GREAT BIBLE WORDS
THE RESURRECTION 1
1 Corinthians 15:12-20
Introduction:
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the cardinal facts and doctrines of the gospel. On this doctrine hinges all of the hopes of Christians everywhere. The whole of the New Testament revelation rests on this as an historical fact.
The Corinthians questioned Paul about the resurrection in v. 12, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” So the burden of proof fell on him for the Greeks could not imagine this having been taught that the body was the prison of the soul and the sooner the soul was set free in death, the better off a person would be. Some of the Greeks even laughed when he raised the subject in Acts 17.
I. THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS AN HISTORIC FACT PROVED BY THE MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL
A. Peter argued the necessity of Christ’s resurrection from the prediction in Psalm 16, Acts 2:24-28, “Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. 25- For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved: 26- Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27- Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28- Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.”
B. The conversion of Paul himself is a testimony of the resurrection, Acts 9:3-5, And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4- And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5- And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”
C. Our Lord clearly intimates his resurrection Matthew 20:19, “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.” See also Mark 9:9; Mark 14:28; Luke 18:33 John 2:19-22.
II. TEN DIFFERENT APPEARANCES OF OUR RISEN LORD ARE RECORDED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
A. To Mary Magdalene at the sepulchre alone, John 20:11-18.
B. To certain women, “the other Mary,” Salome, Joanna, and others, as they returned from the sepulchre, Matthew 28:1-10.
C. To Simon Peter alone on the day of the resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:5; Luke 24:34, “Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.”
D. To the two disciples on the way to Emmaus on the day of the resurrection, Luke 24:13-35.
E. To the ten disciples (Thomas being absent) and others “with them,” at Jerusalem on the evening of the resurrection day, John 20:19-24.
F. To the disciples again (Thomas being present) at Jerusalem, Mark 16:14-18; Luke 24:33-40 John 20:26-28.
G. To the disciples when fishing at the Sea of Galilee, John 21:1-23.
H. To the eleven, and above 500 brethren at once, at an appointed place in Galilee 1 Corinthians 15:6; Compare Matthew 28:16-20.
I. To James, but under what circumstances we are not informed, 1 Corinthians 15:7, “After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
J. To the apostles immediately before the ascension, Mark 16:19, “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” See also Luke 24:50-52 Acts 1:4-10.
III. IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN…
A. Then our preaching is in vain or empty, 1 Corinthians 1:18, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”
1. We would be false witnesses, v.15, “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.”
2. It would prove that Jesus was an impostor and us lairs, Psalms 116:11, “I said in my haste, All men are liars.
B. Then our faith is in vain, v. 17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”
C. How could we live? v. 19; Ezekiel 33:10, “Therefore, O thou son of man, speak unto the house of Israel; Thus ye speak, saying, If our transgressions and our sins be upon us, and we pine away in them, how should we then live?”
IV. IF JESUS BE RISEN WE WHO HAVE TRUST HIM SHALL ALSO BE RAISED FROM THE DEAD
A. Christ has risen and shows His light to the people, Acts 26:23, “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”
B. Because He is risen we shall be raised, Romans 8:23, “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”
1. Our own personal resurrection, John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”
2. At the coming of the Lord, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
CONCLUSION