The Essential Resurrection

Introduction

Illustration about Essentials

What is essential to you?

Employment

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Possessions

Family

Indulgences

When it comes to the gospel, that we as Christian’s believe, stand on, and are saved by, the resurrection is essential.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is that central moment in human history that serves as the foundational doctrine of Christianity. After having truly assumed human nature and submitted to an agonizing and shameful public death, the eternal Son of God was truly raised from the dead in his glorified physical body, no longer subject to decay and death. His resurrection validates his identity as the divine Son of God, demonstrates his irrevocable victory over death and the grave, and secures both the present salvation and future physical resurrection of believers.

You see without the resurrection, there is no hope. Without the resurrection, the gospel is stopped before it even begins. A little later in Paul says, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” I was listening to a podcast recently with the theologian NT Wright and he said this:

Lexham Survey of Theology

You see without the resurrection, there is no hope. Without the resurrection, the gospel is stopped before it even begins. A little later in Paul says, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” I was listening to a podcast recently with the theologian NT Wright and he said this:

If [Jesus] has dealt with sin on the cross…then…death itself cannot hold him any longer because it’s sin…that causes death.

Tom Wright

It is impossible for Jesus to have defeated sin on the cross and not to be resurrected. Without the resurrection, sin and death have not been defeated, because Jesus would still be held by death. The resurrection is utterly essential to the gospel message that we believe and hold fast to.

So this morning I want to look at Paul’s argument in favour of the resurrection, but before we do, let’s just look briefly at the context in which Paul is writing this passage that we’ve read.

Background

The church at Corinth had sent Paul a letter, clearly with a number of questions and issues that they were wrestling with. One of these issues was to do with bodily resurrection. The Corinthians had come to believe that there would be life after death, but without bodily resurrection. Paul spends a great deal of time working through this, is the longest chapter in any of the New Testament epistles, but he starts by laying out the foundation for his argument – Christ’s resurrection.

You see, without Christ’s resurrection, there can be no resurrection for us. Christ’s resurrection paved the way for ours. In the first 11 verses of , Paul establishes the historical reliability of Jesus’ resurrection, the certainty of which, gives him the foundation on which to build his argument in favour of bodily resurrection for all Christians.

This morning, I just want to briefly consider this foundation that Paul lays, and I want to look at two features of the gospel that he shares in these 11 verses at the start of chapter 15.

1. The Gospel is Trustworthy

Has anyone here every doubted the gospel, or parts of it? I’ve certainly had my moments! I think it’s safe to say that the Corinthian church were having a similar moment and Paul begins by addressing this.

Verse 1 – “Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel...”

Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel

The New International Version. (2011). (). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

Paul isn’t telling the Corinthians something new here. Paul is reminding them of that which they have already believed. He’s reminding them that the gospel worked when they believed and that it still works now!

I think as Christians we need to remember to remind ourselves of that which we already know. There’s definitely something to be said for every day reminding ourselves of the gospel we believe in, that we hope in and that we rejoice in.

After Paul has reminded them of that which they have believed he begins to share the core elements of the gospel with them. Paul’s confidence in the gospel in these verses comes from the fact that Christ’s death and resurrection are both prophetically and historically verifiable.

In verses 3-5 he writes:

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. “

One phrase immediately jumps out in these verses, “according to the Scriptures.”

We know that in the Old Testament, God predicted that Christ would die and rise again. One of the strongest arguments that Jesus was the promised Messiah is how his life fulfilled Old Testament prophecy.

In verse 3 we read that Paul shared the gospel with the Corinthians “as of first importance.” For Paul, and indeed for all of us, the gospel is of first importance and is utterly foundational for the Christian life. We can debate plenty of non-essential issues that arise from Scripture, but the gospel is of first importance. It’s a non-negotiable. But why is that so?

The gospel didn’t come from Paul or from any other man. The gospel was received from God and then delivered to people. It’s God’s gospel, not ours. I often reflect on God’s plan for salvation and think to myself, no one in their right mind would come up with a plan for salvation like this one. Surely a superhero or an army would have worked better? Surely it isn’t free to anyone who believes? But hallelujah for the freely given gift of salvation! Praise God!

