The Resurrection

Corinthians chapter 15, we begin reading this morning at verse 12, 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 12. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead. But He did not raise Him, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. Then those who also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. The first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn, Christ, the first fruits, then when He comes those who belong to Him, then the end will come when He hands over the kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For He has put everything under His feet. Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself who put everything under Christ. When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him so that God may be all in all. Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day. I mean that brothers, just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die. Do not be misled. Bad company corrupts good character. Come back to your senses as you alt and stop sinning, for there are some who are ignorant of God. I say this to your shame. And may the Lord bless the reading and the preaching of His word to our hearts this morning. Let's pray together. Father, we thank you that we have the privilege of hearing your word. Lord, there are places in this world where your word is not welcome. And where those who love you at the risk of their own freedom or their own life must clandestinely meet to hear your word or must secretly tune in their radios to receive illegal broadcasts. Lord, how we thank you for the privilege of hearing your word. Now, Father, we know that unless your spirit opens our heart, the words will go in one ear and out the other. But we believe what you have taught us that your word is alive and powerful, made alive by the power of your spirit, powerful in His power so that what we preach and what we read and what we hear is not merely the words of men, but it is indeed the word of God that is able to save ourselves. So give us ears to hear and hearts to obey. Lord, we come to you as a people, a people with great joys and great sorrows, a people who have been greatly blessed but also who have great needs. And so we would stop and praise you for our blessings. You have been good to us far, far better than we deserve. And we thank you spiritually, physically, emotionally, every way conceivable you have been good. Yet, Lord, there are needs. Lord, there are those whose bodies fail them. And, Lord, I would pray this morning for Charles Sawyer and pray that you would just continue to give grace. Lord, we look forward to His tests. We would pray that you give the doctors and the nurses, the technicians, the wisdom they need to make the right decision concerning Him, but Father, they are not the end all. You are. You are the great physician and it is to your care ultimately that we commit our brothers keeping. Lord, be with Maxine as she ministers to Him. As they love each other and continue in the relationship to which you've called them, these are not easy times, but Father, sometimes the difficult times are the most precious. So may they in every minute glean joy and peace that only comes from you,

strengthen their faith, comfort their hearts. Lord, I pray for my friend Mr. Gray and pray that you would be with him in the hospital room today. Lord, we pray that he would continue to get good results. We pray that there would be no rejection of this kidney and we would ask that you simply restore him. Lord, I know it's selfish, but I still ask because I know if he's absent from the body, he'll be present with you, but it will be our loss, my loss. So please be gracious and yet your will be done for you do all things well. Lord, there are other needs, things that we would not dare mention. Some whose hearts are breaking and they're not sure they can make it. Some relationships that are are strained way past the point of holding up, O Lord, give grace. In these times of pain and stress cause people to turn to you, not from you. Lord, remind us that you are not the cosmic Santa Claus, who dispenses whatever we wish, but you are the king of glory whose power far transcends anything we can imagine. And you have ordained that we call upon you and make known to you our request. Lord, for those who do not know Jesus Christ, O how we pray that your spirit would work in their hearts, open their minds that they would truly grasp the good news that Jesus Christ came to save sinners. Today is the day of salvation. Lord, for those who may have grown cold in their faith, we pray for revival, renewal. And Lord, for some who've grown up in the church know all the buzzwords, know everything about the organization and the machinery, but don't know you. Holy spirit of God only you can break through those walls and show them their need and your great grace. Now Holy Spirit of God open to us your holy word, that we might learn, that we might apply, that we might go forth and live victoriously for Jesus Christ, for it's in his name that we pray, amen. It was Job thousands of years ago who asked this question, if a man dies, will he live again?

That is the question we still ask, maybe not publicly, where we can hear the opinions of everybody and their brother, or be ridiculed for our opinions, but every heart seeks an answer to that question. If we die, will we live again? Is all the stuff we talk about in church merely wishful thinking? Is all the truth that the preacher claims to have when he stands beside a casket, is that really truth or is it just what we want to believe because we have to believe it in order to survive? If that's the case, then Marx was absolutely right when he said that Christianity or religion is the opiate of the masses. If all it is is simply something with which we soothe our hurting souls, then it is nothing more than an opiate a drug to dull the pain of reality. Well, if you listen to the voices in modern culture, as they strive to answer that question, you will get a variety of answers. If a person dies, will they live again? Some say no. When you die, you're dead. That's it. That's all she wrote. Throw your carcass in the dirt because that's the end of the story. You and the dog you love are the same. When you're dead, it's over. You simply, physically and spiritually cease to exist. Others would contend, well, we're not that radical. We do believe that your spirit continues and because your spirit is part of the world's spirit that somehow, in some form, some way, and that's real definite. In some forms, some way, somehow, you live. It's comforting. Will I know that I live? Well, some say yes, some say no. Some say until you get it right, you'll keep coming back. And since you're a human, you must be close to getting it right. But if you really mess up, you'll come back as something less. I think, man, I don't want to come back. I might be a frog next time. My brother-in-law, Giggs Frogs. That's not a pretty sight for the frog. I might be a horse. And while I'd like to think I would at least be a third bread, I probably would be more close to a mule.

