I Corinthians 15:1-19

- tonight we're going to be beginning the last major section
in the book of I Corinthians--I Cor. 15
- this is Paul's famous discussion of the resurrection and
it's by far the most comprehensive treatment of this
subject anywhere in God's Word.

- I think it's very appropriate that we be studying the
resurrection now for at least two reasons.
1) it's appropriate because of where we are in our
calendar.

- you may remember that about 5 months ago, at Easter
time, I was saying that I'd hoped we would be at
chapter 15 by Easter because it would be so natural
to study these ideas at Easter.
- of course that date came and went, and even though
we peaked ahead for one message at chapter 15:58,
we've had a lot of other important material in the
book to cover before we could get here.

- but the more I think about that, the more I think--
that's good.
- it's good that we're going to do a thorough
study of the resurrection of our Savior at the
opposite end of the calendar from the regular
Easter Season.

- and all of us know why--believers in Christ celebrate
Easter every day.
- our faith is centered on the fact that our Savior
conquered death and is alive.
- that's why we gather to worship and study and
fellowship every Sunday
- because that's the same day Jesus rose

- our music has a heavy emphasis on the resurrection
- every time a person is baptized, they're picturing the
death, burial, and resurrection of Christ and
declaring publicly that that's their only hope of
heaven.

- every time we gather for the Lord's table--we're
celebrating -- not just his death and burial
- but His resurrection
- the fact that the price He paid by dying was
acceptable to the Father--and therefore He was
raised from the dead.

- so for a believer in Christ, in some real senses--
it's Easter everyday.

- but that view of life doesn't come naturally
- in fact, it often happens in stages

- after a person is saved, often their minds have to be
de-junked of all the secular ideas about Easter.
- where we go from the bunnies and the eggs to a
focus on the significance of that holiday.
- that’s a significant step for some folks.

- but surely the next step is having a growing appreciation
for the resurrection of Christ each and everyday
- it's critical that we be growing in this area.

- young people who have a growing appreciation for the
resurrection of Christ are better prepared to handle
the pressures of a new school year.
- spouses who have a growing focus on this critical
doctrine are going to be better husbands and wives.
- parents will be better parents
- workers will be workers
- witnesses will be better witnesses

- see, show me a person who has a growing understanding of
appreciation for our Savior's resurrection and I'll show
you a person who's in the best possible position to grow
in other critical areas of their walk with Christ.

- so really what I'm saying is--instead of blaming poor old
Pastor Viars for the length of this series and the fact
that we're studying the traditionally spring topic in the
middle of August
--we ought to be thankful for the added spiritual
benefit we'll all derive from the way this study fell
on all calendar.

2) It’s also appropriate that we study this topic, not just
because of where we are in the calendar, but where we are
in this study on I Corinthians.
- let me ask you to think about that for a minute:
- INPUT - why is it good and why does it give you hope
that after everything else we've studying, Paul
concludes this book with a study of the resurrection?

1. Only those who have been served by the resurrection
power of Christ can "pull off" what Paul has
commanded in this book.

2. The simplicity of the gospel and the unity it brings
is so different from the confusion and division that
was taking place because of wrong doctrine and wrong
behavior in the Corinthian church.

- in fact, I'm just going to say it before someone else does.
- driving into chapter 15 is like driving from Gary into
Lowell
- it's a breath of fresh air.

- Paul has rightly been dealing with some knotty problems in
these preceding chapters, but now he's going to refresh
us with a treatment of one of the most important doctrines
in the Bible, the doctrine of the resurrection.

- let's read the first 11 verses, and then we'll talk about
how we're going to study this passage tonight
- READ 1-11

- in these verses, and we're going to be including verses 12-
19 a little later, Paul is giving us reasons why we ought
to believe in the resurrection.
- the reason that we've just been reading about is:

I. Believe In the Resurrection Because of the Overwhelming
Testimony. - vv. 1-11

- this doctrine isn't based on a few obscure verses or
the testimony of one or two people.
- Paul says - let me show you all the evidence.

- you know that in a court of law, the case rises or
falls, at least in principle, on the evidence.
- the prosecutor lays out all his evidence, and exhibits,
and witnesses.
- then the defending attorney lays out all his
evidence, exhibits, and witnesses.

- the case, rises or falls, on the evidence.

