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INTRODUCTION
ILLUS: We have had baptism and membership classes this winter during the Sunday School hour.
I have taught a series to the adults and a series to the children. The children’s class
consists of five 10 and 11 year old girls. We had a delightful time asking and answering
questions. One day I was teaching on the ten commandments and pointed out the fourth command
which says “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.” I stated that the
Sabbath to the Jews was Saturday, but to Christians we worship God on Sunday. Then I asked,
“Why do we worship on Sunday rather than Saturday like the Jews?” One girl
quickly raised her hand and said: “Because Saturday is too busy?” That was a
great honest answer, not quite the one I was looking for.
Every Sunday we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Today on this Resurrection
Sunday we will look into the great resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians 15. TITLE
“IF CHRIST”
IF CHRIST had not been raised... READ 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
1. The Cross is a Meaningless Tragedy - Past
- v. 13, 15-16 Jesus would be just one of countless criminals crucified by the
Roman Empire still lying in a tomb as dust and bone.
ILLUS: Good Friday reminds us of the horror of crucifixion - torture
- Why would we want to display a cross, wear a cross for jewelry?
- Everything about the historicity of the gospels would be false, the eyewitnesses would
be deceived and deceivers for speaking, our Bibles would be untrustworthy, thus the
cruel past has utter meaninglessness -
...If Christ had not been raised...
2. Christ Jesus cannot be our Savior - Present
- vs. 14, 17 Jesus said He came to seek and to save the lost, a dead
“Savior” could not save us and give us new life.
- Why preach about Him? I am wasting my time and your time, wasting my career - I should
have been self-help guru the real Dr. Phil instead.
- Our faith is in vain, worthless - faith has to have an object - what? Self?
- We are still locked in our sins. The cost of sin is death, no rescue from our vices,
habits, lusts, trapped in fate, hopeless in life now, no meaning.
...If Christ had not been raised...
3. We Conclude there is no eternal life - Future
- vs.18, 19 No hope for our own life after death, no hope for our own
resurrection. The grave would be the final conclusion - die like a dog.
- Those who have gone before us - simply gone. And whatever glory we think is out there
for us after this life - pity us for being so foolish.
ILLUS: Remember Dr. William Provine, an atheist? If Christ had not been raised he
would be right.
BUT IF CHRIST had been raised… READ 1 Corinthians 15:20-26
1. The Empty Tomb validates the Cross - Past
- “Death could not keep its prey.” Death was powerless over Christ.
- vs. 20-21 The Cross is not a meaningless tragedy. The empty tomb trumps it. The
cross is the means to destroy our sins, sin is dead - because Christ came back to life.
- The resurrection was God’s acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice of for our sins.
The resurrection is really real. The most proven event of history.
...If Christ had been raised...
2. Everyone is offered to all to be saved - Present
- v. 22 We must believe and accept it of course. But the sacrifice of Christ and
for our sins and his resurrection for our justification is offered to all.
- The whole human race was lost in the darkness of sin, Christ same to save all who were
lost - you and me. We inherited sin from father Adam, BUT we are gifted eternal life
through Jesus - Romans 6:23; 10:9-10
- Unlimited atonement - offered to all, have you accepted it?
ILLUS: Those of us who like statistics - ever wondered in past 2000 years how many
people have lived on earth? (World 6.7 billion; USA 309 million) Over 2000 years how
many people saved? Millions, Billions... Christ died for all the population.
“When He was on the cross, I was on His mind...”
...If Christ had been raised...
3. Eternity if filled with Glory - Future
- vs. 23-26 “Someday we will see Him face to face and tell the story saved
by grace...”
- Funerals are not the end, just a hallway from earth to heaven for believers. “Oh,
that will be glory for me...”
- Heaven is beyond our most glorious imaginations - perfection!
QUOTE: A new book Raised with Christ: How the Resurrection Changes
Everything by Adrain Warnock, in an interview said: “The Resurrection
also gives us incredible hope to face the troubles in our lives. This world really
is not the end. The day is coming, with renewed bodies, we will all meet again, and
we will see Jesus face-to-face! There will be no more pain, no more sin, no more
death...” (CT 03/22/2010)
...If Christ had been raised...
!!Christ has been raised from the dead!! The Empty Tomb validates the Cross. Everyone is offered
salvation. And Eternity is filled with Glory. The Past, Present and Future are taken care of
because Christ has risen from the dead...
CONCLUSION
2000 years ago this Sunday changed the world - it is the best good news in a terrible bad news world.
So what do you think? Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
- Fairy Tale - interesting story, but unbelievable
- Fact - probably true, but doesn’t change my life
- the demons believe and tremble, doesn’t change them.
- Faith - “I Believe”
- “Do you have Eternal Life?” Today believe on the Lord Jesus!
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