So we understand that the gospel is important, but what of it? Paul goes on to share four facts of the gospel:

1. Christ died for our sins – Sin is the very reason Jesus went to the cross. We deserve to die for our sins but Jesus died in our place. Jesus took your place that you might have his place. He took your hell that you might have his heaven

2. Christ was buried – Christ’s death wasn’t an accident. On the contrary it was a very public and certain event. Christ actually died. He was placed in a tomb, that was sealed and guarded. This reminds us that what happened three days later wasn’t merely a physical resuscitation. Christ wasn’t buried alive. He died on the cross.

3. Christ was raised – The firm foundation of our faith is the empty tomb. Christ arose, his bones are nowhere to be found. He is alive!

4. Christ was seen – Not only was there an empty tomb, Christ was seen by eyewitness’ after his resurrection.

At this point let’s just pause for a moment and be challenged. We’ve heard the facts of the gospel. Paul delivers them so clearly and so succinctly. Let me ask you this morning. Do you know the gospel better than you know sports scores, movie lines and song lyrics? Could you share the gospel message in your sleep? Are you that comfortable with presenting the facts of your faith? We all should be. There is no more important message in this world!

Returning to our passage, Paul continues by moving from the message of the gospel to a strong argument for the resurrection of Christ – historically verifiable witnesses.

Paul writes in verses 6-8:

“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. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

Paul’s main argument is that there were still eyewitnesses to the resurrection living at the time he was writing this letter to the Corinthians. Paul is inviting them to check out the reality of the resurrection for themselves. He is saying there are nearly 500 people who, about 20 years ago, saw Jesus after His resurrection. Ask one of them. This is very convincing proof of the resurrection because Paul would never have challenged people like this, in what would have been a public letter that was going to be circulated, unless these witnesses had definitely seen Jesus. Paul was convinced that his witnesses would confirm the facts.

If you were talking about a group of 12, such as the disciples, you could argue that they were mistaken. For a group of 500 to all make the same mistake would have been impossible.

Paul then tells us how Jesus appeared to his half-brother James and also to Paul himself. Further historical proof that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Unfortunately we can’t talk to these eyewitnesses in the same way the Corinthians could, but we can look to Scripture and changed lives all around us. There we can see the glory of the gospel at work and hope of the resurrection.

In these first 8 verses, Paul has hammered home the trustworthiness of the gospel. And this trustworthiness completely hinges on the resurrection. Without the resurrection there can be no gospel.

Now please don’t think I’m belittling the other aspects of the gospel. I’m not. This morning’s focus is on the resurrection, but this same sermon could be preached in terms of Jesus’ crucifixion being essential to the gospel, on Jesus’ death being essential to the gospel, and so on and so forth. But the gospel does not work without any of these aspects. They are all essential!

So turning to the final three verses in our passage this morning. Paul began by making it clear that the gospel is trustworthy. The second thing he makes clear is that

2. The Gospel is Life-changing

If we ever needed further proof of the gospel after that which we’ve already read, Paul goes onto explain that that proof lies in the gospel’s inherent power to change lives. He demonstrates this by sharing three characteristics:

1. The gospel leads to the recognition of sin

Verse 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.”

The vast majority of the other people to whom Christ appeared were believers, whereas Paul was a violent, hateful unbeliever. He chased down the early Christians and sought to have them imprisoned or killed. Paul never ceased to be amazed that, of all people, Christ would have appeared to him. Because of this Paul really understood that apart from Christ, he was nothing.

I think for some of us, this can be a really difficult concept to grasp. The world tells us that we’re good people. We’ve done good things. We’ve supported the right causes. But the fact still remains, , we’ve all sinned and we all fall short of God’s glory.

Illustration about Samuel & Oliver not understanding they are doing something wrong.

Samuel and Oliver – biting (or anything for that matter), think it’s game. Don’t understand that the thing they are doing is wrong.

Let me ask you this morning, like Paul, do you see and feel your own sin? Do you grieve over your sin? Are you more concerned about working on your sin instead of others’ sin?

If you’re struggling to do so, how do you recognise sin? For me the obvious answer is that we look to Jesus. Jesus is the only example that we have of a sinless, perfect life. In the gospels we read countless teachings of Jesus of which we can measure our own lives against. This example, coupled with the gospel leads us to understand that, without Christ, we are nothing.

