1 Corinthians 15
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Intro
Intro
Hello everyone it is a privilege and an honor to be here this morning
My name is Erick Martinez my wife and our four kids have...
This is a first for me, So I want to ask for grace here this morning.
I don’t know how its going to go, but if you tell Alex I did a wonderful job I can get us out of here in 30 min.
I spoke to Alex Briefly, He and his family made it to North Carolina and he is wasting no time and is already fishing on the ocean catching little fish!
Pray
Our Text this morning will be 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
Alex preached two Sundays ago in the book of James and more specifically he preached in James 1:22
And he left us with the thought of being doers of word.
So with that said I want to ask you?
Does the resurrection of Jesus Christ move you? Does stir you up in the heart? Does it light a fire under you? does it encourage you? does it bring hope to you? does it breath life into you?
Does the resurrection of Jesus christ move you? I know the answer for me!!
If you could turn to 1 corinthians 15:12-19 thats where we will begin this morning. (What if?)
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? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Paul here is reminding us what would happen if we forget the resurrection. What if?
He is building of what he previously said in the first 11 verses of chapter 15
Do to time, I chose to Go over verses 12-19 and give you a general overview of those first 11 verses.
Paul reminds the believers in Corinth of the gospel that he delivered on to them which they believed and received and were saved unless they believed in vain.
He gives them that famous Gospel verse that we’ve all heard, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and he was buried and he rose again on the third day according to the scriptures.
He tells them that Jesus was seen by Cephas than by the twelve
after that he was seen by over 500 some of which are dead but some of which were still alive
and after he was seen by James and than by all the apostles
and lastly he was seen by me also! Paul himself had that great encounter with the Lord Jesus himself on his way to Damascus.
So why did Paul Pen these few verses down through the inspiration of the holy spirit?
Perhaps the resurrection was a struggle for the the people of Corinth because of their past life, Greek philosophy did not believe in in a bodily resurrection so Greek philosophy may have greatly influenced the believers and some may have had a shallow faith and may have believed in vain?
In Acts 17 Paul preaches a beautiful sermon to the philosophers and thinkers in Athens as he addressed the Areopagus which was a place where the thinkers and the listeners spent most of their time learning. But as soon as Paul mentions the Resurrection of the dead the book of acts tells us that some mocked him and some were willing to hear him on the matter again. From there he went to Corinth and preached for 1 1/2 years and the scriptures tell us that many believed.
Perhaps they were being bombarded by false teachers trying to discredit the resurrection?
While at Ephesus in acts 20:29-31 Paul tells the Ephesians these words.
For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
Here we have Paul warning them of these false teachers that would come forth among them.
In Acts 23 when Paul was being detained by the romans, he was brought forth in front of the Council
The scriptures tell us that Paul perceived that part of the council were Sadducees and the other Pharisees so he mentions the hope and resurrection of the dead and the council breaks into dissension because of the different believes that each group had.
In 1 corinthians 15 Paul is very clear that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation unto what we believe.
Quote:
I love the way R.C Sproul puts it:
“The resurrection of Jesus is not a myth or legend-it is a historical fact upon which the entire Christian faith stands or falls.”
So with that said I will begin with the first What if point
Point 1.
The first (What if) point that Paul makes is If there is No resurrection of the dead than Christ has not Risen
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? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.
Proclaim, message
Now if Christ is preached- Paul along with others had preached of a risen Christ! 1 1/2 years
How do some among - Apparantly there was a number of people who did not believe in a resurrection
The First Point That Paul makes here is without the resurrection of the dead, Christ cannot rise! without that reality then Christ cannot rise at all. You need a resurrection to have a risen savior.
Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
Jesus tells us in the previous verses that HE! has the power to give life to whomever He desires, those who hear his words are those who receive that life. They are the people who have eternal life and will not be condemned.
He tells us those who do good- those who are born again, those who are a new creation, those who have been regenarated, those who have placed their faith in trust in the risen savior Jesus Christ!
He tells us those who do evil- depend on their own righteousness, those who try to do it on their own, those who reject Jesus, those who are lost in their sins.
Jesus isn’t telling us that doing good works saves us but those whom he has made alive, those who are saved, those who are born again do good.
This is clearly taught in the new testament.
Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
We are saved by the Grace of God through saving faith in Jesus. The works we do are the evidence, they are the result of what God has done in our hearts.
Pastor John MacArthur puts it this way!
“Regeneration is that mighty work of God in which He drags us out of our condition of death into life. And thats what begins everything. Then we can and will respond to His call. Then we will believe, having repented and embraced Christ. Regeneration is new life. And the source of it is God” End Quote
There is a resurrection no doubt about it! the question is what resurrection awaits you one of life? or one of condemnation?
Does the resurrection of Jesus move you?
Point 2
The second (What if)point that Paul makes here is If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead then our preaching is empty and your faith is empty which would make us Liars.
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.
Paul here tells us If Christ has not risen, the words, the Gospel, the message we share is EMPTY (Vain, unreal, without use)
With an empty message the faith built on it would be false!
