The Resurrection, the Foundation of the Gospel

The Resurrection, the Foundation of the Gospel

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (KJV 1900)

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

I. The resurrection is the foundation of the Gospel.

* The Apostle Paul warns the people at the church of Corinth to stand, and not deviate from the Gospel he had preached to them:

1 Corinthians 15:1–8 (KJV 1900)

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

* Let there be no doubt what so ever this morning that, according to the Bible, on the third day after the death of Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ got up from the grave, laid the grave clothes aside and walked out of that brave, not in the spirit, but in a real, physical body!

* We know it was a body that could be touched and seen because the savior told Mary in the garden that morning- don’t touch me, I have not yet ascend up to my father!

* We know that it was a real, fleshly, body because when He later appeared to the apostles, he showed them the scars in his hands and side.

* We know that Jesus arose from the dead in a body of flesh because He asked Thomas to put his fingers in his side and his hands.

* We know that it was a fleshly body because Jesus sat and ate fish and bread with his disciples on another occasion.

II. The resurrection is a fact of history.

5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

* Jesus appeared to people from the day of his resurrection until his ascension forty days later.

* Ten distinct appearances are recorded in the Scriptures. They were at different places, times, and to different people.

* Jesus spoke to, ate with, drank with, and embraced people. The eyewitnesses were convinced of his appearances.

* Finally, we are told that about five hundred people saw Jesus during this post-resurrection period. This constitutes credible, eye-witness testimony that Jesus rose from the dead.

* The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is either ...the greatest event, or the greatest fraud — in history!

* Dr. Simon Greenleaf, the Royal Professor of Law at Harvard University, was one of the greatest legal minds that ever lived.

* Dr. Greenleaf wrote the famous legal volume entitled, A Treatise on the Law of Evidence, considered by many the greatest legal volume ever written.

* Dr. Simon Greenleaf believed the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a hoax. And he determined, once and for all, to expose the "myth" of the Resurrection.

* After thoroughly examining the evidence for the resurrection — Dr. Greenleaf came to the exact opposite conclusion!

* Later Dr. Greenleaf wrote a book entitled, An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice.

* In this book, he emphatically stated:

"it was IMPOSSIBLE that the apostles could have persisted in affirming the truths they had narrated, had not JESUS CHRIST ACTUALLY RISEN FROM THE DEAD, . . ."

(Simon Greenleaf, An Examination of the Testimony of the Four Evangelists by the Rules of Evidence Administered in the Courts of Justice, p.29).

* Dr. Greenleaf concluded that according to the jurisdiction of legal evidence the resurrection of Jesus Christ was the best supported event in all of history!

* Not only that, Dr. Greenleaf was so convinced by the overwhelming evidence, he committed the rest of his life to Jesus Christ!

III. Christ’s resurrection is inseparable from the believer’s resurrection.

* The apostle Paul sets out to logically prove that Christ’s resurrection is the very evidence that proves there will be a resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:12–17 (KJV 1900)

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

* Paul evidently is responding to the some in the church who have said that there is no resurrection of the dead.

* Paul proves logically that the doctrine that the dead are not raised is not compatible with the Gospel.

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

* Paul gives three proofs that Christ’s resurrection is the foundation that the Gospel stands on:

1). If Jesus did not raise from the dead, then preaching and your faith is in vain. (vs.14)

2). If Jesus did not raise from the dead, then Jesus is a liar and the Bible is a lie. (vs. 15-16)

3). If Jesus did not raise from the dead, then you are still in your sins. (vs. 17)

4). If Jesus did not raise from the dead, then everyone who has died have perished forever.

* Paul gives the result of preaching a gospel without the resurrection:

1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV 1900)

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

* Paul goes on to say that Jesus was the “firstfruits” of the resurrection of the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 (KJV 1900)

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.

* Paul answers the next logical argument: “What kind of body will those who have raised from the dead have?”

* Paul explains that the resurrected body will be different than the old body was.

1 Corinthians 15:35–38 (KJV 1900)

35 But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? 36 Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: 37 And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: 38 But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.

1). It was sown a corrupted body, it will be raised an incorruptible body.

* The old body was corrupted by sin, the new body will be incorruptible.

1 Corinthians 15:39–42 (KJV 1900)

39 All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. 40 There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. 42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

2). It was sowed a dishonorable body, it will be raised an honorable .

1 Corinthians 15:43 (KJV 1900)

43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory:

* When plant a seed in the ground, what comes up is of much greater glory than that body that was planted.

* We will be raised with a glorified body.

3). It was sown a weak body, it will be raised a powerful body.

1 Corinthians 15:43 (KJV 1900)

43 it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

4). It was sown an natural body, with will be raised a spiritual body.

1 Corinthians 15:44–49 (KJV 1900)

44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

* Paul gives the reason for the death of a believer’s body: The reason for death: The old body in not compatible with heaven.

1 Corinthians 15:50 (KJV 1900)

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

* Paul reveals a mystery, a truth revealed for the first time:

1 Corinthians 15:51–53 (KJV 1900)

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

* Paul reveals the result of the knowledge of the resurrection of the Believer: it abolishes the fear of death.

1 Corinthians 15:54–58 (KJV 1900)

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

* Paul’s conclusion of the resurrection of the believer:

1 Corinthians 15:58 (KJV 1900)

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

* Because we know that we will be resurrected, then we can walk through this life with an attitude of confidence of victory! This knowledge will strengthen your faith, and cause us to be unmovable in the work of the Lord!

* Why does the knowledge of the resurrection of the believer have such powerful effect on us?

1). Because we now have a purpose in life- a reason for living!

* Humans have been created with an unconscious desire to have a purpose in life. Animals don’t have this desire for purpose.

* The Evolutionists teach that life is about the survival of the fittest. Evolution is the philosophy of survival without purpose.

* The teaching of humanism and evolution cannot quench the human thirst for purpose in life!

* This is the very thing that brought me to salvation- I needed to know why I was created- there had to be a reason. That was built into my soul.

* This is the very reason why there are so many religions in the world. They all claim to have the purpose of life and the reason for living.

* Not one of these religions have the resurrection of a risen savior! Not one of these religions can make the promise of a future resurrection of the body!

* This is why Paul said earlier that the result of preaching a gospel without the resurrection only makes men miserable!

1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV 1900)

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

2). Because we know our life is not wasted!

John 12:22–26 (KJV 1900)

23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

25 He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. 26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour.

3). Because we look forward to the reward!

John 14:1–3 (KJV 1900)

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Hebrews 11:13–16 (KJV 1900)

13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Revelation 22:12–14 (KJV 1900)

12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV 1900)

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Conclusion:

* We must not lose sight of the fact this morning that preaching a Gospel without the emphasis on the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the same as preaching no gospel at all!

* It is the resurrection that puts the “power” in the Gospel!

* Text this morning says:

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (KJV 1900)

Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved,

* There is no salvation without the preaching of the resurrection of Jesus!

* If we cease to preach about the bodily resurrection of Jesus, our preaching will be in vain!

if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: