Easter Sunday: Of First Importance

Easter Sunday: Of First Importance

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

1 Corinthians 15:1–11 ESV

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. 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.

1. Introduction – No doubt…this is an important day. Easter Sunday…the day we celebrate Jesus’ victory over death.

a. A day to remind ourselves of the hope we have as Christians, the fact that we serve a risen Saviour.

i. We celebrate the fact that because of Jesus’ resurrection, we have hope one day of our own resurrection… we celebrate the fact that death has lost its sting.

1. However, the passage we just read this morning puts the events of resurrection Sunday in a different place for us. Paul doesn’t relegate the events of Easter Sunday to a once a year celebration.

ii. Paul doesn’t say, on the first Sunday after the first full moon of spring solstice, celebrate Jesus’ resurrection.

b. No…did you here what Paul called the message of Easter? Did you hear it? Paul says the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection is what???

i. Of once a year importance? No, Paul writes…”I delivered to you what is of…1st importance.

1. Maybe it was first in time, the first message that Paul spoke to the Corinthian Christians…

a. But it is most definitely first in priority. The most important message he ever spoke to them.

c. This morning as we gather on Easter Sunday to celebrate, I simply want to take time to remind you of what is of first importance.

i. That this time of year, and also at Christmas…its easy to get caught up in the hoopla of the season.

1. Bunnies and eggs hunts, family meals, maybe presents. But this morning, remember what is of first importance. More important the Easter egg hunts, more important than a new Easter bonnet, more important than trying to protect the integrity of the Easter bunny, or any family get together that may be happening this weekend…

a. Remember what is of first importance.

d. We have to realize that Easter Sunday isn’t a once a year reminder. As God’s people, as the church, we gather on Sundays, not Saturdays…because something monumentally important happened on the 1st day of the week.

i. And while it is important to set aside time specifically to remember and celebrate the resurrection…

1. It is also important to remember that we gather to celebrate the resurrection every Sunday, and we carry with us every day of our lives the hope and message of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

e. I want us to see, as Paul wrote to the Corinthian church, that we can never and should never move past the events of Easter weekend.

i. It’s not that we are saved by believing in Jesus’ death and resurrection and then we move on to bigger and better things.

1. Paul says the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection is the gospel he preached to them, which they received, on which Christians stand…by which we are being saved.

a. And Paul says if we neglect that message, if we try to ‘move past’ the message of Jesus’ death for our sins and resurrection from the grave, we do so at our own expense…

i. And we put ourselves in serious peril.

f. Paul says, this message, the gospel message in a nutshell, is so important it bears repeating.

i. He’s not writing any new information here; he is simply reminding Christians of what they already.

1. He is reminding them that what they believed in past and encourages them keep that message at the forefront on their minds.

a. This is our task this morning. I’m not going to blow any minds here with new information. But my goal is to remind you of what you already know, and remind you of the importance of the gospel message.

2. Context – However, before we look at the content of this priority message, I first want to establish the context of it.

a. This chapter is hopeful and beautiful.

i. In vv.1-11, Paul writes about the resurrection of Jesus.

1. There is a wonderful account of the Gospel – what is of first importance…Christ died for our sins…

a. Was buried and was raised on the third day. A succinct recounting of Easter Sunday and the post-resurrection appearances.

ii. In vv12-34, Paul writes about the resurrection of the dead.

1. Not only has Christ been raised from the dead, but those who follow Christ will also be raised from the dead.

a. Paul calls Jesus the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. So, Christ’s followers will experience a resurrection, just like Jesus did.

iii. in vv.35-49, Paul writes that we go be resurrected in order to spend eternity as disembodied spirits, floating around, we, just like Jesus, will be raised bodily…with a new body.

1. In vv.50-57, Paul gives a wonderful description of death’s ultimate defeat.

a. When the perishable puts on the imperishable…when the mortal puts on the immortal…

i. Death will be swallowed by in victory…death won’t have the final say…when all things are made new…the sting of death will be taken away.

iv. And v.57 is just epic – thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. And having written all of that – about Jesus’ resurrection, our bodily resurrection, death’s defeat and the victory we receive because of Jesus…

a. Paul writes this in conclusion – 1 Corinthians 15:58

1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

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.

b. Even though I want to look at this whole chapter, even though all 58 verses are readily applicable to our lives today,

i. I only want to focus on verses 1-11, because contained in vv.1-11 is a sermon. There is a beautifully crafted gospel message there.

ii. Vv 1-2 form the introduction, vv.3-8 the main body, and vv.9-11 Paul’s person experience.