If that's the way it is, it's the way it is. But it's not what the Bible says. And, boy, I'm glad I don't have to think about coming back as a bug. There are those who would answer that question and say, now there are variations on the theme. So it almost depends on who you talk to, and when you talk to them, as to what answer they will give you. And they're sincere, but according to the Bible, they're sincerely wrong. Still others would assert that your body ceases to exist. You only exist spiritually. That teaching finds its root in Greek philosophy, where many of the Greeks believed that the soul was beautiful and good and divine, and the body was the casket of the soul. And so to die was to be able to be set free. So to talk about earthly resurrection, bodily resurrection was almost anathema. It was almost to speak of being accursed because they longed to be free so they could be perfected. Well, some believe that. And others contend that if you're good enough and they all have their definitions, that you will live forever in some form, somewhere, and if you're not good enough, you just won't exist at all. On and on and on, we could go as people strive to give answers to that fundamental question. If a human being dies, will they live again? Christianity has historically held to the fact that every human being will be resurrected. Every human body will be reconstituted, joined with their eternal soul in resurrection. Some will be raised to eternal life, others to eternal damnation. Cause concern as he comes to this portion of the letter to the Corinthians is that some people have been listening to the teachings of those who are frauds and imposters. The false teachers who infiltrate the church, and they simply said there is no bodily resurrection that's just a bunch of Tommy Rod. It's foolishness. While you don't need to believe in that you need to move on with your life and forget that resurrection business. And yet Paul proclaims resurrection is the truth. That's what they believe in that Jesus Christ came, lived a sinless life, died a death that was complete and perfect for our sins in our place so that we would not be separated from our God forever, but so that we could be body and soul in his presence for eternity. That's what the gospel teaches. It's what Paul taught. But some were moving away from this fundamental truth of the Christian Bay. This morning I want to begin by bringing a quick review of verses 1 through 11 so we can catch up with the flow of what Paul is doing here. In verses 1 through 4 Paul reminds the Corinthian believers that the message they had received, the message he had preached to them was that of a resurrected Christ. He makes that clear. It's a literal bodily resurrection and their hope for resurrection depends upon Jesus' resurrection. In verses 5 through 8 Paul points out the eyewitnesses who gained testimony to the fact that this Jesus who was dead was raised, literally physically. And then in verses 9 through 11 Paul simply says that his place in all of this is because of God's grace, not because he is anybody special but because God in his sovereign grace has touched Paul, given him this truth and then given him the ministry to carry that truth to others. In the sermon today what we're going to see is Paul's logic of the resurrection. Next week we're going to see him as he answers the question, what kind of body is the resurrection body? Because those were questions that were asked the first hinges on the fact of the resurrection which we talked about last week. The implications of the resurrection which we talked about today and then next week what kind of body? You see when I was young and had long flowing locks and was trim and muscular I didn't care about that but the older I get the more interested I am in that new body. Looks better every day. That's what we'll talk about next week. In verses 12 through 19 Paul talks about the logic of a literal bodily resurrection. In verses 12 and 13 Paul points out to us that the gospel cannot be separated into its component parts some accepted and some rejected. That's exactly what was happening. It was taking the gospel piecemeal. I like that part where Jesus dies for my sins. It's okay that I'll be with him forever but this resurrection stuff about a new body and on it now forget that I don't need that I'll just lay that aside. In Paul says but I preached to you the whole gospel. Now I'm not going to stand up here and tell you that if someone denies a literal bodily resurrection that they're not Christian but I am saying that they have a serious flaw and we'll say they will be amazed when Jesus comes but what we all but if you understand the gospel are right as it's vividly presented the gospel says that we are lost and that because of Jesus Christ we are justified and because he rose from the dead we will live in that relationship forever. If there is no resurrection from the dead then your relationship with Christ whatever it might be ends when you die. So notice the logic that Paul presents he says in verses 12 through 19 here are the ramifications of doing away with the resurrection. Literal bodily resurrection that's what they understood resurrection to be. Notice he says in verse 14 if that's the case then our preaching is useless and obviously then your faith is useless. And I stop right there and say if that's the case what in the world are you doing here? Why aren't you home drinking coffee and reading the paper? Why aren't you on the golf course or outfishing this morning? Why aren't you sleeping in or at Sunday brunch? Why are you here if this isn't true? Paul says it our preaching useless your faith is useless we are whistling in the dark we are spinning in the wind and you spit in the wind the one who gets messy is you. He says I preaching useless and your faith is useless if this isn't true and in verse 15 he says if there is no resurrection then we've lied because we've told you there is we've told you that God has raised his son Jesus from the dead and that because he lives you will live and if that's not true then we lied. Verse 17 he says your faith is futile meaningless worthless you are still in your sense you see if I were convinced that there was no resurrection of the dead I would just simply tell you it's not true we were sorely mistaken and you had better go find truth that can deal with your sin Paul says if there is no resurrection your faith is futile you're still in your sense and those who died trusting in Christ are lost. Verse 18 see not only does it affect us it affects our loved ones and our brothers and sisters in the body who've gone before us for they trusted this message and now they're dead trusting in Christ but if there is no resurrection they trusted in vain and they are lost in verse 19 Paul says and if that's the case here's the coup d'état the cherry on top we are of all people on planet earth to be pitted we are to be pitted for believe in such foolishness foolishness and impairling our souls if it's not true yet what is the scripture teach scripture teaches that Jesus Christ indeed was crucified dead buried and the third day rose again from the dead now wonder the church historically on Easter morning says he is risen for there is no church there is no gospel there is no life apart from a resurrected Christ now there's some who contend that it's the concept it's the concept of resurrection I've alluded to this in the past and I simply said if I'm washed overboard on a boat do not throw me the concept of a life preserver throw me the real thing I don't mean to make light of those who hold that position but I simply would show the fallacy of it just because it's difficult for us to grasp the concept of a literal physical resurrection does not mean that it's not true I must tell you that even though I understand all the biological implications of a man and a woman coming together in a new life being fashioned for the life of me I don't understand how it happened and every day when I look at my child I am more and more in wonder at the gift of life that God gives and how he does I can't explain it but I know that little one sure in the life and our own little person created in God's image I don't know how he does it but I want to tell you something that kids not just a concept she's a reality see some teach us that it's the concept it's just the fact that there there's the concept of resurrection no friend it's not the concept that came out of the tomb it was Jesus listen to what John writes remember in his first epistle writing at the end of his life this is not in his younger days when he walked with Jesus but after that long period of ministry here's what he writes to those of us who would come later he says that which was from the beginning which we have heard which we have seen with our eyes which we have looked at and our hands have touched this we proclaim the word of life do you hear what John says he says this isn't the concept we're teaching you we're telling you about a person a person we knew we heard him we touched him we smelled him ate with him we drank with him we left with him we cried with him we know he is alive Bible teaches literal bodily resurrection for Jesus Christ and for us too then next Paul affirms the resurrection affirms the resurrection of Jesus look at verses 20 through 28 the basis of our hope as believers is in a living Christ Jesus Christ Himself said this is what Jesus said John 149 because I live you shall live also now Jesus could not say that if he did not live

