THE BENEFITS OF RESURRECTION

Introduction:

There is a principle in Bible study known as “The Principle of Completeness.” It refers to places in the Bible where a subject is covered in its entirety.

Some examples of this principle are:

1 Corinthians 13, where the subject of love is covered in its entirety, and

James 3, where the tongue is covered.

This principle is also seen here in 1 Corinthians 15. In this monumental passage, the Apostle Paul discusses in detail the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In fact, this doctrine is one of the most important in the Bible.

I will go so far as to say that the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is a foundational doctrine of the Christian faith.

The resurrection of Jesus is the most crucial event in history—let’s see why!

If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then we have no faith and Christianity is no better than any other cult or false religion in the world.

However, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is a documented historical fact.

Something Paul points out in verses 5-8.

We have the testimony of Peter, Paul, all the disciples and over 500 brothers who saw the resurrected Lord on a single occasion.

The resurrection is documented in the Bible, in Luke 24; John 20-21; Matthew 28; Mark 16; Acts 1:3, etc.

It is also a documented fact of secular history. The Jewish historian Josephus, who lived shortly after the time of Christ, writes about Jesus: "Now there was about that time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man: for he did marvelous works, and was a teacher of them that receive the truth with pleasure. And he drew unto him many Jews and many Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the chief men among us, condemned him to be crucified, those who loved him at first did not forsake him, for he appeared unto them alive again on the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him. And the tribe of the Christians, so called from him, is not extinct to this day."

There are other sources that could be cited this morning, but these are sufficient to inform us that the resurrection of Jesus really happened, just as the Bible says it did!

Now, since His resurrection is real, what does it mean for us?

In these verses, Paul tells us about the benefits of the resurrection.

It is these benefits that Paul mentions that I want to focus on this morning.

I. THE BENEFIT OF A SOLID FAITH

A. V. 12-19 A Terrifying Assumption -

1 Corinthians 15:12 NIV

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

If Paul’s line of thought is followed to its logical conclusion, then you and I are faced with some dire consequences this morning.

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then our lives mean nothing and we have wasted our time even getting up this morning.

Let Paul show us what would be true if there were no resurrection of the dead.

1. v. 13 Christ has not been raised

1 Corinthians 15:13 NIV

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

A. He died in vain - Rom. 4:24; 5:10

B. He lied - Matt. 16:21; 12:40

C. He had no power to save, and he certainly cannot save today!

2. v. 14 OUR PREACHING IS A WASTE OF TIME -

1 Corinthians 15:14 NIV

14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

(This is all a big lie!) (We can't help anyone, everyone will go to hell!)

3. v. 14 OUR FAITH IS FOOLISH -

Everything we do, our prayer, study, testimony, work, hope, holiness, praise is a waste of time!

4. v. 15 ALL CHRISTIANS ARE LIARS

1 Corinthians 15:15 NIV

15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.

Our testimony is false, we are mentally deranged!

5. v. 17 WE ARE ALL LOST IN OUR SINS

1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV

17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

- Rom 10:9; 5:10; Heb 7:25 - A dead Savior can save no one!

6. v. 18 OUR DEPARTED LOVED ONES ARE LOST FOREVER -

1 Corinthians 15:18 NIV

18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

They are all dead, buried, or in hell today!

7. v. 19 WE SHOULD BE WORTHY OF PITY -

1 Corinthians 15:19 NIV

19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

We are all fools, building our lives and our hopes on the corpse of a dead man. We are all condemned to hell.

B. V. 20-23 A Triumphant Affirmation -

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 NIV

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Paul’s announcement is that the message of the angels at the tomb was true, Matt. 28:1-6!

Jesus did indeed rise from the dead, just as He said He would.

By the power of God, Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead! According to Paul, the first Adam brought death, Romans 5:21. However, the second Adam, the Lord Jesus, brought life and salvation, John 11:25-26!

When Jesus rose from the dead, He became the promise of more things to come. He is the firstfruits! Because He lives, the graves of this world will yield a rich harvest of the redeemed when He returns in His glory!

(Ill. Because Jesus lives, all the things Paul mentioned are not true!

Jesus is risen!

Our preaching is not a waste of time!

Our faith is not wasted!

We are not liars!

We are not lost!

Our departed loved ones live in His presence!

We are not to be pitied, but rather to be envied by all who see us live the new life and hear our message of salvation through Jesus’ shed blood and His empty tomb!

Thank God, this thing is real!)

Benefit #1: A solid faith

Benefit #2…

II. THE BENEFIT OF A GODLY FAMILY

A. Paul reveals to us the glorious truth that in Jesus we have entered a new family!

(Adam) Spiritually speaking, we were definitely on the wrong side of the tracks. Our old family wasn’t much of a family.

Look at the following verses…

1 Corinthians 15:24 NIV

24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

1 Corinthians 15:50 NIV

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

B. Notice:

God is called “Father” in verse 24.

We are called “brothers” in v. 50

and “beloved brothers” in v. 58.

It seems to me that Paul believes we are part of his family!

Well, that is exactly what happens when we trust in Jesus by faith.

