Resurection of Christ - Chapter 15 - #3

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INTRODUCTION:    Why is Easter So Important?

  1. Within the framework of our culturally recognized holidays, Easter is a bit like an ugly step child.
  2. Is it important because we get to hunt for eggs and we get some goodies like chocolate, peeps, jelly beans, etc…
  3. Easter is important, because it is the time of year that we remember the lynchpin events of the Christian faith.

PROPOSITION:        Without Easter, there is no Christian Faith.

TRANSITION:           This morning, I would like us to ask three questions that are related to Easter .

1.      Why would there be no Christian faith if there were no Easter?

A.     1 Corinthians 15:12-21 describes 7 things that would be true if there were no Easter.

·         Jesus would still be dead and in the grave.

·         Our preaching about and telling others about Jesus would be useless. 

·         Our faith would be useless.  (Faith / religion without real substance is a waste.)

·         We would be liars and false witnesses.

·         We would still be in our sin.

·         All who die would be lost and we would have no hope.

·         We would be pathetic people deserving peoples pity, because a life of faith and hope in something that is not

      real would be a wasted life.

B.     If these 7 things were true, 3 things stand out to me.

·         We would have no meaningful eternal purpose.  Look at what Paul said – 1 Corinthians 15:32

·         We would have no hope (For forgiveness of sin, for a right relationship with God, for eternal life, of ever seeing

                                                                                                                                    our dead loved ones again.)

·         If Jesus did not rise from the Dead, then everything about Jesus is a lie.  (Then lets also get rid of Christmas.)

2.      Why Is Easter GREAT?

A.     Jesus is Risen from the dead.         John 20: 1-20, Reference 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

·         Jesus’ resurrection is cause for celebration. 

·         One of the reasons we establish holidays is to remember great events and great people. 

      Jesus is a GREAT Man who did a GREAT/AWSOME thing.  (Treating it lightly is to our shame.)

·         You need to make a decision about how you are going to respond to the message of Jesus & His resurrection.

B.     Because of Easter (what Jesus did), we have the opportunity to get the things that we need the most.

·         Forgiveness of sin.

·         Hope (For forgiveness, a right relationship with God, resurrection {self & loved ones} eternal life)

·         Victory over Sin and Death.          1 Corinthians 15:54-57

·         Meaning, Value, purpose in life                 1 Corinthians 15:58

CONCLUSION:  

3.      How will you respond to Jesus?  (There are 2 decisions that you need to make.)

A.     You need to decide what you will do with Jesus.

·         Believe in Him and what He has done or reject Him and all that He has done.

·         As far as Jesus is concerned, believing in Him is an all or nothing response.        John 14:6

·         As far as Scripture is concerned, the only belief system that has any value, is the belief in Jesus.    Acts 4:12

B.     You need to decide how you will invest your life.

·         Are you investing for eternity or for what is only gained in this life?  - Look at the example of Jesus.

·         Remember what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:58b

 

1 Corinthians 15:12-21 (NIV)

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

 

1 Corinthians 15:32 (NIV)

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”

 

John 20: 1-20  (NOT FOR POWER POINT)

 

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NIV)

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

 

1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (NIV)

54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)

Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 

John 14:6 (NIV)

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

Acts 4:12 (NIV)

Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”

 

1 Corinthians 15:58b (NIV)

… Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

 

 

 

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