Living On Purpose (part 1) - 15:1-11

Think about this: When you have a sense of purpose, you tend to have: Increased optimism, resiliency and hope. Experiencing joy, happiness and satisfaction more often. It even leads to better physical health. - https://www.scottsdalecc.edu/news/2019/why-having-sense-purpose-important (italics = added words)

Why Is It Important To Have A Purpose In Life?

Having a purpose in life is one of the fundamental factors of happiness. Without it, you’ll live your life less focused, less efficient and you’ll often feel restless and stressed because you won’t feel aligned with the things you do. - https://www.trackinghappiness.com/important-to-have-purpose-in-life/

5 Reasons You Should Have a Life Purpose

… there are multiple interpretations of what a “life purpose” is. For the spiritual folks, they may see it as a higher calling. For the religious, they may see it as an instruction from God. Beyond religious connotations, a life purpose is simply your life’s message. It is the message you wish to drive in the world during your time on Earth. An example of a life purpose is “To inspire everyone to greatness” or “To touch every human on Earth” or “To relieve every living being of suffering.” Having a life purpose applies to all of us, whether we are religious or atheists. - https://personalexcellence.co/blog/why-have-a-life-purpose/

Why Do You Need a Purpose in Life?

Having a purpose in life is vitally important! Studies have shown that having a purpose leads to a longer healthier, wealthier life. According to a 2010 study published in Applied Psychology, people who have a purpose live longer. - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-main-ingredient/202002/why-do-you-need-purpose-in-life

(all accessed 4/28/22)

Purpose is important.

That is something all of these articles agree on.

Unsurprisingly, what these articles do not agree on is how to find your purpose.

One says to follow your joy. Whatever fills you with joy, that is your purpose.

Another says to write down everything you can think of that answers the question “What is my life purpose?” and then whatever answer makes you cry, that one is your purpose.

Still another article tells you to do things, to take action and when you find the thing that make you the most happy, that is your purpose.

Finally, there was an article that said purpose is not something we find and are done, it is a journey.

What I personally found fascinating was how many articles connected purpose and happiness.

Boiled down, the basic idea was that happiness was the chief goal, the chief desire, and that purpose is important because it leads to greater happiness.

Scripture does speak to us about happiness.

It reveals that we are happy when we trust the Lord, when we do what is right, when we have children, when we seek and find wisdom, and when we are corrected by God.

What Scripture also reveals is that happiness is neither our greatest good nor our highest goal.

Instead, we find that the glory of God is our highest goal and when we do all to the glory of God, joy is the result.

There is nothing wrong with happiness. It is, after all, a Biblical concept.

However, happiness, at its core, is based on the circumstances of life.

Meaning, that if our circumstances are bad, we are not happy.

Joy, on the other hand, is not dependent on circumstances.

Joy depends on the nature and character of our God.

Joy is an outflow of our faith.

What does this have to do with purpose?

For the believer, purpose is not about finding happiness.

Purpose is about submitting ourselves to Christ and embracing the joy He offers.

Our purpose as believers is tied to the resurrection of Christ.

Apart from His resurrection, we have no purpose.

Paul has just detailed for us how we are to use our Spiritual gifts.

When we gather as a local church, all things are to be done decently and in order.

When that is done, it enable us to live the Christian life intentionally.

Why?

Why are we gifted?

Why are we to gather and use our gifts?

We have a purpose!

Our purpose is not discovered or found.

Our purpose is given to us.

Principle:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us purpose.

Guidance:

To live a life of purpose three needs must be met.

Outcome:

When we live with purpose we draw people to Jesus.

To live a life of purpose three needs must be met.

#1…

1. You Need A Transformation vv. 1-8

When it comes to electricity, you may have heard people talk about transformers.

A transformer lowers the voltage of power traveling through the lines so that it can be used in our houses and stores.

Without a transformer, the power would still be there, but we would be unable to use it, unable to access it.

In the Spiritual life, power is there. It is available to all who believe.

Belief, faith in Jesus Christ, is the transformer that gives us access to the power that we need.

If there is no transformation, there is no access to the power of God.

Each and every one of us must have a transformation.

As Paul discusses the power of the resurrection, he teaches us two lessons about transformation.

