Why The Resurrection Matters

Another year has come, we acknowledge the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is because of this time people are gathering around the world, but for many different reasons. Are you here because you do this annually with your family to go to church because its “Easter”? Its what we supposed to do. Or you felt compelled to get up and go, because afterwards your family is coming together and it looks good when you come to church, then dinner? Or is there something else? Are you here for more than what the world is celebrating? Are you here for something that is transformative?

Outline

It is Foundational to your State and Standing Vs 1-2

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 “1 Now I make known to you, brothers and sisters, the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received, in which you also stand, 2 by which you also are saved, if you hold firmly to the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.”

Message made known through preaching

Reality of our condition

Reality of our position before a HOLY GOD

It is through the preaching of the gospel we are exposed to truth

This belief in the gospel is what lead to being delievered from sin and transformed

Romans 10:13–15 “13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” 14 How then are they to call on Him in whom they have not believed? How are they to believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how are they to hear without a preacher? 15 But how are they to preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!””

It Is The Foundational message Vs 3-4

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 “3 For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

Its message is passed down from what he received. It is the fulfillment of the great commission

Matthew 28:19 “19 Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,”

Sharing the simple message of the gospel message

It is mandatory

Is done because we are compelled to share because of overwhelming grace and mercy of GOD.

It Affirms itself with many witnesses Vs 5-9

1 Corinthians 15:5–9 “5 and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”

Why is it important to have a witness?

They add credibility to the account be told

They add valued insight to the account

They help provide spiritual authority to the argument of Christ.

It shows these accounts offer hope and encouragement for the hearer and convert (Great testimony)

It is Foundational in our service Vs 10-11

1 Corinthians 15:10–11 “10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

The value seen in the power of the resurrection should motivate how we serve.

Because He lives, I serve with the same motivation and passion as I did when I was worldly.

Because He lives, I have a fire that has been ignited within me to tell the world as a witness He lives!

Romans 1:14–16 “For I have a great sense of obligation to people in both the civilized world and the rest of the world,* to the educated and uneducated alike. So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach the Good News. For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.*”

It is Foundational to our preaching Vs. 12-14

1 Corinthians 15:12–14 “But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.”

The concern regarding what we preach

The purpose of preaching the resurrection is the backbone of the message of hope

If the death, burial, and resurrection isn’t the reason and core of the call, your just offering Ted talks and aimless speeches

If Christ hasn’t been raised the preacher and preaching are useless

Your faith is useless

It is Foundational to Our Testimony Vs 15-16

1 Corinthians 15:15–16 “And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.”

The resurrection is fundamental to our credibility…if not we are liars who:

Are lying about God

Are lying about God the Father raising Him from the grave

It Is Foundational to Our Faith Vs 17

1 Corinthians 15:17 “And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.”

If Christ hasn’t been raised, you faith is useless.

Also, we are still guilty of our sin debt because we bear the image of the first Adam.

Romans 3:23 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.”

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.”

You are completely incapable of paying for your sin debt. If Christ hasn’t been raised we are bad shape

It is Foundational to Our Hope Vs 18

1 Corinthians 15:18 “In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!”

Those who have transitioned before us are lost, died without any hope

Those who have transitioned before us are guilty of their sin, and has to stand before God for their final judgement.

Closing

Why does the resurrection matter?

Our state / standing before God (condition/position in Christ Jesus)

Our Message / witness

Our Service / Preaching

Our Testimony

Our Faith / Hope