Knowing the Risen Savior - Living For A Greater Future | 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Outline:

1. The Gospel is built on historical facts.

2. The Gospel is built on the unified and unfolding story of Scripture.

3. The gospel results in supernatural change.

Scripture References:

- 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

- Mark 15:44-47

- Isaiah 53:5, 12

Application:

- What is your view of Jesus? Do you believe in the real Jesus, or the one of your imaginations?

- Have you experienced his resurrection in your life?

- Do you view your relationship to Jesus as a whole-life mission?

- Does your relationship with Christ drive you to LABOR with excitement for his plans and purposes for the world?

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We are continuing our series in 1 Corinthians

What does our future hold? What happens after we die?

Your view of the future, and specifically what happens after death - dictates how you live today.

Every religion and every philosophy is really just trying to cope with death. How you view what happens after death determines how you view all your life.

Some religions promise various rewards for being good - eternal pleasure and joy in a certain kind of heavenly place.

Some religions promise reincarnation and return back to this world in infinite cycles.

Some religions promise disconnection from physical reality and reaching some sort of spiritual state of peace or even ceasing to exist.

The corinthians had a problem in their view of the future. The seemed to adopt a view of the spiritual life that did not treat the physical body very seriously.

As long as they were doing "spiritual things" they thought it didn't matter what they did with their bodies. This was used as an excuse for many in their relationship to sin.

This also lead some of them to have a specific view of life after death that denied the resurrection.

We are not exactly sure what the details of this view was, but we know for sure that they were denying the fact that after we die we will also have a new life that is physical, that will include physical resurrection and physical life.

Very likely their view of eternity was something that is actually close to a lot of what many people who call themselves christians have today, a view that they haven't really thought a lot about - the idea that after death we go to "heaven" and we have some sort of spiritual existence of bliss and perfection, floating around among the clouds.

What happens after we die?

Paul takes this topic by the horns and drills DEEP. This is the great resurrection chapter, one of the most important passages in the New Testament that speaks of the believers future.

This is something important to Paul, he takes 58 verses to work through and we will take the next four weeks to dive deep into this very important question.

Title "Living For a Greater Future"

Paul's main point in this chapter is that as Jesus rose from the dead, so also those who believe and follow him will rise from the dead. When a person dies their soul is separated from their body for a time.

The Bible teaches that Gods plan for the world is not destruction but renewal - that God loves the world he has made and at his return, the world itself will be renewed, all evil and suffering will end. In this renewal, believers in Christ will also rise from the dead, their physical bodies renewed to life forever in God's created world.

How do I know this is real? How do I know this is MY future?

Before looking to questions of the future, Paul starts on the foundation that the future of believers is really tied to Jesus himself.

Paul starts this whole discussion by sort of saying - you guys have these strange ideas of the future. But don't you realize that as a christian - your identity and your future is died to JESUS.

If you have these strange ideas of the future - i want to first of all say - do you have a correct understanding of Jesus and what he did? Did you forget? or did you misunderstand the foundational message of christianity?

"Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand

2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain."

Almost every question, every concern, every struggle in the christian life - begins with the gospel - it begins with the foundational affirmation of the bare bones facts about WHO Jesus is and WHAT he has done.

A lot of poeple SAY they follow Jesus, they SAY they believe in Jesus - but then they have all these other ideas in their life that are totally inconsistent with the real Jesus and his message!

We are ALWAYS in need of aligning ourselves back to the core message of Jesus. What does that message consist of??

1. The Gospel is built on historical facts.

"3 For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: 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 Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me."

Paul takes extra care here to drill his argument into historically verifiable data.

The Corinthians had a spirituality that was disconnecting them from real life, and real history. Maybe some claimed Jesus just had a "spiritual" resurrection"?

Maybe some were claiming history is not that important, as long as you are living a spiritual life and following God.

This sounds a lot like today - a lot of people who deny christianity or who want to modify christianity to their own desires often want to make facts seem very unclear and unimportant - as if we can have truth without thinking about reasons and evidence.

Paul says all of christian faith is rooted in two core physical historical facts that took place.

It is interesting that when you nail it down, these two facts are historical realities that any historian, any scholar agrees with - even the ones who are NOT christian, even the ones who oppose christianity.