Lesson #1…

a. Transformation is conditional vv. 1-4

1 Corinthians 15:1–2 NKJV

1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

The condition is spelled out loud and clear.

Transformation requires that we receive, that we believe, the gospel.

What is the gospel?

We will get to that.

First, lets break these verses down.

Having just delivered some difficult truths and corrections, Paul reminds these believers that they are his brothers and sisters in Christ.

They are family.

Paul is about to declare to them the gospel he had preached to them.

The idea is that Paul wants them to know definitively what the gospel is.

He wants there to be no question at all.

This is the gospel.

We need this same level of clarity today!

Why?

Because people are out there saying that helping the poor is the gospel or gaining wealth, or health, or any number of things.

The gospel is one thing and one thing only!

Romans 1:16 says that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation.

Paul has preached this gospel to them.

More than that, they have received it.

More than that, they stand in it.

The gospel is what enables us to stand.

The gospel is what saves us.

We are rescued by the gospel.

It delivers us. Delivers us from what?

We have been delivered from the penalty of sin, we are being delivered from the power of sin, and when Christ returns, we will be delivered from the presence of sin.

In the end of verse 2, Paul is not presenting the possibility of someone losing their salvation, his point is that if you do not hold fast to the gospel, it is possible you were never saved at all.

It is impossible to lose your salvation.

Be absolutely assured of this reality, you are secure in Christ forever.

However, if you are not walking with the Lord, you will not be confident in Him.

If you reject the gospel, you were never saved to begin with.

I’m not talking about someone who backslides. Nor am I talking about someone living in sin.

I am talking about someone who has rejected the gospel message.

Someone who declares that salvation is not by grace through faith in Christ alone.

A rejection of the gospel indications a vain faith.

The idea here is of a faith with no purpose or consideration.

It is something that is empty.

The gospel has been preached to the Corinthians, they have received it, they stand in it, and they are saved by it.

Now we need to know, what is it?

Look at vv. 3-4.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4 NKJV

3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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,

What the Corinthians received from Paul, He recieved from others.

This is how the gospel is to spread.

We are to share it from person to person.

There is only one gospel message.

Here is the gospel.

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.

He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

That’t it. It’s that simple.

Let’s deal with this phrase “according to the Scriptures.”

At this point, all that is called Scripture is the Old Testament.

What Paul is saying is that The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus was foretold in the OT!

Why is that important?

Because none of this happened in a vacuum.

God told us what He was going to do, then He did it!

This is why Revelation 13:8 refers to Christ as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world!

In Acts 2:23-24 Peter puts it this way.

Acts 2:23-24

Acts 2:23–24 NKJV

23 Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; 24 whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

All of this was according to the purpose and foreknowledge of God!

Everything that happened to Jesus was “according to the Scriptures.”

This is what we must believe.

This is what brings salvation.

Christ died for our sins, He was buried, He rose again.

This is not just something we give mental assent to.

This is something we must believe.

It must be internalized.

Christ died, was buried, and rose again for my sin.

This is personal.

This is conditional.

We will not be transformed until we have placed our faith in Christs sacrifice for sin!

Though John 3:16 is the verse most people know, verses 17-18 are just as vital.

John 3:17-18

John 3:17–18 NKJV

17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

It is belief that determines whether or not we will be condemned.

We cannot be transformed until we place our faith in Jesus Christ!

Salvation is what we need!

We need to be transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ and faith in Him.

Until this happens, we have no purpose.

There are two passages that demonstrate our helplessness apart from Christ.

Ephesians 2:12; Titus 3:3

Ephesians 2:12 NKJV

12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Titus 3:3 NKJV

3 For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another.

That’s not a pretty picture, is it.

I am so eternally thankful for the verses that come next.

Ephesians 2:13; Titus 3:4-7

Ephesians 2:13 NKJV

13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Titus 3:4–7 NKJV

4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

This is how we are transformed.

This is the power of the gospel!

The gospel takes helpless, hopeless, foolish, disobedient, people who are enslaved to sin and hatred and makes them new!

In Christ we are brought near!

By His kindness and love, by His grace and mercy we are are washed, regenerated, and renewed!

We are declared righteous and given eternal life all because of Jesus!

