The Greatest Historical Moment in History! Part 3
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Introduction
Introduction
Last week and this week our focus has been on Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. It is the Easter story. It is the greatest historical moment in all history.
If you had the opportunity to join us this morning for our sunrise service, our text was 1 Corinthians 15. For this message, I want to take you back to that passage.
In the sunrise service, we focused on the truth of Christ’s Resurrection. It is not fiction, it was an actual event. In the early part of this chapter, the Holy Spirit gives us undeniable proof.
The Corinthian believers receiving the gospel was undeniable. Hence, it was proof of Christ’s resurrection. Additionally, Paul himself along with many others visibly saw the resurrection Lord adding further proof. And, then, there are all those who have heard the gospel message since Christ’s resurrection and the change it produced in their lives.
We left off with 1 Corinthians 15:11
11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
The essence of that verse is that many have believed the gospel message. What is the gospel message? It is the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse one, Paul writes of declaring the “gospel which I preached unto you.” What was that gospel?
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:
As I said early this morning, you cannot separate Christ resurrection from His death. Though separate events over a course of three days, they are the same event. The gospel in its entirety is undeniable. Anyone who denies Christ’s resurrection denies the truth of the gospel.
In this service, I want to answer this question.
What makes Christ’s resurrection so important to accept and believe?
I believe we find the answer in next few verses of 1 Corinthians 15. Read along with me in your Bibles as I read 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
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? 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. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
As I mentioned earlier this morning, there were many problems in the local church of Corinth. Notably, according to our text, questions arose to the validity of Christ’s resurrection. It is the reason why the Holy Spirit spends an entire chapter on the subject. It is a rather long chapter I might add. Christ’s resurrection is not only an undeniable fact of history, but is an essential fact for our faith. It would seem by our text that some were trying to undermine this essential truth. Note again verse 12.
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?
Already, in the verse leading up to these, the Holy Spirit gave unfailing proof that God indeed raised His Son from the dead. Unfortunately, it would seem that some “believers” were now questioning its validity. It is one thing for the infidel to deny Christ’s resurrection. It is on a whole different level for a so called “believer” to do so. Indeed, there are still those who claim to be believers who continue to question His resurrection even today.
Listen to this quote from Dr. Bart Ehrman, Professor of Religious Studies as the University of North Carolina.
“I was a committed Christian for 25 years and believed whole heartedly in the physical resurrection of Jesus. For years I argued that it could be proved. But after extensive study, I came to the conclusion that it was not a historical event.”
In my research this week, I discovered a whole internet discussion board concerning the validity of Christ’s resurrection. There were well over 500 responses from people all across the world who suggested that Christ’s resurrection never happened. There are several YouTube channels dedicated to debunking the very existence of Christ. Additionally, there are a number of books written and available to the public designed with the same intent.
Without a doubt, there is an assault today just as when 1 Corinthians was written seeking to disprove the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
What then are implications IF Christ did rise from the dead?
The Holy Spirit gives us two implications and two applications in answer to this question.
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
Remember you cannot separate the two.
The first implication is noted here.
If no death, then there is no Resurrected Savior.
If no death, then there is no Resurrected Savior.
Think for a moment about the statement, “then is Christ not risen.” A dead Lord Jesus Christ makes this world a dark and dreadful place in an instant!
No risen Christ means the Sanhedrin won. It means that Christ is still in a cold tomb. No resurrection means death, the grave, and hell have triumphed. Our faith and our belief in Him becomes a fraud and a farce. In fact, the Holy Spirit notes that in next verse.
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
No risen Christ means all our efforts, our finances, and our energy to preach the gospel is meaningless. Furthermore, it means there is no hope for a sin-cursed and dying world.
A little boy was looking at a picture in an art store window. It was a painting of the Resurrection. A man stopped to look as well. The boy said to the stranger, “That’s Jesus.” The man made no reply. The boy continued, “Them’s Roman soldiers,” and, after a moment, continued, “They killed Him.” The man asked, “Who told you that?” The boy proudly said, “I learned it in Sunday school.” The man abruptly turned and walked away. The boy immediately called after him, “Say, Mister!” and then ran to catch up with the man. The boy said, “Say, Mister! I wanted to tell you, He didn’t stay dead. He came back to life!”
Praise God, He did!
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
If He is not risen, it means that the Son of the Living God, the Creator of the Universe, could die by the simple means of hammer and some nails. It means He could be imprisoned forever in a grave sealed in by a stone. That is what Devil wants you to believe. Yet, remember that Satan is the father of lies and this is one lie who so desperately wants people to believe.
Here is the next implication.
If there is no Resurrection, we have nothing to preach and nothing to believe.
If there is no Resurrection, we have nothing to preach and nothing to believe.
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.
Consider this! If Christ did not rise from the dead, all of Scripture itself is false. I will use the book of Acts as an example. Before Christ’s ascension into heaven, He gave His disciples one last command.
8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
From that time on, these men became witnesses for Him. The entire book of Acts is the story of their witness from Jerusalem into the uttermost part of the earth.
Thus, if Christ not risen from the dead we would find Paul and the other New Testament writers as “false witnesses of God.” Each time the word “witness” is used in Acts it is related to being a witness of the Resurrection.
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: 47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
21 Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.
32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
38 How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: 40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30 But God raised him from the dead: 31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people.
I could go on with many other verses but I think you get the point. The entire book of Acts can be summed up with one verse.