- Paul says, let me show you the evidence of the truth of the
resurrection.
- the first one is more implied than directly stated, but
it's important:

A. the testimony of the church - vv. 1-2

- Paul calls them brethren in verse 1
- he affirms that they received the gospel in verse
1, and that they have been saved in verse 2

- now he does say that there may be people in the
church who are not genuinely saved.
- that possibility existed in their church just like
in any other.
- if a person denied the resurrection, it proves
their faith was never genuine.

- but Paul clearly believes, even though the church had a lot
of problems and had a lot of changing to do
- there were many folks in this church who were genuine
believers.

- you remember some of those great words in chapter 6,
where he gave a whole of people who would not inherit
the kingdom of God
- fornicators, idolators, adulterers, effeminate,
homosexuals...etc.
- and then he looked right at the Corinthians and
do you remember what he said?

- such were some of you! - but you're washed,
sanctified, and you're justified in the name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.

- point is this - the only way you can explain the church of
Jesus Christ that has existed now for nearly twenty
centuries is that our Savior is alive!

- who else could transform idolators, drunkards, thieves,
adulterers and every other kind of wicked person into a
community of redeemed, changing people?
- the answer is -- our risen Savior.

- who else could have transformed a small group of
frightened, discouraged disciples into an army of
witnesses that turned the world upside down with the
truth of the gospel?
- our living Savior!

- one church historian said it this way:
"It was the conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which
lifted his followers out of despair into which his death had
cast them and which led to the perpetuation of a movement
begun by him. But for their profound belief that the
crucified had risen from the dead and they had seen him and
talked with him, the death of Jesus and even Jesus Himself,
would probably have been all but forgotten.

- another line of evidence is:

B. The Testimony of the Scriptures - vv. 3-4

- Paul gives us in these verses one of the most
succinct statements of the gospel as any passage
in Scripture.
- some folks refer to these verses as the "gospel
in a nutshell"

- the good news is that Christ died, was buried, and
was raised from the dead
- what makes it good news is that this was done
"for our sins"

- but what Paul emphasizes in both verses is - "this
was according to the Scriptures"
- in this case--the Old Testament Scriptures

- we could spend the rest of our time tonight looking
at verses that go along with this point.
- instead, I'd like us to look at two, and then we'll
suggest additional ones for your personal study:

- Luke 24:25-27 - READ

- Acts 26:22-23 - READ

- point is - we ought to believe in the resurrection
because this idea is woven throughout all of
Scripture.

- in your notes we've given you a number of other
passages, many from the OT itself, that go along with
this idea.

- Job 19:26, cf. Ps. 17:15
- Dan. 12:2
- Psalm 16:8-11, cf. Acts 2:25-28
- Psalm 22:22 ff, cf. Heb. 2:12
- Psalm 2:7, cf. Acts 13:32-33
- Genesis 22:8, 14
- Isaiah 53
- Hosea 6:2
- Ez. 37:1-14

- point is - we ought to believe in the resurrection because
of the testimony of the church, and the overwhelming
testimony of the Scripture.

- INPUT - what is the next line of evidence given in verse
5-7?

C. Testimony of the eyewitnesses - vv. 5-7

- our Risen Lord appeared to Peter, to the twelve, to
the over 500 brethren, and to James.
- Many of those people were still alive, and their
testimony was all the same.

- Historian Thomas Arnold of Oxford said this about
this evidence:
"The evidence for our Lord's life and death and resurrection
may be and often has been shown to be satisfactory.
Thousands and tens of thousands of persons have gone through
it piece by piece as carefully as every judge summing up an
important case. I know of no one fact in the history of
mankind which is better proved by fuller evidence than the
great sign that God has given us that Christ died and rose
again from the dead."

- Paul says - look at the church, look at the Scriptures,
look at the eyewitnesses
- there ought to be no doubt in our minds about the
truth of the resurrection.

- what's the last line of evidence he gives in verses 8-10?

D. Testimony of the special witness - vv. 8-10

- Paul's last line of evidence is - "Look at me"
- there's no way you can explain the apostle
Paul's life short of a miraculous work by a
Savior who's alive.

- his view of his own SIN changed
- he went from being self-righteous, to
recognizing the depth of his need
- his character changed
- he went from being a persecutor of the
church to being the church's greatest ally
- the direction of his energy changed
- he went from zealously opposing Christ's
church to zealously serving it.

