Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

In his Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding, David Hume offered two definitions of miracle: first, he said that a miracle was a violation of natural law.

His second, more robust definition was as follows: "A transgression of a law of nature by a particular volition of the Deity, or by the interposition of some invisible agent."

If Hume was right, then God is behaving in a potentially unethical or inconsistent manner when he performs miracles.

Hume uses this line of reasoning in an attempt to show that there is inconsistency within the Christian belief system.

Was Hume right in his definition of miracle?

Why?

A miracle is an act of God that involves the interruption of the natural order or state of affairs in a way that there is no possible naturalistic explanation for the event.

How did you come to believe in the resurrection of Jesus?

mizmôr is Hebrew for Psalms תוֹרַה, נְבִיאִ֔ים, כתוּבִמ.

The law, the prophets, and the writings.

Was it a difficult step of faith for you?

Why or why not?

Notice that the Lord did not open Lydia’s heart so that she could give the evidence for Christianity a fair hearing.

προσέχω: to pay close attention to, to give heed to, follow.

to be in a continuous state of readiness to learn of any future danger, need, or error, and to respond appropriately.

to be in a continuous state of readiness to learn of any future danger, need, or error, and to respond appropriately

It is an infinitive: verbal noun.

It is an Infinitive of result (Rogers).

The use of this word form places the emphasis on effect.

It indicates the outcome produced by the controlling verb.

God opened Lydias heart resulting in her giving heed to the things Paul was saying.

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 332.

Let’s move for the sake of time.

Can you reject the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ and be a Christian?

Why?

If you reject the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, you reject the gospel.

If you reject the gospel, you are not a Christian.

Therefore, if you reject the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ, you are not a Christian.

What would you do if one of your friends who was also a member of HGBC confided in you that he or she did not believe in a literal physical resurrection of Jesus Christ

Those who reject the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ do not believe the gospel.

My first point: your belief in the resurrection as a justified true or warranted belief, as genuine knowledge, is a miracle.

Therefore, those who reject the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ are not saved.

The Good News of Christ’s Resurrection

Some Matters of Fact about the Gospel

Paul preached = aorist tense which is the perfective aspect.

It sees the action of the verb as one move from beginning to end regardless of who long the action took: the lightening flashed or death reigned from Moses to Christ.

They received = aorist -> perfective aspect.

Like pointing to a bookshelf.

This is not pointing to their conversion at the point of hearing and believing the gospel.

It is pointing to the content of the gospel itself.

The word receive is paralambano here and it means to gain control or jurisdiction over.

In which you stand = perfect tense -> stative aspect (like pointing to a specific book on the shelf).

This reflects a given, often complex, state of affairs.

By which you are saved = present tense -> imperfective aspect (like pointing to a specific shelf in the book shelf).

The internal structure of this aspect sees the action as unfolding.

The consequences of their having come to stand in the gospel is that their faith is not in vain!

It is not in vain in that it is not groundless.

What is the relationship between our contemplating the gospel of our salvation and our daily living?

Paul handed down to them ἐν πρώτοις: what was of first importance.

REB’s first and foremost well captures the logical rather than temporal force of ἐν πρώτοις in this context, i.e., of first importance

REB’s first and foremost well captures the logical rather than temporal force of ἐν πρώτοις in this context, i.e., of first importance (as NRSV, NIV).

Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New Intrnational Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 1186.

Anthony C. Thiselton, The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text, New International Greek Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000), 1186.

REB’s first and foremost well captures the logical rather than temporal force of ἐν πρώτοις in this context, i.e., of first importance (as NRSV, NIV).

Paul does, however, refer to a continuity of handing on and receiving which constitutes, in effect, an early creed which declares the absolute fundamentals of Christian faith and on which Christian identity (and the experience of salvation) is built.

The handing down points to confession or early creeds in ancient Christianity.

The first importance points to a logical emphasis not a temporal one even though we often place the most important items first.

Jesus died for our sins = aorist -> perfective aspect.

Jesus was buried = aorist -> perfective aspect.

Jesus was raised = perfect ->stative aspect

Paul emphasized to the Corinthians that they had come to STAND in the gospel and now he emphasizes that Jesus has come to be RAISED from the dead.

The consequences of Jesus having been raised from the dead are that their faith is not in vain!

Faith has warrant/grounding , and Christianity is not meaningless.

What makes the resurrection good news?

The unbeliever has cause to tremble for it is by this Christ that they will be judged.

The believer has great cause for confidence, knowing that Christ’s work on his behalf has been ratified by the resurrection.

The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection

The argument:

If there is no resurrection, Christ is not risen from the dead.

If Christ is not risen from the dead, our preaching/your faith is in vain.

Therefore, if there is no resurrection, our preaching/your faith is in vain.

This is your standard hypothetical syllogism.

Paul then is not providing an argument for the resurrection of Christ.

He is using the fact of the resurrection of Christ to provide grounding for the belief that Christians will experience a future resurrection

What would you do if one of your friends who was also a member of HGBC confided in you that he or she did not believe in a literal physical resurrection of Jesus Christ?

Paul then is not providing an argument for the resurrection of Christ.

He is using the fact of the resurrection of Christ to provide grounding for the belief that Christians will experience a future resurrection.

Why are Christians the most pitiful of all people if Christ did not rise from the dead?

Theories of the resurrection from unbelievers.

How should we celebrate Easter in light of Paul’s emphasis on the importance of Jesus’ resurrection?

Now, both the NASB and the ESV use the word vain 5x in .

But there are two different Greek works behind those translations.

εἰκῇ: pertaining to being without careful thought, without due consideration, in a haphazard manner.

The idea is that their faith was without warrant.

In philosophy we call this the de jure objection.

It means there is something wrong with how a person has formed a belief.

A belief is not well-formed.

Little Green Men on mars is one example.

The Browns will field a respectable team in 2018 is another one.

κενός: pertaining to being devoid of intellectual, moral, or spiritual value, empty.

Without purpose or result.

Pertains to a complete lack of understanding and insight.

Without value.

Wasted my time.

It was for nothing.

On the one hand if Christ was not raised from the dead, then you have no warrant for your faith.

On other hand, if Christ was not raised from the dead, then Christianity is vanity at its very core.

This should give those who focus on shaping cultures and politics reason to pause and reconsider their approach.

The Guarantee of Our Resurrection