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Thus, if Christ is not risen from the dead, Scripture itself along with its many witnesses would be false. For that reason, any that deny His resurrection are false witnesses and infidels.
Here is another implication noted in our text.
If Christ is not risen, we remain in our sin.
If Christ is not risen, we remain in our sin.
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.
Suppose for a moment that it all ended with the tomb. If so, everything comes to a screeching halt. In that tomb would lie the corpse of a dead man. Christianity would have nothing more to offer than Buddhism, Hinduism, or even Islam. From Abel’s sacrifice in Genesis 4 and on, blood flowed into a deepening crimson tide. The nation of Israel’s countless sacrifices were meaningless. All the burnt offerings, peace offerings, sin offerings, and trespass offerings were useless. You see all these sacrifices pointed to Calvary. They pointed to that moment when that richer blood would flow from nobler veins as God provided Himself a Lamb. Everything point to the cross. It all pointed to that moment when Christ said, “It is finished.” He then bowed His head and died.
Later, the darkness and silence of the tomb was complete. A body lay there. A body which was once wrapped in swaddling clothes now lay wrapped in grave clothes. “If Christ be not raised,” all ended there. It all becomes one vast hoax, a giant game of bluff, ending with a corpse in a tomb. Everything becomes meaningless. All the sacrifices of the Old Testament and all the hope of the New Testament are in vain.
However, praise God, death was not the end.
Christ the Lord is ris’n today!
Hallelujah!
Sons of men and angels say,
Hallelujah!
Why?
I know that my Redeemer liveth
And on the earth again shall stand;
I know eternal life He giveth,
That grace and pow’r are in His hand.
I know, I know that Jesus liveth.
All the great doctrines of the New Testament faith ring with the message of Christ’s resurrection. It is the foundation of forgiveness, justification, redemption, regeneration, remission of sin, sonship, heirship, and an eternity forever with Him!
But wait, there is more!
If Christ is not risen, then there is no hope of Heaven.
If Christ is not risen, then there is no hope of Heaven.
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.
Note the phrase “they also which are FALLEN ASLEEP in Christ are perished.” One of the great hopes of Scripture is that our loved ones who are believers are with Christ. As pastors, we so often stand by coffin of such loved ones reading verse such as:
1 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.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Contained in those verses are the messages of hope. It is an assured hope that we will see our loved ones again in Glory. However, if Christ be not raised, such assurances become sugar coated lies. It means that all those who have gone before us are perished. What a very troubling thought!
Conclusion
Conclusion
In the end, the Holy Spirit sums it up perfectly.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Thus, if it all ends at the tomb and Christ is not risen, what then? We are most miserable of all men. To follow Christ is not an easy task. Following Christ can mean persecution, suffering, hardship, and, in some cases, martyrdom. Over the centuries, many believers have gladly paid the price of disicipleship with the certanity of Christ’s resurrection and the glory to follow. However, if Christ be not risen, then they paid a miserable price.
However, Christ’s resurrection is not a lie. It is a undeniable historical event. An event filled with hope for all mankind. History is His (God’s) Story. Everything in the Old and New Testament centers around the moment that stone was rolled away and God’s Son walked out in victory. For that reason, our sins are forgiven. Our believing loved ones are waiting for us in Glory.
I said this earlier and remains the same eve now. I not the heart of each person here today. What I know is this? God’s Word is the only truth in the world today. Contained in its truth is the reality that each us are born sinners.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
All of us come short of God’s righteousness. In fact, our righteousness is as “filthy rags.” There is not one person sitting here this morning that was born sinless. We all were born with a sinful nature. How do I know? God’s Word said so and man’s actions back it up. It is an easy thing to prove. There is not one parent sitting here this morning that taught their child to sin. They are born with an instinct to lie, cheat, and steal. Where does it come from? It is inherent in each person born into this world. Thus, God’s Word is true. Our sin then is a problem in our relationship with God. God is holy and cannot look upon sin. In fact, His nature demands that He judge sin. Eternal damnation is God’s judgment. Everyone born into the world is born already under God’s judgment.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
You don’t have do anything to get to Hell. You can just ignore God and His Word. In doing so, you will end up in Hell. You are already under His “condemnation.” Here is the great news! In fact, it is the gospel. God provided every person a way to escape His condemnation and be reunited in fellowship wit Him. The provision comes through all that His Son did at Calvary. It is the reason why celebrate Easter. Christ’s death is forgiveness of sins. In other words, Christ redeemed you and me by shedding His blood upon the cross. Then, He resurrected Himself from the tomb demonstrating His power of sin, death, and the grave. Thus, all who acknowledge their sinful and wretched condition before Him and accept completely by faith all that He has done in forgiving them can be saved from His condemnation. God loves you. He personally gave Himself for you so that you might be restored in fellowship back to Him. Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection is your path back to God. This morning, you have heard God’s Word and His glorious gospel message. Please don’t spurn it! Instead, open your heart’s door to the Holy Spirit’s wooing. Put your complete faith in all that God has already done for you. Embrace His mercy and grace this morning! It was His plan. He brought it down to man. Now, all you need to do is humble yourself, admit your sinful condition by repenting, and then believe with all your heart as you confess with your mouth.
Believers, rejoice for Christ our Lord is risen today! We are forgiven. We are justified. We are adopted into His family. All because of the fact that He lives!