Aroma Of Life - Easter 2024

1 Corinthians 15:12-28

The Aroma of Life

1 Corinthians 15:12-28

INTRODUCTION

On this Easter Sunday, when we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord – let me ask you: Do you think that the major Media outlets in our society provide you with serious insight and counsel on the most important issues in life? I mean the absolutely critical questions like: 1) Is there any over-arching purpose for existence?

2) How can I KNOW that my life will not end in 50, 70, 100 years, when my heart stops pumping and they lay my body into a grave?

3) How can I KNOW when I meet my Creator, that it will be, not a time of terror-inspiring judgment – but a reunion of massive joy?

These are the greatest issues in your life and mine. But where can we turn to get a true answer?

The great media powers of our society – television; newspapers, magazines and radio: they are ALL strangely silent on the greatest issues of human existence.

And the effect of this silence is to foster a mindset throughout our society that these questions are no more important than whether you like McDonalds or Wendy’s better.

Blaise Pascal, the French mathematician and philosopher, who died in 1662, said: “Man’s sensitivity to small things, and his insensitivity to the most important things, are surely evidences of a strange disorder.”

Larry Dyck – first boss in pastoral ministry

Since we – every one of us, face the certainty of death, after a relatively short life here on earth

---- and if there is a possibility that there is a God in heaven – just a possibility even.

And if there is a possibility that we will face him in judgment and that we COULD live forever in glorious perfection - - then wouldn’t reasonable people do absolutely everything in their power – to get to the bottom of these ultimate questions and live in the light of eternity to come?!!! But most people I know spend far more time researching before they buy one flat-screen tv, than they spend in a lifetime, studying the things of ETERNITY.

EASTER – the day when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave, is God’s answer to our deepest questions of what is to come. My prayer for you this morning is that:

You would SEE the significance – what the bodily resurrection of Jesus means for you … TODAY …. And that that understanding will make the journey from your head to your heart - - and fill it with joy.

In our text of Scripture, this morning, Paul is writing to the Corinthians, who are confused about a number of things in the Christian life - - but none more important than what happens after death. In chapter 15, he writes to set them straight with the TRUTH of what is in store for the Christian after death.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-28

1) The Importance of the Resurrection for Believers vv. 12-19

2) The Inevitability of the Resurrection of Believers, vv. 20-24

3) The Goal of the Resurrection of Believers, vv. 25-28

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1. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION FOR BELIEVERS vv. 12-19

I am not here this morning to try and persuade you that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave. The evidence is strong: 1) Empty Tomb; 2) Over 500 that witnessed the risen Jesus; 3) A group of cowards – Jesus’ disciples - the very ones who were too afraid even to STAND beside their master when he was arrested and facing the possibility of death – suddenly become mighty preachers – proclaiming that the very same Jesus was risen – and laying down their lives in the process.

C.F.D. Moule writes: “The birth and rapid rise of the Christian Church remains an unsolved enigma for any historian who refuses to take seriously the only explanation offered by the church itself – the resurrection.” (In “The Phenomenon of the New Testament).

Paul and his first readers agree on the fact that Jesus IS risen from the dead, never to die again: He reminds them of the message that he and all the other apostles preached, the message they had received: vv. 3-6.

The Corinthians believe in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead - - where they get mixed up is in their doubt that CHRISTIANS WILL RISE BODILY FROM THE GRAVE. You see, they have been infected by the Greek culture of their day – the Greek philosophy that physical matter – stuff … that’s evil. Spirit – that’s good. The Greeks have the idea that the human body is a prison … and that death brings release from that cell. So some of these Christians have been tainted by that idea and have come to believe that at death – A Christian’s spirit floats off to be with the Lord – free of the physical body - - and that’s the end of the story.

Paul says: “Do you see what you are saying?! Do you understand the consequences of that philosophy?! If you deny the future resurrection for the believer – you are denying the past resurrection of Christ.”

Verse 14: “If the dead are NOT raised – then Christ – who was obviously dead – He could not have been raised …”

If the future resurrection of Christians is denied – then Christ’s resurrection MUST be denied too – do you see? And if you reject the resurrection of Jesus from the dead – then there are 1 little part of the Christian faith that INSTANTLY become worthless: the Gospel itself.

