whenever no one is looking; maybe your faith in God isn’t as strong as you know it should be. Know this friend, God’s grace can and will change you. Forgiveness changes person. Maybe you need forgiveness, or maybe you need to give forgiveness to someone. Friend, seek and give this. Where you know you must. If God’s grace can extend to you, all have you have to do is honestly want and ask for it. So, what do you need to do today, who do you need to talk to? And ask yourself what do you need to speak to God in prayer about when you leave this place today? When you do this, know this to yourself and with others, expect a change. Remember, The Grace of God changes people.

The next point is: The resurrection of Christ must be known

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

It's clear hear from this line of reasoning, that it must have been going around the Corinthian church, that there is no resurrection of the dead. This is a thought that was clearly very strong in ancient times, and it remains with us even to this day; that there is just simply no way that the dead can come back to life. Under normal human circumstances, I would affirm that they are right. They forgot one thing though,…that God is involved. Remember, God doesn’t play by our rules; we play by God’s rules; and as such when we do it, a dead person cannot come back to life. We do not have the power or ability to create life, this is a power that only God has and only God oversees. All we can do, is participate in the processes that God has ordained for us to create life, but the soul, the eternal self, that’s all God. So, when God is involved, because He is infinitely infinite and powerful, all things are possible.

So, Paul starts this thought logic process that goes something like this: How can you say their no resurrection of dead? If there is no resurrection, then Christ wasn’t raised. If He wasn’t raised, then it means what we preach, and your faith is in vain. If it’s in vain, then we are wrong. So, the dead aren’t raised then Christ could be, if Christ couldn’t be then your faith is worthless, and you are still in your sins. If you are still in your sins, then that means everyone who passed away before us have passed and are looking at eternity in hell. If this is true, then we need to be pitied because the same is in the future for us. As you can see from this logic process, the understanding of the resurrection of Dead is critical belief for believers everywhere; because it is Has implications on Christ’s death and His payment for the penalty of our sins. So, we cannot forget this, that not only was Christ raised from the dead, but also believer, when Christ returns you will be as well. You will be, and this will be a good thing; for then we will get experience the New Heaven and the New Earth, and perfectly peaceful and painless and joyful place for all of eternity. So, Christ’s resurrection must be known about and must be accepted for believers. This is what we celebrate on Easter day, the resurrected Christ and the empty tomb; death and sins defeat.

Another point is: The truth of Christ gives total victory

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. [2]

They knew and we know today that Christ was raised from the Dead. So many people saw it, that historians have a very hard time disproving it, and by in large most don’t because the evidence is simply overwhelming. To be quite honest, to do so seems absolutely unreasonable and foolish. Could you imagine in a court trial, over 500 people being individually interviewed and all saying that the same thing, that they saw Him raised and their was no doubt about it. In a moder court of law, that evidence would more than enough to prove the point. This is the same as Christ, history has only proved that He indeed was raised. Why then, do people say that He was not? I can tell you why. It’s because without faith and without the Holy Spirit leading you towards accepting the truth, then we all have a sin nature that keeps us in constant rebellion against God. Everyone can perceive that there is a God, but they don’t want to admit it, because to do so is to admit that they are wrong, and they are liable for their actions. Well, we all are liable, every single one of us, regardless of who you are, what you think you know, how much money you have, or how little you have. You will one day stand against God, and with Christ you will not stand, you will be destroyed and cast aside or into the fire as all the small useless limbs around our town (from the storms) will be.

This of course, will happen in the end times; when God The Father chooses to end evil and sin once and for all. From here, God will reign on the new earth, just as He does in heaven; everything will be under His rule and will be subject to Him. So, simply put God’s will be in charge and their will be no hindrance to His decree and rule. So, what is?

It is total victory. It is total victory through the Truth in Christ. Victory from what then? Victory from the curse of sin and the curse of death. You see, when God created mankind, he gave us what is called free will. With this free will, our earliest mother and Father (Adam and Eve) chose to disobey and rebel against God, counting equality with Him as something they wanted. This rebellion, is what sin is and it is passed down from generation to generation. God though, loved us (mankind) so much, that even just after we did this, He began the work to remove rebellion that separates us from God. Is through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the Cross to pay for our sins. When we accept this, we are made whole and can stand before God again, not just as friend; but also as the beloved Children of Him; which He designed us to be. So, when Christ comes again, He will come with a purpose. Before, it was to provide redemption from sin. Next day, it is destroy the enemy (Satan) and destroy sin and death. When this is gone, the final enemy, then we will see a complete and total victory because of these truth about Christ.

Conclusion

So beloved, are you ready to accept and apply these truths in every part of your life today. Are you ready, so that when you go home, to make those changes and pray those prayers? Know this, when you receive The Gospel, you receive great Hope. You have nothing to fear. God will forgive you. And Guess what, He is calling you into a new and deeper relationship with Him.

For the non believer here today. Let me tell you, from the first few verses today, you have heard the gospel today. I stand before you here, and I tell you in all urgency and I plead with you, that you need to accept this. So, what are you going to do about it? You know the gospel, you know the truth, and you know that you are personally responsible. So, the next move is yours.

With that, let’s conclude. Brothers and sisters, I love you all. If you have something you need to talk about, or need prayer, or want to talk more about accepting Jesus; then during our last song together I will be here. Please come on down. Let’s pray. Father God, as we enter this week of remembrance of You and Jesus Christ’s Sacrifice on the cross, we ask that you would open our hearts, our eyes, and our minds. Make us to understand where we are holding on you, and help us overcome this. Help us as we go out of this place, to become better lovers of You. And help us take this message and apply to every part of ourselves and keep it, but not keep it to ourselves, but keep it for the sake of sharing it with others as we go. It’s in these things that I ask and in Jesus Christ’s Holy and precious name that I pray, Amen.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016, p. 1 Co 15:1–28. [2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Crossway Bibles, 2016, p. 1 Co 15:1–28.