Sermon Tone Analysis

On Resurrection Sunday, let’s look together at this “first importance” that Paul mentions to the Corinthian church.

Take a look at verse 3-4

We are going to spend today looking at the first importance of Christ’s death, His burial, and His resurrection.

Let’s start by looking at His death.

His Death

His Death

I like questions.

So let’s ask some questions that we’ll answer Biblically.

If you brought your Bibles today, feel free to reference these verses on your own and mark it up using a pen or pencil.

Why did He need to die?

In verse 3 Paul tells us that Jesus died for our sins.

In your Bible you’ll most likely see some reference notes next to “died for our sins.”

So according to , it was to take away the sins of the world.

According to , it was to rescue us, according to God’s will.

According to , He is a representation of the high priest, who not only offers us the sacrifice, but IS the sacrifice!

Yeah, but why?

Let’s briefly do an Old Testament study to set up some background:

Gen. 2:

Here in Genesis, we see the very first sacrifice made by God for humans.

Gen. 4:

Jesus was known as the Lamb of God.

Remember ?

The sacrifice of the lamb was a must in the OT:

In the morning and evening

On the Sabbath

During the Feast of the New Moon

During the Feast of Trumpets

During the Feast of Tabernacles

During the Feast of Pentecost

And during the Passover...

Before we move on, listen to

Jesus died, for to pay the penalty for sin.

What kind of death was it?

Jesus’ death on the Roman cross was horrendous!

The cross is central to the Christian faith!

1 Cor.

1:23

It’s a stumbling block to the Jews!

According to Jewish law, on who hangs on a tree, a cross, is under God’s curse!

Which Jesus was; He was cursed on behalf of you and me!

It is foolishness to the Gentile.

To the Gentile, the one who was crucified was shamed, their family was shamed.

The word “cross” wasn’t spoken, it was a dirty word.

Those in the first century would have NEVER worn the cross as jewerly, adorned their clothing, bodies, and candy with it.

The cross was a sign of defeat, torture, and agony.

The cross was meant to be a painful slow death.

They didn’t just slap you up on the cross, first the guilty person was stripped naked and humiliated before people.

Then they were beaten.

Many people didn’t make it past this the beating was so severe.

Then, as a sign of more shame, they were forced to carry their own cross, had huge nails driven through their body to secure them to the cross, and were hoisted up, with the cross sliding into position, jarring their already damaged body.

This kind of death sent a message to the people.

“Don’t mess with us!”

It was not the first century equivalent of the death sentence today with the needle.

They wanted you to suffer, for it to take a long time.

The ACLU would have screamed bloody murder!

Is it necessary that I believe this?

Listen to the words of the high priest Caiaphas:

John 18:

He had no idea that what he was saying was what God intended and desired for man.

Is it necessary?

Well Paul says “it’s of first importance!”

tells us:

John’s gospel gives us more evidence.

We love chapter 3, especially 16-21; but what about verse 14-15?

In order for my sins to be forgiven, I must believe that the gift of God was Jesus Christ crucified for the forgiveness of sins.

His Burial

Why did He need to be buried?

To be buried is to be dead.

This signifies the finality of death.

Jesus really died.

His life had expired.

His death was witnessed by many:

Matt.

27:

Matt.

27:56

His death gave evidence that the sacrifice had been made.

The Bible teaches that the life is in the blood.

What was the significance of the tomb?

The grave could represent hopelessness.

There’s nothing else He could do for them.

It could represent finality.

His ministry was now over.

It could represent power of the prevailing forces against what Jesus taught.

The Jews win!

The stone weighed some 2 tons, there was a heavily trained contingent of Roman soldiers, and it was sealed, only to be opened under penalty of death.

Or a borrowed tomb/grave could represent something that is temporary.

Can we really know He was actually in there?

His Resurrection

Is this important?

It’s important because of the permanence of it.

The verb tenses of the two previous verbs, “died,” “buried,” carry with them the idea that they happened without completion, or repetition.

The third verb, “raised,” is in a different sense which means permanent.

It proves He is God.

How many people to do you know of who’ve risen from the dead?

CS Lewis famously quoted that Jesus can’t be a good person and NOT God.

Since He said He was God, He either is, or He isn’t.

It’s important because it fulfills scripture.

What does it mean for me today?

If true, it means my faith in Him grounded and vice versa.

2. Since He rose from the dead, we have hope in being alive in Christ when we die.

3.

He is reigning, will return and will righteously judge all men.

4. The Gospel is what it says it is: the only way to God