What difference does the resurrection make?

That since that morning when the tomb was found to be empty, that there's been a lot of Doubt behind that those who doubt it.

You know, we're even told it on that first Easter Sunday, when the chief priest heard that the tomb was empty, they actually had all the soldiers who had been guarding. It come to see them. to get their account of what it happened and when they heard it, They paid them off to not tell anyone else that story. Do not tell anyone else, what they had witnessed that morning at the tomb. You want to read that for yourself, you can find it in Matthew 28 11 to 15. Yeah, we could call that the original Easter conspiracy but it's certainly not the last time that there would be those who would try to cast doubt, On what happened Easter morning. You know across the centuries. That's kind of been the ultimate point of attack here at the tomb on Easter morning. The whole idea of the Resurrection, the truth behind Easter Sunday,

You know, the world doesn't mind Good Friday, because we understand death. Death is something were used to death, is something that comes to all of us at one point in time. So the world doesn't struggle with the idea that over two thousand years ago, some guy named Jesus died. They can accept that they're okay with that.

But the world struggles because they don't know anything about Resurrection.

You know, that's one thing. You know, Medical Science might thinks it's made lots of advancements, but that's one thing they still can't do. So, we don't understand it. It's much harder for us to wrap our minds around. so this morning, I want us to just think about what we know, So, what difference does the resurrection make? You know what if Jesus had not risen from the dead?

It's that big one. If question that has been circulating around and really in our passes for today, it's what Paul is talking about in 1st Corinthians, 15 12 through 20,

Says, 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? If there is no resurrection of the dead then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your face. More than that. We are then found to be false Witnesses about God. For we have testified about God and that he raised Christ from the dead.

But he did not raise him. If in fact the dead or not raised for, if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins, then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life, we have hope in Christ. We are of all people, most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

You know, 7 times in that passage Paul uses that little word if You know he's raising the question, kind of contrary assumption in order to show us how much hangs on this whole idea of the Resurrection.

No, Paul plays, kind of the devil's advocate here to teach us. A very important truth of our faith.

You know sometimes as Christians we become so familiar with some of these Bible stories that we need reminded that an astounding Miracle lies at the heart of our faith.

Something that isn't incredibly easy for people to believe, we believe something, absolutely incredible. That a man who was dead, came back to life on the third day.

You know, we believe that God raised him from the dead.

Sometimes we forget how amazing this sounds, especially to people who don't share our faith.

And I like this passage because it's like, for a minute. Paul kind of says, let me play the role of somebody outside the church, let me ask some questions, like I'm a person who doesn't believe and let's talk about those consequences of what? If Jesus didn't rise from the dead? Impulse shows us the answers. by showing his kind of for disastrous consequences of what if Christ had not been raised from the dead, So, we're going to look at those. The first one that Paul mentions is if there is no Resurrection, then our preaching is without purpose.

The verse behind that is 1st Corinthians 15:14, where Paul wrote and if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your face.

Main focus on that one word useless. Useless means that something is without function without content. Some translations say in vain, you know, whatever translation you look at. It means that all that we have learned. All that, we know all that. We think about scripture has come to nothing. If Christ has not been raised from the dead,

you know, I thought about that from my own perspective thinking, okay, I remember when I accepted Jesus with Maribel Schwartz, back when I was 8 years old and Junior church here, so I thought if Christ had not been raised from the dead, that would mean that I've spent the last 39 years studying the Bible at one level or another for what

And then, after I graduated college, I went to Seminary for another 5 years. For what if Christ has not been raised from the dead? I spend hours every week preparing for messages. For what? If Christ has not been raised from the dead, it is all for nothing. That's what Paul means that

You know, you can gain all the knowledge you want. You can know scripture inside now because you know, that was actually some groups that he were addressing different academic kind of groups of Scott Bible scholars, who were arguing about whether or not There was Resurrection. He saying you know all that doesn't matter if Christ wasn't raised from the dead, he's trying to get that point across to them, that we have to understand how Central that is. Two are fake. But praise God, we know that that tomb is empty.

The second Point Paul makes is that if there is no Resurrection, our faith is without forgiveness.

