KNOW, LIVE, BE-LIVE AS THE CHURCH-1 CORINTHIANS: Jesus

 Jesus 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Jesus - the most famous and influential man, ever, Jesus is everything! Today we’re continuing to look at this letter - that has been written to the churches in the city of Corinth a, port town, a party town, not maybe unlike modern day Las Vegas. Paul has over the last 14 chapters been writing this groups of wayward people, in a crazy town correcting them - showing to them how their behavior is out of line with the Christian life and walk - however, now he encourages them by the gospel of Jesus. We need to be ever mindful of this Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul gives the evidence of the gospel in seven specific evidences found in Christ: Christ died for our sins According to scripture He was buried He was raised on the 3rd day He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve then more than 500 brothers who are still among us He appeared to James and the 12 apostles Then he came to Paul himself Why did he remind these wayward believers about Jesus’ specifics - that’s what we’ll look at today, we’ll come to see today the importance of knowing Jesus in truth. Jesus who lived so long ago seems more controversial and talked about than Abraham Lincoln who died 152 years 1 month and 15 days ago has 51,700,000 Google search hits, Donald Trump who seems to be living today has 387,000,000 results, and covfefe which is storming the web with every definition has 9,320,000 results - but Jesus… who lived 2000 years ago seems to be killing it on Google with 884,000,000 results. He’s on PBS with a TV special: Featured on Oprah’s OWN network with Adyashanti who says he was a revolutionary teacher - Adyashanti himself is pretty important you can tell because he’s a spiritual teacher and quotes himself on his own website: People think a LOT about Jesus, Mike Tyson is even quoted as saying that he thinks Jesus would have a drink with him (that may be true, actually). Why do we take such liberty with Jesus? Lets look to our passage at Paul’s argument for an accurate view of the gospel, which rests, in an accurate view of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:1–3 (ESV) The Resurrection of Christ 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. All the correction on issues, the things about their manner of living, he now rests in this argument for the gospel, which is an argument for a right view of the person of Jesus. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures Jesus - without Jesus there is no Christianity. And so getting Jesus right is important because Church - Jesus is everything. If you were to leave here today - and someone said so what did you to today, and you said oh I went to church. Where, they ask. Transcend Church in Harrisburg at 18th and State you say. Oh I know that place, they say - yeah, you say, yeah, they say - that’s the church that’s pastored by the 7 foot tall professional basketball player who wears a clown nose and orange shoes… You’d say what, no, that’s not him - he’s not that tall at all. SO why do we hear Jesus so misconstrued and its just OK - Paul argues the facts of Jesus from authority. 1 Corinthians 15:4–11 (ESV) 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. These are the facts of Jesus resurrection - he is an historical person and this resurrection is an historical fact. So a Jesus who wasn’t God and man, who didn't live a full life, sinlessly, who didn’t die at the hands of the Roman government at the demand of the Jews and requested by the People (Barabbas over Jesus, Barabbas - the murderer) facts matter. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. No matter which of these evidences of Jesus’ resurrection, whether because: He appeared to Cephas then to the twelve then more than 500 brothers who are still among us He appeared to James and the 12 apostles Then he came to Paul himself Church we believe something so powerfully differentiated it demands notice and that’ why 2 thousand years ago so much is still oriented on this person of Jesus. People all around us talk about Jesus all the time. He’s a good teacher. A prophet. A good person. A lover. A pacifist… Who Jesus was matters and we cannot be too infatuated with Jesus, because he is everything! He is the truth and the life, without him there is NO other way (John 14:6) He is the door of salvation (John 10:9) He is the Savior (John 3:14-16) The Messiah (John 4:26) The healer (Luke 18:42) He is Jesus - and His gospel is the power of salvation. Do you know His power, do you know salvation? If you do, be reminded freshly of this truth this morning from Paul’s affirmation of Jesus resurrection of the facts about Jesus. If your salvation rests on something that’s not Jesus, you’ll never find rest. If your salvation resides in some savior other than Jesus you have NO salvation. If your understanding of Jesus trusts someone’s word and knows no truth from Bible you should not trust your own understanding. When you begin not only to know the historical Jesus but you evaluate all of your life on the person of Jesus - when He becomes Lord of your life, when every area of you become subjected to Him, now, now Paul encourages you - you're in the grace of God. Are you NOT a Christian today - just like I’m not a Yale grad? Do you see Jesus resurrection is a historical fact, this is why people are infatuated with Him, even if they’re getting him wrong - they’re infatuated they cannot forget Jesus, PBS, Oprah, Mike Tyson - you… We all need Christ as savior - I pray you’re seeing him, maybe for the fist time and that you’ll cry out for salvation that today is your day, that you’ll be come His, and church, oh church if your His already and this reminder doesn't get you fired up, you may be dead inside, come alive in the person of Christ, step out for Him this week in truth and lets see all that God will do through us when we’re excited to be found in Him -because Jesus is worth it, Jesus is everything. The Main Thing KNOW, LIVE, BE – LIVE AS THE CHURCH – 1 CORINTHIANS: Jesus Pastor John Weathersby Transcend Church 4 of 4 Sunday 6/3/2017