And with our empty teaching and empty faith we would be found false witnesses in other words we would be liars.
Im always telling my kids tell the truth! It’s not right to tell untrue stories. I wont mention any names but yes it happens in my house.
Think of all the people who have poured life into your life through their teaching and preaching all that for nothing
all the wilderness day camps dealing with little.… children and pouring your heart out to them, all for nothing.
Think of all the teachable moments as parents we teach or kids about the Lord, all that for nothing we are just liars.
But God tells us
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
We have the truth, we have the mysteries of God, We have the Gospel! we have to teach our kids, we have to teach each-other and we have to reach our community.
Does the Resurrection of Jesus move you?
Point 3. The third (What if) point Paul is making is If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins.
For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
If Christ is not risen our faith is futile,
Now don’t laugh at me but because i’m Mexican I had to do a little word study on the word Futile come to find out it Useless, Empty, fruitless.
ChatGPT describes it as-anything empty of value or purpose.
What a sad reality that would be to be lost in our sins!
We would still be in Rebellion against God, Enemies of God (Col 1:21), Spiritually Dead (Eph 2:1), Children of wrath(Eph 2:3), enslaved to sin (John 8:34), In darkness (Eph 5:8) in blindness (2 Cor. 4:4)
Paul tells us in
And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Aren’t you glad we have a risen savior who changes us from within? Who makes us Alive and gives us purpose and hope in this life?
Does the resurrection move you?
Point 4.
The fourth (What if) point Paul makes is If Jesus didn’t rise then all those who have died have perished
Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
Here Paul is talking about those who are dead, fallen asleep is an expression used to soften the word death knowing that there is a future for the believer, it’s not the end.
He tells us they would have perished- to perish means to destroy, to lose, to be lost
When I see and read this portion of scripture I cant help to think of one of my favorite people Harley York. During my college years I had a dispute with my foster parents and I left their home angry and confused but Harley and his lovely wife Loree took me in during my most vulnerable years and like the story of the good samaritan who helped a man who had been left wounded to die on the path, Harley and Loree took me in, they put me in there basement, fed me and encouraged me. I can still remember the mornings of smelling the coffee, eating the oatmeal with a hint of brown sugar or maybe some dates and If I didn’t eat it Harley would say with a little smile and smirk whats the matter you don’t like Loree’s cooking? I can remember all the times he took time to answer all my questions about life and God. Harley has gone to be with the lord but if there is no resurrection than Harley along with all the old testament saints and new testament saints has perished!!! Aren’t you thankful for the resurrection and work of Jesus? I’m sure you can think of those in your past who have greatly influenced your life.
Paul tells us in...
But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Here Paul is bringing us comfort and does not want us to be ignorant of the reality, we need to know that we have a hope that Jesus will take care of those believers who have died and they will be amongst the first in ranks in the sky and than those who are in christ, still alive, will join the ranks second.
Doesn’t the resurrection of you Jesus Christ move you?
Point 5.
The last (What if) point that Paul makes is If Jesus didn’t rise then believers are most pitiable.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Pitiable is another one of those words that stopped me in my tracks! Because i’m mexican
Pitiable can mean- deserving of compassion, miserable, wretched. in need of mercy.
My bible commentary puts it this way, we would be most pitiable (because of the sacrifices made in this life in light of the hope of life to come. if there is no life to come, we would better to eat, drink and be merry before we die.)
Paul says this a few verses over in 1 Corinthians 15:32
If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
Lord of the rings
Gollum who was once Smeagol/he was a hobbit
On his birthday His cousin finds the ring of power and Smeagol tempted by the ring, has such a great desire that he kills him and takes the ring. As a result he is corrupted, and he begins this transformation and becomes Gollum. His apperance changes and he becomes pretty scary. He is always in conflict arguing by himself to himself because he has two personalities. (its quite brilliant) Throught the movies he is miserable. and as the character develops you begin to take pity on him. You begin to even have mercy on him. Even the characters within the movie display this sorry, pity attitude. Gollum is Pitiable
So if Christ has not risen we would be like Gollum running around seeking after our precious which only leads to death.
But we can be encouraged for those who believe in him are Children of God!
And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Everything hinges on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In Psalm 51, One of my favorite Psalms David says this. This is after seeking the Lord and making things right with God from his sin with Bathsheba.
O Lord, open my lips,
And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.
For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it;
You do not delight in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,
A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.
Elis story
building a house
Corner of my eye, broken, humbled teary eyed
(broken, bloody fingers)
psalm 51(broken and contrite heart)
upon salvation he wants us to come to him broken, understanding our condition
upon being a husband/wife he wants us to come to him broken
upon being a dad/mom he wants us to come to him broken
upon
Brothers and Sisters here at County Road take heart and listen to these final verses in the 15 Chapter of 1 corinthians.
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Continue to do Gods work in your heart, in our church and in our Community! Your Labor is not in Vain!
Lets Pray!