1st Corinthians, 15 17 says. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins.

You know, the word futile is a little different from the word useless. The word futile means that, which produces no results. So basically it's a promise with no fulfillment, it's a trip with no destination, it's a story with no end. It's a seed that produces no crop to dream that never comes through. It's a game with no winners. A game where everyone plays, everyone gets a trophy and everyone just goes home.

You think of it this way, you know, we like to say that.

Christ died for our sins. And there is no doubt that it was arson. That kept Jesus on that cross. Not those three Rusty Nails.

But how do we know that his death actually accomplished anything?

You know, if Christ had remained in the Tomb then we could never be sure that God had accepted his sacrifice. As atonement for our sins.

And you know, if you look at life that way, if you think of it that way that's living life on the dark and miserable Friday side of the cross.

Where Jesus Is Dead. All hope is lost, he's in the two.

But praise God, we can come to a day like this, where we live on the Sunday side of the Cross and we know that Jesus is no longer in that too. You know, we can look back on Good, Friday and know what Jesus meant when he said it is finished.

What was finished? Well, if Jesus didn't rise from the dead than Jesus is finished, but Jesus did rise from the dead. And that's why the resurrection is so important. Easter is God's great. Amen. To what Christ accomplished when Jesus cried out. It is finished. God said, amen. When he raised his son from the dead, That is our confirmation of what it accomplished Christ battle with sin and death was finished forevermore. It was over with the price has been paid.

And because of that, we can know that our sins are forgiven because of Christ sacrifice that day.

The third Point Paul makes is that if there is no Resurrection, then all are forever lost. 1st Corinthians 15, 18 says, than those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

You know, Paul says that Christians who have died have fallen asleep in Christ. And that's significant because did you know that the word Cemetery comes from a Greek word. That means sleeping place.

So, that is why. Christians buried their dead in what they call the cemetery because they essentially were burying their dead in a place. They were calling the sleeping place. Why did they call it the sleeping Place? Well because the idea is someone that falls asleep eventually wakes up, right?

So they were going with that idea that, you know, Christians have always believed that one day. Those who have believed in Christ will rise with him. And spend eternity with him and Heaven. that is where that whole idea comes from and, you know, Paul's clear to point out that if Christ has not been raised Then death winds. It said he's playing the devil's advocate here, you know he's saying that if Jesus is still in the Tomb then there's no hope for anyone in. this life is all that there is

and all who are dead. Will stay Dead Forever.

But now that we live on the Sunday side of the Cross, we know differently. We know that those who have passed away before us that believe in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Will one day be reunited with him that we will one day be reminded with them. That we will all meet up. In the air one day and that is one of the Great Hopes that is a foundation of our faith.

The fourth point that Paul makes is that if there is no Resurrection, then we have all been fooled into, believing a lie.

1st Corinthians 15:19 says, if only for this life, we have hope in Christ. We are to be pitied more than all men.

For Paul, this is the ultimate argument because he means that if Christ is not raised than we are just fooling ourselves.

if Christ is still in the tube and then all the Skeptics are right, and if there's no foundation for our faith, then, we're nothing more than a bunch of self-deluded Fools and we should be pitied if that's the case.

So you know, Paul goes into this and if we expand on it it's you know, if Christ is not raised, then we don't have a message to preach. If Christ is not raised and there is no God to answer our prayers. If Christ is not raised, then we're not saved from our sins by the blood of Christ. If price is not raise, then we might as well bring all the missionaries home, right? Cuz what are they doing? If Christ is not lays. Let's close every church and sell the property. Because what's the point?

If Christ has not raised than every Christian for over 2000 years has been wrong. That's what Paul is talking about when he's saying, if Christ hasn't been raised, then it's all for nothing. He's trying to point out how much hangs on the resurrection of Jesus. And I think the reason Paul chooses to use such extreme start terms is because he doesn't want people to believe that. The resurrection is kind of important. He wants to make sure they understand that it is absolutely vital. To our faith.

because without it, you know, is there any answer any hope, any reason to Believe what we believe.

