Resurrection 2026

1 Corinthians 15:1-19

What difference does the resurrection make?

What is the Big Deal?

There are people in the world and in churches today, who will say: “If they find Jesus’ bones today… this will not affect my faith one bit...”

There are people today that will even argue: “What do we have to lose… If Christ is not alive and we have believed in vain… It is far better to believe and receive eternal life… than to not believe and go to hell. And it is far better to be wrong as Christians that to be wrong as non-Christians...

Is the resurrection a big deal? Is the truth a big deal? Should we be talking this way?

The Word of God is going to help us today.

There is one Gospel that saves. There is one message that has power, a message that God has ordained and uses to save sinners.

Christians are not ashamed of this Gospel for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes...

And this message is about a Person, the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

This message and salvation is birthed, is founded, and rests in this Person.

You can take away Buddha and still have the religion Buddhism.

You can take away Mohammad and still have Islam.

You can remove Joseph Smith and still have Mormonism...

But if you take away the person of Jesus Christ… Christianity does not exist.

If Jesus is not alive… There is no Christianity...

There are people during Paul’s day that would not believe in the resurrection...

But this is the substance of our Gospel Message:

-Christ died for our sins.

-Christ was buried.

-Christ was raised on the third day.

Christ died for our sins.

In the beginning… God created the heavens and the earth and everything was made good… very good.

But something happened in that Garden Paradise… Satan enticed humanity and our first parents sinned against God.

This is when sin and death entered into the world...

This is where addictions and sickness began… This is where brokenness and family problems began… The curse began here...

But God made a promise that the Seed of a Woman was going to come and save the day… and crush the head or the authority of the evil one.

As the Bible unfolds… we begin to see more and more what this person will be like and what He will do.

Isaiah 7 - He will be called “Immanuel,” God with us...

Isaiah 9 - He will be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace...”

Isaiah 52:14–15 (In describing His suffering:)“His appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind— so shall he sprinkle many nations.”

Isaiah 53 - He was despised and rejected… He was a Man of sorrows… He bore our griefs and carried our sorrows… He was afflicted, wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquity, chastised for our peace; By His stripes we are healed… The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all… He was led as a lamb to the slaughter… For the transgressions of the people He was stricken… His soul was made an offering for sin… He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors...

Psalm 22 is a picture of the crucifixion, hundreds of years before they will be invented… and here you will see the suffering and the praise of the Messiah as He accomplishes this work on the Cross for the sake of the Father and for the sinners.

You see… According to the Scriptures… Christ came to die for our sins.

Why? Because the wages of sin is death… And all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God...

For all have gone their way… there is no one who is righteous or good… no not one...

There is no one who keeps God’s law perfectly… No one loves God and neighbor perfectly and always… no not one...

Let me be sure we are all on the same page today:

Have you always loved God perfectly… with perfect motives and intentions?

Have you always loved your neighbor perfectly… with perfect motives and intentions?

Have you always honored you mother and father? Have you killed with action or words? Have you committed adultery? Have you ever stolen, lied or coveted?

When you look at God’s perfection? How do we compare?

No one is Good but God...

We all fall short of His glory and perfection...

And this is the bad news:

All fall short and all are held accountable to God… and all will stand before His throne one day to be judged by God Almighty...

And left alone in our sin… we will be eternally separated from God and judged forever in hell’s judgement.

What do we need? We need a Savior? We need a Perfect Substitute, One Who will take our place...

All the Old Testament imagery and sacrificial system points to this life and to this Cross...

From Adam and Eve all the way through… a life is laid down for a life...

Life’s blood is given to cover sinners...

Perfect lambs are given so that death would passover God’s people...

Life, and what is communicated… a perfect life must be laid down for the sinner...

In the Old Testament… Animals were given to remind the people of their sins and to the reality of their need for forgiveness...

The priests would lay their hands on these animals to symbolically transfer the sins of the people onto these animals...

And these animals lives were taken in place of the sinner...

But at best… all of this could cover… and never remove...

At best… they served as a reminder… pointing forward to the One that would once and for all lay down His life...

At best… it was like using a credit card for a period of time...

It will cover you for a time… and then you have to pay it off… you must pay the debt eventually...

And then one day John the Baptist looks up and says to all, pointing to Jesus: “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

He is the One who will cut up the Credit Card forever!

Jesus has come along making claims that He was the Christ… the Messiah...

Jesus comes along and claims that He will be lifted up and will draw all men to Himself...

Jesus says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and whosoever believes in Him will never perish, but will have eternal life...

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.… I Am the Door… I Am the One Who was and is and Who is to come...”

Jesus claims to be equal with God… to do the will of the Father… and to save sinners...

But if Jesus is dead… If He is still dead… If He is not raised...

Jesus is a liar… all preachers and teachers of the Gospel are liars… there is no Christianity...

… And we are still in our sins… facing the judgement… and all who perish have no hope of life...

