Category: Uncategorized

Assurance of the Believer’s Resurrection – 1 Corinthians 15:24-28

For He has put all things in subjection under His feet. But when He says, “All things are put in subjection,” it is evident that He is excepted who put all things in subjection to Him. When all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, so that God may be all in all. 1Cor 15:27-28

How can we be assured in our hope of the resurrection? In this portion of Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, God points us to the end times to see the unassailable hope of eternal life through Jesus’s resurrection.

Eschatology- the doctrine of the end times- is not a simple topic. Even the greatest theologians of the church differed in their viewpoints of future events. Our church stands behind the view of premillennialism, in which Jesus will come prior to the Millennial Kingdom. We are currently in the Church Age. Jesus will one day descend from heaven, and all believers- dead or alive- will be caught up, together with Christ in the clouds. (1Thess 4:16-17) This will be the end of the Church Age, and the beginning of the Tribulation, which serves to fulfill the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants for the Gentiles and the Jews. The Tribulation will end with Jesus’ Second Coming, when He will bind Satan for a thousand years during His Millennial Kingdom. At the end a thousand years, Jesus will release Satan for a little while, and then there will be the Judgment before the Great White Throne. Satan and all his demons will be thrown into hell, along with anyone whose name is not written in the book of life. God will then create a new heaven and a new earth, with a new Jerusalem. (Rev 20, 21)

The end times will be the consummation of God’s work. As we think about the future, we can be assured that our resurrection is guaranteed because Jesus will bring it to completion. He will hand over the kingdom to God the Father- the kingdom, referring to the people He has redeemed and conquered by His saving grace. (Matt 3:2) Jesus will abolish every evil rule, authority and power- all the demons and Satan, against whom we stood and wrestled with in their evil day. Jesus will carry out His work as our Almighty Mediator, putting a final end to all the evil schemes of Satan. (Eph 6:12)

And finally, Death will be dead. (v.26) There is nothing more sobering than death. Death has no discernment of age or circumstances; it is the end to which every man’s path leads. Everyone is an inevitable victim to Death- that is, everyone except the Lord Jesus Christ. Death is God’s servant, and though its sting was disarmed by Jesus’s death and resurrection, it will be squashed altogether when Jesus throws it into the lake of fire. (Rev 20:14) This is our conviction: Jesus’s resurrection was His victory over sin and death. Because of Christ, the believer’s resurrection is guaranteed with unspeakable hope and glory.

0

The Super Living Hope, Part 2 – 1 Corinthians 15:21-23

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming…1Cor 15:20-23

There are a few instances in the Bible when a person took his own life. Judas’ death may immediately come to mind; Ahithophel- King David’s former advisor- as well as Saul’s suicides are amongst others. In every case, the individual’s end came at the throes of hopelessness and despair. We see that when hope is lost, man has no reason to live.

Hope is essential to enduring hardships. It anchors us through life’s constant ups and downs, fixing our eyes on what is to come. But not all hopes are equal. There is only one hope that never fails: the divine hope of Jesus’s resurrection. Without this hope of the resurrection, all other hopes lead only to disappointment and death. Apostle Paul was one who lived in the hope of Jesus’s resurrection. Paul was a man with a nature like ours, yet he was able to endure the severest persecutions because of his immovable conviction that Jesus was alive. (Acts 25:19) Here in his letter to the Corinthians, Paul describes the nature of the hope we have in Christ.

Our hope is in our prize. We glory in the resurrection of Jesus, who freed us from the power of sin. As the best and supreme One, He is the first fruits, and we are His harvest. Jesus rose from the dead before us, making our hope visible by appearing to many of His disciples. As co-heirs with Christ, our hope is identical with Jesus’s hope. We can cling onto this hope, because as He is, so we will be also. (Rom 8:17) This hope is ours today, but we must practice faith for it to operate in our daily lives. We must be filled with the Holy Spirit, who was given to us by God as a pledge for the fulfillment of our heavenly hope. He is the source of our guaranteed hope. (Eph 1:13-14)

Our hope is pragmatic. Our hope must be practical because we live in a fallen world where death reigns. All men die due to God’s judgment on Adam’s original sin. In vain hope, they pursue the world to avoid facing the reality of death, but it all comes to a grave end- man is destined to die once, and after that comes judgment. But God is good. Just as death came through the sin of that one man Adam, the resurrection of the dead has come through the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Whereas Adam fell by Satan’s temptation, Jesus was tempted in every way, and yet was without sin. (Heb 2:14) Christians never die, because Christ already died their death on the cross. We have escaped death by believing and trusting in Christ alone. (Acts 4:12) In this passing world, our hope in the living Christ gives us victory over sin and true peace in the inescapable reality of death.