2. The gospel results in a total transformation of character

Verse 10a - “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.”

Paul may have been a mess when Jesus found him, but Christ didn’t leave him that way. Because of God’s mercy and grace Paul became a great missionary, preacher and theologian. It is only the one who has experienced the power of the resurrection in his life who can experience such a thorough transformation in character and then give the credit to God.

I love the way the NLT translates this verse:

Verse 10a (NLT) – But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favour on me – and not without results.

Paul takes absolutely no credit for this. He says that IT IS ALL BECAUSE God poured out his special favour on him. The gospel is life-changing. But not because of anything that we do. It is only life-changing because of what God has done for us.

This is why I love to hear testimony. I love to hear the power of lives that have been changed because of the unmerited favour of God poured out upon them. Never underestimate the power that your testimony has. Your story can have such an impact on the lives of those that you tell it to. We hear extreme testimonies and we think that ours isn’t good enough to share. Please don’t tell yourself that. Again, never underestimate the power of your testimony. Your testimony is a record of the transformational power of the gospel!

Remember though, God doesn’t have to pour out his favour on us. God doesn’t need us but he still chooses to use us! Praise God, that despite the fact he doesn’t have to, he still pours out his favour on us and he still chooses to use us.

3. The gospel produces a redirection of your entire life

Verse 10b - No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

In response to God’s grace, Paul worked harder than anybody else. Paul doesn’t believe, however, that he is repaying God with his hard work. Instead, Paul is more like a child who joyfully gives his mum a birthday present after having spent the parents’ own money to buy it!

All of Paul’s effort and energy was bound up in God’s grace. In the same way, we are saved by grace and we minister by grace. “Grace” is mentioned three times in verse 10. In a general sense, grace can be described as “an undeserved expression of kindness”. We don’t deserve God’s kindness, so we receive grace. But we don’t just receive grace at the point of salvation. God bestows his grace upon us as we walk through the Christian life. It’s this undeserved kindness that should spur us on to, like Paul, work hard for the gospel.

Let me ask you this morning, is all your effort and energy bound up in God’s grace? Do you respond to God’s grace by working harder than anybody else? Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying here. I’m not suggesting that you run yourself into the ground. We all have commitments in our lives that are important. But how can you make sure that your entire life is redirected? This redirection might very well take place in the things that you are already committed to, be it work, family, friends. These are some of the most effective places for us to witness and to work for the glory of the gospel. Whatever it looks like for you, may you be spurred on by God’s grace.

In verse 11 Paul concludes this section of his argument by reprising what he said in verse 1.

Verse 11 - Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

Notice, just briefly, Paul’s words at the start of this verse, “whether, then, it is I or they.” Paul doesn’t care who gets the credit, only that the gospel advances. This is further testament to Paul’s humility and complete commitment to the gospel. There’s definitely a lesson there for all of us. We are all partners in the gospel. Ultimately it’s not about us. It’s about Jesus and it doesn’t matter who gets the credit.

In these final 3 verses Paul has used his testimony to show the life-changing power of the gospel. The gospel which was preached by the apostles. The gospel which we preach today. Christ’s resurrection is essential to this. Without the resurrection, there is no life-changing power of the gospel. Without the resurrection we aren’t transformed, we aren’t redirected.

Conclusion

As we conclude this morning, let me draw your thoughts to one of Jesus’ statements. In Jesus says:

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

Jesus doesn’t merely say that he will bring about the resurrection or that he will be the cause of the resurrection (both of which are true), but something much stronger.

He says that He is the resurrection and the life. You see resurrection from the dead and genuine eternal life in fellowship with God are so closely tied to Jesus that they are embodied in him and can be found only in relationship to him. Therefore, when he says “believes in me”, this implies personal trust in Christ.

We can only experience the true power of the resurrection, the true hope of the resurrection when we trust in Jesus. When we choose to live in right relationship with him.

So this morning as we close, let me ask you, do you believe in the resurrection? Do you believe in the trustworthiness of the gospel? Do you believe in the life-changing power of the gospel?

Know with assurance that because of the resurrection we can know with assurance that death has been defeated and live with hope in the knowledge of our future resurrection.