Fact 1 - Jesus died and his dead body was buried in a tomb.

Fact 2 - The tomb was empty, and many many people claimed they met him and talked with him after his death.

Even non christian scholars agree with these historical facts.

Now the challenge is HOW they explain these things.

A common argument I heard in a debate once, "Maybe he didn't really die? Maybe he just passed out?"

 This argument falls apart if we just look at the facts. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - and Paul - were written when many of the people named in the stories were still alive.

Mark 15:44-47

Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.

Tim Keller makes this point:

"The way Mark reports the burial is significant: He is “certifying” that Jesus was really dead. Joseph of Arimathea is named here as an identified witness who actually had Jesus’s body wrapped up and sealed it in a tomb. A Roman centurion (who would be an expert) bore witness of Jesus’s death to Pilate (who would be the legal authority on the matter). Finally, two women are cited as eyewitnesses to the burial. So multiple experts and witnesses prove he was really dead."

(Keller, Timothy. Jesus the King: Understanding the Life and Death of the Son of God (p. 212). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.)

He cites multiple witnesses and even names some of them - this is an ancient way of giving footnotes to the story. This is clear evidence that Mark is not just writing some legend - he is recording historical facts. And he he is inviting his contemporary readers who doubt the fact to go ask the witnesses.

This is precisely what Paul is saying. this is common truth that is passed down from me to you - Jesus DIED and Jesus was BURIED.

Ok well sure maybe he died - but of course this whole resurrection business is nonsense. His disciples probably made up the story to cover up for it. They probably stole the body and created a massive conspiracy.

Ok. Lets look at history and facts again.

During the time of Jesus - both before and after - there were many "Messiah" movements. Actually 14 to be exact. Gain a lot of followers.

One of these leaders, Simon bar Kokhba - reigned from Jerusalem for three years!

But - when the leader of the movement was killed - the movement died - EVERY SINGLE TIME.

With Christianity its teh total opposite - christianity started to explode and grow - AFTER Jesus was killed. And all his followers claimed he was ALIVE and they have seen and met him after he rose from the dead.

Again sceptics say, "Well these ancient Jewish people, they are not smart like we are today. They believed all sorts of weird stuff they were easily duped."

Try reading some of these ancient people and tell me how dumb they were.

Greeks thought the idea of resurrection was ridiculous. Jewish people had VERY LITTLE discussion or expectation of physical bodily resurrection - it was something some Jews believed would come at the very end of the world.

It was NOT AT ALL something that was a part of their current thinking.

This is why whenever Jesus would talk about his resurrection - his own disciples were confused. They thought he was speaking metaphorically or making analogies. And when he died they DID NOT AT ALL expect him to rise. They went back to the fishing business - within a couple of days of his death!!

Point - these ancient Jewish people were not some foolish, naive, irrational people that got easily tricked by some lie about Jesus.

"Well, maybe they were all so mentally unstable and sad they hallucinated it?"

Paul tells us there were over 500 eye witnesses that were still alive. This makes it impossible to say that everyone had the same hallucination.

The only other way to explain it is that they all created a massive conspiracy and lied about it - and they all took this massive lie to their graves.

This makes no sense also because it is impossible to have HUNDEREDS of ppl in volved in a lie and noone breaks away from it, all were so devoted they were willing to die for it??

Not only that, these people were cowards - right after Jesus' death they were hiding in locked houses.

They were behaving just like the followers of any other Messiah movement that had its leader die - they were scattered and afraid.

Something completely unexpected happened that caused hundereds of poeple to live so passionately for Jesus that they were willing to loose EVERYTHING, willing to be driven from their homes, their familes and their lives - even die - for him.

What happened?

"he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. 6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles..."

"He was raised from the dead - we SAW him - we SPOKE to him..."

what does it all mean?

2. The Gospel is built on the unified and unfolding story of Scripture.

Verses 3-5 is an early church creed - it was a tight summary of core beliefs of the earliest christians.

Christianity is built on two core historic facts - Jesus died and Jesus was raised.

But these two historic facts are not just isolated by themselves - they are tightly connected to a whole story, a plan of redemption that God has been working for hundreds of years and has been speaking to his people in his Word.

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,

Paul also makes clear that this message is not a message that he invented

"i passed on to you as most important what I also received..."

what is this message?