- so we ought to believe in the resurrection because of the
overwhelming evidence
- the testimony of the church, testimony of the
Scriptures, the testimony of the eyewitnesses,
testimony of Paul himself

- now you might say, but PV, we DO believe in the
resurrection!
- that's good and that's right
- but Paul didn't give this material because the Corinthians
didn't believe in the resurrection of our Lord
- he said in verse 1 - "you received the gospel", "You're
standing in these truths."
- the reason he's giving it is found in verse 12 - READ

- some folks in the church, though they believed our Lord was
raised from the dead, they were questioning whether
believers would ever be raised from the dead.
- there were some philosophical reasons in their culture that
would have led them to have trouble believing in a bodily
resurrection of people, but I don't think we need to get
into that tonight

- Instead, I think we need to see that what Paul is going to
do in verses 13-19 is tell us the terrible consequences of
not believing in the resurrection of people.

- a good question to ask at this point would be - PV, how
does this apply to me and what should I be working
on as a result of these verses?

- here's the direction I'd like us to go now:

- Paul's going to give these ideas in the negative - "here's
the terrible consequences of not believing in the
resurrection"
- but each of these truths has a positive side as well.
- and that’s where the application to us becomes evident.

- in other words--if you don't believe in the future
resurrection of people--here's the terrible negative
consequences
- BUT--if you do believe it--and are growing in that
belief
- here are some of the positive results that
ought to be becoming more and more evident in
your life.

- first, Paul gives us the theological consequences of not
believing in the resurrection:

II. Believe In the Resurrection Because of the Theological
Consequences of not Doing So - vv. 13-19

- read 13

- now the first theological consequence is obvious:
- if a person doesn't believe in the resurrection of
people, then our Lord couldn't have been raised
because He was a man.

A. (Our Lord couldn't have been raised) - vv. 13, 16

- but let's turn that around
- you and I do believe in the resurrection of people
- we do believe that Christians are going to be
raised to everlasting glory and that unbelievers
are going to be raised to everlasting judgement

- therefore, there ought to be clear evidence in your life
and mine that we are serving a Savior who's alive

- Can I ask you tonight - is that evidence there?

- when you're tempted to "lash out" at the person who was
mean to you--do you remember that your Savior is alive
and therefore return good for evil?

- young people--when you get to school and your faith is
challenged---are you going to respond in a way that
shows the genuineness of your faith in the
resurrection?

- when you face a trial and you feel like giving up, do
you keep doing what's right because you know that our
Lord is alive, and He's promised to bless you in the
doing of the deed?

- I've been doing some reading in the book of Ezekiel
- at the beginning of the book God reveals himself to
Ezekiel in the form of a vision.
- part of that vision pictures the Lord with rotating
rings covered with eyes.

- Time magazine, by the way, said in a recent issue that
Ezekiel's vision was doe to his schizophrenia, and the
new drugs on the market today could have cured him.

- but we believe that vision was picturing a very
important truth about our Lord -- his omnipresence
- our Lord is aware of everything that is happening
to us, and everything that we are doing in response

- our Savior is alive
- that truth ought to be a great comfort to us, and a
great challenge.

- a second negative consequence of not believing in the
resurrection is found in verses 14-15. (READ)

B. All witnesses and preachers of the resurrection are
liars. - vv. 14, 15

- that's a very strong point
- if there's no resurrection, then you surely
wouldn't want to perpetuate that lie.
- you wouldn't tell your children
- you wouldn't tell your friends and co-workers
- Paul's right - if there's no resurrection
- anybody who witnesses, anybody who preaches
about it--is a false witness

- no tell me - what's the other side of that
- people who have a firm and growing belief in the
resurrection are going to what?
(they'll be convinced of the truth of their
message and they'll tell everybody they know)

- see, why did our young people spend the better part of
the other Saturday washing cars for free with the
hopes that that might start a relationship with
someone and lead to an opportunity to share Christ?

- I hope the answer to that question, in part, is
because they believe that Jesus is alive, and they
want to tell others about Him.
- why will many couples go over to Purdue Married housing in
a week or so and knock on the doors of strangers inviting
them to church?
- because we serve a risen Savior

- why are people trying to build bridges to their neighbors,
and praying regularly for those around who don't know
Christ?
- why do we want to give generously so that missionaries can
be sent around the world to share the gospel?

- the answer to all of these questions is what we're studying
tonight -- because of the resurrection?

- Can I ask you - what do your witnessing habits reveal about
the depth, and the sincerity of your belief in this
critical doctrine?

- see, I've been stating this positively, and rightly so--
there's a lot of positive things happening--
- but you might be here tonight and would have to say
- I've let some real opportunities go by this summer
-I could have talked to a family member when we
were home visiting, and I didn't
- I could have reached out to a neighbor, and I
didn't
- I've been embarrassed about getting involved in
in some of these outreach ministries

- some here tonight may need to say--though I believe in the
resurrection -- that belief has not been nearly as evident
on a day to day basis as it should have been.