In other words – If there is no resurrection - the Good News of Jesus Christ comes crashing to the ground!

I was speaking with someone once and they said, “You know, even if they did find the body of Jesus someday - - if they proved that Jesus is still dead – I would still want to be a Christian – it’s such a wonderful way of life.”

Paul says of that idea: “GARBAGE. If there is no resurrection, Christians are, without a doubt, the most pitiful people on earth.” He’s right: If Christ only gives us hope here and now – look at people like:

The APOSTLES - - (1st Century) Paul gives up a promising career in Judaism – he is a rising star ….

JIM ELLIOTT - - (20th Century) Left America for Ecuador to take the Gospel to the Auca Indians, where he and his fellow missionaries were brutally struck down before even seeing 1 single soul come to Christ.

Fast forward to today: Christian businessman Sherif Ramses – managed a bookstore in Benghazi, Libya = arrested last month because the inventory of his store included Christian books – and he made them available to Arabic-speaking immigrants. He charged with proselytizing - - Early this month, he was taken to hospital because of chest pains. When the doctors examined him – they found extensive bruising all over his body, the results of torture he was experiencing in custody - - - and three weeks ago, on March the 10th – he succumbed to his injuries – passed away leaving behind a grieving wife and 2 teenage children.

The stories are countless: People leaving the comfort and security of home, suffering hardship, loss, imprisonment, grief - - - all the while keeping their eyes fixed on Christ’s future for them. If there is NO RESURRECTION - - these people are NOT HEROES …. THEY ARE FOOLS!!

But Paul goes on, in v. 20, to point his readers to the positive:

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2. THE INEVITABILITY OF THE RESURRECTION OF BELIEVERS vv. 20-24

“BUT”, he says there in v. 20 … “BUT in fact Christ has been raised, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

FIRSTFRUITS: What’s that? That is the beginning portion of the harvest. When the firstfruits are ripe – you know that the rest of the harvest is guaranteed. There are few more wonderful smells for me, than when you come home, hungry at suppertime - - and you smell the aroma of steak on the barbecue - - you can tell by the smell – it’s done well – not burnt – and it’s only a matter of time before that smell translates into delicious taste. The smell means dinner is sure - - that’s firstfruits.

Paul says that when God raised Jesus Christ from the dead, He set in motion a process that absolutely guarantees our futures in Christ. It wasn’t for himself that Jesus was raised from the dead - - - it was for your benefit, Christian!

The Son of God didn’t need a human body. From eternity past, he has lived in sweet intimacy with the Father and the Spirit. Without a body – He created all that is. Without a body, He was perfect in every way.

But when He took on human flesh and blood – He took our humanity to himself forever. He lives in the presence of the Father now, with those nail-scarred hands and feet, in that glorified body - - and that is how He will live for ETERNITY.

Verse 21, “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. (v. 22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Do you have scars, this morning? Reminders that this life is flying past? This text is telling us that just as sure as every descendant of Adam faces death - - everyone who has throne himself/ herself on the Grace of Jesus Christ and his finished, dying and rising again work – every ONE of them is guaranteed to be RAISED from death.

Do you know Christ? Then look back at the risen Savior, friend … AND INHALE THE AROMA OF LIFE.

We need to be reminded of that, don’t we? Not only do we live in a society that doesn’t think seriously about ultimate questions - - we also live in a society that is more future-denying than any other in history.

Look at the advertising industry – Buy now - - Don’t pay now - -

Look at the Entertainment Industry - - millions of distractions to keep our minds firmly in the here and now.

MILK THE PRESENT FOR ALL ITS WORTH - - - we’re told - - because … “THERE IS NO ROCK SOLID FUTURE!”

Oh … but there is … Verse 22: “ALL SHALL BE MADE ALIVE. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming, those who belong to Christ.”

Do you see what that means for anyone who BELONGS to Christ?

Whatever else it means to be a Christian – it also shouts - that you are BRANDED FOR ETERNITY – stamped by the Resurrection of Christ - - through the gift of the Holy Spirit. You belong to the FUTURE.

And the comfort that brings is massive. It may not mean much to you right now, when you are young and untouched by the death of anyone close to you – this future aspect of Christianity may not be that special. But when death hits home – when you lay your Christian loved ones to rest – Oh, the comfort that consoles your heavy heart to know that the spirit of your loved one is not in the grave – but in heaven – because Jesus said to the dying criminal on the neighboring cross: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise”. In paradise.

