Cross City Church
There’s nothing quite like a personal meeting with a resurrected Jesus that will change your mind about everything. Saul became Paul and was never again the same – he’d been changed by the resurrection of Jesus. The text we will open this Easter Sunday is Paul’s testimony of how the resurrection changes everything. The Corinthians loved the idea of what Jesus offered, but they doubted His resurrection and were confused by the idea that He was still alive in spirit. So Paul enumerates the benefits of the resurrection of Jesus, join us as we celebrate five promises of the Resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:1-10
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Acts 9:3-5
As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting…”
Promise of God’s Purpose
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain… v. 10
If you do not find your purpose for life in Christ, you never will find purpose at all.
The Promise of God’s Power
…and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. v. 17
Romans 6:10-12
For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body…
The Promise of God’s Protection
…and if Christ has not been raised…then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. v. 17-18
The word “perish” means “to deprive of eternal life.” To keep from having the ultimate life God has prepared for us.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
The Promise of God’s Pleasure
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. v. 19
If your hope is only here on earth, you’re missing the greatest pleasure God has for you.
The Promise of God’s Presence
The last enemy that will be abolished is death. v. 26
Putting your trust in a resurrected Christ is life-changing. Has your life been changed?