Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 2 – 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures… 1Cor 15:3-4

Can we be assured of the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection? Yes. The church was born by the message of Jesus’ death and resurrection, and its relentless testimony to the unbelieving world is the gospel of the living Lord. (Acts 2:23-24) There is another that testifies of the resurrection- Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. We expound these verses in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians to see how Old Testament Scripture testifies of the resurrection, and to learn why Scripture’s witness of Jesus’ resurrection is complete, perfect, and pertinent to us today.

“For…” Verse 3 begins with the conjunction “for” to explain a key component from verses 1 and 2. The Corinthians were saved by the power of the gospel. Verses 3 and 4 is where Paul outlines the gospel message.

“…I delivered to you…” The gospel does not originate from Paul- he is simply called to deliver God’s message. (Acts 9:15) Like Paul, we are all God’s servants, called to preach Jesus’ death and resurrection.

“…of first importance…” The gospel is the doctrine of doctrines. If you were to amass all knowledge about God, yet miss the gospel, you are nothing. Jesus never condemned the Pharisees for ignorance. Without the gospel, you can not be saved. We must be absolutely clear about the gospel. It is of first importance.

“…what I also received…” Before Paul delivered the gospel, he was a believer of it. He himself experienced God’s forgiveness in the gospel. Formerly a persecutor of the church, Paul was transformed and saved by the living Lord. (Acts 26:9-11; 9:20)

“…that Christ died for our sins…” Paul emphasizes each event in the gospel, beginning with Jesus’ crucifixion. He uses the title “Christ” rather than Jesus’ name to avoid any confusion. There were many men named Jesus in Paul’s day, and Paul wanted to clearly state that the Messiah Who was anointed by God was the One crucified and nailed to a cross. (Matt 1:1)

…and that He was buried…” Paul was faithful to historical facts. Jesus was buried in a tomb like a king after He was crucified.

“…and that He was raised on the third day…” In the gospel, God perfectly fulfilled His promise to save the world. (Jn 3:16) Jesus carried our guilt to the cross and His sacrifice was accepted by God because He was raised from the dead. We can be forgiven by God for our sins through Jesus Christ.

The common denominator in these two verses is “according to Scriptures.” We can know Jesus truly was raised from the dead because Scripture reveals it. Prophets in the Old Testament declared Jesus’ death and resurrection before it happened, and Jesus was raised from the dead in order to fulfill the God’s Word. (Is 53:5,9; Hos 6:2; Jn 5:39) Scripture’s testimony of the resurrection is sure, because God’s Word can not be broken. As Scripture says, God says. (Jn 10:35; Is 55:11) Any gospel that is not according to Scripture is not the gospel at all. Manmade gospels have no power to save, because only the Word of God has the power to save and transform sinners. (Heb 4:13) We must continually wrestle and meditate on the Word of God to be transformed. As Spurgeon declared, “No one ever outgrows the Scriptures.”

Why is Scripture trustworthy? Scripture never lies, because God can not lie, nor can He be tempted to lie. (Num 23:19) Scripture is trustworthy because it is inspired- God is the ultimate source of the Bible. It is therefore inerrant and infallible- it will never mislead or deceive you. (2Tim 3:16) God’s Word is authoritative. It is sufficient and contains everything we need to know and believe to be saved and to live a life pleasing to God. Believing in Scripture empowers believers to endure trials and suffering with love and joy. (1Pet 1:8) Christians who believe in God’s Word are in the world, but are not of the world. Their joy is rooted in Christ, not in emotions or circumstances. They live by faith, choosing to depend on Christ and His Word. They seek God’s presence as they go through trials, and are therefore refined by their sufferings because they abide in the Lord. The believer’s hope is fixed on heaven, and so he presses on in the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, looking forward to the new heavens and the new earth when Christ comes.

We must ask ourselves, Do I believe in Jesus’ resurrection as the Bible reveals? Jesus’ resurrection is according to the Scriptures. If our lives do not accord with the Scriptures, we must reexamine our faith. There is hope as we repent and have faith, because God’s Word is living and active today, tomorrow, and forever.

January 28, 2018 0

Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? – 1 Corinthians 15:1-2

Now I make known to you brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 1Cor 15:1-2

Apostle Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians to address some troublesome issues that were arising within the church. He confronted those who were despising him and rejecting his authority in the church as their leader and spiritual father in Christ. (4:14-16) To them, Paul wrote, “let him recognize that the things which I write to you are the Lord’s commandment.” (1Cor 14:36-38) Another major issue- of which ch. 15 addresses- was that some were challenging the veracity of Jesus’ resurrection by denying the resurrection of the dead. (1Cor 15:12) They were attacking the very foundation of Christian faith, the source of Paul’s hope, the conviction behind the apostles’ untiring sacrifice to the churches. In response, Paul wrote this portion of Corinthians with one goal: to assure the church of the doctrine of Jesus’ resurrection. He presented four witnesses that testify of the resurrection, and we will focus on the first witness today- the church.

