1 Corinthians 15,1-11
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
December 1 2002
Intro: Once again the Apostle Paul shifts gears, going in a different direction, still addressing a series of questions he was asked by the church at Corinth.
1 Corinthians 7:1, Now concerning the things of which you wrote to me:…
A- He has finished addressing problems in the church and is now going to address the doctrinal issues (the resurrection).
1- The doctrine of the resurrection is the basis of all Christian churches.
a- If you don’t believe in the resurrection then you are not a Christian.
1 Corinthians 15:17, And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
b- Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ we have no avocet to intercede for us and are dead in our sins.
- AND maybe Jesus was just another false prophet who died as an insane man on that cross.
· Remember our progression: Scriptures, their fulfillment, Jesus’ death, His resurrection, His asendtion, The Holy Spirit.
2- The doctrine of the resurrection is critical.
a- The cornerstone of the Lord’s earthly teaching.
Mark 8:31, And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again.
b- The illustration of His earthly ministry.
John 11:25, Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.
- In the book of Acts it was the center of every sermon given.
B- Without the resurrection of Jesus:
1- The O.T. scriptures are full of holes and the N.T. is not true.
2- There is no resurrection of believers.
3- And our beliefs are no different than any other belief.
a- All built upon the foundation of man’s graves.
4- BUT with the resurrection our beliefs are set apart in truth.
a- Built on the foundation of the one who, today, sits in the heavens (dwelling place of God).
1 Corinthians 15:1, Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,
A- Moreover brethren = More importantly my fellow believers.
1- “I declare the Gospel”
a- More importantly than anything discussed
- the spoken word of God is the most important things a church does.
See 1 Corinthians 14:23-25
(The proper use of any gift of the Spirit is to lead to the preaching of the Word which leads to a right relationship with God).
See Acts 2
A- V:1-12 (The exorcising of gifts).
1- V:13-36 (The preaching of the Word)
2- V:37-38 (The effect of the Word and sinful man)
3- V:41 (The result)
4- V:42 (The future)
Romans 10:17, So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand,2 by which also you are saved, …
Ø Paul is going to offer a series of proof concerning the resurrection this being the 1st.
A- Look at your own lives, (the 1st proof is in the changed life of the believer).
1- Every life that has been miraculously altered.
2- Every life that has been made new through belief.
Read 2 Corinthians 3:1-3
a- Is Jesus Lord = His subjects
b- Is CCO of God = The moving of the H.S.
c- Is Mike Pastor = Only if you say so.
d- Are you saved = Is there life change
e- Will we be resurrected = So far everything in the bible has been true.
Psalm 119:160, The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever. (The biggest Chapter in the Bible).
1 Corinthians 15:2, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
A- “unless you believed in vain.” = To say you have believed bit there was never any effect in you life.
1- Is your desire for the world, above your desire for God.
a- Do you love God’s word and His people.
Read 1 John 1:5-7
2- A non-saving faith is all external.
3- A saving faith is internal expressed externally.
a- Can I loose my salvation?
- Salvation = A creating work of the Holy Spirit working through The Word.
· Does God un-create people??
Philippians 1:6, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Ø #2- We have the scriptural proof of the resurrection.
Read Verses 3-4
A- Paul says: Check it out, This good news, that I spoke to you, was given to me by God through the O.T. scriptures.
1- Look at the existing (O.T.) word of God concerning Messiah and you’ll see.
a- He was to be crucified
b- He was to be resurrected.
- Paul brought no new doctrine to their ears.
Acts 17:11, These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
2- In Matthew when the Jews asked Jesus for a sign the sign that He referred them to was the O.T. scriptures (Jonah)
Ø CHECK OUT: Genesis 22:8, Psalm 16:8-11, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53
Hosea 6:1-3, Come, and let us return to the Lord; For He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; On the third day He will raise us up, That we may live in His sight. Let us know, Let us pursue the knowledge of the Lord. His going forth is established as the morning; He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.
Ø The 3rd proof of the resurrection is the eyewitness accounts.
Read Verses 5-7
A- The problem of the O.J. trial
1- 3 eyewitnesses and 2 were not talking anymore.
a- Paul’s list of witnesses reads in order
V:5, Peter and the 12
1- Peter 1st because he was most in need of grace (the denial)
2- The 12 (11 at this time) of Easter night.
John 20:19, Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
a- WHY: to establish their Apostleship.
Acts 1:22, “beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
- What is the only thing that could turn the Apostles form sniveling cowards to bold preachers of God’s Word (All went to their deaths).
· Being eyewitnesses of the resurrection.
V:6, The 500 brethren
V:7a James
1- Not the Apostles (2 of them)
2- The Lord’s ½ brother, the author of the epistle and Pastor of the church at Jerusalem.
V:7b, All the apostles (Others sent with a message) Male and female.
Ø Then we have the last proof, a 1st person witness.
Read Verses 8-11
A- Paul: I preach because of:
1- Who I was
Acts 9:1-2, Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.
2- What happened to me
Acts 22:7, “And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’
3- The change in me
1 Timothy 1:16, … I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life.
4- And who He has made me today.
Ephesians 1:1, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God,
1 To the saints who are in Ephesus, and faithful in Christ Jesus:
5- All based upon what Jesus has done and continues to do after His death and because of His RESURRECTION.
1 Corinthians 15:11, Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
A- SO WHAT ABOUT YOU!!!
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
December 1 2002
1 Corinthians 7:1
1 Corinthians 15:17
Mark 8:31
John 11:25
1 Corinthians 14:23-25
Acts 2
Romans 10:17
2 Corinthians 3:1-3
Psalm 119:160
1 John 1:5-7
Philippians 1:6
Acts 17:11
Hosea 6:1-3
John 20:19
Acts 1:22
Acts 9:1-2
Acts 22:7
1 Timothy 1:16
Ephesians 1:1