“Why Believe In The Resurrection”
1 Corinthians 15:1-34
Sermon Series: “Why Believe?”
Introduction: Josh Mc Dowell writes, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless, hoaxes ever foisted upon people, or it is the most important fact of history. The resurrection issue takes the question, ‘Is Christianity valid?’ out of the realm of philosophy and makes it a question of history. Does Christianity have an historically acceptable basis?” Even beyond the most important fact of history, 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 is clear that the resurrection is the best news ever if it is true because it is life transforming. However, verses 12-19 are also very clear that if the resurrection is not true that Christians are hopeless and to be pitied. Therefore, if the resurrection is true, it is wise for us to trust and live for Jesus, but if it is false, we should completely reject him. So, why believe in the resurrection?
Main Idea: Because the resurrection is a historical fact that gives us new life when we personally trust Jesus who rose from the dead.
1. The resurrection is a historical fact based on eyewitness testimony instead of a religious belief (v. 1-11). Many people claimed to have seen Jesus raised from the dead. This text names Peter, the apostles, over 500 people at one time (and Paul said that most of them were still alive, which implies an invitation to talk to them about it), James, and Paul himself. Many of these people were killed for claiming that Jesus was alive. Lee Strobel, an atheist who turned to Christ and now writes and speaks about Jesus, says that this was a crucial point in his spiritual journey. He writes, “It had been put to me this way: People will die for their religious beliefs if they sincerely believe they’re true, but people won’t die for their religious beliefs if they know their beliefs are false. While most people can only have faith that their beliefs are true, the disciples were in a position to know without a doubt whether or not Jesus had risen from the dead. They claimed that they saw him, talked with him, and ate with him. If they weren’t absolutely certain, they wouldn’t have allowed themselves to be tortured to death for proclaiming that the Resurrection had happened.” Andy Stanley writes, “In the beginning, the church was a gloriously messy movement with a laser-focused message and a global mission. It was led by men and women who were fueled not by what they believed, but by what they had seen. That simple fact sets the church apart from every other religious movement in the history of the world. After all, it wasn’t the teaching of Jesus that sent his followers to the streets. It was his resurrection. The men and women who made up the nucleus of the church weren’t simply believers in an abstract philosophy or even faithful followers of a great leader; they were eyewitnesses of an event.” What do you believe about the resurrection of Jesus?
2. Trusting the risen Jesus gives us new life because He gives us:
A. Forgiveness of our sins (v. 1-4). Christianity is different than every other religion because it is based on what Jesus has done for us instead of what we do to get to him.
B. A life transformed by grace (v. 9-11). Jesus changes us from the inside out.
C. Hope in facing death (v. 20-28). We cannot fully experience life until we have an answer for death. The claim here is that Jesus’s resurrection guarantees the resurrection of those who trust Him.
D. Purpose for living life (v. 29-34). We can waste our lives by living without purpose or by purposely and passionately living for the wrong things.
Conclusion: Do you really believe he rose from the dead? Are you trusting him and living for him then?