Our hope is limited. Divine hope is limited to God’s children only. Only those who are in Christ will be resurrected to eternal life. This is a precious hope, because by it we will persevere until Jesus returns. (Rom 8:24-25) If you long to have this heavenwards hope, you must ask yourself, Do I love Christ with all my heart? When you love Christ with all your heart, your mind will be set on the things above, where He is. Conversely, little love for Christ will result in worldliness.

Jesus is the object of our faith, hope, and love. We are to see the living Lord by faith, persevere in Him through hope, and love Him with all our hearts. All who confess Jesus as Lord and believe God raised Him from the dead can claim this super living hope.

0

The Super Living Hope – 1 Corinthians 15:20

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 1Cor 5:20

As believers we readily confess that Jesus died and rose again from the dead, but we must pause and ask ourselves, Is Jesus’s resurrection truly a part of my life? Or put another way, What is the greatest hope in my life?

There is no greater hope in this life than the resurrection. Without it, all other hopes are meaningless and misleading. Those who hope only in the crucifixion are- as Paul declared to the Corinthians who denied Jesus’s resurrection- of all people most to be pitied. Therefore, here in v.20 Paul transitions his argument towards reinforcing the truth of the resurrection to establish the hope of Jesus’s resurrection in the believer’s life.

Paul’s hope began with his conviction. Though Paul came across many who denied the resurrection, he did not waver in his faith in Jesus’s resurrection. (Acts 25:19) His conviction controlled him and kept hope alive amidst all persecution, because it was Christ who was raised from the dead. Everything changed for Paul when he encountered the risen Lord on the road to Damascus. Jesus Christ was with him; Jesus, the Son of God, from whom, through whom, and to whom are all things. Paul was a new creature; the old things passed away; new things had come. Paul’s hope was now in the risen Lord. (Col 1:15-17; 2Cor 5:17)

This same Jesus is alive today. He is moving, protecting, nurturing, leading, and empowering His church without fail, and He continues to speak to us through His living Word. We must not mock and insult Jesus by living as though He were dead, but like Paul, we must always rejoice in the presence of the Lord. Do you have this kind of conviction in this kind of Jesus? This is the proof of true faith: under any circumstances, they put Christ first. (Lk 24:5, Matt 28:20)

To grow in hope and sanctification, you must begin with the simple conviction of Jesus’s resurrection. The faith of the likes of Paul, Isaac, Abraham, and Elijah was always correlated with a high view of God. Therefore, examine the object of your faith. Only the risen Jesus of the Bible has resurrected to be the greatest hope for mankind. (Matt 22:29,32)

0

The Consequences of the Scary Lie, Part 2 – 1 Corinthians 15:16-19

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. 1Cor 15:16-19

On the third day after Jesus died, while the disciples locked themselves in out of fear of Jewish leaders, the risen Lord came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” (Jn 20:19) By His bodily resurrection, Jesus proved He was the Lord of all, the Savior and Head of the church. This was the victorious gospel testified by the Scriptures, the church, and several eyewitnesses along with Apostle Paul. Yet despite the evidence, certain members of the Corinthian church denied the bodily resurrection. To them, Paul presents these hypothetical consequences if Christ were in fact not raised.

Without the resurrection, our faith would be worthless. Without the resurrection, there would be no salvation. Faith that excludes the resurrection is idolatry. It is a dead faith, having nothing to do with the God. Our faith is true because of the resurrection. The disciples were completely transformed after they saw the resurrected Lord. Before it they were afraid, but after seeing Jesus raised from the dead, they were filled with boldness and power by the Holy Spirit to go and make disciples of all the nations.

Without the resurrection, our sins would remain. If Christ were not raised, we would live and die in the wrath of God. There would be no salvation without the resurrection, because Jesus would’ve been like any other false messiah who rose and fell away. (Acts 5:38-39; Rom 4:25) But Jesus was raised because He is God. Jesus is the Christ who came to fulfill the eternal plan of God for the redemption of man, by dying in our place for our sins, and being raised for our forgiveness. (Rom 6:3-4) His resurrection makes it possible for us to walk in the newness of life, because we are alive to God in Christ.

Without the resurrection, we would perish. Without the resurrection, believing in Christ would profit nothing. You would still die in your sins. We follow the path of Christ by faith. Only the gospel can save- the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection. (Rom 6:23)

Without the resurrection, Christians would be the most pitied. The resurrection is not to be believed for the sake of this life only- it is for eternity thereafter. If your aim is to gain the world, you will truly be pitied when Jesus returns. On the other hand, those who follow Christ will be pitied by the ignorant world- you will face scorn and derision for believing in the resurrection. But we look to Christ, who never sought man’s favor, but received all His glory from God. (Phil 2:8-9)The risen Lord has made us God’s own possession, called out of darkness into His marvelous light to proclaim the gospel to the lost. (1Pet 2:9-11) We now see the hopelessness and deceit of the world, as well as the true treasure of the kingdom of God given to those believe.