Before continuing in our ongoing focus on Jesus’ resurrection, one might ask, is the resurrection more important than the crucifixion? This question is illogical. Without the crucifixion, there can be no resurrection; without the resurrection, there is no salvation through Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus’ resurrection proves that we are forgiven through His crucifixion- it is the complete gospel. Our goal is for Christ’s death and resurrection to be believed upon not only in our minds, but in our hearts and our daily lives. (Lk 24:17-25)

How do you know the church’s testimony of the resurrection is true? The church is full of truth because Jesus is the head of the church. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Just as God can not lie, the church does not lie- the church must testify of what is true. (Col 1:18; 1Pet 2:22; 1Tim 3:15)

How do you know the resurrection is the church’s testimony? Apostle Paul addresses the Corinthian church in these verses. They all were unbelievers, who were transformed and converted to Christ through the gospel to become the church. What is the gospel? It is the message that God is holy, and we are not. God is just, and He will surely punish the ungodly. We live under the law, and by it we are hopelessly condemned, for the wages of sin is death. But God is also love. He sent His Son- God incarnate, Jesus Christ- into the world to be punished in our place by dying on the cross as our substitute. God accepted His total sacrifice by raising Him from the dead, so that all who believe and trust in Jesus are justified by His life and righteousness. The gospel prepared the Corinthians church to testify of Jesus’ resurrection, because the Holy Spirit convinced their hearts that Christ was alive. (Acts 10:39-42) They received the gospel- it took root in their hearts, and they counted the cost to follow Jesus. (Luke 14:28-34)

How do you prove the testimony of Jesus’ resurrection is true? The church proves that the resurrection is true as they stand firm in the gospel. On the cross, Jesus endured the most excruciating pain and suffering because of the joy set before Him- His resurrection. Likewise, the church endures and rejoices through suffering and persecution because of the resurrection. (Heb 12:2) The church is saved by the gospel, and they can not help but testify of the resurrection, because they’ve been saved from God’s wrath, judgment, and hell, and saved to God’s joy and glory. The church is saved and sanctified to walk with God in holiness.

What drives the church to testify? The church must hold fast to the word that was preached to them- the message of Jesus’ resurrection. We must cling to God’s Word and bear fruit with perseverance. (Lk 8:15) We are to not merely acknowledge that Jesus lived and died, but like Paul, we hold fast by asserting He’s alive, lest we believe in vain. (Acts 25:19) Claiming to believe the gospel without the lordship of Jesus is to believe in vain. Jesus warns us that there is no salvation in outward religiosity. (Matt 7:21-23)

True believers in the Corinthian church did not believe in vain. They believed and lived out the gospel as Christ’s church. This is important and applicable to us today. Let us hold fast to Jesus’ resurrection to testify to the world of the gospel that saves.

January 22, 2018 0

The Church that the Risen Lord Builds, Part 5 – Acts 2:47

…praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47

The early Christian philosopher Tertullian once penned, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the church.” He believed that persecution grew and purified the church, as faith was refined and doctrine was soundly tuned. Persecution was commonplace to the early church in the book of Acts. The Roman state cruelly persecuted Christians because of their faith in Jesus Christ, but rather than responding with retaliation and war, the church eventually won Rome over by truth and love. How was this possible? The answer has been the theme of our current sermon series- the church thrived under persecution because it was built by the risen Lord.

We conclude this series with two final principles in v.47 that describe the practices of the church built by the risen Jesus.

The likability of the church… (“…having favor with all the people.”) We live in a social climate where the church is generally held in disdain. The public image of the church is so tarnished that so-called Christians say they love Christ, but hate the church. This is Satan’s deception, and it is vastly different from how the world used to view the church. The early church had favor- or grace- with all the people. These people were the ones who witnessed their conversion, and the transformation that took place in the life of every one who was converted to Christ. Even though they themselves did not believe, they saw Christians as being ethical and moral, and so they respected them. It is similar to the way Abraham was honored by his neighboring Gentiles who saw that God’s favor was with him as he continually practiced faith in all his dealings. (Gen 23:6-7; 15)

What does it mean to be likable? There is a type of likability that most modern day churches eagerly pursue. They seek to be likable to the world, using every means to look just like the world. They are ashamed of the gospel, and regard man over God and His truth. The early church did not do this. From the beginning of their new life in Christ, they knew they were separate from the world. We must know that the church will be hated by the world. The only reason why the church of Acts was likable to the world is found in v.47. The church was praising God, and was having favor with all the people. Believers praised God because they knew the God who raised Jesus from the dead. (Rom 10:9; Acts 4:10). Those who know God love Him, resulting in obedience and fear. The early church loved the Lord with all their heart, and they therefore loved their neighbor as themselves. (Lk 10:27) This is why outsiders liked the church- the church’s love for God resulted in a sacrificial love for others. (1Jn 3:16)

The demonstration of God’s activity… (“And the Lord was adding to their number…”) This is a natural outcome to the church’s likability- people like them, and so they listen to what the church has to say. Christians must be sacrificial in love at whatever cost, because the world sees the love of Jesus through our sacrifice. God is at work in His church.

