JESUS CHRIST, THE
RISEN KING
1 Corinthians 15:1-11,
20-22
TAKE A STAND FOR JESUS
V:1. " Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the
gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your
stand."
A. We need to remind ourselves of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ.
1. We can get so
busy in our daily activities that we can forget about the GOOD
NEWS that
indwells us.
2. We must take a
stand for Jesus each day.
3. When we get up
in the morning we should immediate take a stand for Jesus.
4. We have Jesus in
our minds, but do we consult Him before we take any
actions?
5. Jesus can't be
an after thought, but should be a forethought.
B. The Apostle Paul
wrote to believers.
1. The Bible is for
believers.
2. Non believers
are not equipped to understand God's Word.
3. Although, we as
believers are equipped, we must constantly study the Word to
build our
understanding of the Word.
4. We must practice
standing on God's Word to make it a lifestyle.
V:2. " By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly
to the word I preached to you.
Otherwise, you have
believed in vain."
A. Faith in the death
and resurrection of Jesus Christ, saves us from our sins.
1. The death and
resurrection of Jesus is the completion of God's plan of
redemption
for man.
2. Before the
foundation of the world, God had decided on the redemption
of man. Luke
6:49
3. Before the
foundation of the world, God knew Adam would sin in the
garden of
Eden destroying the fellowship with Him.
4. Before the
foundation of the world, Jesus was chosen to be the redeemer. Eph 1:4
B. Those who claim
Jesus without faith in Him, claim the Gospel in vain.
1. There are
many Church goers and truly religious
people who do not see Jesus
as their
redeemer or have not accepted Him as their redeemer.
2. We can't just
have a passing knowledge of Jesus. we must establish a relationship
with Him through faith to know Him.
PROOF OF HIS DEATH
V:3. " For what
I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for
our sins according
to the Scriptures."
A. The death of
Christ was witnessed by His disciples, devout Jews from every nation
under the sun ( Acts 2:5) and the entire city of Jerusalem .
1. The death of
Jesus was marked by a violent earthquake in the city of Jerusalem
that
caused the
veil in the Temple separating the Holy
of Holies, to split from top
to bottom. Matt 27:51
2. There was an
eclipse of the sun that cause darkness in the city in the middle of the
day. Matt 27:45
3. Dead saints were released from their graves and
walked the streets of Jerusalem
Matt 27:52-53
4. The death of
Jesus was confirmed by a Roman soldier who pierce Him in the side
with a sword. Matt 27:54
a. The death
of Jesus was marked by the miracle of blood and water flowing from
His side
at the same time.
B. Proof of the death of Jesus was marked by a limp lifeless
body taken down from
the cross.
1. Proof of His
death was a lifeless body wrapped for burial.
2. Proof of His
death was a lifeless body wrapped for burial and placed in a tomb.
C. Proof of the death of Jesus was His final statement,
"It is finished".
1. Proof of the
death of Jesus was the women disciples at the tomb on resurrection day.
2. Proof of the
death of Jesus was the testimony of Angels on resurrection day.
PROPHESIES OF HIS RESURRECTION
V:4. " That he was buried, that he was raised on the
third day according to the
Scriptures."
A. The death of Jesus
was the means to an end; His resurrection.
1. Everything
about the life and death of Jesus was prophesied and recorded in the
Old Testament
Scriptures.
2. When the
Scribes and the Pharisees asked for a sign, Jesus pointed to
Jonah's
experience in the belly of a fish for three days, before being
vomited out
on dry land.
3. Jesus was
bruised for our iniquities Isa 53:5, 12
B. Jesus discussed
His death and resurrection at least three times with His disciples.
Matt 16:21 , 17:23 ,
20:19
1. Jesus told His
disciples that no one takes His life, He has the power to lay it
down and the
power to take it up again. John 10:18
2. Jesus told Mary
and Martha that He was the resurrection and the life. John 11:24
3. Scripture is a testimony to the
resurrection of Jesus.
PROOF OF HIS RESURRECTION
V:5. " And that He appeared to Peter, and then to the
Twelve"
A. Jesus left the
evidence of His resurrection.
