Why Bother?

WHY BOTHER 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Now, brothers, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which you have received, and in which you stand.  2 Through it you are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached to you, unless you have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 was buried, rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,  5 and was seen by Cephas, and then by the twelve.  6 Then He was seen by over five hundred brothers at once, of whom the greater part remain to this present time, though some have passed away.  7 Then He was seen by James and then by all the apostles.  8 Last of all, He was seen by me also, as by one born at the wrong time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and am not fit 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. I labored more abundantly than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. In the first 11 verses of chapter 15 we see Paul being who he was. A TEACHER A PREACHER A PASTOR Paul began the letter by answering some of the question that the church namely had them doubting the resurrection. In the Greco-Roman world, they believed in the immortality of the soul, but not the body. It was Paul’s job to make sure that he preached and taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as he knew it to be true. He didn’t just hear about the resurrection, he met the resurrected Savior! Many times in his letters, Paul writes and warns of another gospel or of false teachers This is our job This is my job. My job is to preach the Gospel in its entirety adding nothing and subtracting nothing from it. Paul here KNEW that some doubted Apostolic teaching! Some were teaching that Jesus Christ did not resurrect. This was not something new. For example Galatians 1:8 Modern English Version (MEV) 8 Although if we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel to you than the one we have preached to you, let him be accursed. 1 Timothy 1:3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, continue to remain at Ephesus so that you might command some to teach no other doctrine Paul wanted to make 1 thing clear and we see it in the first 11 verses….. SPECIFICALLY Vs. 3-6 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: how Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 was buried, rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,  5 and was seen by Cephas, and then by the twelve.  6 Then He was seen by over five hundred brothers at once, of whom the greater part remain to this present time, though some have passed away.  Three facts are primary concerning Jesus' death: He "died," He "died for people's (our) sins," and He died as the Scriptures revealed He would ("according to the Scriptures"). These facts received constant reaffirmation in the early preaching of the church (cf. Acts 3:13-18; 8:32-35). Acts 3:14-18  14 You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked for a murderer to be granted to you,  15 and you killed the Creator of Life, whom God has raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.  16 And His name, by faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. And faith which comes through Him has given him perfect health in your presence. 17 “Now brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.  18 But what God foretold through all the prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He thus fulfilled. Remember what I have said time and time again. The book of Acts is not some supernatural book that we just read to get history from. It is SCRIPTURE! It is here for a reason and there is something to learn from it. TELEPHONE GAME The first to hear says it right And this is the first church and the early church with the Apostles (who were taught by Christ). If any church knew how Christ Jesus wanted His church to run it was the church here in Acts. 1 John 1:1-2 1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have touched, concerning the Word of life—  2 the life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and announce to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was revealed to us—  Did you see that? John the Apostle here said: What we heard What we saw What we looked upon What we touched THAT IS WHAT WE TESTIFY AND DECLARE! 1 Corinthians 15:12-13 12 Now if Christ is preached that He rose from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?  13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen.  14 If Christ has not risen, then our preaching is vain, and your faith is also vain.  15 Yes, and we would then be found false witnesses of God, because we have testified that God raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up, if in fact the dead do not rise.  16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ has not been raised.  17 If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.  18 Then they also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.  21 For since death came by man, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. The Greeks had a proverb that said, "The body is a tomb," and one of the Greek writers wrote, "I am a poor soul shackled to a corpse."[651] So the idea of a resurrected Christ conflicted with their disbelief in bodily resurrection. So let me ask you this……… What if Jesus had not risen from the grave? I. WHY PREACH I Cor 15.14a 14 If Christ has not risen, then our preaching is vain There would be no reason to preach! Preaching Was not an experiment with communication techniques Was not just thought to be a good idea to do Was not considered an effective technique Was not compared to other forms of communication and worship & won WE PREACH BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN COMMANDED TO PREACH! (It is a commission, it is a charge) II Timothy 4.2 Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching. Herald the Word of God! T That is the primary responsibility of every leader of God's people Paul was a PREACHER! Paul was a HERALD! His master had given Him a decree and it was his job/his duty to proclaim/to herald that decree adding nothing, altering nothing and omitting nothing. The