Easter Sunday 2023

Introduction: Easter! This is the day we celebrate the risen Savior, Jesus Christ. In fact, the resurrection is the reason we worship on Sundays. The early church called Sunday the Lord’s day because it was the day of the week that Jesus raised from the dead. The resurrection is an essential part of our faith. The Apostle Paul said it was “of first importance” and he explained why in 1 Corinthians 15. We are going to go there and examine the importance of the resurrection today on Easter Sunday. And that’s the title of the message, “The Importance of the Resurrection”.

1 Corinthians 15:1–22 (NASB)

1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which 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 according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit 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 did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact 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 worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

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1 Corinthians 15:50–58 (NASB)

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

The Proof of the Resurrection:

The empty tomb.

4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Siddhattha Gotama (aka: Buddha) is in his grave, Muhammad is still in his grave, Joseph Smith is still in his grave, Confucius is still in his grave, but Jesus isn’t in His grave. The empty tomb speaks volumes about the proof of the resurrection. Not only that, but it is exactly what the bible said would happen. You’ve heard the arguments, that his disciples stole his body, but it makes no sense. Do you really think the 11 guys that ran away before their leader was killed would actually then gain the courage to attack some Roman guards to roll away a stone and steal his body? The empty tomb is undeniable proof.

The eyewitnesses.

5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.

There were many eye-witnesses. You have the apostles, and over 500 other people that Jesus appeared to after His resurrection. The saw Him, talked with Him, Thomas touched His hands and side. He appeared to his brother James, who had doubts about Jesus as well, also to Paul Himself. All of these people were changed, given courage and strength because the witnessed the risen Savior.

The executions.

6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep...

In addition, the executions and persecution they faced is proof. Lee Strobel posed this question: “who would die for a lie?”. If they were all lying, why did they all, every single one of them, even the doubting Thomas, choose torture and death? If I made something up and someone threatened to kill me unless I admitted it, I can tell you exactly what would happen…I’d say, “man, I was just kidding, I’m sorry!” They didn’t do that. What they saw was so amazing that they chose to die instead of turning their backs on Jesus again. There is the undeniable proof of the resurrection.

The Purpose of the Resurrection:

It identifies the Savior.

12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised...

The fact remains, Jesus is risen. The resurrection shows the world that Jesus was fully God and fully man. No man can raise from the dead unless that man is the Son of God. There have been many people that claimed to be God, many people that claimed to be a Messiah, but only Jesus rose from the dead.

Acts 2:24 (It was impossible for death to keep its hold on Christ.)

It insures our salvation.

17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Without the resurrection, Jesus would have been a good man that died. He would have been virtually no different that any other prophet or saint. The resurrection, however, secures eternal life because Jesus overcame death and as a result He gives us the same gift when we trust in Him. The late Dr. Adrian Rogers said it this way, “security is not a place called heaven, security is a personnamed Jesus.” Our sin was paid for because of what Jesus did on the cross and our salvation was securely insured and because of what He did three days later.

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John 3:16 clearly tells us that Jesus came to save the world. IT doesn’t mean that every person will be saved but that it is possible for everyone to be saved. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise you from the dead, if you trust I Jesus. The cross paid the penalty for sin, the resurrection paved the way, because Jesus overcame death, we too can have eternal life if we trust in Him and Him alone.

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Jesus has power over life and death. Power over life because He lived a perfect, holy and sinless life. Power over life in that He could heal the sick and demons were under His control. Power over death in that he could raise the dead and He even raised Himself. Jesus even said His life was in His control (John 10:17-18) The power of Jesus is displayed in the resurrection.

The Promise of the Resurrection:

From perishable to imperishable.

50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Right now we have a perishable body. It is temporary, it fatigues, decays, grows old. One day our bodies will die but the promise we have from the resurrection is that we, like Christ, will be given new bodies, ones that cannot decay or die, they are imperishable. For people that look like this, that is good news! This body is just a shell, and it will pass away. On a side note, we need to take care of this body, it belongs to God, we are only stewards, but if we trust in Jesus we can look forward to getting a new body that will not fade away. That is a promise from the word of God that will never fade way.

From mortal to immortal.

53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Right now, our bodies die, and that is because man is mortal. We were meant to live forever, but sin brought death and that death was both spiritual and physical.

John 11:25-26‎ 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.'" This doesn’t mean that that everyone that believes in Jesus never dies, but is does mean we are all made immortal through eternal life. When this life is over, it isn’t over! We live on because of Jesus. Because He lives, we live. Because He rose, we will rise. That’s a promise. I love it when it says “O death where is your victory, or where is your sting?” We have victory over sin and death because of Jesus…praise the Lord!

From death to victory.

54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

From movable to immovable.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.

We can have confidence, we can stand firm, immovable because Christ lives in us. Because of His power, we do not have to fear. God is in control and He will help us live for Him. The new bodies will be given to us in Heaven, but newness of live, the ability to live transformed lives for God, happens here and now. His Spirit dwells in us and changes us from movable objects to a immovable force for His glory. (Explain immovable force) The church should also be an immovable force. If it is made of up Christ followers that are immovable, it too should be immovable. Jesus promised us this in Matthew 16:18…the gates of Hades will not overcome the church. The church is immovable because of the victory that was given to us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Memory Verse of the Week:

1 Corinthians 15:14 (NASB)

14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.

Bible Study Questions:

What does this Scripture teach us about God?

What does this Scripture teach us about man?

What does this Scripture teach us about the Lord?

Do you see any commands to obey or principles to apply?

Do you see any promises to claim or blessings to enjoy?

Do you see any truths to meditate on or Gospel messages to share?

Did anything else in the passage stick out to you?