If we want lives of purpose, we want Jesus.

Only Jesus offers true purpose, true freedom, true life.

The only source of transformation that exists is faith in Jesus Christ.

Repeat - read aloud

Trust Him.

Don’t wait.

Do it now.

Two lessons about transformation.

Lesson #1: Transformation is conditional.

Lesson #2…

b. Transformation is unlimited vv. 5-8

1 Corinthians 15:5–8 NKJV

5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

How do we know that the resurrection really happened?

Because we have numerous eyewitness accounts.

Paul lists for us here 3 individuals and 3 groups.

We are probably talking about close to 700 people.

The significance of those named is important.

Peter - the denier of Christ.

Peter ran away, then denied Christ, then returned to his fishing business!

This isn’t a guy who stole the body of Jesus.

This isn’t a guy you would choose to be the face of a movement.

The same is true of the 12.

Here’s how Mark puts it in his gospel.

Mark 14:50

Mark 14:50 NKJV

50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.

Jesus appeared to these people even after they ran from him in the garden.

Over 500 people saw Jesus at the same time.

When Paul wrote 1 Corinthians it would be roughly 20 years after Jesus rose.

Most of the people who had seen Jesus alive after His resurrection were still living.

Some had died.

James - the half brother of Jesus.

In Mark 3:21 we learn that Jesus’ own family didn’t believe in Him.

In fact, they thought He was crazy.

James was not a believer.

Yet all that changed after he met the risen Lord.

All the apostles. Those who had followed Jesus during His ministry.

Paul - the persecutor of the church.

Paul was the exact opposite of a believer.

He put people in prison and voted for their death.

He was the leader of, and gave his approval to, the martyrdom of Stephen.

These are the witnesses.

These are not the kind of people you would choose.

These were not dedicated followers!

Some of these were enemies!

Christ appeared to them and transformed their lives.

What does this teach us?

No one is excluded.

Not a denier like Peter

Not fearful forsakers like the apostles

Not the fickle crowd of 500

Not faithless family members like James

Not fair-weather followers like the apostles

Not even a persecutor like Paul

No one is excluded!

All who come to Christ in faith are saved!

All who come to Christ are transformed!

All who come to Christ are His forever.

Transformation is unlimited.

The only person who cannot be transformed is the person who dies in unbelief.

Repeat - read aloud

Tell others about Jesus.

There is more than enough evidence to convince even the hardest of hearts.

Jesus died for our sins.

He was buried.

He rose again the third day.

We know He rose because deniers, persecutors, and those who fled in fear all affirm His resurrection.

Jesus is alive.

What will we do about it?

If we want to live with purpose, we must first be transformed.

This transformation is conditioned on faith in Jesus Christ.

This transformation is not limited to only those we think He can save.

To live a life of purpose three needs must be met.

#1: You need a transformation.

#2…

2. You Need To Grow vv. 8-11

Growth is a normal process of life.

When we plant a seed, the expectation is that it will grow.

When a child is born, the normal process is growth and progress on to maturity.

When it comes to any type of growth, there are two realities that must be embraced.

That is what we are going to talk about as we get into our need for growth as we live with purpose.

Two realities about growth.

Reality #1…

a. Growth has a beginning vv. 8-9

1 Corinthians 15:8–9 NKJV

8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

Paul refers to his meeting of the Lord and subsequent salvation as birth.

Like a child born early, Paul’s new birth in Christ was unexpected, especially by himself.

And yet, just as Christ described it to Nicodemus, salvation is a new birth.

The new man, our new nature in Christ, is born when the Holy Spirit takes up residence in our lives.

Spiritual birth is the beginning of our new lives in Christ.

From that point on, we grow.

However, growth often has obstacles that must be overcome.

We see Paul’s obstacles in v. 9.

Each of us must overcome these same obstacles.

Let’s walk through them.

Obstacle #1…

Position - “least of the apostles”

The first thing to notice is that this is a position Paul has ascribed to himself.

This is something we would all argue about.

I picture Peter reading this and thinking, “I am the least, I denied Christ!”

We all have our reasons to think of ourselves as the least.

To grow, we must overcome this obstacle.

b. Growth has a benefactor vv. 10-11

1 Corinthians 15:10–11 NKJV

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

A benefactor is someone who helps another.

