Sun AM - 6 June
Notes
Transcript
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 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. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
The Hope for Worship
The Hope for Worship
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Paul reminds the church why we gather to worship
Why do we meet?
Why do we get up, put on our suits and dresses, travel to building, meet people, fellowship with others, sing psalms and hymns, listen to the Word of God, invite others to join us, and see God’s grace change and make us
The reason is simple, and yet inexhaustible - the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Paul said I declared it unto the Corinthians
Declare - reveal
Ye received!
Man about to get saved - Who wouldn’t want Jesus?!
We stand on the Gospel - it is our reason for footing in the Christian life - it’s why I do what I do - It’s why I am willing to shape my life to Jesus
If ye keep in memory - Don’t you remember that moment of salvation?!
If you say you believed, but it was vain (empty)
If you just said what pleases others to say you’re saved, then get that settled right now!
I gave to you what I first received!
What did Paul receive? The Gospel!
What is the Gospel?
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures”
Jesus did die!
Hundreds witnessed His death on the cross
The Roman spear that pierced His side gives medical evidence of His death
Theory that Jesus swooned - He simply passed out, was laid in the tomb, the cool tomb helped revive Him, He then removed the bandages, managed to roll the stone away at night, and hid Himself until the third day
Roman executioner knew when someone was dead:
But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
There’s the medical proof
And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
For these things were done, that the scripture should be fulfilled, A bone of him shall not be broken.
He keepeth all his bones: Not one of them is broken.
For this theory to be valid means that the Lord’s enemies - Sanhedrin (pharisees and sadducees) would leave Calvary without making quite sure He was dead
Nicodemus, Joseph of Arimathea, and the faithful women took Jesus down from the cross and prepared His body for burial knowing that His life still lingered as they wrapped Him in burial clothes.
Then He would also have to unwrap the bandages, and move the stone without notice of the Roman soldiers standing at guard
It is so much simpler to believe the Scriptures - Christ died!
Psalms 22, 69, and Isaiah 53 all foretell of the death by which Jesus, the Lamb of God, would die for our sins
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Buried
Powerful prophesy that about His burial
And he made his grave with the wicked, And with the rich in his death; Because he had done no violence, Neither was any deceit in his mouth.
Buried by 2 of the most influential and powerful members of the country, men of great wealth:
Nicodemus
Jospeh of Arimathea
Provided spices worthy of a king’s ransom
John 19:39
And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
Valuable tomb
Preserved
Ps 16:10
For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Acts 2:27
Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
One day, Napoleon was master of Europe, putting down kings, controlling the lives of millions. But look now! He is a caged lion, an exile on a remote island, St. Helena, under constant surveillance, a prisoner of the British navy. Something must have happened. Something did—Waterloo! One day Jesus was nailed to a Roman cross, beaten, scourged to the bone, crowned with thorns, spit upon, and mocked. But look now! Within a few short years He is acknowledged to be God by millions and there is a church dedicated to His worship in every major city of the Roman Empire. Something must have happened. Something did—Resurrection!
Come back to Waterloo. The battle was fought on a Sunday morning in the year 1815. Across the channel, England watched and waited for some word about the outcome of that fight. The fate of Europe hung in the balance. Then word came. The semaphore began to flash the tidings to the eager watchers on the British shore. It was, however, a foggy day. The message was only partially received. It read, “Wellington … defeated.…” The country went into mourning. But then the weather cleared and the full message came through: “Wellington … defeated … Napoleon!”
Now come back to Calvary. The Lord of Glory was nailed to Calvary’s tree. He was taken down dead and was buried. The rocks rent. The sun went out. The graves gaped wide. The message seemed all too clear: Jesus defeated! The tomb was closed upon Him. It was sealed and guarded. It was all over. Death had triumphed. The world spun on its way through space carrying the lifeless body of God incarnate. Three days later Jesus rose from the dead. The message came through loud and clear: Jesus defeated death!
I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
The Evidence for Worship
The Evidence for Worship
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
Peter had a private and personal time with the Lord
Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Jesus went to Peter and the other disciples on the shore Galilee
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
Disciples
And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb. And he took it, and did eat before them.
500 hundred people
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.
For the king knoweth of these things, before whom also I speak freely: for I am persuaded that none of these things are hidden from him; for this thing was not done in a corner.
James - half-brother
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
All of the apostles
After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
Paul
And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
The Faith for Worship
The Faith for Worship
For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Paul thought of himself as the lowest of all the apostles
The cries of the children haunted him as he had their parents killed in front of them
The looks of pain as men were brutally murdered
The words of forgiveness uttered as stones were thrown
Paul knew God’s grace helped him accomplish much for the cause of Christ, some estimating he travelled over 12,000 by foot and sea to take the Gospel to millions certainly.
While others debated in Jerusalem about doctrine, Paul went telling the Gospel
He knew his hands were stained with blood of innocent lives, and he was determined to zealously further the story of Jesus!
Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
We preached the Gospel, and ye believed
The Gospel gives us:
Hope
Evidence
Reason
Faith
