The Resurrection

This morning is taken from 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and we'll read verses 20 through 28 with reference to other portions of the chapter. In fact, the whole chapter is our scope, but our focal point will be verses 20 through 28. 1 Corinthians chapter 15 beginning with verse 20. But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order, Christ the first fruits afterward those who are Christ at his coming. 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. For he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death. For he has put all things under his feet. But when he says all things are put under his feet, it is evident that he who put all things under him is accepted. Now when all things are made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him, that God may be all in all. May God richly bless both the reading and the hearing of his holy word. As we pointed out, it is really with the entire 15th chapter 1 Corinthians that we have in mind, which is the most extensive and exhaustive treatment and apologetic for the resurrection that we have in any one place of scripture. The resurrection is established throughout scriptures, but 1 Corinthians 15 gives us the fullest explanation, connecting it all the way to Adam or from Adam and opening up all of its various implications. It is the most thorough place where the doctrine of the resurrection is presented. So this morning, as we celebrate resurrection day, I want to look at five aspects or five features of the resurrection, which would be helpful for us as we celebrate the resurrection of Christ in understanding it in conjunction with our faith. The first point that we want to make concerning the resurrection is that the resurrection is a verified event. The resurrection, the bodily resurrection is a verified event. As we alluded to earlier, this is our point of reference is to the whole 15th chapter. One of the points that Paul is clear to make in chapter 15, verse beginning in verse 4, it says that he was buried and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures and that he was seen by Seifas who was Peter and by the 12. After that, he was seen by over 500 brethren at once of whom the greater part remained to the present, but some have fallen asleep. Now here's the point that Paul is making concerning the resurrection of Jesus. At the time of this writing, there were witnesses alive that had seen the fact that Jesus, in fact that he was seen after his death by countless witnesses, by at least 500 at one particular time. The resurrection of Jesus is a verified event by eyewitness account. Now this does not mean that everyone who saw him believed that he was the Lord, but they could not deny that he had been seen as crucified and had been seen after his death. Now the significance of this is that that means it is the capstone of everything else that took place in the ministry of Jesus. Now some would say, well, he never died in the first place. That's what they call the swoon theory. The swoon theory is that some have suggested that on the cross, Jesus came near death and was almost as if he died, but he did not fully die. Others have suggested that someone stole the body, but here's what's all of those who were present at the time seemed to be in agreement on that the grave that was occupied by Jesus was then made empty and as a way to explain the empty grave, some said it had been stolen. And then not only was the grave empty, but Jesus of Nazareth was seen after his burial. Do with it what they want, but they could not deny a that he had been buried and b he had been seen after his burial. Now what this is the reason this is important is because if there is anyone that could have presented a body, if there was anyone that would deny it was actually Jesus and it had been documented, then we would not have a Christian hope to stand on. But the resurrection of Jesus was verified by eyewitnesses and has yet to be disproved. Now I know what people will say, well people don't rise from the dead. You're right. Order narrow. But Jesus did. And there is no one that was around to say no that wasn't Jesus. Again, people have surmised different reasons to explain the empty grave and some have even come up with theories to explain Jesus being seen. Some will call it hallucination, but Jesus was verified as having been risen. 500 play at one time, it doesn't indicate all of the others who saw him, but if anyone wanted to disprove the resurrection, the bodily resurrection of Jesus, it was plenty of time and opportunity to do so. So the first thing to note is that when we talk about the resurrection of Jesus, we are talking about an actual physical bodily resurrection that has been verified by eyewitnesses at the time that it occurred. The second thing that we need to note about the resurrection is that it is a critical element in the gospel message. It is a critical element in the gospel message. It is of utmost importance. In verse 3 it says, for I delivered to you first of all that which I also received that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and was buried and that he rose the third day according to the Scriptures. Here's what we're saying. Now by the way, that phrase in verse 3 that I delivered to you first of all, actually the rendering there, the sense of it in the English is not absolutely clear, but the way that it should be stated, I delivered to you that which was of first importance because the resurrection is