1. The evidence
of the resurrection was the empty tomb.
Luke 24:3
2. The evidence
of the resurrection was the strong arm
of the law, the Roman
soldiers acting like dead men on
Sunday Morning. Matt 28:4
3. The evidence
of the resurrection was the massive stone covering the tomb's
entry,
rolled away. Matt 28:2-4
4. The evidence
of the resurrection was the Chief Church folk lying that the body
had been stolen to keep the church members from knowing the
truth. Matt 27:64
5. The evidence
of the resurrection was the women being drawn to the tomb
on Sunday
morning. Mark 16:1
a. Jesus
said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.
6. The evidence
of the resurrection was the two Angels in dazzling white
proclaiming the resurrection of Jesus. Luke 24:6
7. The evidence
of the resurrection was the fulfillment of the prophecies of His
resurrection.
B. Jesus provided eye
witnesses to His death and resurrection early Sunday Morning.
1. Mary Magdalene
met Jesus early Sunday morning at the grave yard. Mark 16:9
2. Two disciples on their way from Jerusalem
to Emmaus on Sunday morning,
discussed
the Old Testament Scriptures with Jesus concerning Himself.
Luke
24:13-15
EYE WITNESSES TO THE RESURRECTION
V: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."
A. Where were these five
hundred disciples when Pilate made His decision to crucify
Jesus?
1. At the trial it
was the voice of the people that led Pilate to His decision.
2. He was looking
for these five hundred disciples to cry out that Jesus was innocence.
Luke 23:20-24
3. These 500
brothers missed an opportunity to stand up for Jesus.
B. When you don't
stand up for Jesus, the voice of Satan is heard.
1. When you don't
stand up for Jesus, foolish things take place.
2. When you don't
stand up for Jesus, the voice of wisdom is silence.
3. When you don't
stand up for Jesus, those who are innocence are betrayed.
V:7. " Then he
appeared to James, then to all the apostle."
A. Some say this
James was the Lord Jesus half brother
Gal 1:19, Barnes Notes
1. This James (
the Lord's brother) was not among the followers of Jesus while He was
alive. Mark 6:3, Luke 8:20.
2. Jesus indicated
that a prophet may be without honor in his home town and his own
house. Matt 13:57
a. It is not
unusual for some one who had little to say about a person when he was
alive, to
have something good to say at his death.
b. We ought to
compliment a person while they are alive and can appreciate the
encouragement.
B. Jesus appeared to
the Apostles several times to console them, remind them of His
teaching and to
get them prepared for the mission ahead of them.
1. The Church, in
it's infant stage needed all the disciples to proclaim the
Gospel of
Jesus Christ to an unbelieving world.
2. The Apostles
became the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ, establishing new
Churches and ordaining Pastors and ministers.
A RELATIONSHIP THAT CHANGES LIVES
V:8. " And last of all he appeared to me also, as to
one abnormally born."
A. The Apostle Paul
was originally an enemy of the Church.
1. He went about
persecuting Church members and dragging them to jail.
2. On the road
to Damascus to persecute the
Church, he met Jesus and became a
follower of
Jesus,
B. The Lord can
change the hearts and minds of anyone He chooses, to serve
him.
1. Paul had witness
the persecution of Stephen, urging others
to stone Him.
2. He was zealous
in his mission to destroy the Church.
3. Jesus changed
His heart from wanting to destroy the Church to wanting to build
up the Church.
4. Jesus changed
Paul from an enemy to a friend.
C. We all have been enemies to the cross.
1. We couldn't help
it, we were born that way. 1 Cor 15:22
2. Christ died
while we were enemies so that we could become His disciples. Rom 5:10
3. A relationship
with Christ is a life changing event.
HUMBLE YOURSELF
V:9. " For I am the least of the apostles and do not
even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church
of God
A. One thing we must understand, is no one deserves to be
saved.
1. We cannot earn
salvation, it is a free gift.
2. We cannot earn
the love of God, it is freely given.
B. We were messed up
in the mind with no way to Christ until Jesus offered Himself
as a sacrifice
for us.
1. God is love.
2. God so loved
the world, that anyone who believes in Him will not perish, but
inherit
eternal life.
