Resurrection and Life

Easter People

1 Corinthians 15:12–20 NRSV

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of 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, then Christ has not been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. 19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

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Who’s been watching the winter Olympics?

I like the winter Olympics a bit more than the summer Olympics because there is that extra level of fear, danger, the added element of injury and even death.

Last week we talked about the Good News that is the Gospel and where we fit into that story. A story that doesn’t end with us but is lived out through us, and we are tasked with continuing the Gospel story and passing it on.

This week we begin to make the turn for home as we begin to explore death and the resurrection not only of Jesus but of all those that have come before and all those that will pass on, including ourselves.

1 Corinthians 15:12 NRSV

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?

—> We aren’t exactly sure where this question is coming from. It is probably birthed from a place of confusion between this new teaching of Christianity mixing with old world religion and mythology. That would resemble something closer to a resuscitation of a corpse and the transformational resurrection that we have come to understand.

1 Corinthians 15:13–14 NRSV

13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain.

—> Bare in mind that Paul is talking to Christians, people that have heard the message, the FULL message, of the Gospel and believed.

—> If no resurrection of any dead, then Christ can’t be raised.

—> If Christ can’t be raised from the dead then “our proclamation” what we have told you, the Gospel, has been a lie and your faith is worthless.

1 Corinthians 15:15–16 NRSV

15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of 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, then Christ has not been raised.

1 Corinthians 15:17–18 NRSV

17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have died in Christ have perished.

—> If Christ is not raised your faith is worthless. You aren’t changed and can’t be changed. You are still dead to your sins, and what’s worse there is no hope for those that have already died.

1 Corinthians 15:19 NRSV

19 If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

—> If this was all just a story to feel good, with no real hope for a future. We have all been tricked and we are worse off than any of the rest.

1 Corinthians 15:20 NRSV

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

—> But we need not worry friends Christ has been resurrected, and not just Christ he was the first but all will be resurrected with him.

—> The resurrection is our hope.

—The resurrection is our assurance that God is who God says he is, that Christ is the Son of God and that we can trust the Gospel.

—> The resurrection is the proof that good has conquered evil and that the light has overcome the darkness.

—> Without the resurrection of Christ we are hopeless…but as Paul says, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead...”

—> In a little over 2 weeks we will begin the season of Lent, the 40 day (not counting Sundays) lead up to Easter. As much as I love Christmas, I love Easter all the more, because without Easter Christmas doesn’t matter.

—> Without the empty tomb on Sunday that baby in a manger is just a baby in a manger. No Son of God, No Messiah, No hope.

—> But there is an empty tomb and we have a risen Savior that has conquered death, darkness, and the grave.

—> We have hope for today, tomorrow, and all eternity because of the resurrection of Jesus.

—> No matter what you are facing today or this week, I pray that you know you have hope. You have a God that has made a place for you with his Son.