Jesus is the risen Lord who comes to us with peace. His resurrection gives us power for godliness to be set apart from the world. Do you truly believe in the resurrection? Faith found and centered on the risen Lord is the only faith that saves.

0

The Consequences of the Scary Lie – 1 Corinthians 15:11-15

Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 1Cor 15:12-15

There is always a cost to believing a lie, but none compare to the consequences of believing that Jesus has not been raised from the dead. In these verses, Paul is incredulous at the Corinthians’ denial of Jesus’ resurrection. After all, Jesus’ resurrection was not hidden. In addition to the hundreds of eyewitnesses, the testimonies of God’s Word, His church, and Apostle Paul himself left no room for doubt to the reality of the resurrection. But there were still some who said there was no resurrection, and to them, Paul outlines the dire consequences of unbelief.

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised…

Those who deny the resurrection are false believers, because their gospel is false. You can not receive the crucifixion with the resurrection. If Jesus was not raised from the dead, He would have been like any other man who rose in power and fell away. But Jesus was in fact raised, because He is the self-existent Son of God. (Acts 5:34-37; Jn 1:14)

…and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain…

Without the resurrection, your message becomes meaningless. The message we have is the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the message that brings eternal life to the sinner. Every teaching apart from the gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection is solely moralistic- it becomes just another man-made religion, void of eternal life and spiritual fruit.

…your faith also is vain.

There is no life without Jesus’ resurrection, because true faith comes from the word of the risen Lord. (Rom 10:17) Those with dead faith can not enjoy the presence of God. They are ignorant of Jesus’ presence. They never seek Him or pray to Him, because to them, Jesus is dead. The message of Jesus’ death and resurrection results in living faith in the risen Lord.

Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God…

Those who deny the resurrection are the worst of sinners, because they misrepresent God. Just like the Pharisees who were cursed by Jesus for their falsehood, those who deny the risen Lord by living with self-righteousness and self-centeredness will face God’s severest judgment for practicing perjury before Him.

If Jesus’ resurrection is not yet central in your life, take heed- the consequences of dismissing Jesus’ resurrection is too costly. Examine the evidence, examine your faith. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.

0

Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 5 – 1 Corinthians 15:10

…and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 1Cor 15:8-10

Paul writes this chapter to remind the Corinthians of the gospel: Jesus died, was buried, and was raised on the third day. One by one, he makes his case for the veracity of the gospel through the testimonies of the church, the Scriptures, and the eyewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Last of all, he points to himself. Saul the Pharisee encountered the risen Lord, and was converted to become Paul the Apostle. By God’s saving grace, Paul received saving faith, which brought about his full commitment to Jesus as Lord.

But by the grace of God I am what I am…

Before Paul was saved by God, he lived in pursuit of salvation by his own good works. But he was a hopeless case from the beginning, because no matter what good work he did, Paul continually committed the worst sin against God- the sin of unbelief. Paul practiced unbelief because he was born depraved. He was desperately wicked, and unable to change himself. Paul was completely lost before God, and everything he did earned only God’s wrath. (Eph 2:3-5)

This understanding of God’s holiness and sin is crucial; without it, you will surely reduce the power of and need for forgiveness. As you truly know how wicked and helpless you are, you will see that grace is the only way. But far too often, we don’t surrender to God’s grace, because we still think we have it in us to offer something good to God.

What is saving grace? John MacArthur defines it as “God’s kindness toward those who are undeserving of His favor but who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ.” We are saved by grace alone- sola gratia. God must save us for us to be saved. When a sinner is saved by God’s grace in Christ, His grace never departs from him. God’s grace places the sinner in Christ. In his relationship with the Lord, God’s grace continually works in his life. (Eph 2:8-9)

By God’s grace, you are what you are- He sees you with the righteousness of Jesus, because He has made you one with Christ.

0

Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 4 – 1 Corinthians 15:8-9

…and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 1Cor 15:8-11

There aren’t many in the New Testament who persecuted the church as vehemently as Saul, but there are fewer others who loved and sacrificed their lives for the church like Apostle Paul. Paul had the testimony of testimonies. He testified to the world how he was saved, not by his works, but by the gospel. As a Pharisee he was set against God, but the resurrected Lord appeared to Paul to save him. The gospel is mighty, and those who are touched by it are transformed. Paul was an eyewitness to the resurrection of Jesus, and he became a new man upon his personal encounter with Christ. In these verses, Paul describes the impossible dilemmas he faced before the risen Lord saved him.