- see, we ought to believe in the resurrection because of the
theological consequences of not doing so.

- the last point Paul makes in these verses is that we ought
to believe in this doctrine because of the personal
consequences of not doing so.

III. Believe In the Resurrection Because of the Personal
Consequences of Not Doing So

- INPUT - what's the first consequence found at the end of
verse 17?

A. We would still be "in our sins"

- now let me ask you to think about that for a minute
- what would it be like if we were still "in our
sins?"

- of course Paul's not setting up a contrast
between being "in our sins" or having "sinless
perfection"
- the contrast is between "our current relationship
to sin as believers" or "the relationship we
had to sin as unbelievers"

- Can you imagine what your life would be like today if you
were still "in your sins"
- where your sin had not been forgiven
- where you were still a slave to sin
- not using specifics, but let's "bat that around" for a
minute.
- how would you complete this statement:
If we were still in our sins, __________

- let me give a couple just to get us going:
1) If we were still in our sins, our marriages would be
in deep trouble, and some of them would be dissolved.

2) If we were still in our sins, we wouldn't have the
right and the privilege to pray.

INPUT - now how would you complete that statement?

- see, the point is - it would be a terrible thing if we were
still "in our sins."
- let me ask you to turn over to Romans 4:24-25 (READ)

- Paul says – it’s essential that we believe in the
resurrection, because if we don't--we're still in our sins

- now let's turn this around--because this one is very
important

- the other side of this is: People with a genuine and
growing belief in the resurrection have a new mindset
toward sin.

- let's put that in the form of a question--if a person
believes in the resurrection of Christ--how should that
affect his view of sin?

- let me suggest a few answers and then we'll open it up for
your input:

1) a growing love for God because of the forgiveness He's
granted.

- John said it this way--We love Him because He first
loved us.
- folks who really believe that our sin has been
forgiven because of the death of our risen Lord are
overwhelmed by the price that was paid.
- we want to learn more and more how to love the Lord
our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength
because of the forgiveness He's granted.

- Isn't this true--one of the signs of immaturity is
failing to recognize how much things are worth, and
how much they cost the person who gave it.

- when I was growing up, I used to always complain
unless the Ice Cream my mom bought was Breyers

- you know when my taste changed? When I got
married and had to start buying it myself!
I've been eating the bargain brand ever since.
- some believers don't seem to appreciate the great price
that was paid so they would no longer be liable for their
sin.
- another result is:

2) a growing confidence that sinful habits can be handled

- see, why is it that many folks here tonight could
say - "the Lord has helped me whip this habit, or
that habit--and now I'm working on this or that?"
- the answer is because of a firm belief in the
resurrection.

- hopefully every married person here tonight would
say
- we're committed to this marriage
- sure, we've got things that still have to be
ironed out
- we'll have other problems come up down the road
that we'll have to solve when they happen
- but we've got hope because we're no longer
slaves to sin

- we're talking about spiritual optimism when it comes to sin
- people who have the right kind of spiritual optimism are
evidencing the right view of the resurrection

- Praise the Lord we're not still "in our sins"

- another result is:

3) A growing standard for purity of the church in general
and our church in particular.

- see, isn't this true - in some churches, it's just
assumed that the average person isn't going to be
growing.
- it's acceptable for husbands not to be leading
their families spiritually
- it's assumed that everybody gossips about everybody
else
- it's assumed that the young people are going to
fall away from the Lord in their teenage years

- churches like that, (and there are many), though
they may say in their doctrinal statements that
they believe in the resurrection--
- when it comes right down to it - their
practice makes it appear that they don't.
- and as a result--people are still in their
sins, and that doesn't seem to bother folks
too much.

- this is one of the main ideas we're trying to get across
tonight.
- you know we're not talking about sinless perfection.
- BUT THE RESURRECTION IS MORE THAN AN ANCIENT
DOCTRINE TO BE BELIEVED IN SOME INTELLECTUAL WAY
- the resurrection has contemporary applications
for us individually and as a group.

- as we think about the future if the Lord tarries
- the kind of church we want to be ought not just to
include numbers and graphs
- it ought to include lifestyle and holiness
- because of the resurrection, we ought to be "aiming
high" in terms of our standards for purity.

