The Resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:1-20)

Introduction

Resurrection

“Resurrection means coming back to life after death. This includes dead people being resurrected by OT prophets, by Jesus, and by apostles in the NT. It also includes the resurrection of Jesus and the anticipated resurrection of the whole people of God.” (Mangum, Douglas, and Joshua Spoelstra. “Resurrection.” Ed. Douglas Mangum et al. Lexham Theological Wordbook 2014: n. pag. Print. Lexham Bible Reference Series.)

Resurrection in the Bible.

Resurrections are a rare occurrence in this world, even in the Bible account. There are 10 biblical references of resurrections in the Bible.

OT

Elijah Raises the Widow’s Son (1 Kings 17:17-24)

Elisha Raises the Shunammite’s Son (2 Kings 4:32-37)

Man’s body touched the bones of Elisha (2 Kings 13:20-21)

NT

Jesus Raises a Widow’s Son (Luke 7:11-17)

Jesus Raises Jairus’s Daughter (Mark 5:35-43)

Jesus Raises Lazarus (John 11:39-44)

Many deceased saint arose when Jesus died (Matt 27:52-53)

Jesus Raises from the dead (1 Cor 14:1-8)

Dorcas Restored to Life (Acts 9:40)

Eutychus Raised from the Dead (Acts 20:9-10)

God is the one who raises the Dead

2 Corinthians 1:8–10 (ESV)

8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

Not only do we read about these events of resurrections in human history, but are given the promise and the Hope of our future resurrection in Christ. The idea of eternal life with God as the good news (Gospel), is the hope of close relationship with God and the conquering of death.

The Resurrection is an important doctrine addressed in the Scripture.

It is an important and crucial part of the redemptive plan of God and the Christian faith.

One of the key text for the resurrection is found in 1 Cor 15:1-20.

Importance of the Resurrection (1-5)

The resurrection of Christ is the focal point in reference to salvation (15:1–2)

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 (ESV)

1 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.

Gospel is the good news of Gods saving work through the life death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Receive - the emphasis lies not so much on receiving or taking over, as on the fact that the word implies agreement or approval, accept; with regard to teaching and preaching (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 768. Print.)

Stand - to continue firmly or well- established in a particular state—‘to firmly remain, to continue steadfastly.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 151. Print.)

Saved - to cause someone to experience divine salvation—‘to save.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 241. Print.)

Paul points the Corinthians towards the Gospel of Salvation as he is going to talk about the Resurrection of Jesus.

The resurrection of Christ is the focal point in reference to the Scriptures (15:3–5)

Paul shows the main parts of the Gospel according to the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 15:3–5 (ESV)

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.

“Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians from Ephesus about A.D. 55.” (The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016. Print.)

This text is often spoken of by scholars and commentaries as the earliest creed of Salvation.

Doctrinal understanding

Jesus died for our Sins

Isaiah 53:4–5 (ESV)

4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Jesus was buried and rose from the dead.

Buried to confirm that Jesus was actually dead.

Rose from the dead on the third day

Hosea 6:1–3 (ESV)

1 “Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. 2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. 3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.”

Jesus was witnessed as risen

Not only did Jesus rise, but was witnessed and interacted with the disciples.

This is in accordance to Scripture

Paul believes that God was making all this known throughout the writings of the OT. He was convincing the Jewish people that the messiah was to suffer through the OT writings.

Acts 17:2–3 (ESV)

2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

Witnesses of the Resurrection (6-11)

Physical Proof (6-9)

1 Corinthians 15:6–9 (ESV)

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.

500 at one time

“Neither Acts nor the Gospels record a postresurrection event that includes five hundred believers. Paul could be referring to a broader group at the Great Commission event (Matt. 28:16–20). The point Paul makes here is that many of those who saw Jesus are still alive and can verify his account.” (Vang, Preben. 1 Corinthians. Ed. Mark L. Strauss. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

James his brother

“Acts also remains silent on an appearance to James, although James’s significance in the early church is well attested (Acts 15:13; 21:18; Gal. 1:19; 2:9, 12), which seems to necessitate a resurrection appearance (cf. Acts 12:17).” (Vang, Preben. 1 Corinthians. Ed. Mark L. Strauss. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

What would it take to convince his brother he is the Messiah?