If the resurrection didn't happen and here's pause answer. And I like it because it's clear as a bell and straight to the point. 1st Corinthians 15:20. The Christ has indeed. Been raised from the dead.

You know what's crazy? Sometimes, that's what I love about. Scriptures think how much hangs on that little phrase. But Christ is indeed raised from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus are coming. Resurrection in the resurrection of all those. Who have fallen asleep who died in faith? It all depends on that little phrase.

and now because we know that Christ did rise from the grave that he did overcome death, everything's different

You know, because we know that he lives, we have a message to preach Because He Lives we are saved from our sins. There is forgiveness. In our faith Because He Lives, you know, we need to build more bridges into our community. We need to find more ways to reach others with this message. We need to send out more missionaries to preach the gospel because we know this is true. We need to continue to plant new churches. You know, him because he lives we will one day. Praise His name in heaven. With him, with all the others, all believers of all time.

So even if you can't sing in the choir. Now one day you'll be able to so there's hope they're yes. Mom, There's Hope for even you

And Pat. I've been picked on you for months, Pat I had to. I've been thinking all morning how I could take a jab at you.

So you know what difference does Easter make? What difference does the resurrection make? We have to realize it makes all the difference in the world.

you know, it's another holiday that our culture has tried to commercialize, but to us it should mean so much more This day should mean so much more to us because we don't have to stay living on that Friday. Side of the Cross where all hope is gone where everything seems so dark. You know Friday night when we had the Last Supper play. And those guys were talking about not knowing who it was of them that would betray Jesus and what all would come out of that, you know, I sat there and I thought How dark and hopeless did it have to seem to them? After Christ was crucified on the cross. I mean, they already we're all worried that one of their group was going to betray him, but then on top of that, it actually happens in Christ is actually crucified.

I can't imagine the hopelessness and despair that they felt. At that time.

cuz you know the truth is, we've never felt that same hopelessness and despair on that same level because we've always had a Bible That we know the rest of the story. They didn't, they were living that out what we're reading about. They didn't know what was coming next. And when I think about that hopelessness and despair, that makes me think of how people who don't know. Jesus must feel

Cuz they're stuck living life on the Friday side of the cross. Not the Sunday site. And we have to realize because of the power of the Resurrection that we have something else to offer those people. And it's our job to help get people from the set Friday side. Did the Sunday side That's what we're running to do. That's what we're working for. That's why we do the things we do is to church. To Simply help people see that. There is hope.

so it's my prayer that has we all celebrate Easter today, that we Well, not only be thankful for that hope. But be encouraged to share that hope with others. Please bear with me in prayer.

Heavenly Father, we thank you for He amazing blessings that you give us.

Lord to call the resurrection of Christ. A blessing just seems to fall short but I don't know if we can ever describe the significance of what happened on the cross. What happened when Christ exited the tomb with words in a way that would accurately describe how huge it is,

Lord, I pray that you will help us everyday to live with that hope.

Live with that piece. But Lord also to live with a burning desire to share that with others.

And we pray this all in your most, holy name. Amen.

I don't know if you all realize this but most of you probably do that have been here live LED but I didn't leave with my guitar in front of anyone till a year ago today on Easter. When I was roped in my brace to help lead with someone else that backed out and he said, hey, it's just you now so, but it worked out and you guys have been a blessing to me. We've been in Indiana for 3 years. Now, in the first two years, we didn't go to church at all. I think I blamed it on covid and the fact that I couldn't fellowship if I went to church, but

Also, I'm pretty emotional when you guys knew that, but sometimes I Cry.

But it's much of a blessing that I am to you, which all of you have made. Abundantly clear? I've needed this church self.

You saw what the Hope in Christ in the first two, lines, in the song is in Christ alone. My hope is found. He is my light. My strength, my song.

Until you go without it, you don't realize. How much of a strength he provides? So awesome. Thank you for letting me be here. if you will stand as we sing the song together in Christ alone,

Single. I hope he is. Mine is Cornerstone.

Burn through the storm.

I still home. And righteousness is going, by the way, I was raised on here.

Is Bobby still in Grove City?

No.

Do you remove all of the returns or calls me home.