But there is still the problem of the body. It’s one thing to know that loved ones are spiritual beings floating around in heaven –

Resurrection means that when we die, belonging to Christ – that even our mortal parts are kept safely in God’s unbreakable care until Jesus comes back and with the same voice that commanded our universe into existence – commands our corpses to life again – but this time perfect and never decaying life.

No power can hold forever those who belong to the living God.

Do you remember, in the book of Exodus, how the ‘mighty’ Pharaoh was utterly humbled, finding out that when God said “let my people go” - he could not hold a single Israelite in His grip

“LET MY PEOPLE GO!” , When the risen Jesus comes to raise His people up again - - That is a command that death will one day have to obey every bit as much as old Pharaoh!

I don’t read much fiction - - but I do enjoy reading the odd detective story –

Easter’s resurrection of Christ means that God has opened the last chapter of history for us – and we now know how it turns out. Death doesn’t have the last word for you Christian – so no need …………

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3. THE GOAL OF CHRISTIAN RESURRECTION vv. 25-28

In verses 25-28, Paul gives us the goal of Christian Resurrection. Look at vv. 25-26.

When you go through times of grief – a loved one dies. In your grief you stare death in the face and CURSE this despicable enemy. But sometimes we forget that we are not alone in our hatred of death.

Do you ever find yourself thinking, “I sure hope that Jesus remembers to come back.” I mean He is resurrected, back in the presence of His Father, He may be having so much fun that He doesn’t bother coming back to earth to reign.

We need to remember that Death is God’s enemy too. The Garden of Eden, before the Fall – before sin entered creation – it was a place of life. God says: “I am the Living God.”

And if you are waiting for Jesus to reign – to exercise His authority in this earth -

Verse 25 says something very important for you to hear: “For He MUST REIGN until he has put all his enemies under his feet.” Jesus REIGNS NOW! He rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God , Colossians 3:1 tells us. Can you see Him there – working out His purposes … shaping the course of history?

You see, He has conquered death himself – but His work is not finished. Death is not destroyed - - and the Bible is telling us that Jesus will not stop - cannot stop until every believer for whom He died is raised up from the dead – with a new glorified body, just like His - - never to taste death again.

THEN, we are told – Then the Son will turn everything over to the Father so that God may be all in all.

Do you see what that means for resurrection? It means that it is not an afterthought with God – Christian, your resurrection is sure because God’s very reputation depends on it. You see, He cannot be all in all, as long as death has its hold on His property.

Albert Camus, French Philosopher of the last century, said no matter what you enjoy in life, the fact that you’re going to die casts a shadow on it.

Camus at one point in one of his books says, “If I told you I’m going to kill you in 30 minutes, you’d say, ‘Why not kill me now?’ ” He’d say, “Well, what do you like to do? Tell me the thing you most enjoy doing.” You’d say, “Well, I love to listen to Haydn on my stereo.” “Great,” he’d say. “Well, I don’t want to be too cold about this. Listen to Haydn for 30 minutes, and then I’ll kill you. Have some fun before you die.”

You’d say, “Well I don’t know, but I guess there’s something about the fact I’m going to die at 7:30 that’ll make it hard for me to enjoy my Haydn at 7:00.” Camus says, “But don’t you understand? That’s the situation all of you are in. You’re going to die. You don’t know when you’re going to die, but you’re going to die. How can you enjoy anything? You’re going to die.”[1]

Are you near despair this morning? Let this be the strength that nerves your arm and steels your heart, “Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my Gospel” (2 Tim. 2:8)

If the world and the devil do their worst to you – the very worst thing they have to hold over your head – if they kill you – bury you in the ground or scatter your ashes on the water - - you can know that Jesus watches where every molecule of your dead body lands – and he puts his all-powerful guardian hands around you – and protects you and protects you and protects you … until the time is right for Him to come back and raise your physical body to Eternal Glory!

Easter means that, if you are a Christian - you can live in the light of the fact that death will not – CAN NOT have the last word in your life....so go find something more dangerous to worry about.

Inhale the aroma of life

[1] Keller, T. J. (2013). The Timothy Keller Sermon Archive. New York City: Redeemer Presbyterian Church.