He was one untimely born. To be “untimely born” points to both Paul’s physical and spiritual problem. Based on Paul’s letters and historical accounts, Paul was physically unimpressive. He frequently referred to his poor bodily condition, and people within the church often spurned him because of his physical appearance. (2Cor 10:10; Gal 4:13-14) Spiritually, Paul was born dead in sin. He had absolutely no hope had God not intervened.

He was the least of the apostles. Paul felt inferior to the apostles. He had all the qualifications to be an apostle and was acknowledged by other apostles, but he referred to himself as the least. (Acts 18:9-10; 2Pet 3:16-18)

He persecuted the church. Paul thought he was not fit to be an apostle because he persecuted God’s church, a sin that he felt was impossible for God to forgive. (Acts 26:10-11) He was a blasphemer, who attacked the body of Christ in the name of God. (Jn 16:2) Paul was fully accustomed to the law- he knew the just consequences of his sins against the Almighty God.

In the depths of Paul’s dilemmas, Jesus shined light into Paul’s heart and appeared to him. Paul was completely transformed by the power of the resurrection, and immediately testified of the gospel. We will continue with God’s work of grace in Apostle Paul in next week’s sermon.

0

Did the Resurrection of Jesus Really Happen? Part 3 – 1 Corinthians 15:5-7

“…and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles…” 1Cor 15:5-7

God was in the world 2,000 years ago, and He left a trace that has been the resounding testimony of the church, Scripture, and as we will see today, several eyewitnesses. Jesus died on the cross, and rose again from the grave on the third day- Jesus Christ, the eternal God and man. Jesus’s resurrection proved that God was in the world to reconcile man to Himself, and all men must therefore repent, because He has fixed a day in which Christ will come again to judge the world in righteousness. (Acts 17:30-31)

Eyewitness accounts are powerful testimonies. They are from those who were physically present, who saw the event themselves. During the time Paul wrote his letter to the Corinthians, most of the eyewitnesses of Jesus’s resurrection were still alive. Nevertheless, there were still many who denied the resurrection. Some claimed the disciples hallucinated from intense grief over Jesus’s death. But Scripture shows that the disciples were not overcome with grief in any way- rather, they were filled with disappointment and fear. (Lk 24:15,21; Jn 20:19) The risen Jesus was not a hallucination nor a ghost- He showed His disciples His scars on His hands and feet; He even ate food. (Lk 24:38-43) Hallucinations could not have caused men to become martyrs- it is only by the actual resurrection of Jesus they were willing to lay down their lives for the sake of the gospel.

Why are the testimonies of these eyewitnesses valid?

They were freed from their guilt. Every man lives under guilt as a result of sin, and the guilty will be rejected and punished by God. (Rom 3:9) Peter, James, and the five hundred plus brethren all bore their own guilt. Peter denied Jesus on the night of His trial. He blasphemed and cursed Jesus out of fear of man, betraying His Lord just as wickedly as Judas did. (Matt 26:73-74) James was the brother of Jesus. He was a man of pride who did not believe, but mocked Christ. (Jn 7:2-5) The crowd of five hundred were those who followed Jesus during His ministry, awestruck by His miracles, who then turned and demanded Jesus to be crucified. (Lk 23:16-23; Acts 2:36-37) These guilty eyewitnesses were completely transformed after Jesus appeared. Peter and James became apostles- bold in faith, humble in heart- who were eventually martyred for their faith in Christ. The five hundred were converted to be the first church, living in devotion to the risen Lord. Their lives showed the fruit of being forgiven of sin and freed from guilt through Jesus’s death and resurrection. (Acts 4:18-20; 2:41-42; James 4:6,10) This is why their testimony was trustworthy.

There are many who saw the risen Lord. The Bible never accepts the account of one witness- there must be at least two or three. More than five hundred brethren saw Jesus resurrected. He didn’t reveal Himself secretly, but He stayed on earth for over forty days after His resurrection, appearing to many and teaching about the kingdom of God.

The Lord used the eyewitnesses effectively. The apostles who saw the resurrected Lord were carried by the Holy Spirit to author most of the New Testament. They became leaders in the churches, shepherding the flock of Christ. The five hundred brethren were eventually scattered because of persecution, but they went out to make disciples of all the nations. Without these works, the church would not exist today. Jesus’ resurrection brought hope and laid the foundation on which His church was to be built.

If we aspire to testify to the world of Jesus’s resurrection effectively, we must be transformed. There is no power in the testimony of he who does not love Christ and honor Him as Lord. As we meditate on Jesus’ resurrection, may the presence of the risen Lord be the power of our testimonies, so that we can be effective witnesses of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

0

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.

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.

0

Blog at WordPress.com.

Up ↑