When it comes to growth, benefactors are essential.

Here’s what I mean.

Let’s go back to the illustrations of a plant and a child.

A plant does not grow on its own.

It needs water, sunlight, and good soil.

A baby doesn’t grow on its own.

It needs to be fed, changed, and cared for.

Both plants and babies need benefactors.

Spiritually speaking, we do not grow on our own.

We need a benefactor to help us overcome the obstacles to growth!

How do we overcome the position, worth, and history obstacles?

What is our benefactor?

The grace of God.

Grace is what this life is all about.

By His grace we are what we are.

This is something that every single believer must grasp.

God’s grace transforms us the moment we believe.

By the grace of God we are what we are!

God’s grace, His undeserved and unearned favor, took Saul the persecutor and made him Paul the missionary!

God’s grace made him an apostle.

God’s grace wiped out the record of his wrongs!

God’s grace lifted Paul up, wiped off every hint of sin, and gave Him a job to do!

And brothers and sisters, that’s what God’s grace has done for you and me.

By God’s grace I am what I am.

God’s grace is not in vain.

God’s grace is never wasted.

God’s grace is never empty!

God’s grace is never worthless!

God’s grace has purpose.

God is transforming us and making us effective tools in His service.

All by His grace.

Remember what we are created in Christ Jesus for?

Good works.

Paul says he labored more abundantly than anyone else.

Labored – κοπιάω (kopiaō) toil; labor. to toil v. — to do wearisome labor, or labor unto extreme fatigue. Finite verb, aorist, active, indicative, first person, singular.

Labored – κοπιάω (kopiaō)

When we understand the grace that has been bestowed upon us, this is how we respond.

We work for our redeemer because we are overwhelmed by the depths of His grace.

In the end, as Paul points out here, it is actually His grace in us that does the laboring through us.

“Not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

His grace is not in vain!

His grace enables our labor!

Because of the grace of God we preach the gospel message and people believe.

We proclaim the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus because He alone can save.

Salvation comes only by grace through faith.

Because that is true, the resurrection is vital.

We will get into that, next time.

God has given to us a purpose.

That purpose requires a transformation.

It also requires that we grow.

This growth begins when we trust in Christ.

This growth continues by His grace.

We grow and mature only as we accept and stand in the grace of God.

Repeat - read aloud

His grace is sufficient for all our needs.

His grace can and will transform us into tools for His service.

Don’t worry about your position, worth, or history.

You have been chosen and called by God to serve Him.

Live that purpose.

Conclusion

We have looked this morning at two of three needs we have to live with purpose.

The third need we will examine next time.

We need the transformative power of salvation.

And.

We need to grow.

Both are by His grace.

Transformation and growth bring with them the ability to live with purpose.

Purpose effects every area of our lives.

Personally: Having a purpose for our lives is what gets us motivated. If we do not understand that God has saved us on purpose for a purpose, we are missing out. Maybe a commitment here would be to review the promises God has made in regards to His choosing and calling.

Friendship: In our relationships with people we are called to do one of two things. With unbelievers, we are seeking to point them to Christ. With believers we are seeking to be a source of encouragement and strength. When we keep these purposes in mind, we are better able to have relationships that bring glory to God. Maybe a commitment here would be to evaluate how we are doing in our friendships.

Parenting: It would serve us well to develop and review a purpose statement for our parenting. What do we as parents want to train up in our children? When we have a purpose in our parenting, it changes everything that we do. It informs all our decisions. Maybe a commitment here would be to develop a parenting purpose statement.

Marriage: The purpose of our marriage is to be a picture of Christ and the Church. To accomplish that we must encourage one another in our walk with Christ. Our purpose is to be the best picture we can be. That doesn’t happen without consistent and intentional work. Maybe a commitment here would be a self-evaluation in how we are doing in our roles as husbands and wives.

COMMITMENT:

_________________________________________

Transformation comes as we place our faith in Jesus Christ.

As we are transformed by His grace, we grow.

Growth means that we yield ourselves to the control of the Holy Spirit.

With transformation and growth come purpose.

We have been chosen and called to serve. That is what it means to live with purpose.

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