The Resurrection Victory (1 Cor. 15)

Wayne Galloway
02/27/13 - N/A

Series: Resurrection

Introduction:

1.  “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.” 2.  For students of the N.T. these words are recognized as the introduction to Paul’s great chapter in 1 Cor. on the resurrection. 3.  Indeed it is a chapter about the good news of the gospel.  It defines what it means to be saved while focusing attention upon the role of Christ and gives insight into the overall plan of God to bring life and victory to those struggling with death. 4.  Is there hope or only the inevitability of death? 5.  Paul answers the question.  His beginning point:  the resurrection of Christ.

Discussion:

I.  Christ was raised from the dead (3-11).

A.  This is the foundation of the gospel.

1.  In verse 1 Paul identifies the topic of the “good news.”

2.  In verse 3 the first item of that good news is that Christ died, was buried and was raised.

3.  His resurrection is the crux of the gospel.  Without it there is no hope, only the darkness of death.

4.  This hope is what defines the gospel as good news and gives meaning to being saved.

5.  That this was God’s plan from the beginning is evident from the repeated “according to the Scriptures.”

6.  If one man has been raised from the dead the avenue is opened for others.

B.  His resurrection is not without evidence.  He appeared.

1.  Our belief in Christ’s resurrection is based upon the testimony of multiple eye-witnesses.

2.  Finding personal hope in His resurrection they have been motivated to share that hope and so have preached it to us.

3.  They were specially commissioned by Christ himself to communicate His graciousness to others.

4.  Thus two special motives move them to communicate:  Christ’s commission and their own compassion to bring hope of life.

C.  The resurrection of Christ has a radically transforming effect.

1.  For Paul it transformed him from persecutor of the church to preacher of the resurrection.

2.  It has a transforming effect on all those who believe it.

II.  Christ’s resurrection necessitates belief in resurrection generally (12-19).

A.  Evidently some at Corinth were denying resurrection.

1.  Paul’s reasoning is denial of the broader concept of resurrection includes the denial of the resurrection of Christ.

2.  “If there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised.”

B.  If Christ has not been raised the consequences are far-reaching.

1.  Our preaching is vain.

2.  Your faith is also vain.

3.  We are false-witnesses.

4.  Your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.

5.  Those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

6.  We are of all men most to be pitied for we have hoped in Christ to no lasting benefit.

III.  Christ’s resurrection is a fact and those who are Christ’s will be resurrected at His coming (20-23).

A.  Paul’s introduction of the idea of Christ being the “first fruits” argues for “latter fruits.”

1.  In the O.T. “first-fruits” were given to God to signify that the remainder also belonged to God.

a.  Such offerings could be animals, but most often it was the “first fruits” of crops.

b.  Rom. 8:23 says that we have the “first fruits of the Spirit” indicating that we have the down payment already given but the covenant is already made involving the ultimate redemption of our body.  The transaction is already made we have just not picked up the merchandise yet.

2.  Christ’s resurrection is the “first fruits” of more people to be resurrected later.

B.  Those who are Christ’s will be resurrected at His coming.

1.  What about those who are not Christ’s?  This passage does not address them.

2.  Who are those who are Christ’s?

a.  It is those who have believed in His resurrection.

b.  Those who have received the gospel.

c.  Held fast to the word preached.

3.  Paul repeatedly indicates that there will be a resurrection of those who are Christ’s at His coming.

a.  In Phil. 3:20-21 he referred to our waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, “who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory.”

b.  In 1 Thess. 3:16 he said, “The Lord will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise.”

IV.  When the end comes the kingdom will be delivered to the Father and death will be abolished (24-28).  Therefore we should live accordingly (29-34).

A.  The delivering up of the kingdom and Christ reigning until the last enemy (death) is abolished connects resurrection with the kingship of Christ.

1.  As we have seen from Acts 2 Christ’s resurrection inaugurated his kingship (Acts 2:29-36).

2.  His reign is between his resurrection and the deliverance of the kingdom to the Father.

B.  His reign will continue until death is abolished.

1.  Adam was to rule (Gen. 1:26-28), but failed.  Death reigned.

2.  Now Christ rules.  Life reigns.

3.  Psa. 8:6 is quoted tying together the rule of man and its consummation through Christ.

C.  The kingdom is associated with the new creation and affects the life that we now live (29-34).

V.  But the new creation reaches its culmination in the final resurrection described in verses 35-57.

A. The old creation.	B. The new creation.
1. An earthly body.	1. A heavenly body.
2. A perishable body.	2. An imperishable body.
3. A natural body.	3. A spiritual body.
4. A mortal body.	4. An immortal body.

C.  There is a difference between the old creation and the new creation.

1.  The new creation is not just different from but superior to the old creation.

2.  In it there is victory.

D.  In the resurrection we receive a body like Christ has (Phil. 3:21).

VI.  The admonition:   THEREFORE (v. 58) live for the Lord in the intervening time.

Conclusion:

1.  Resurrection has far-reaching implications.

a.  It promises life beyond the grave, thus giving hope to those plagued by death.

b.  It means that God has responded to sin overcoming its effects on the guilty.

c.  Resurrection grants meaning to this life and gives purpose to our existence.

d.  Resurrection defines the way we should then live—soberly, righteously and godly in this present world.

e.  Resurrection motives evangelism—the sharing of the good news of life with those doomed to death.

2.  If there is no resurrection not only are we to be pitied for having placed our confidence in a disappointment, but also all men are to be pitied for we are all without hope. 3.  But Christ was raised and those who believe in Him will be raised.  “Thanks be to God who has given us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57).