critical to the gospel message. Now people, I've heard people say, well, you know, he just rose in my heart. It doesn't matter what took place in your heart if the grave is still occupied by Jesus of Nazareth. So here's what we're saying, that the resurrection is verified and it is critical to the gospel message. If you remove the message or the fact of the resurrection from the gospel message, it is of no good news at all. In fact, Paul says himself here in 1 Corinthians 15 that if Christ is not raised then you have a number of troubling implications. First off, you're still in your sins. Secondly, he says then we are liars. Thirdly, we're wasting our time because if there is no resurrection of the dead, if there is nothing beyond the grave then let's just party and get it over with because we're all dying anyways. But Paul indicates that life is of great importance and there is something beyond the grave and what determines that is not what I surmise, not what I think, but the actual empty grave of Jesus. So here's what we understand. The resurrection, the bodily resurrection of Jesus is verified by his contemporaries. The bodily resurrection of Jesus is central to the gospel message because if we have no explanation for his resurrection or if we, if Jesus is not raised from the grave then we have no explanation for death, for dying or any hope beyond the grave. Jesus rose from the grave bodily and that part of the message is as critical as any other part of the gospel message. The gospel is the good news, the announcement of good news that God, Jesus is God in the flesh that he was born in our likeness that he lived according to the standard that was held out for all of humanity that he died in our place and that he rose from the grave. Now Paul says all of this is what's announced in the scriptures. So if Jesus is not physically raised from the grave then all religions are equally irrelevant or you could say that all religions are therefore equally relevant in what they do and that is I don't know what they do. They would I guess give people a sort of a moral compass or guideline by which to live their lives but religion isn't the only thing that offers a moral compass or guide. So all religions would be, they would be utilitarian good for whatever purposes you use them for. No one would be right, no one would be wrong because it doesn't matter. We're only rearranging the debt furniture on this Titanic. We're going down anyways and so it doesn't matter whether you sing nearer my God to thee on that tank or whether you sing my prerogative, we're all going down. But here's what Paul says. Paul says that that the resurrection happened and now someone has to explain and it's the only way that I can explain the purpose of my life is to understand the gift of his life and his resurrection. So therefore the resurrection which is verified, the resurrection which is central to the gospel or central to the gospel message and Christians we don't just skip over that that is a it's an integral part of what we embrace that that Jesus bodily rose from the grave. But here's the third thing that we see about and this is where we get specifically into the text that's before us. The third thing that we see about the bodily resurrection of Jesus it is not only verified and central to the gospel message but the resurrection of Jesus is federal in its nature. It is federal in its nature by federal what we mean is that the many are represented by the actions of one and the actions of one impact many. So many are represented in the actions of one and the actions of the one have direct implications for many and he is not acting in this instance. He is not acting as a role model but what is true of one will be true of the many and what is true of the many is according to what's true of the one. Look in verses 20 through 23 and Paul describes Jesus' resurrection, Jesus being raised from the dead as being the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep and then goes on to say for since by one man by man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam or die even so in Christ all shall be made alive but each one to in his own order. And so here's what we mean the resurrection is federal in its nature meaning that all who have faith in him we do and we will share in that resurrection. All who have faith in Christ have in other words in the present tense we have shared in the resurrection of Jesus and in the future we will share in his resurrection. Now we often and talk about the future aspect of it but let's begin by talking about how we who have faith in Christ share presently in the reality of his resurrection. First of that that's seen in the fact that the power that raised him from the dead is at work within all of those who have faith in him. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in everyone who has faith in him. Paul says in Romans chapter 8 verse 11 that the spirit who raised him from the dead dwells in you the spirit who raised him from the dead dwells in those who have faith in Jesus. Also in Romans chapter 6 verse 4 Paul says of believers therefore we were buried with him through baptism into death that just as Jesus was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father even so we should walk in newness of life. In other words brothers and sisters this is our present reality that if we have faith in Christ and are baptized in Christ then what is symbolized is an spiritual reality and that reality is you have been raised to the newness of life and you are in dwelt by the power of the Holy Spirit and that means because Christ is our federal head. Therefore his resurrection just as his death is our death and his resurrection is our resurrection but not only do we share presently in the power of his resurrection the New Testament also teaches there is a future element in a future part of our federal union with Christ and his resurrection which means that we will be transformed not only are we right now experiencing the power of the resurrection as we are in Christ and have been raised to the newness of life in him but we understand also that we will be transformed into the likeness of his glorified resurrected body. This is what Paul means in Philippians chapter 3 verse 21 when he says about Jesus that he will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body. So here's what we know right now. Right now if you are in Christ if your faith is in Christ then we are in dwelt by the same spirit the same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you. If you are in Christ then we also know that your body will be transformed into the likeness of his glorious body that's what we will be conformed to. This is what the Apostle John means when he says in first John that it does not yet appear what we shall be but here's what we know as he is so we shall be awesome so right now he is raised in a glorious body as he is ascended to the right hand of the Father and part of our physical hope in the resurrection is that don't be fooled by our bodies. Our bodies which are perishing day by day and I know we do everything we can to preserve them I know we do and that's a good thing preserve your body take care of your body it's still fading and I'm not trying to be the rain cloud on your picnic but it's just a reality that until Jesus comes these bodies even if even if you are at the peak of health and I know we are proud of ourselves we I discovered that here in Miami people are proud of their bodies and show them off well men love wearing shirts that are way too young for them right and women wear blouses that haven't fit since they were 14 but it hasn't stopped them right because we're proud of our bodies so no matter how proud we are of our bodies at your peak or and at our peak we don't want to trade it everything we want the whole world to see it is still fading away you see and then of course as it as it gets old and decrepit we're ready to give it away but here's the reality your body is deteriorating but here's our hope our hope is the glorious body that is presently occupied by our crucified and resurrected savior and what Paul reminds us of is that it's fading away it's all a temple anyways it's it's only temporary because we know that we have another body that is something that that you don't have to pick out of a plastic surgeon's book this body has been designed for you by God himself in righteousness you see the body the resurrection of Christ is federal that he wasn't just raised for us but he was raised like us and we will be raised like him and so what that means for us is that that there's power and that's that is our incentive when it comes to sanctification that we have the power that we didn't have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you you see and that's why we can grow in grace and even as we are being conformed inwardly in the second coming of Jesus we will be conformed outwardly to the beauty that is in him but here's the fourth thing that we discover about the resurrection the resurrection of Jesus means that his kingdom is a present reality the resurrection of Jesus we know that it's a verified event and it's a critical element of the gospel message it is federal in its nature but it also means that his kingdom is a present reality in verse 25 Paul says that he must reign and in the great commission you know that Jesus gives his disciples and and it's it's always interesting to ask people the question of Christians especially how does the great commission begin and we begin with the two letter word go right but that's not how it begins the great commission begins all authority heaven and earth has been given to me therefore go in other words what Jesus is declaring is his lordship over all things and the resurrection is is simply that in fact Peter and his sermon on the day of Pentecost in Acts chapter 2 says that God has made him speaking of Jesus both Lord and Christ Lord Lord of all things in fact that's one of the reasons the New Testament saints used to say Jesus is Lord and that's one of the things that got them in trouble with the with the Roman Empire because they were saying Jesus is Lord instead of Caesar is Lord Jesus is Lord his kingdom is established in verse 27 of our text it says that all things are put under his feet Jesus must reign all things are put under his feet Ephesians chapter 1 verses 20 and 21 Paul the same author says that God raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places far above all power and might and dominion and every name that is named not only in this age but in that which is to come if Jesus is raised from the dead then that means he's presently king he is king above all things in fact John in the book of Revelation Revelation chapter 1 says that he has dominion over all of the kings of over the earth so Jesus presently raised now that does mean among other things that as Christians we need to clean up our language a little bit and here's what I mean we need to stop saying that you