herald is in the office of the “town crier” who proclaims good news to all. In places like Medieval England, where literacy rates were extremely low, the town crier would stand in the open town squares and proclaim news that was important for the people of the village. He gave public announcements on behalf of the courts, direct messages from the king, or news that was pertinent for all to hear. It’s the Heralds job to make sure that the WORD of GOD/THE GOSPEL is preached. THUS SAITH THE LORD! “WHAT IS THE GOSPEL EXACTLY”? YOU ASK: Good News is that Jesus Christ provided a way for man to be freed from the penalty of sin. God sent His SON Jesus Christ to take our sins away through His death on the cross. In placing our sin on Christ, God ensured that all who would believe in the name of Jesus WILL BE forgiven! Romans 10.13 For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” IF IT NEVER HAPPENED: WHY PREACH? The time spent studying; preparing and preaching would mean NOTHING! II. WHY BELIEVE (Why Preach) 1 Corinthians 15:14b and your faith is also vain.  One night a house caught fire and a young boy was forced to flee to the roof. The father stood on the ground below with outstretched arms, calling to his son, "Jump! I'll catch you." He knew the boy had to jump to save his life. All the boy could see, however, was flame, smoke, and blackness. As can be imagined, he was afraid to leave the roof. His father kept yelling: "Jump! I will catch you." But the boy protested, "Daddy, I can't see you." The father replied, "But I can see you and that's all that matters." Here is a similar illustration: During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father's voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can't see you!" The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known. WHY WOULD WE BELIEVE WHY WOULD WE HAVE FAITH WHY PUT FAITH IN A DEAD MESSIAH A DEAD MESSIAH WILL NOT & CANNOT SAVE ANYONE OUR FAITH IN A MAN IN A TOMB IS WORTHLESS *We might as well join the ranks of every other religion* BUDDHA IS DEAD MARY BAKER IS DEAD CONFUCIOUS JOSEPH SMITH MUHAMMAD WALLACE FARD MUHAMMAD L. RON HUBBARD ELLEN WHITE Jesus Christ is ALIVE!, but if He is still in the grave (FAITH IS FOOLISH)! Romans 1.8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world. III. WHY NOT SIN (Why Preach, Why believe) I Corinthians 15.17 17 If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.  Our SIN separates us from God! Isaiah 59.2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He will not hear. You have no hope of forgiveness apart from the death of the Lord Jesus Christ. If He is in the grave, then God did not accept the sacrifice of Calvary.  If God did not accept His sacrifice (His payment), then we still owe that debt Romans 6.23a For the wages/payment of sin is death; This leaves only one place for them to go, hell. We see hell spoken of as the second death in Revelation 21:8  But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the abominable, the murderers, the sexually immoral, the sorcerers, the idolaters, and all liars shall have their portion in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone. This is the second death.” You cannot pay your sin debt! SOME SAY: I will do good And that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God I won’t sin There is none righteous I will be religious our righteousnesses are as filthy rags How do we know God accepted the sacrifice of Calvary? HE AROSE HE AROSE HALLELUJAH CHRIST AROSE What if Christ had not risen? No resurrection, no Savior. No Savior, no forgiveness. No forgiveness……Then why not just do as you please. You haven’t been bought with a price. You are nobody’s. IV. WHY WORRY (Death & Future) (Why Preach, Why believe, Why not sin) 1Cor 15:17-18 17 If Christ is not raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.  18 Then they also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.  Edith Rockefeller McCormick, the daughter of John D. Rockefeller, maintained a large household staff. She applied one rule to every servant without exception: They were not permitted to speak to her. The rule was broken only once, when word arrived at the family's country retreat that their young son had died of scarlet fever. The McCormick’s were hosting a dinner party, but following a discussion in the servants' quarters it was decided that Mrs. McCormick needed to know right away. When the tragic news was whispered to her, she merely nodded her head and the party continued without interruption.  We all have had loved one who have died. If the Resurrection is false, then death was that final step That’s it They are DEAD! BUT your life and mu life is more valuable than that. There is meaning in life. There is hope after death. REMEMBER we have VICTORY over our greatest enemy…DEATH, because Christ AROSE! A wise man once said, “If Jesus Christ is still in that grave, nothing really matters. But if Jesus Christ came out of that grave, nothing but that really matters.” Little Philip, born with Down's syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in leadership magazine. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully. The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought L'eggs pantyhose containers, the kind that look like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one in surprise fashion. After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table. Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh. Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, That's stupid. That's not fair. Somebody didn't do their assignment." Philip spoke up, "That's mine." "Philip, you don't ever do things right!" the student retorted. "There's nothing there!" "I did so do it," Philip insisted. "I did do it. It's empty. the tomb was empty!" Silence followed. From then on Philip became a full member of the class. He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday school teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING! Jesus is alive. He’s alive, and He lives in my heart. Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified, freely forever; One day He’s coming—O glorious day! ~ J. Wilburn Chapman, 1911