The story of the Old Testament, that leads up to the life of Jesus makes some very clear points.

The central problem of the world is the problem of sin and death.

These two things are inseparably connected - like wind and waves. You can't stop waves from crashing on the shore if you can't stop hurricane wind from blowing.

Sin and disobedience to God brought into the world all manner of death and evil.

As human beings we are created for life with God but we all rebel - and that means our connection with God is permanently broken and we all face judgement for our sins.

Throughout the whole story of the Bible God is clearly communicating his commitment to redeem the world - to go against the work of sin and death in the world.

Everything comes to a point at the problem of sin - guilt must be paid for.

Jesus' life and death was not just like the life and death of any other spiritual leader.

Jesus claimed to be the Son of God - to be God in the flesh.

Jesus said in Mark 10:45 "I have come to give my life as a ransom for many.."

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures"

Isaiah 53:5, 12

"But he was pierced because of our rebellion, crushed because of our iniquities; punishment for our peace was on him, and we are healed by his wounds."

"...he willingly submitted to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet he bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels."

Jesus came to pay for our sins with his own perfect life, and to open the door for sinful human beings to be restored to God's love. His suffering is a substitute for our penalty - he came to take our place.

But the story doesn't end there. He didn't JUST die. He was raised.

Why is that so important?

Jesus SAID he came from God to speak the truth - He came to begin the long awaited promise of God to heal the world of sin and evil - to renew all things. He came from God to pay for our sins. He said he would rise from the dead.

And then he DID IT.

The undeniable fact of the resurrection is confirmation of the fact that JEsus WAS who he said he was and he did what he said he would do - and even more importantly - that in Jesus and his victory over death -

God himself has finally arrived in this broken world to begin the process of forgiving and saving sinners and renewing the world.

As one theologian says - In the resurrection of Jesus, the end has come forward to the middle.

There is a very interesting pattern in the Old Testament of salvation coming to God's people on the third day. And there is a consistent promise that God would save his poeple and renew the world.

JEsus died according to the Scriptures and JEsus was raised according to the Scriptures.

these historical facts are neon signs pointed to the true fulfillment of God's promises of invading our broken world and bringing real healing and change.

3. The gospel results in supernatural change.

Here is where it gets personal.

8 Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time, he also appeared to me.

9 For I am the least of the apostles, not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

What is your view of Jesus? Is this the Jesus that you are believing, following and trusting in?

Paul says, this whole story about death for our sins and resurrection and forgiveness - its not just some story out there.

Its not just good ideas.

This is MY story.

"I am first of sinners. I am most unworthy. I was a rebel against God. Even thought i was serving God by persecuting christians, I was going against God. I didn't deserve to know this Jesus and to know his forgiveness and his grace in my life. And yet his message came even to me."

True christianity is about the gospel of Jesus. This gospel is based on historical facts. This gospel gives us a message of a beautiful plan of God's loving work to bring forgiveness of sin to sinners - to bring healing and renewal to the world -

But at the center here is a living real Savior, a Jesus that we must come to know personally.

Being a christian is not about being a good person or trying harder to obey God.

Being a christian is about knowing the TRUE story of the TRUE Jesus - and allowing this LIVING, RISEN Jesus to take control of our life with his grace and his truth.

When you meet the real Jesus you experience what Paul experienced - you come to a clear understanding of how sinful and how broken you are. How much you need forgiveness, how much you can't fix yourself - and how it is only God's grace and grace alone that can completely change your heart.

When you meet the risen Savior, it results in a total turnaround of your life.

You turn from the life you used to live, and you surrender to his grace.

And his grace, HIS STORY, HIS PURPOSES, become your story.

10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

What is your view of Jesus?

Have you met the Jesus of history? The Jesus of the good news of the Bible?

Have you experienced his resurrection in your life?

The real Jesus is a Jesus with a plan for history.

Some christian live as if Jesus is just a spiritual idea they interact with on Sunday, but their lives and their future is in their hands.

Being a disciple of Jesus means surrendering our whole life to his grace and being excited to see what he wants to do with us.

"By the grace of God I am what I am" - is that your theme today?

For those who are following Jesus - do you view your relationship to Jesus as a whole life mission?

Does your relationship with Christ drive you to LABOR with excitement for his plans and purposes for the world?