know we hope that is kingdom come no his kingdom is here he is king Jesus is king don't don't it's it's not a red or a blue issue Jesus king he's not king when our favorite guy is an office and then he's no longer king when the other no he is king in fact last time I checked it's greater than president he was king before we were a nation right and guess what long after we are erased from the history books he's still going to be he is king and the domain and extent of his kingdom is everywhere under the sun so there is no place where Jesus is not king because he has been raised by the power of God and he has been granted authority by God himself all authority all dominion has been given to him he doesn't say all European power all American power no all power all authority has been given to him because he's raised he's been raised from the grave and being raised he is ascended to the right hand of God of God and he presently is king so we need to clean up our language about trying to build the kingdom we don't build the kingdom he built it he established it what we do as Christians and as the church what we do is we extend the kingdom in evangelism we we we exercise the dominion in the kingdom in the government of the church not the government of the land we govern the church I know where people all you know have been out of shape about same-sex marriages well you can expect that in the world but the world is not the church it's not a problem until we start doing it in the church then we have corrupted the kingdom that went when when the world authorizes such things that's just dogs barking that's what they do you know you don't call the vet when the dog barks right you call him when he doesn't bark and so the fact that the world has taken a wrong course on things that's should not surprise us what is surprising is how much of the authority of God is missing in the church and so it's in the church that we see that's why Paul tells the Corinthians you have this matter with each other you go into the courts of the land that issue ought to be governed within the church bring it to the church and let them address that matter instead of suing what one another and then he says listen you why why don't you consider take the loss wow that's that's that's radical that's not that's not worldly thinking that's that's heavily kingdom sort of thinking brothers and sisters here's the reality price rules and his power is on display in the lives that he claims out of the kingdom of darkness and in the power that is exerted by the people of God when we say no to unrighteousness the power of the kingdom is seen when we subdue the influences and the impulses of our fallen nature by the greater power who dwells in us see Jesus is king if he's risen if he's not risen then he's not king but he's risen and he is the king of the universe and all authority and all all power is given to him but here's the fifth and final thing the resurrection of Jesus is the guarantee of his return the guarantee of his return the it guarantees the fact that he is coming again because he rose we we know that he lived we know that he died and now the records tells us that he is gone but he who ascended he who rose and then ascended is returning now that's one of the reasons people try to smother the fact of the resurrection because if Jesus is risen then that means he's alive somewhere and if he's alive somewhere and I've offended him that means I've got an answer to him but he is coming again amen and we can't say definitively that he's coming again if there's no empty grave in fact you let some people tell it he shows up every Tuesday or every four years at this place and that place I was told of a church I heard of a church in Houston where somebody is emulating right now in a 20 foot cross Jesus being crucified brothers and sisters that's not what draws men unto God we don't have to read we don't have to duplicate we don't have to try to show here's the church's mission until he returns to preach him preach preach the fact that Jesus lived that he died and that he was raised by the power of God on the third day and the heart that is gripped by that message is brought into his kingdom and the heart that is brought into his kingdom is waiting for his return the empty grave is the guarantee that he will return now that's good news and that's bad news it's bad news it's bad news this if listen if you have no faith in Jesus if you just say well he's you know I don't know I just hate religion and and I don't have time for all of this and therefore you have discredited or discounted the gospel message it's bad news because when he comes it's kind of like the parable that Jesus gives about the 10 virgins that he doesn't deny their purity he doesn't say that all of them weren't really virgins he's no all 10 of them were virgins but five had oil for their lamps and the other five didn't and then when the when the king came and and the the one who didn't have enough oil and their lamps went out they were trying to borrow some oil and when the king comes it's like it's too late and they don't get to get in here's the bad news for you if you are outside of Christ you're like those virgins that when the king returns I know you're twiddling your thumbs you say well I know it's not going to happen well you you'll say that until he comes and and you can't even your death is not even going to keep you from being present when he returns you know some people have these time capsules they write stuff down put them