2. Jesus Died and was Buried.

Some will say that Jesus never died.

Islam teaches this… Muslims believe that Jesus never died on the Cross...

There will be others that will say that Jesus never died… and or he was resuscitated in the tomb...

But how can lives be saved if the life has not been laid down… according to the Scriptures?

But how can we know for sure that Jesus completed the work… if His life was not given fully for mine?

How can I know that Jesus is Master and Lord over death… If He did not conquer it?

Daniel 9 said that the Messiah would be cut off… or killed.

Psalm 16:8-11 says that the Holy One will not be left in Sheol, or the place of the dead...

Scripture points to the reality that the Savior/Messiah would die...

And the witnesses at that time would testify...

Jesus’ family members… who did not believe in Him at the time...

The disciples and so many more will eventually say...

“We saw what happened… we saw him dying. We saw the spear go through his side… We were there and we witnessed these things; some of them helped to carry Jesus to the tomb and they prepared His body...”

They said it and believed it… Jesus died...

And we are witnesses to this truth claim...

He died for sinners… laid down His life for sinners...

But that is not the end of their witness and testimony...

They would have not said this… they would have not believed or followed Jesus… unless...

They would not have died horrible deaths themselves… unless...

Christianity would not still be around today… unless...

3. Jesus was raised from the dead

On the third day… He came back to life...

You see… The Father did not leave Him in the place of the dead...

You see… The Suffering Servant would suffer death but then see light...

You see… Jesus said several times that He would be killed but would be raised on the third day...

Jesus said that He would lay His life down and He would raise it up...

And if He does not come back to life… Jesus is not the Messiah, He is not the Son of God...

If He does not live… All He said should not be trusted… or believed...

If He is not alive… Then Jesus is a liar, a lunatic, and He did not die for our sins… and does not deserve our worship...

If we find His bones… If He is still in the tomb… We are still in our sins...

Our Bible Studies are empty… our preaching is empty… our faith is empty...

We are proven to be false witnesses… and we should expect to die and to never live again...

We should expect that all of this is a lie… that life is not worth the living… and it is without purpose...

But… but… on the third day… according to Promise… Jesus came back...

But Jesus is alive! He Lives!

Jesus is vindicated! Jesus is proven to be the Messiah! Jesus work on the Cross was accepted by the Father!

He is alive!

This proves that the Word of God is true.

This proves that God’s promises are yes and amen!

This proves that Jesus is the Son of God and all of His promises are real and reliable.

This proves that He has power over death… That He is Lord over all!

He has the power to save. he has the power to forgive. He has the power to heal. He has the power to raise me from death to life...

Was does the resurrection mean to you and to me today?

Because He Lives… I am forgiven… I am free… There is no condemnation… and there is peace between me and God...

Because He lives… I can face today and tomorrow… Because He lives… all sin and fear is gone...

Because He lives I will place my trust and faith in Him and in Him alone to forgive me, cleanse me, and raise me up to be in the heavenly places.

Because He lives… I will serve the Risen Savior… I will live to please Him and to look forward to His return...

Because He lives… To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord, for the Lord said He was going to prepare a place for me...

Because He lives… I believe that He will raise my body up on the last day and give me a glories body like His own...

Jesus’ perfect life has been laid down once and for all...

I am a child of God… filled with peace, hope, and joy...

My faith is not vain… My faith is not empty...

My faith is not dead… and my hope is not in the grave...

My faith and hope is alive... because that object of my faith is alive!

He is the Resurrection and the Life.

Death and the fear of death has lost its power and sting...

So… I am going to believe… trust… and follow this Jesus...

I am going to give my life to this Person...

I am going to get to know and love this Person...

I am going to raise my family to seek this Person...

A risen Savior changes everything...

And listen… please listen...

And this is the testimony… that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son… Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life… (1 John 5:11).

Those who do not believe in Jesus are still in their sins… condemned...

Those who will not believe will never enter into the Kingdom or see heaven...

But those who will believe… they will never perish… but will have everlasting life.

Today… Jesus sits at the right hand of God the Father in heaven...

Today… He is alive and listening, watching and waiting...

Today… Jesus is putting all things… all enemies under His feet...

And today...do not harden you hearts… but repent of your sin and place your trust and hope in the Living Savior of the World… Jesus Christ.

You will not regret this...

But you will regret it forever if you do not...

There is not other Savior coming to save the day...

Jesus Christ is the only Savior and hope that we have...

So come to Him...

Stand firm in this Truth… in this Gospel… with this Lord...

Jesus died for your sins.

But Jesus is alive today.

The disciples back then could personally touch Him and see His scars...

And Jesus tells them, “Do not be unbelieving… but believing… Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Jesus Christ has come… Jesus is coming again!

And on that day, the trumpet will sound and all will be raised together… to be with Him always!

Do you believe this?

Rejoice and continue to encourage one another with this Good News!

Close and Pray