What's the Point? - 1 Corinthians 15
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If you have your Bibles please open them up to 1 Cor 15.
We are coming close to the end of our series through 1 Cor that we have been calling ‘Messy Church’....
1 Cor is a letter written by Paul to what is arguably the most dysfunctional church that we read about in the entire NT.
Divided over their favorite teachers
They were engaged in gross sexual immorality
They were participating in pagan worship and sacrifices
And their worship gatherings were chaotic mess
This church was a mess in every way one could have possibly imagined. But none the less, they belonged to Jesus. At the very beginning of his letter Paul addressed the Corinthians like this,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
If it were left to me, I wouldn’t have considered the Corinthians to be Christians. But this is the case for each of us… if it were left to us, none of us would be saved. But because of God’s grace, we have been made into saints all because of Jesus finished work on the cross and his Spirit who is making us new.
But just because God is gracious towards sinners doesn’t mean we have permission to sin. If anything, Paul has been correcting the Corinthian’s sinful patters throughout this letter. Paul has repeatedly told them to turn from their sins so they might bring their life into conformity with the Gospel.
And today’s text chapter is no different from all the rest. Today we will look at the final problem that was creating a mess in the Corinthian church. The problem that the church faced was false teaching that went against the gospel. Before we hear about that mess, let’s read the solution to this problem.
Stand for the reading of God’s Word.
50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell 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 trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Let’s pray.
There are some things that people pursue that I just don’t understand.
For example, why do some people like to clime the tallest mountains?
It’s cold
It’s uncomfortable
It’s dangerous
While the views from the summits of these mountains are incredible, I just can’t imagine them being worth the work.
Consider a few more things do people pursue that you just can’t understand?
I asked this question to some of the staff earlier today, and one of them said public speaking…
How many of you hate public speaking?
It takes a lot of work
Again it’s uncomfortable
And it can be dangerous, especially if people don’t like what you have to say, or if they just don’t like the way you say it. So why do people pursue public speaking?
I wonder how many of us have ever questioned the point of learning complex math equations.
Have you ever asked a teacher this question?
Why would anyone want to be a Christian? What’s the point of it?
The Christian life can be difficult to say the least.
Jesus taught us that we would be hated for his name sake. At its worst, people are killed for being a Christian. But even at it’s best, being a Christian is a lot of work. It requires denying our sinful flesh… it requires walking in humility and repentance… it requires spending a significant portion of our life in the Word and in prayer… and when it comes to obeying God’s Word, say like loving one another let alone loving our enemies, I think we can all agree Christian life can be difficult.
To most people, the Christian life looks meaningless.
Jesus talked about the Christina life like this;
14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Jesus himself told us that the Christian life is difficult when compared to the life of those who do not believe. So why then would anyone want to be a Christian? Why would anyone enter the narrow gate that is hard?
The reason we enter by the narrow gate… the reason we put our faith in Jesus no matter what the cost… is because we know that doing so will lead to eternal life.
A right knowledge of our resurrection from the dead makes the difficulties of the Christian life here and now worth it.
or to put it another way;
1. Our death is our gain because of our future resurrection.
1. Our death is our gain because of our future resurrection.
We can suffer in this life, and even face the most grueling difficulties with confidence because we know that after we die, we will live forever with Christ.
But this was the problem that the Corinthians faced… not everyone actually believed that Christians would be raised from the dead…
listen to how Paul addressed the issue.
He starts this chapter by comparing two messages that were being declared
First he reminded them of the message the Gospel that he and the other apostles preached…
Listen to the message of the gospel;
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
So Paul said, the Corinthians have recieved the Gospel message that Paul preached…
they believe that Jesus died for their sins
they believed that he was buried and raised from the dead on the third day…
The Corinthians are convinced of this being true! And they have heard it from Paul, but not only him, they would have heard it from Cephas… that is the apostle Peter
Paul reminded them that Jesus appeared to Cephas… not only him…but to the rest of Jesus’ disciples
But Jesus didn’t even stop there…
6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy 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. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Jesus revealed himself to more than 500 brothers at one time…
there is no way anyone could dismiss the evidence of 500 witnesses as being a conspiracy of some sort… This really happened, and over 500 people saw the risen Jesus. Paul says that most of them are still alive! While this isn’t true for us today, Paul said this to the Corinthians so that they might go talk to them to hear their testimony of seeing the risen Jesus for themselves...
Paul himself who penned this letter, says that he was one who was able to see Jesus…
Regardless of who preached the gospel… whether it was Cephas, Apollos, Or Paul… Paul said, whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed…
The Corinthians believed in the gospel that Paul and the others taught…
But there was another message that the Corinthians had heard that they also began to believe.
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
So Paul outlined the first message, that is the gospel message about Jesus death for sins, his burial and resurrection… and then he went a step further and reminded them that there were well over 500 witnesses who saw the risen Jesus.
But here in v 12, there is another message that is spreading… some are saying that there is no resurrection…
They aren’t denying the resurrection of Jesus, rather they are denying the resurrection of the saints.
Paul compares these two accounts side by side
You’ve got the resurrection of Jesus that the OT Scriptures said would happen
And then you have over 500 witnesses who saw the risen Jesus who were testifying about what they saw
And then there were some - an apparent small number compared to earlier 500 witnesses - who were saying that there was no resurrection.
Let me ask that question that I asked earlier again…
Why would anyone want to be a Christian? This question is a valid question if we don’t believe that there is life for us after death.