According to the Bible, we are “born again,” John 3:3, 7, the moment we come to Jesus. This means that when we trust in Christ, we die on that altar and are “born from above,” receiving heavenly life at that very moment, Romans 5!

In other words, when we die, we are removed from Adam, and when we are born again, we are placed in Christ.

We are taken out of the family of death and given a place in the family of life.

C. Since we are part of a new family, we are partakers of all that this family has to offer.

So let me tell you a little about our new Father.

A. He is prosperous -

Psalm 24:1 “1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and those who live in it.”

Haggai 2:8 “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.” (Indeed, He owns everything!) The prophet Haggai was delivering a message of encouragement to the Jews who had returned from exile and were rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem. God reminds the people that all wealth belongs to Him, including gold and silver, and that He will provide what is needed for the work. Meaning: Haggai emphasizes God’s sovereignty over all things, including material possessions. It is a reminder that He owns everything and can provide for the needs of His people.

B. He Is Generous - Rom. 8:17 Romans 8:17

“17 If we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.” Indeed, He has given us everything

Luke 12:32 “32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”

C. He is powerful -

Luke 1:37 “37 For nothing will be impossible with God.”

(Indeed, He controls everything, Romans 8:28)

D. I’m glad to be a part of this family! How about you?

Benefit #1 – solid faith

Benefit #2 – being part of a powerful and godly family

Benefit #3…

III. THE BENEFIT OF A GLORIOUS FUTURE

A. V. 51-52 We are promised a Radical Transformation -

1 Corinthians 15:51–52 NIV

51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

These verses speak of that glorious event known as the Rapture.

Paul speaks more about this in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.

This is the time when the Lord Jesus will return in the clouds to the earth and call His people to Himself.

Those who have died with faith in Jesus will be resurrected and meet Him.

Those who are still alive at that time will be instantly transformed and become like Jesus.

Because Jesus Christ has conquered death and the grave, we have the prospect of confounding the gravedigger.

We may not even have to die!

B. V. 53-56 We are promised victory over death

1 Corinthians 15:53–56 NIV

53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

In these verses, Paul tells us that whether you are alive or dead under the earth or in the sea, we will still gain victory over death!

We will receive a new body! We will be transformed!

These old bodies of sin, death, and decay will be forever replaced by a body filled with the glory of God.

These bodies we wear today are not compatible with Heaven.

In fact, it would be impossible for them to enter that city, 1 Corinthians 15:50 “50 I tell you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”

One glimpse of God in all His glory and these bodies would crumble to dust and we would perish!

Thank God, when our resurrected Redeemer returns in His glory, we will have a body that will see God!

Not only will we be with Jesus when He returns, but we will be like Jesus when He returns, 1 John 3:1–3 “1 See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is why the world does not know us, because it did not know him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we will be. But we know that when he appears, we will be like him, for we will see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.”

(Ill. Can you understand all this means? It means we will never again sin against the Lord and dishonor His name! It means we will have no appetite for sin! It means our new bodies will never grow old or wear out. It means we will never again lose a loved one to death! It means we will be clothed with glory and glory. We will be transformed!)

C. V. 57-58 The Promise of a Reward -

1 Corinthians 15:57–58 NIV

57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Verse 57 tells us that we are conquerors no matter what! If we face death and go to the grave, our souls will go to be with the Lord in glory, 2 Cor. 5:1-8

Our bodies will go to the grave and decay.

However, when Jesus returns, He will take our soul with Him and raise our dead body from the ground, breathe life into it, transform it into a new body, put the soul back into that body, and take the whole package back to Heaven to be with Him forever!

If we are alive when Jesus returns, even better! Our families can save all that money at the funeral home.

So I have incentive to work for Him, v. 58, because whether I live or die, I am assured of victory!

You see, right now, the Lord Jesus is in Heaven and is preparing a place for me, John 14:1-3.

Conclusion:

These are just a few of the benefits of Jesus’ resurrection

Aren’t you glad Jesus is alive? I praise God that on that Sunday morning when those women went to the tomb, they found it empty! Yes, Jesus is alive!

The question I want to ask you today is this: Is Jesus alive in you?

Has His resurrection become your resurrection?

Are you benefiting from the benefits of the resurrection? Are you saved?

And I want to tell you something this morning, that if you want to be saved, you can be saved.

If you want God to give you a new life, He will give you a new life.

If you want power over Satan, you can have it. Because Jesus is risen! -

Revelation 1:18 “18 I am the Living One. I was dead and now I am alive forevermore! And I have the keys of Death and Hades.”

Revelation 22:7 “7 “Behold, I am coming soon!

Revelation 22:12–14 “12 “Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. 14 “Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the city.”

Revelation 22:17 NIV

17 The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.

If you are thirsty for God today…

Recognize that you need more of God in your life… “come; and whoever wishes, let him take the water of life freely.”

The altar is open… come and receive the forgiveness, salvation or help you need for free…

Come! Jesus invites you to be part of the family!

With Jesus in your life, death is not the end of your existence; it is just a comma because of Christ!"