Resurrection Importance

Historical Sadducees and Pharisees

Sadducees- Did not believe in the resurrection.

Pharisees- So Devout they put extra laws in place

Jesus gave 2 commandments. Pharisees had 613 laws, 365 negative commands and 248 positive laws. They had a system to keep them from sinning that was suffocating.

Why We Must Believe in the Resurrection

Christ Proclaimed it.

If Christ taught it. If we believe Him to be the incarnate God. Then we must also teach it.

With out Resurrection Christ Stays in the Tomb.

This Nullifies our whole faith system.

Our teaching becomes meaningless

With out Christ’s Resurrection, we have no hope.

Our Faith is Futile.

We have nothing to believe in.

Baptism is

Benefits of the Resurrection

Christ is the Firstfruits

Just like He died, so will we.

Just like He raised, so will we.

Christ as Deliverer

V. 24-28

Christ as King

All things in Subjection to Him.

Odd v 29

Pagans of the day would baptize people in the name of deceased relatives.

Odd passage, but here Paul is using the pagan practice as a reason for hope.

Interesting V. 30.

At the time of Paul’s Writing this book there was no policy for political persecution. They were in a time of peace. However the Christians never felt safe or comfortable. They were always watching over their shoulders or waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Paul’s Application of the Resurrection

Paul’s Death

Reference to take up the cross and follow me.

He dies why? Because of his pride in the Corinthian Church through Jesus.

Fought with beasts at Ephesus

Probably not literally fighting.

Not out of possibility, but he was a roman citizen, so he would have been protected from those gladiatorial battles.

Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.

Common moral of the day. This conveys the futility of the anti resurrection stance.

Bad Company...

Watch who you turn to for advice. If you are trying to figure out what God’s calling for your life is, they you shouldn’t ask an Atheist.

Just like if I am trying to Identify my illness I shouldn’t ask a mechanic, or ask a doctor to fix my car. Be wise!

Stop Sinning!

Pay attention, and look around you.

Some people around you have never heard the Gospel, and you are teaching that the resurrection is not true and nullifying every argument you know.

Paul is very serious!

If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead. -Tim Keller

-Tim Keller