1. Paul writes this sermon to the church in Corinth, it is one that he had already preached to them, but it is a message that bears repeating, because some in the Corinthian church had moved on from the resurrection of Jesus, thought other things we more important…

a. But Paul reminds them otherwise.

i. And this is an important reminder for us too. That no matter how important we view other aspects of the Christian life, or church ministry…

1. No matter how important other things in life are…nothing is more important the death and resurrection of Jesus on our behalf.

iii. We can never ‘move on’ from it. It is a central tenet of our faith. Every communion Sunday we stand and say the Apostles’ Creed together…and the middle section, the section about Jesus says this…

1.

3. Content – So the message of first important that Paul shares is probably the most succinct example of the gospel message.

a. Here, Paul recites 4 lines that most scholars believe is an ancient Christian Creed. It highlights the four main points of the good news about Jesus, each successively line proving the truth of the previous.

i. First, Paul writes, “Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

1. There are 3 parts to this sentence.

b. Christ died. This sentence will be reinforced later. But we just came through Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Good Friday…and what we see in all of those events, is not a series of unfortunate events…

i. But Jesus in control of it all. Jesus is even dictating the action that eventually leads to his crucifixion.

1. The cross wasn’t a surprise to Jesus. It wasn’t a surprise to God. The Romans didn’t take Jesus’ life from him…he gave it up.

a. Of first importance…Jesus died…why?

c. Paul further explains, that Christ died for our sins.

i. This sentence states the fact that human beings are sinners in need of a Saviour – that there is nothing in and of ourselves that can saved us…we need someone from outside of ourselves to come into our lives and save us.

1. Paul writes in his letter to the church in Rome that the wages…the just payment for sin is death…and writes also in Romans that ALL have sinned and fall short of God’s glory.

a. But the good news of the gospel is that Jesus Christ, God’s own Son, the perfect, sinless, spotless Lamb of God…

i. He died in our place. He paid the penalty for our sins on our behalf.

d. The big fancy theological word here is ‘atone.’ Jesus atoned for our sins. He paid the price to free us from sin.

i. No doubt, this includes actual and physical sins that we committed, but it also includes freedom from the guilt, shame and bondage cause by sin.

1. And Paul writes that all of this happened according the Scriptures. None of it was a surprise to God. In fact, it was all prophesied about hundreds of years before any of it actually happened.

4. Buried – Of First important…Christ died for our sins. The Second line Paul write is this…that Christ was buried.

a. Why is this of first importance? Because it proves the veracity of the first statement.

i. How do you know Jesus actually died? Because he was buried.

1. Jesus’ lifeless body was taken off the cross, hastily wrapped in burial clothes, and put in Joseph of Arimathea’s tomb.

a. Witnesses saw this happening. There was no life in Jesus’ body.

b. How do we know Jesus was dead? Because you don’t bury someone who is mostly dead.

i. If he was swooning or unconscious, he wouldn’t have been placed in a tomb to recover – a hospital or house would have been a much more suitable place.

c. Why is it important that Jesus was buried? Because if Jesus didn’t die, if life didn’t leave his body, then the penalty for sin hasn’t been paid and Christians are still dead in their sins.

i. But Christ died, a lifeless body was put in a tomb and the tomb was sealed.

1. This detail verifies the finality of Jesus’ death.

5. Raised – But the third line of this ancient creed brings us to the glorious good news of resurrection day.

a. Death didn’t have the final say with Jesus, because he was raised from the dead.

i. Notice the use of the passive voice. Jesus didn’t raise himself from the dead – but God the Father breathed new life into the Son.

1. And as Paul goes on to elaborate in the rest of 1 Corinthians 15, it is because of Jesus’ resurrection that we have hope.

a. If Christ hasn’t been raised from the death, Paul writes, Christians are to be pitied most of all.

b. But in accordance with the Scriptures, on the 3rd day, Jesus was raised from the dead.

i. After his death on Good Friday, the quietness and shock of Saturday…along comes Sunday…and we hear those famous words…

1. Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, he is risen, just like he said.

a. There is an inseparable connection between Jesus’ death and resurrection.

i. He was dead, we know this because he was buried, but he was raised to life again. But how to do know this to be true?

6. Appeared – Because of the last statement Paul makes…and then writes at length to prove it.

a. We know Jesus was raised from the dead because he appeared to people. A lot of people.

i. Lines 1 and 3 give us the facts, lines 2 and 4 give us to proof.

1. The word that Paul uses here is an important word. He said Jesus ‘appeared’ – he didn’t write that people had visions of Jesus.

a. The word ‘appeared’ carries with the sense of an objective reality.

i. What the witnesses saw was something real – the didn’t have a vision of Jesus…they saw Jesus.