Paul

Paul also points to His witness and interaction with the risen Jesus. (Acts 9:1-19)

Paul is informing the Corinthians that there are witnesses still alive and willing to confirm the wonderful event of the resurrection of Jesus.

Spiritual Proof (10-11)

God’s grace in the proclamation of the Gospel and their believe in the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 15:10–11 (ESV)

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.

God’s grace in the life of the Apostles, Paul, James and the other witnesses to proclaim the truth and results of Salvation through the death and resurrection of Jesus. It is through the faithful proclamation of the Gospel that they learned, understood and believed in the Gospel.

Their changed life through the belief of the Gospel and trust in Jesus as their savior is another witness to the resurrection of Jesus.

Necessity of the Resurrection (12-18)

But if it is preached … how can some of you say …? (12)

1 Corinthians 15:12 (ESV)

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?

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fundamental part of the Gospel of Christ that is being proclaimed. So, to say there is no resurrection is not only a denial of the Apostles preaching, but of the gospel focus of the christian faith.

Paul continues to explain why that is in the rest of the paragraph.

If there is no resurrection … we are then found to be false witnesses. (13–15)

“Sharpening his rhetoric even further through two if/then statements, Paul depicts the denial of resurrection as both a rejection of the Christian faith and a claim that makes him a false witness to God.” (Vang, Preben. 1 Corinthians. Ed. Mark L. Strauss. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

1 Corinthians 15:13 (ESV)

13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

Sadducees were one of the major religious leader groups in the first century. They did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. This was an idea tat would have influenced some of the Jewish followers.

If we deny that there is a resurrection, then Christ has not been raised which means he is still in the grave.

1 Corinthians 15:14–15 (ESV)

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.

Vain - to being devoid of intellectual, moral, or spiritual value, empty; without content, without any basis, without truth, without power, empty words (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 539. Print.)

Misrepresenting God because they claim that Jesus was raised by God and that was the plan of God from the scripture witness.

To reject the resurrection of Christ is to call the apostles false witnesses of God.

If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. (16–18)

“Refuting the resurrection includes nullifying Christ’s work on the cross. Believers’ faith is empty and meaningless (15:14, 17), and their sins continue to define their life and identity.” (Vang, Preben. 1 Corinthians. Ed. Mark L. Strauss. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

1 Corinthians 15:16–18 (ESV)

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.

Futile - to being of no use, idle, empty, fruitless, useless, powerless, lacking truth. (Arndt, William et al. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature 2000: 621. Print.)

Still in our sins and guilty before God. All those who died already have perished because God would not have raised them, if there is no resurrection. The event and evidence of Christ resurrection is a vital part of our faith.

Hope of the Resurrection (19-20)

We have great hope of our future resurrection because of the resurrection of Jesus and being convinced of the evidence of it. We believe the Gospel and have great hope of the future.

Resurrection - “The future event of finally being raised to glory with Jesus Christ. Believers may rest assured that, on account of their faith, they will share in the resurrection and glory of Christ and be with him forever.” (Thematic Guide)

Resurrection = Hope (19-20)

1 Corinthians 15:19–20 (ESV)

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.

Hope - to look forward with confidence to that which is good and beneficial—‘to hope, to hope for, hope.’ (Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: based on semantic domains 1996: 295. Print.)

We have great confidence and hope of our resurrection because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Romans 8:23–25 (ESV)

23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Our Hope in the Resurrection

Gospel is the hope of eternal life given by God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We believe the promises of God that he will forgive us, transform us, and give us eternal life because he evidenced it in the resurrection of Christ.

Jesus is the way and example of God’s ability and willingness to resurrect us. We have great hope in the christian faith and in Jesus.

“The resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith; without it, faith cannot stand and Christian living has no motivation. It is the announcement that God has reversed the curse of the fall. Death no longer has any sting.” (Vang, Preben. 1 Corinthians. Ed. Mark L. Strauss. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2014. Print. Teach the Text Commentary Series.)

Benediction

Romans 8:38-39 - For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.