I CORINTHIANS 15:12-20 – CHRIST IS RISEN

INTRODUCTION:

This is one of the greatest days of that history ever recorded. It is the day that was so important in history that it separated time from BC to AD. It is so important today that it separates life from old man to the new man. From natural birth to Spiritual birth and gives us the passage right from death unto life.

V1-11 – THE GOSPEL OF THE RESURRECTION

Without the Resurrection there is not gospel and without the gospel there is no resurrection.

Without both the gospel and the resurrection there is no salvation and salvation is both capped and underpinned by holding hard and fast to the gospel and the resurrection.

Paul declares that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. That Christ was buried and rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Therefore the gospel and the resurrection are inseparable.

The only way you can truly believe in the resurrection is to believe the account of the Scriptures. If you do not believe or will not accept the Scriptures you will not believe and will not accept the resurrection.

Paul lists some of the eyewitnesses who without contradiction were there but made an amazing and starling statement concerning him that carries over unto even you and me today. Paul asserted that he saw the Christ as one born out of due time.  Paul said by the grace of God I am what I am.

Could it be possible that by the grace and Spirit of God Christ is manifest even in the 21^st century to those who will hear and those who will believe? I affirm yes, it is the gospel which propels sinful man into the path of faith and alleges that he is risen and he is alive.

It is as though God says I will leave it up to you, you can accept or you can reject but you cannot say you can not see because grace and the Spirit plainly reveals to even the most sinful men that Christ is indeed the Son of God.

V12-18 – THE AUTHORITY OF THE RESURRECTION

Paul hangs the entire gospel and all of preaching upon the fact that Christ rose from the dead. The authority of the resurrection is not just that Christ is raised but that all men who accept Christ will one day be raised up in like fashion. Paul literally says if Christ is not raised then you are still a sinner and there is no hope for you.

Paul uses (if) in a manner to affirm rather than to question. Paul is completely and totally transformed and changed from the man he used to be. He is saying to those who believe in the resurrection that Christ is raised and to those who do not believe in a resurrection that it is the only hope to be saved from their sins.

1 – (V13) If there be no resurrection of the dead then Christ is not risen.

2 – (V14) If Christ be not risen both our preaching and your faith is in vain.

3 – (V15) If Christ is not risen we are liars because we have testified he is alive.

4 – (V16) If the dead rise not then Christ is not raised.

5 – (V17) If Christ is not raised you are still in your sins.

6 – (V18) If Christ is not raised those who have fallen asleep are perished.

7 – (V19) If Christ is not raised we only have hope in this life and we are of all men most miserable.

V19-26 – THE ENEMY OF THE RESURRECTION

Paul says the last enemy to be destroyed is death. In the first Adam we all face an appointment with the first death. Even those who are saved face the appointment with the first death. But Paul teaches us that the second Adam assures us the second death will have no power of us.

If Jesus did not live a perfect and sinless life then the enemy of death would have controlled his natural body. But because Jesus the second Adam lived a perfect and sinless life he not only destroyed the works of the devil but conquered our last enemy death.

In the first Adam we all pay the price of the natural man, which is the price of a natural death. God told Adam when you eat of the fruit of the tree you shall die and so death came upon all men.

In the second Adam we all receive the purchased benefit of reconciliation, which is eternal life with our God. Just as Christ came forward with the keys of hell and death the thief on the cross was rejoicing his way through paradise of heaven.

Therefore the last enemy of man is death. Not the first death but the second death. Jesus said do not fear man who can take your life but fear God who can both take your life and require the price of your soul. Jesus conquered all enemies and paid all prices for you to be saved today.

 V27-34 – THE CALL OF THE RESURRECTION

The call of the resurrection is that there is coming an end to the reign of sin in this world and there is coming a judgment where all sin and sinners will be judged. Not just according to the kind or depth of sin but whether or not they receive the gospel of the resurrected Christ.

Paul said why stand we in jeopardy every hour? What will it take to make you believe? Can you not feel the calling of the Holy Spirit? Can you not reason that the Scriptures contain the way of life? Do you not recognize that ten our ten men die? Can you hear the call of grace today saying this is the way of life, this is the Son of God, he is alive, he is alive, he is alive, and he died so you can live with him forever.

CONCLUSION:

We must make a decision today whether we believe Christ rose from the dead. For if we do not believe he rose from the dead we cannot be saved and this life is all we will have where we can feel the presence and calling of the Holy Spirit of God.

Because after death is the judgment!