and it's all emptiness if he did not live after the cross so Jesus Christ says because I live in the present tense which is present action that continues into the future because I live and continue to live you also will live and continue to live that's the impetus of the Greek text in John 11 25 and 26 I am the resurrection and the life you know what a statement that is it is either the statement of a fool a madman a demon or god but no sane man in his right mind would say that we're true and for to be true he'd have to be god I am the resurrection and the life he didn't believe it in me though he were dead yet shall he live and whosoever live it and believe it in me shall never die that's what Jesus said and you notice what immediately follows in the text believe us now this do you believe it is that's the crux of the matter Jesus found the resurrection in the life and the way you get in on the resurrection and the life is to believe in me you can't do it yourself I mean we we have all these lame brain ideas from that we can save our genetic material and be recreated so that you can freeze us and thaw us out to any number of things but let me tell you something Jesus Christ when he comes by the power of his word will bring forth the dead

one professor said didn't study one time in seminary he says you can back read this account in John 11 and notice that Jesus says Lazarus come forth because if Jesus had said come forth all the dead would have been raised he is god who spoke and all things came to be he is the god who breathes life into us to begin with he is the god who is able to raise the dead and Paul affirms not only that Jesus has been raised alive but that he also will bring us with him into his kingdom alive there will be no dead trophies of grace they will all be alive

