Resurrection Faith

1 Corinthians 15:1–11 NIV

1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve 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 to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

1 Cor 15:1-

Faith is complicated - Introduction

Have you ever heard of a great place? A great hotel, restaurant, resort, etc?

If it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not true.... have you heard that before?

But many times it is true. You know is true after you give it a shot and try it.

The story of Easter is one that is hard to believe. It sounds too good to be true.

But if you give it a try, you will not be disappointed. Have you ever tried to make your kids eat something you really like?

“Try it, it is good, believe me!”..... expand story....

What makes them try it out? FAITH. They are believing you and then acting upon it.

Without a proper understanding of the Resurrection, it is almost impossible to have faith; TRUE faith.

Our faith rests upon the story of Jesus coming down, dying and resurrecting.

And if you want to live the life God has for you, you need RESURRECTION FAITH.

RESURRECTION FAITH

Christianity is more than religion, it is a lifestyle, a relationship with an all powerful God who came to find us.

Humanly speaking Faith is impossible

God orchestrated the story of the Resurrection in a way that makes it almost impossible to believe, yet once we look at the facts, it becomes unreasonable to deny.

Now you may be a little skeptical today.

You may think that faith is just feelings. An emotional act filled with hope that may be God is real.

Faith is not based on feelings. In fact, faith that is based on feelings will always disappoint you. (Cowboys fans). YOU NEED FACTS!!!

FAITH IN CHRIST must rely on something more than feelings and wishful thinking. Faith in Christ relies on truth.

Paul says it like this:

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NIV

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

1 Corinthians 15:3 NIV

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

1 Cor 15:

RESURRECTION FAITH IS RATIONAL

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You know what rational means right?

Believable>

credible>

defendable>

reasonable>

sustainable>

supportable>

acceptable>

trustworthy>

admissible>

logical...

Resurrection faith relies on truth.

Did you know that over 300 hundred OT prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus?

God orchestrated the story of the Resurrection in a way that makes it almost impossible to believe it, yet once we look at the facts, it becomes unreasonable to deny it.

Let us remember that the first eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus were women.

In

John 20:11 NIV

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb

, Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene...

Women were not held in high esteem.

In Greco-Roman culture, a woman’s testimony was not admissible in court.

In Jewish circles, it took the testimony of two women to equate that of one man.

If one were to invent a story, the last people one would place as the first witnesses would have been women, unless it were otherwise true.

The early disciples were radically transformed.

Many people will die for what they believe to be true.

But no one will die for something they erroneously invented.

The disciples knew if they were telling the truth. Yet, one finds that the disciples were willing to die for what they knew to be true.

Paul himself was radically transformed and devoted his life to spreading the good news.

Faith is rational; it makes sense. You can trust JESUS with your real life, not just your emotional senses.

RESURRECTION FAITH IS MERCIFUL

Paul understood this.

1 Corinthians 15:7–9 NIV

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

1 Cor 15:7-

Paul DIDN’T deserve it. He KILLED believers of the way.

Yet God showed up. Go back to Mary Magdalene one more time. The first eyewitness...

Who was she? In it says that Mary had seven demons cast out of her. Seven, as yo may know is an important number. It is an indication that she was a host for demons. Are you following?

She DIDN’T deserve anything from God.

And you and I surely don’t deserve Him. It is by His mercy that we are alive today.

Lamentations 3:22–23 NLT

22 The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.

You see, once you realize it is true, HE really came, and lives. You may feel undeserving, distant, far away.

But we celebrate and not only proclaim His resurrection today, but we also remember His mercy and receive His mercy.

The resurrection is a reminder of God’s love despite my sin. About His faithfulness despite my indifference. It is about a new beginning through the power of the resurrection.

RESURRECTION FAITH IS PERSONAL

Paul says, WHAT I RECEIVED I PASSED ON TO YOU.

But he also says this:

1 Corinthians 15:2 NIV

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

1 Cor 15:

You must hold on to it. It is not enough to know, you must follow.

THE GOSPEL (GOOD NEWS) MUST BE RECEIVED

After addressing some issues about the lifestyle of the Church in Corinth. Paul now brings us back to the reason why we believe; the cross and the resurrection.

CHRIST DIES FOR OUR SINS (FIRST IMPORTANCE!) ACCORDING TO THE SCRIPTURES

He is saying, you were saved to BE who HE made you to BE.

But you must hold on to it, otherwise in vain you have believed.

I love that Jesus didn’t try to explain anything to Mary...

John 20:15–16 NIV

15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

John 20:15-

And I believe many of you have tried to rely on someone else’s experience or faith. But Jesus is calling you today by name.

He is not trying to explain himself, He wants you to experience His touch.

MARY!

Because when you don’t need more explanation, when you feel like there is no more hope, there is always GRACE that keeps pulling you back to him again.

Resurrection faith not only is rational, merciful, and personal...

RESURRECTION FAITH IS BASED ON GRACE

1 Cor 15:10

1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

It is rational.....

It is merciful...

It is personal...

But you need grace. Salvation is by grace through faith.

What you know about God is enough to trust him today with your life.

Grace forgives but grace gives power to live in victory.

There is power in the resurrection of Jesus Christ to save Humanity.

And we will also be resurrected and live with Him forever!

I HAVE RESURRECTION FAITH!!!!