away in bottles for future generations to find and you might have in yours he didn't live and when he comes back it'll be right back here I am you know deal with it here I am Jesus is coming back and if you are outside of him then you are like the foolish virgins who don't have enough oil for your lamp and when you come you will not be you don't cease to exist you just won't exist in his fellowship in his kingdom there is a place in his kingdom for you it is it is different though but it's it's there's a place you will live you will live for all eternity you will not live in fellowship and harmony with him for all eternity Jesus rose Jesus lived Jesus died and Jesus rose so that the image bearers of God could share eternal fellowship with him and when he returns and you are not his then it's it's not a good time and so he has left the church here for you to know that he's coming back dispute all you want about whether or not water was actually turned you can dispute all of that but the bottom line is God sent his son and his son who died who rose on the third day is coming back if he weren't coming back then you don't have a problem keep doing what you're doing but he is coming back and the empty grave is the assurance that he's coming back Peter says in his sermon on the day of Pentecost that it was not possible for death to hold him and brothers and sisters that tells me that is also not possible for anything to keep him from coming back and you know why I know he's coming back because he promised me that he's coming back and Jesus loves me so much that he would never break his promise when he said I'll never leave or forsake you I believe he meant that when he says that no one can snatch you from the my hand I believe that and Jesus says he's coming back because he promised everyone who is in him that he is coming back he says don't fret don't let your hearts be troubled I am going away but if I go away I'm coming again and when I come again I'll receive you unto myself so that where I am there you may be also Jesus is coming back the resurrection of firms and guarantees that Jesus is coming back it's bad news for those who are outside of Christ but all brothers and sisters if you are in Jesus then here's what we say even so Lord even so Lord Jesus if he is coming back if he if that grave is empty and Jesus made a promise that he's coming back a lot of stuff is going to happen until he comes I'm going to get older going to get weaker you're going to have more doctors appointment more prescriptions than I can keep there's going to be headaches and heartaches but Jesus is coming back there are the questions that I cannot explain people that I can't deal with but Jesus is coming back and what I can say is even so Lord Jesus come on back you don't have to hurry just get here just you're coming back and his coming back is the guarantee of all of the joy in all of the benefits that have been purchased by his blood he has promised and purchased and what he has promised and purchased by his blood he's coming back to deliver somebody says that well you know by his stripes we're healed yes and when he comes back you will be amen when he comes back you will be I'm not saying that sickness can't be healed now but every sickness that you endure now and get over now you will come back and it will come back tenfold now you know how can chicken pox turn into you know something even worse it's it's crazy but but you know what he's coming back and when he comes back when he comes back everything will be in order when he comes back there will be no more disturbances he will get rid of that which hurts and he'll get rid of the hurt itself when Jesus comes back and how do you know how the people say well how do you know because the grave is empty because the grave is empty and no one has explained that empty grave outside of the gospel the reason the grave of Jesus is empty is because it was occupied by Jesus who is the Christ and he is the Lord and he is the giver of life and he who promised eternal life tasted death for me and he who tasted death only person in the world to borrow grave you you we borrow a whole bunch of some nobody borrows a grave graves are permanent real estate unless it's Jesus that's in it and he says listen I'm not even messing up only three days I'll give it right back to you only three days brothers and sisters the grave is empty that means Jesus is king and it means that he who is king is coming back again and here's what we say even so Lord Jesus even so come come Lord Jesus come the earth is yours you've seduced it come and let your peace let your grace let your glory fill every space on this place let your glory be seen by every eye let your name be honored by every tongue let every heart rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus is Lord and he's risen from the grave and he is king overall oh brothers and sisters that's that's our resurrection that's why it's it's helpful it's it's it's critical or critical part of the gospel message because Christians hurt and because Christians sin and because Christians need something other than them to affirm that is going to be all right and so here's what I'm telling you somebody saw him yes they did see him they didn't like what they saw but they saw him and it is critical to this message and he who rose rose for me and he who rose is king and that king is coming back blessed be the Lord of the resurrection and may God bless that message to you on this resurrection day let's pray