Risen-Resurrection Sunday 2016

1 Corinthians 15:1-54

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.

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, 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.

¹² 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? ¹³ But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁴ And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. ¹⁵ Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. ¹⁶ For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. ¹⁷ And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! ¹⁸ Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. ¹⁹ If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

²⁰ But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. ²² For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. ²³ But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. ²⁴ Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. ²⁵ For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. ²⁶ The last enemy that will be destroyed is death…⁴² So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. ⁴³ It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. ⁴⁴ It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. ⁴⁵ And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.

⁴⁶ However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. ⁴⁷ The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. ⁴⁸ As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. ⁴⁹ And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.

⁵⁰ Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹ Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—⁵² in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³ For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴ So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

⁵⁵  “O  Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?”

⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸ Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

I.             THE RESURRECTION IS ESSENTIAL TO THE GOSPEL

1.    No resurrection means Christ didn’t rise. (15:13, 16)

2.    No resurrection means the gospel is useless. (15:14)

3.    No resurrection means preachers are liars. (15:14b, 17, 29-31)

4.    No resurrection means our faith is worthless. (15:14b)

5.    No resurrection means we are still in our sin. (15:17)

6.    No resurrection means we are most miserable. (15:19)

7.    No resurrection means: Those who suffer for Christ are fools. (15:19 - 31)

8.    No resurrection means we lie at funerals. (15:18)

9.    No resurrection means we should live for now. (15:32)

 II.           RESURRECTION IS PROVABLE.

1. Broken Roman Seal.

2. Empty Tomb.

3. Large Stone Moved.

4. Roman Guards AWOL.

5. Grave clothes in Tomb.

6. Changed Lives of the Disciples.

7. Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene at the sepulcher alone. (John 20:11-18), (Mark 16:9-11).

8. Jesus appeared to certain women, “the other Mary,” Salome, Joanna, and others, as they returned from the sepulcher. (Matthew 28:1-10) (Mark 16:1-8, and Luke 24:1-11.

9. Jesus Appears to Peter. (15:5. Luke 24:34)

10. Jesus appeared to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:13-35. Comp. Mark 16:12-13).

11. Jesus Appears to the apostle’s w/o Thomas. (15:5b)

12. Jesus appeared to the disciples again with Thomas Present at Jerusalem. (Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:33-40; John 20:26-28. See also 1 Corinthians 15:5).

13. Jesus Appears to 500 disciples. (15:6)

14. Jesus Appears to James. (15:7)

15. Jesus Appears to Paul. (15:8-11)

III.         WHAT THE RESURRECTION MEANS TO YOU.

1.     His resurrection means the gospel is true.

2.     His resurrection means that His sacrifice was accepted. (Romans 4:25).

3.     His resurrection is a proof that he made a full atonement for our sins.

4.     His resurrection means we will rise also. (Romans 8:11; 1 Corinthians 6:14; 1 Corinthians 15:47-49; Philippians 3:21; 1 John 3:2). As he lives, they shall live also.

5.     His resurrection proves He is the Son of God inasmuch as it authenticated all his claims. (John 2:19; John 10:17).

6.     He is Coming Back.

Acts 1:11

¹¹ who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”