- that means we're going to obey the Bible by
"stimulating one another to love and good works."
- our relationships with one another will include
more than just "superficial chit-chat"
- our ministry to one another will have a heavy
emphasis on discipleship and growth

- none of this "boys will be boys" mentality or "you
can't teach an old dog new tricks"

- churches that believe in the resurrection believe that
we're no longer "in our sins"
- and we can be taking substantial steps of growth

- that affects our relationships to other churches as well

- there's too much of a pessimistic attitude toward the
church at large today.
- "we need revival" and "the church is anemic" and all
the rest

- those statements may be true but the question is -
what are we going to do about that as a church?

- are we going to throw the concept of the church
away and come up with a new organization?
- are we going to become cynical and proud
- are we going to hold on tight and wait for the
rapture?

- see, what impact should a firm belief in the
resurrection have on our view of other churches?

- the answer ought to be - there's great hope for
the church.
- churches can become more effective.
- churches can grow in their appreciation for
the sufficiency of the Scriptures.
- the future of the church is bright in the
sense that genuine believers are no longer
in their sins.

- and that's affected us so we're saying:
- we're going to try to have an impact on other churches.
- we're going to have a missionary conference-yes it
takes a lot of work by everyone in the church
- but we're going to do it--because we have hope
for the church.

- we're going to try to have a ministry to pastors and
churches through our training programs.
- we're not going to "whine" if someone like Doc Smith
is gone for a while because we have a vision of
helping and ministering to other churches.

- Why? - because we believe our Savior is alive.
- we believe He is building His church.
- and if we can have a positive impact on the church-
building process, we're going to do it
wholeheartedly, and with energy and enthusiasm--
because we believe in the resurrection and all of
it's implications.

- OTHER INPUT?

- so one personal implications of not believing in the
resurrection is that we'd still be in our sins
- another personal implication is found in verse 18:
(READ)

B. The dead in Christ would be perished

- if there's no resurrection, then our Lord wasn't
raised
- and every believer who has already died won't
be raised either.

- now we've been turning each of these around since
we are people who believe in the resurrection
- and we want to know how this belief ought to
affect our lives today.

- the answer from this part of the passage is that we
have a great hope and anticipation of being
reunited with those believers who have preceded us
in death.

- this isn't a "pipe dream" or a "vague possibility"

- our Lord said, "I am the resurrection, and the
life, he that believes in me, though he were dead,
yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die."

- of course our Lord said that to Martha, the
sister of Lazarus, the man who in John 11 had
been physically dead for four days.

- just to prove the spiritual point He was
making, the Bible says
- the Lord went to the tomb where Lazarus was
laid
- prayed to the Father, and then said--
- Lazarus--come forth

- the Bible says - "and he that was dead came forth, bound
hand and foot with grave clothes ; and his face was bound
with a cloth. Jesus said unto them, "Loose him, and let
him go"

- because our Lord is raised - you and I have the great hope
and anticipation of meeting those believers who have gone
before us.

- I can't wait to talk to Paul, and Peter, and John
- I want to meet Stephen, and Timothy, and Barnabus
- think of all the great believers who have gone before us

- some of you who have a theological bent are going to want
to talk to John Calvin, and Martin Luther

- some who have a special appreciation for music are going to
want to meet Fanny Crosby, Horatio Spattford

- some who are into church history are going to want to talk
to D.L. Moody, the Wesleys, Billy Sunday

- THATS GOING TO HAPPEN - and it may be today!

- I think in verse 18, Paul especially wanting to call to
mind special loved ones and friends who have preceded us
in death.
- I realize that calls up different thoughts for
different folks.
- you might be thinking right now of a parent or
grandparent.
- it might be a spouse or a child.
- a brother or sister.

- it may be a person who had a special ministry to
you or your family.
- maybe it was a former pastor or Sunday School
teacher.

- but the day is coming, and it may be soon - when we'll be
able to join those folks and fellowship with them
- we believe that, and we're encouraged by that--because
we believe in the resurrection.

- the last personal implication is found in verse 19 (READ)

C. We would, of all men, be most miserable

- literally the idea is - "to be pitied"

- if there is no resurrection, our state is sad, pitiful,
miserable

- of course the other side of that one is - men and women
who believe in the resurrection have great joy in Him.

- there is joy in serving a Risen Savior
- we can rejoice evermore
- we can even rejoice in trials, knowing that the
"sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be
compared with the glory which shall be revealed in
us."

- Because of the resurrection, there ought to be a:
- bounce in your step,
- song on your lips
- joy in your heart

- as one preacher put it - "If this subject doesn't light
your fire, your wood is wet”