1. The women in the Garden that first Easter morning grabbed Jesus’ feet. They could touch him.

a. Later, Jesus ate food with his disciples – Thomas put his hand in Jesus’ wounds.

b. Paul goes on to list names. A lot of names. Cephas – Peter’s Aramaic name. The 12 – Jesus’ disciples.

i. Then to 500 people at one time.

1. Is it possible for that many people to see the same thing at the same time? A mass hallucination?

a. No – and they didn’t all see the same vision at the same – they all saw Jesus – resurrected bodily from the dead.

i. Not a vision…they were encountered by the risen Lord.

c. OK – But Jesus only appeared to his followers who were already invested in him…so of course they were going to say he rose from the dead.

i. Well, notice the inclusion of Paul and James. Paul didn’t follow Jesus during Jesus’ earthly ministry.

1. In fact, Paul ferociously persecuted Christians – held coats while Stephen as stoned to death for his peaching…

a. But Saul of Tarsus, persecutor of the church, was encountered by the risen Jesus and saw him on the road to Damascus. Paul wasn’t a follower of Jesus at the time, but Jesus appeared to him.

i. James, Jesus’ brother, also didn’t believe Jesus was the Son of God, until after the resurrected Jesus appeared to him.

d. We are dealing with some pretty early eyewitness accounts here. This Creed of 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 was formed pretty early in the church’s history.

i. 1 Corinthians was written around 55AD, that’s about 20 years after the events of Easter weekend,

1. The creedal formula that Paul recites here is old, the eyewitness accounts he mentions that most of them are still alive at the time of writing.

a. We are dealing with an ancient testimony and a reliable witness about the bodily resurrection of Jesus.

e. This is the information that Paul says is of 1st importance. We deviate from these statements at our own peril.

i. These are the fundamental pillars of our faith…pillars that we must come back to time and again.

1. Pillars that must never think we can move away from.

a. Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

i. He was buried…he was raised according to the Scriptures and he appeared to many different people.

7. Passed On – I’m not sure I have shared any new information wit you. Hopefully I have reminded you of what you already know.

a. But my question as we close this morning is this…how did you first come to know about Jesus and believe in him?

i. I don’t know each of your personal stories, but my suspicion is this…someone told you.

1. Someone told you, because, as Christians we have always orally passed on our message.

b. Look at what Paul writes to the Corinthians, I passed on you, I delivered to you what I also received.

i. Think about the resurrection appearance…the women, encountered by Jesus.

1. Peter, saw Jesus, the 11 saw Jesus, the 500 saw Jesus, Paul saw Jesus, James saw Jesus…

a. And what did they do? Keep it to themselves? NO! they passed on what they received.

c. How did the Corinthians here about Jesus? The Colossians, Philippians, the Galatians? Shear luck? Osmosis? The early Christians hoping the next guy would do it?

i. No – Paul told them. He was encountered by Jesus…and he passed it along to them.

d. The same thing happened in your life. Someone had an encountered with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

i. And since their life was changed by Jesus coming into their life…they felt the need and desire to pass that along to you.

1. They delivered to you what was of first importance to them

a. Whether it was a stranger on the street, a parent, a grandparent, Sunday School teacher, a friend…someone passed on to you what they had also received.

e. And now as God people today, it is our turn to pass on to others what is of first importance to us.

i. Though we haven’t had a physical encounter with the risen Jesus, through the moving and work of the Holy Spirit in our lives – we have come to know him as our Saviour and Lord.

1. Through you haven’t seen Jesus with your eyes, you’ve seen him move and work in your life, you’ve felt his love and grace and mercy and forgiveness and the liberation he brings.

f. So, what are you going to do with that experience? Keep it a well-guarded secret?

i. No – it is your turn to pass along the message that you received. The message that his hopefully of first importance in your life.

1. Share the message that Jesus died for our sins, that he was buried to prove it, that he was raised to new life, and he appeared to people to prove it.

a. Those are the fundamentals of the Christian message – the basics of what we need to share with others so that they too can have an encounter with Jesus and have their sins forgiven.

g. That’s the message of first importance at Easter time – not bunnies and chocolate and lilies.

i. As fun as those things are…they are NOT first.

1. What is of first importance today…and everyday is that Christ died for our sins, he was buried, he was raised to new life and appeared.

8. Conclusion – You’ve heard this message, hopefully you believe this message, been saved by this message…

a. Hopefully you have built your life on this message…

i. And now its time to share that message as we leave this place and head out to our mission fields…to pass on what you have received…a message that is of first importance.