Trevor S. Ferguson
February 12, 2011
1st Corinthians 15:12-20 (KJV)
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?
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
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.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
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.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Key thought: My life can be transformed from despair to hope; because he lives!
INTRODUCTION
We are living in desperate times! International news is filled with stories of WAR – Iraq; Afghanistan, the Middle East. There is constant talk of potential wars in Iran and North Korea. Here in Jamaica, the local news is filled with a never-ending stream of murder – men, women, children, and even babies. There are concerns about worldwide economic crises even as we try to recover from the recent global recession. The world system seems designed to squeeze every sap of energy out of our lives, then leaves us empty, hopeless and in despair!
Today however as we reflect on the passage in 1st Corinthians 15 we realise that our hope in not based on the fortunes of this world but in the fact that we have the hope of living in another world: a world that is not affected by the limitations or problems of this world system, but is based upon the hope of new life with the resurrected Christ in heaven. Our lives can be transformed because he lives!
EXPOSITION
Some people today still question the resurrection of Jesus Christ! The bible however emphatically declares this as fact. All four gospel writers attest unequivocally affirm the resurrection. Paul and Peter in their epistles also affirm the resurrection. John also testifies to the resurrection, both in his epistles and in the Revelation. In today’s text Paul addresses the question of the resurrection in response to persons in the Corinthian church who had begun to express doubt.
In verses 1-4 of 1st Corinthians 15, Paul restates the gospel message - "...Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures".
In verses 5-8 he presents evidence from eyewitness – Peter, the apostles, 500 brethren at once, James, all the apostles, and finally Paul himself. Paul’s statements here is supported by Luke in Acts 1:3 where he states that Jesus “showed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”
Paul then poses a fundamental question in vs. 12: If Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some of you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
What would be the consequences if Christ had not risen?
Paul states:
- All preaching would be in vain
- All faith would be in vain
- We would be false witnesses of God
- We would still be in our sins
- Those who have died are perished – all the martyrs would have given up their lives in vain
- We who are alive would be without hope
Paul further states that if all our hope was in this life we would be of all men most miserable; just people to be pitied.
The good news however is found in verse 20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.” We note that Christ was the “first fruits of them that slept”. First fruits carry the promise of a greater harvest to come! Christ WAS first; WE ARE NEXT!
So then, BECAUSE HE LIVES:
· We have the guarantee of a risen Saviour
· We have the guarantee of Salvation
· We have the guarantee of a future resurrection
· WE HAVE GREAT HOPE – not to be ashamed of; that last beyond this life
· We don’t have to focus on the desperate situations in this world; we don’t have to despair
· Our lives can be transformed from despair to great hope!
CONCLUSION
Do you have this hope today? The promise of salvation is extended to whosoever will. Jesus is waiting to receive you into his kingdom, He wants to put His Spirit in you; He wants to put his name on you; He wants to seal you for the resurrection.
If you have not yet received salvation, accept him today! Put on his name by water baptism in the name of Jesus. Seek the baptism of the Holy Ghost today. This is God’s plan for salvation. There is no other way.
Your life will be transformed from desperation to great hope – BECAUSE HE LIVES!
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