Is Jesus Really Alive? 8.20.23

 1 Corinthians Series The Church in Corinth August 20, 2023 Is Jesus Really Alive? (1 Corinthians 15:45-58) The Scriptures tell us, The first man, Adam, became a living person. But the last Adam-that is, Christ-is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later. Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. Earthly people are like the earthly man, and heavenly people are like the heavenly man. Just as we are now like the earthly man, we will someday be like the heavenly man. What I am saying, dear brothers and sisters, is that our physical bodies cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. These dying bodies cannot inherit what will last forever. But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. Introduction: One of life's most relevant questions is-What happens after death? (Hebrews 9:27) Everyone must die once, and after that be judged by God. It would be easy, with all the talk about idols, eating and spiritual gifts to miss the MAIN THING that Paul returns to as chapter 15 begins... (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you-unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. "It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you" (v.2) ALL of our salvation stands on whether or not you believe these 3 things... * Jesus Christ is God's only begotten son * Christ died on the Cross for our sins * He was buried and raised from the dead It is always the devil's strategy to use just a piece of truth to deceive God's people-by attacking our faith in the resurrection he's undermines the foundation of on which our faith exists... (John 3:16) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 6 Statements If Jesus is Not Alive... 1. Preaching Is A Waste of Time (v.14)...And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless 2. Our Faith Is Useless (v.14)...And if Christ has not been raised, then...your faith is worth nothing. 3. The Apostles Are Liars (v.15-16)... "We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised." 4. We are Still Lost in Sin (v.17-18)...And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.... 5. Our Loved Ones Are Gone (v.17-18)...And if Christ has not been raised....all who have died believing in Christ are lost. 6. We Are Miserably Without Hope For Eternity (v.19)...And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. But Jesus did rise from the dead... * The devil is a liar * Hell did not win * There is an empty tomb How do we know He is alive... People Saw Him (1 Corinthians 15:4-11) He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. The Resurrection Confirms that Jesus Is Coming Back (I Corinthians 15:20-23) But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man. Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life. But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back. The Resurrection Means There Is A Glorious Ending Coming (1 Corinthians 15:23-26) After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power. For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet. And the last enemy to be destroyed is death. Conclusion: (1 Corinthians 15:50-57) Now I say this, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of god; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I am telling you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 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. For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. But when this perishable puts on the imperishable, and this mortal puts on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written: DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP in victory. WHERE, o DEATH, IS YOUR VICTORY? WHERE, o DEATH, IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to god, who gives us the victory through our lord Jesus Christ. God I'm a sinner I'm sorry for my sins I believe Jesus died for my sins I believe Jesus will forgive my sins I choose Jesus