If there is no resurrection from the dead, then there is no reason for any of us to pursue the Christin life. If after we die, it’s game over, then why would any of us take the narrow gate that is hard? Paul himself seems to think the Christian life is meaningless if there was no resurrection.
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
If there is no resurrection from the dead for those who believe in the gospel… then what is the point of the Christian life?
2. If there was no resurrection from the dead, then the Christian life would be meaningless.
2. If there was no resurrection from the dead, then the Christian life would be meaningless.
If there was no resurrection, then the Christian life would be as meaningless as a blind person trying to climb Mt. Everest…
Think about it… if you were blind, you would go through all this work to get to the top of the mountain and you would even risk your own life only to get there and not be able to take in the amazing view…
If there was no resurrection from the dead, then the Christian life would be as meaningless as teaching a mute person trying to learn the skills of public speaking…
They could learn about tone of voice, they can learn about the pace of speaking, they can learn about the structures of sentences, and they can learn the skills to capture an audience’s attention… but if they cannot speak what is the point of learning the skills behind public speaking?
So too, in an even greater sense, if there is no resurrection from the grave, then the Christian life is absolutely meaningless, and we are of all people most to be pitied.
Paul continues this idea in v 30
30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
Paul daily put his life on the line to get the gospel to the ends of the earth. But Paul said, he will gain nothing if the dead are not raised… in other words, what’s the point of all Pauls efforts to make Christ known if he and the other Christians aren’t even raised from the dead...
So too, if there is no resurrection from the dead what we are doing here and now is quite pointless… you may as well stay home and watch a movie, or play video games… I may as well get a different job requires less time and effort…
if there is no resurrection from the dead, we may as well eat and drink and do all that we can to enjoy this life.
If all you have to look forward to is what there is in this life… then you should live it up here and now.
Because if there is no resurrection, the the gospel fails to be good news for those who die.
The good news is this, Jesus is in fact alive.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
But in fact… Christ has been raised from the dead.
Remember there were over 500 witnesses to Jesus resurrection… and a few people start saying that there is no resurrection from the grave? Which of these stories would you believe is true? I’d go with the solid facts more than the so called wisdom of those who are confounded by God.
Though our resurrection is beyond what we could have ever imagined, we can be confident that it will happen, because God has given us many proofs of its reality.
We have the Scriptures that testify to the resurrection
We have the many eye witnesses accounts of Jesus’ resurrection
And the primary proof of our future resurrection is Jesus’ own resurrection…
3. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we can be sure that we will have a resurrection like his.
3. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we can be sure that we will have a resurrection like his.
Paul said, that Jesus is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. That is to say, just as Jesus rose from the grave on the third day, so will our bodies be risen from the grave.
And since there is life after death, our death can be likened to sleep, because death for the Christian is as permanent as a nap
Jesus resurrection is the first evidence that we too will be brought back to life after we die.
21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
We all have something in common with one another. This is something all people share… we will all die. Ever since sin entered into the world, every person has died with very few exceptions… But just as every person dies like Adam, so too, every Christian will be made alive like Christ. Paul tells us that our resurrection will happen at the end of time. The resurrection from the grave is a future event that every Christian puts their faith and hope in. Every enemy will be destroyed, and the last enemy to be destroyed will be death itself.
The reason we can be confident in this, is because everything is subject to God’s rule…
27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Sure there are many who say that we should pursue our best life here and now… but do not listen to them! Instead, take Jesus’ words to heart and
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
So for those who are teaching that there is no resurrection, do not listen to them! Paul told us not to!
33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
Too many people say things with absolute confidence when in fact they shouldn’t say anything because they do not have a knowledge of God. For those who deny the resurrection… even those who wish to live for the pursuit of fleeting pleasures in this life alone… they have no knowledge of God and they don’t know what they are even saying… so do not listen to them.
We need to know that there is a future resurrection though, so that we can continue to fight against our sin… because we need to die before we can live. We need to die to self, and even our outer self… these bodies must die before we have eternal life.
Listen again to how Paul put it;
36 You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.
just as a seed must be put into the ground so it will grow, so too must we die and be put into the ground so that we can be resurrected from the grave to have new life!
42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
So what’s the point of the Christian life then? What’s the point of reading our Bibles and praying… what’s the point of repenting from sin and pursuing righteousness… what’s the point of preaching the gospel to those who do not know Jesus only for us to be rejected and hated for it? Well i’ll tell you the point… the Christian life here and now, as ordinary, as difficult, and as messy as it is… is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory.
This is how Paul said it here,
This life must be lived first in order for the resurrection to happen… so how should we live this life in light of our future resurrection?
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Live your life working hard for the Lord…
Paul says, be steadfast, and immovable…
don’t let the lusts of this world sway you from the Christian life. don’t let the opinions or ideas of men get you off the narrow path… Instead… Paul says, be steadfast, immovable always be abounding in the work of the Lord
This means, occupy yourself, and fill your days with every activity that will prepare you for heaven… and don’t lose heart, because in light of the resurrection, all of our work for the Lord is not in meaningless.
So what’s the point of the Christian life?
What’s the point of suffering?
What’s the point of confessing your sin
what’s the point of pursuing righteousness
What’s the point in picking up your cross to follow Jesus?
The point is this…
If you follow Jesus in a death like his, you can be sure that you will also follow him in a resurrection like his.
Therefore, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.