How can we know Jesus is present and working with our church?

– The Lord adds to faith and numbers. Every Christian shows growth, because they are living with the risen Lord. (Matt 13:23) It is God who adds to our faith, as well as to our numbers. We evangelize to share the gospel in our work of watering and planting, but it is only God who causes the growth of saving faith. Evangelism is man’s responsibility under God’s total sovereignty. (1Cor 3:6-7)

– Everyone has hope. The moment we begin to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we set our minds and seek the things of heaven, not on earth. (Col 3:1-2) This is biblical hope- in Christ, we confidently expect something good in the future. When believers become too busy with the world, their hope in heaven and in Christ diminish. We must therefore obey God and constantly set our minds heavenwards.

– People pray, and God answers. When the early church prayed, miraculous acts of God took place. This is the power of prayer- where the church gathers, the Lord is there. When we pray, anything can happen, because the risen Lord is with us, and we seek Him and depend on Him.

In all circumstances, the early church practiced their devotion to Jesus Christ. They gave themselves to Scripture, fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer, as God worked wonders and signs amongst them, converting souls to the risen Jesus. The church loved one another sacrificially, as they continually ate together in joy and sincerity. They loved God and loved their neighbor, and the Lord worked mightily through them to add to their number day by day those who were being saved. This is God’s blueprint for the church under the risen Lord. As we practice these principles by depending on the Holy Spirit daily, we will know that we are the church that the living Lord Jesus continually builds today.

January 14, 2018 0

The Church that the Risen Lord Builds, Part 4 – Acts 2:46-47

Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:46-47

Throughout this sermon series on the impacts of Jesus’ resurrection, our focus and goal have remained the same- we seek to understand how the risen Lord has built His church, to ensure that we too, are being built up by the Lord Jesus Christ. The church began with repentance and faith. The early church believers heard Peter’s sermon, and were pierced to the heart for rejecting Jesus. They repented of their sins and turned to Christ in faith for forgiveness. (Acts 2:23-24) Under the lordship of Christ, the church devoted themselves to true doctrine, fellowship, the Lord’s Supper, and prayer. Through these daily practices God grew the church as He converted men and women to Christ by His divine power, working wonders and signs of salvation among them. (Acts 2:42-43) Lives were transformed as they were united as one body, loving another, gathering together daily to worship, break bread, and share meals in joy. (Acts 2:44-46)

In addition to all these, the church under the risen Lord had sincerity of heart, or in other words, they were childlike in nature. Every child of God is childlike at heart- Jesus explicitly described this characteristic as a requirement to enter the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 18:3)

What does childlikeness look like?

Sincerity. Childlike people are sincere- there is no pretense, deception, or hypocrisy. Adam and Eve were perfectly pure and sincere before the Fall, but after sin, man’s heart became deceitful and desperately sick. (Jer 17:9-10) Only Jesus can make you sincere in heart, because He shows you who you truly are and forgives you of all your sins.

Single-hearted. The fallen heart is always divided- there are many compartments of things to hide and things to seek. Unbelievers live in multiple modes, both private and public, to hide their sins and to please everyone before them. Christians are to be single-hearted in their devotion to the risen Lord. (Matt 6:24)

Humble-hearted. Jesus blessed those who are poor in spirit, referring to those who have absolutely nothing of themselves to depend on, but who are fully dependent on Christ alone. (Matt 5:3) Humble-hearted people have nothing to boast of, but simply receive all that the Lord gives.

Simple-hearted. To be simple is to live uncomplicated lives. Whatever happens, Christians seek the Lord and pray. Complications arise when man tries to go his own way apart from God. To live an uncomplicated and worry-free life is not based on circumstances, but it is to simply obey, have faith, and trust in the risen Lord.

The early church was sincere in heart because they had peace with God. They knew the risen Lord and His salvation- everything else in life became secondary to Christ. (Rom 5:1-5; Matt 4:4) With gladness and sincerity of heart, they continually praised God. Praise is the natural response to being in the presence of God. It is a telling test of one’s salvation- Christians cannot avoid praising God. The early church praised God because they knew the difference between life before and after conversion- they were lost and miserable before Christ, but after their conversion, life was full of joy and freedom. Jesus became their loving Provider, who died for their forgiveness, and was raised for their justification. He made God to be their Father, and sealed them with the Holy Spirit. The believers in Acts knew who God was and what He was doing amongst them, and so they praised. We must likewise be continually thankful to God for converting us to the risen Lord. As we live with sincere hearts in complete dependence on the Christ, we join the echos of the early church’s praise as the unceasing melody of love and worship to our risen Lord.

January 7, 2018 0