The Gospel Truth

Intro: One Sunday morning the preacher was really getting into his sermon, and after every powerful point, he'd say, “Now, that’s the Gospel truth!” He said it so many times, Little Johnny started to get confused. So he tugged on his mom’s sleeve and asked, “Mom, what’s the Gospel truth?” His mom smiled and said, “Well, Johnny, It’s something you can always count on.” Johnny thought for a moment, then said, “So it’s like when the preacher says I’m going to preach quickly and then we here past lunch.” That’s the Gospel truth right?”

In our text The Apostle Paul is correcting some of the Corinthians Who had left the Gospel truth, saying there is no resurrection from the dead (1 Cor. 15:12), He argues from the Scriptures and eye witness accounts that Jesus died, was buried, arose from the dead, and appeared in physical form to many! This is the Gospel Truth and its this truth we are going to discuss today.

I. Jesus’ Death

The gospel truth is that Jesus died for the sins of the world. When people are born their purpose is living, but when Jesus was born of the Virgin and the Holy Spirit of God, His purpose was for dying so that we can be saved from our sins! Jesus; name means salvation (Yeshua) YWHW’s salvation. He was God come in flesh, uniting God and man in one body! And when John the Baptist laid eyes on Him he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! (John 1:29)” He came to pay a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. He is the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross (Heb. 12:2b). Though those Roman nails could not have kept Jesus on the cross love held Him there!God proved his love on the cross, when Christ hung, and bled, and died it was God saying to the world—I love you.

Jesus did not die for the good, none are good He died for the sinner. Died, {verb}(apothnēskō) means to die a physical death, in the case of Jesus it was with profound spiritual implications! He substituted Himself for us! He died for me and He died for you! This is the Gospel truth and it was according to the O.T. Scriptures Is. 53:5-6!

ILL: When Pres. Lincoln’s body was brought from Washington to Illinois, it passed through Albany NY, and it was carried through the street. They say a black woman stood upon the curb and lifted her little son as far as she could reach above the heads of the crowd and was heard to say to him, “Take a long look, honey. He died for you.”

So, if I could, I would lift up your spirit to see Calvary. and say “Take a long look, He died for you.”

II. Jesus’ Burial

The Gospel truth is that Jesus died and was buried. Buried {verb} (thaptō) means to be entombed. Once Jesus was dead two of His followers, Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea took His lifeless body and layed it in Joseph's tomb and A stone was rolled in front of it and it was sealed! The Burial of Jesus proves His death for had He not died no one would be saved!

Contrary to Jesus opposition and some so called theologians today Jesus wasn't really dead. But I’m here to tell you that Jesus wasn't in a deep sleep, nor was He almost dead, and for some of you Princess Bride fans, Jesus wasn't mostly dead.

ILL: While on a ghost tour in St, Augustine, our tour guide took us to an old cemetery and he began to tell tails of people being buried there alive. He said “before modern medical advancements it was difficult to determine if someone was dead or in an unconscious state due to their illness.” He took us an old grave that had a bell attached to it, He said years ago one end of a string was tied to it and the other tied placed in the casket. In case of mistakenly being buried alive, when he came too he could ring the bell and the grave watchman would come to his rescue, the guide said this is where the phrase “dead-ringer” comes from.

But The All Inspired, Infallible, inerrant Word of God says Jesus died for our sins and He was as dead as a door nail! John 19:30, 33-34. He was stone cold dead I tell you. This too according to the Scriptures. Is. 53:9b.

But friends "In the darkness of the tomb, hope was brewing, and the world was about to be forever changed." Jesus had descended to Sheol and the death and the grave was about to be conquered! The burial of Jesus was not the end; it was the beginning of God’s great redemption story."

III. Jesus’ Resurrection

For three days Jesus lay in the tomb as His friends and disciples thought all hope was lost and all promise of Salvation was over. I mean, A dead savior can save nobody! But nothing is over until God get’s through with it!

Early on Sunday morning Jesus kicked the front door out of Sheol and He arose from the dead alive forever more. Arose (egeiromai) means raise to life, the verb is perfect passive indicative, emphasizing the permanence of the resurrection of Jesus. He has risen and is still risen! Jesus said Revelation 1:18 “I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and I have the keys of hell and death ” The Tomb could not hold Him, death could not keep Him, and dawn could not wait to proclaim Him! As the Sun rises this morning we proclaim, He is risen indeed!

Up from the grave He arose, With a mighty triumph o'er His foes, He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose! He arose! Hallelujah! Christ arose!

This too is according to the Scriptures, The Psalmist writes Ps. 16:10, and Hosea foreshadowed Hos. 6:2! And by Grace through faith He has given resurrection life!

ILL: Little Philip, was born with Down’s syndrome, he attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in leadership magazine. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully...… The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought Leggs pantyhose containers, the kind that look like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table...… Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh. Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, That’s stupid. That’s not fair. Somebody didn’t do their assignment.” Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.” “Philip, you don’t ever do things right!” the student retorted. “There’s nothing there!” I did so do it,” Philip insisted. “I did do it. It’s empty. The tomb was empty!”.… Silence followed. From then on Philip became a full member of the class..... He died not long afterward from an infection most children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday school teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.

The bible tells us that if we confess with our mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the grave, then when we die we keep on living, and we will be more a live on that day than we are right now because, the Tomb was empty!

IV. Jesus’ Revelation

Over the next forty days, Jesus appeared to many. Appear(horaō) means to see. He showed Himself in physical form, first to Peter who had denied Him, then to the others, Paul tells us her that Jesus showed Himself to 500 people at one time, Then while leaving final instructions to the 12 He ascended into Heaven. A few years later He showed Himself to Paul.

Con: We know that this is the Gospel truth because The OT foretold of it, the NT recorded it, and eye witnesses testify to it. The question is, do you believe the Gospel truth?

Invitation