GIVE GOD THE CREDIT
V:10. " But by
the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect.
No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was
with me."
A. We cannot take
credit for who we are, what we are or what we have a accomplished.
1. We have to
give praise and honor to God.
2. God favored
us to be His servants.
3. He favored us
to do His will.
4. He equipped and empower us for the
mission of Jesus Christ.
B. We need a desire
to serve God.
1. We have to be
willing to serve.
2. We have to
make ourselves available to serve.
3. We have to be
committed to serve.
4. We have to be
grateful that God gave us an opportunity to serve.
V:11. " Whether,
then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you
believed."
A. It does not make
any difference what church you belong too, as long as Jesus Christ
and Him
Crucified is preached.
1. Do not get
excited about a preacher unless He is preaching Jesus.
2. If the Church
you are going to is preaching a Gospel other than Jesus, you need
to find another Church.
B. The Word should be
taught just as God intended without making it fit our
lifestyle or
beliefs.
1. Jesus said that
man shall not live by bread along, but by every Word of God.
2. You have to
study the Word for yourself to know it.
3. Your study and
meditation is aided by the Holy Spirit who is
your resident
teacher of God's Word.
1 Corinthians 15:20-22
THE FIRST FRUITS OF THE RESURRECTION
V:20. " But Christ has indeed been raised from the
dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep."
A. If Christ had not
risen from the dead, then our faith would be in vain.
1. If Christ had
not risen from the dead, there would be no resurrection at all.
2. If Christ had
not risen from the dead, there would be no forgiveness of sin.
3. If Christ had
not risen from the dead there would be no regeneration of the
spirit.
4. If Christ had
not risen from the dead, there would be no eternal hope.
5. If Christ had
not risen from the dead, there would be no victory over sin.
B. When Christ comes back for His Church, the dead in Christ
will rise first.
1. Many of the
saints of the Old Testament were dead before the resurrection of
Christ, but
they believed in the eternal hope.
2. Christ is the
first to be raised from the dead providing eternal life for all who
obeyed God's
commandments.
3. Christ is the first fruits of their eternal hope.
4. Jesus is the
first of the harvest for His Church.
a. Jesus said
the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.
b. We are all
workers in the harvest.
V:21. " For since death came through a man, the
resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. "
A. Adam's disobedience in the Garden of Eden started the
chain of events that led
to man's
separation from God.
1. Adam yielded to the suggestion of the his wife to eat from the Tree of
Knowledge
and of Good and
Evil which led to the condemnation of all men before God.
2. Before Adam ate
from the tree he was innocence before God.
3. After Adam ate
from the tree, he had knowledge of good and evil, which
was not the
will of God.
4. God intends for
us to know good, do good and hate evil.
B. Before Jesus came into our lives we were dead in our
sins.
1. Now that we have
a relationship with Jesus through faith, we are alive in Him.
2. If we abide in
His Word, Jesus will abide in us.
V:22. " For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will
be made alive. "
A. Christ died that
we might live.
1. The death of
Jesus on the cross is the only death that affects the eternal
life of
others.
2. Christ
resurrection made it possible for all believers to be resurrected.
B. Other good and faithful men have died but have no effect
on your eternal life.
1. Noah was captain
of the first ship. His ship survived the great flood,
but afterwards
He died.
2. Abraham is the
father of Faith and he died, and is still dead.
3. Moses was a
great general in the Lords army. He died
and is still dead.
4. David was great
King, a man after God's own heart, but He died and is still dead.
5. Solomon was the
wisest king of all times, but he died and is still dead.
6. Job endured
tremendous hardships standing on God's Word.
a. He said, I
know my redeemer lives. Job 19:25
b. But He died
and is still dead.
C. Jesus Christ died, but He didn't stay dead.
1. He was raised
on the third day and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
2. Jesus died to
live again.
3. He died so you
and I could have the right to eternal life
HE DIED, I KNOW HE DIED, HE GOT UP AND STILL LIVES
PRAISE GOD FOR JESUS THE LORD OF THE RESURRECTION.
Rev. M. Mitchell,
Asst pastor of GMBC
No comments:
Post a Comment