and then finally Paul speaks of the foolishness of listening to these false teachers verses 29 through 34 now in verse 29 you read about a baptism for the dead you can read commentaries from here to eternity nobody knows what he's talking about the scholars don't know they give all kinds of hypothetical answers but unless there is some discovery some you know archaeological discovery of some texts that give us insight into a practice that occurred at that time so we can understand and we don't know you say well why is it here I don't know when you get to heaven you ask God I don't know but I told you at the get-go what I don't know I'll tell you I won't pretend to tell you all these things just so I look good because my goal is to lead you into truth I don't know what it means here and so the best thing I can do is leave alone notice the in verses 30 and 32 that Paul states that he laid his life on the line every day for the gospel a gospel that included the promise of life listen to what he's thinking listen to his reasoning he says if there's no resurrection of the dead why would you accept the perils of being a Christian you see we've grown up in a culture where until recently there was no stigma there was no opposition and right you were blessed in the culture if you were a Christian rapidly changing not so for the Corinthians to be a devoted follower of Jesus Christ often meant you lost your job because you couldn't worship with the guild anymore it often meant being put out of your family because you had become a heretic your friends didn't want to be around you anymore because well you didn't come in part in all the things you used to do you see Paul says why in the world would you risk life and limb and liberty and all those good things for something that's not true or that only is for this life if ultimately is for nothing why and it makes it very personal he says why then would I have risked my life in emphasis if there's nothing beyond this life go and read Acts 19 we're Paul in emphasis literally face death because he was preaching Christ and he says who in their right mind would do that if there's no resurrection from the dead in fact he says the pankens have it right if there's no resurrection from the dead if there is no life to come if there is no reality in Christ Jesus then less eat and drink for the more we die let's grab for all the gusto because we only go around once in life let's buy the philosophy of the age that you are the only one that matters and so you deserve a break but that's not what the Bible teaches when Paul says in verses 33 and 34 that sadly some in the church have been let us pray some have stopped thinking and started sinning and he says stop come to your senses think about what you know to be true and stop following these foolish lines and what breaks his heart seems to be that some who were let us pray were just simply so ignorant so ignorant and that's why he challenged them with the truth to come out of their ignorance and yet today we see many who are let us pray in the same way the good news of Jesus Christ declares that because of him we can be forgiven of our sins we can be restored to a living eternal vital relationship with our creator god as i've told you before i think that we often in our american salesmanship have prostituted the gospel because we hold before people oh here's eternal life let me tell you the lure of the gospel is not eternal life the lure of the gospel is Jesus Christ that we in him can be forgiven and restored to that relationship with our creator and because he is forever we too will live in that relationship you see it's not a mercenary thing at all it's not okay Jesus i believe in you so i can get what i want it's a relational thing why do you think on the cross Jesus has father forgive them they know not what they do it's relational he doesn't say oh god they're going to hell they're not going to have eternal life he says forgive them they don't understand what they do it to you one well in my church in florida used to say all this and happen to he had it right this relationship with Jesus this is the last thing that comes in the body of Christ and individually with him all that and heaven to that's the gospel and the only question is do you believe it do you believe it if god forbid the day ever comes that i don't believe it i will resign you won't have to worry because i cannot stand beside your caskets and tell your families that you will rise again because of Christ if there is no resurrection

i can't stand beside the casket of a six-year-old and save from the depths of my soul leaving through my heartache yes one day when Jesus comes this little body will be transformed like into the body of Jesus and he will dwell with him forever or you see if there is no resurrection from the dead your preachers a liar your faith is useless and beautiful and why in the world do you show that's logic of the gospel and you can almost hear Jesus lean from his position beside the throne and say do you believe it yes the church that goes through this tree yes the martyrs cry out yes the preachers proclaim and yes the moms and dads teach their children yes because Jesus lives we too will live not as a concept but as real people completely redeemed by the power of god let's further we thank you for the truth of your word Lord history tells us that every one of these these disciples saved John met an untimely in all still holding to the fact still proclaiming that Jesus was resurrected from the dead you told us blessed are those who won't see who will yet believe blessed are those who haven't touched or heard your voice all to play and yet have believed the witness of these who did see who did touch and who died rather than recant what they knew to be true so Father all that's before us is due we believe it for those of us who do what great comfort and joy in our hearts how we rejoice as we think of our loved ones who have gone on in their spirits to be with you who await today when those bodies will be raised triumph and in Christ and Lord we all who know you will be with you forever enjoy and peace and love restored by your grace do we believe it if we do it changes the way we look at life in the way we live Lord there may be some here who would say yes this day I understand and I want to turn from my sins and I want to know this Christ I want to be with him and be with him forever but if that's the case may they turn to you if they don't know what to do may they seek out the pastor and elder deacon so that we might lead them to Jesus and Lord for those who mourn and who hurt because they have loved ones who have been buried may their hearts rejoice because this is only for a little while because Jesus is coming and we will be raised in victory thank you well they sure hope we have in you Christ Jesus but we make our prayer and we stake our eternity in your name they need