The Truth About the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15 By Pastor Dan Kennedy © April 16, 2017 www.pastorkennedy.com Easter Sunday Morning Worship Service Prelude “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” - Congregation  Welcome and Prayer Paul clearly show us the liability of believing in Christ’s Resurrection, if He did not rise form the dead. Some Say There Is No Resurrection of The Dead If Christ has not been raised from the dead: ~ Believing in God and going to Church is stupid and useless. ~ Those who teach about God and Christ’s Resurrection are downright liars! 1. If Jesus Christ Didn’t Rise from the Dead, Christians Have A Real Problem! 1 Corinthians 15:12–19 If God did not raise Christ from the dead then no one will be raised from the dead: ~ There is no accountability to anyone. ~ There is no God. ~ And there is no afterlife. If there is NO Resurrection then Everyone should just “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!” · Party until you can’t party any longer. · Get stoned-drunk often. · OD on drugs as much as possible without losing your mind or dying. · Strive only to live what the world tells us is the “good life.” · Be as ruthless as possible and get as rich as you can be. · Buy anything you want without worrying about pay-back. · Steal, cheat, and take advantage of people, if you can get by with it – when no one is looking. · Don’t worry about being faithful to your husband or wife – sleep around whenever you can, because it really doesn’t matter…anyone who believes in fidelity is simply being a prude. · If it feels good to you – do it. · Try to disable or destroy anyone who gets in your way. · “Turn the knife” hard to get revenge against anyone who doesn’t let you get your way or who makes you frustrated or angry. · Be totally self-centered, it doesn’t matter. · You are not accountable to anyone! You are totally free to be your wicked, profane, and irreverent self! · Think the worst about people and use the most demeaning, cutting curse words whenever you want to, especially when someone crosses you or does something you think is stupid. · You are going to die like an animal anyway, so live it up like a king or queen while you have a chance. · If you get sick, or old, or crippled, hope someone will have compassion on you, and be sure and take as much advantage of gullible and kind people as possible, especially if they say they are a Christian…you never know how long their foolish goodwill will last! Accountability Begins with God For the Christian, their primarily accountability is to God and His expectations. God has told us to be respectful to the laws and leadership over us on earth…that is why we should also be some of the best citizens in the land… but, it all goes back to our basic respect and accountability before God. Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead all people are assured that there will be eternal life...and accountability before a Holy and Righteous God. Paul was writing to those who had seen Jesus resurrected, or knew someone who had. 1 Corinthians 15:12–19 The Resurrection of the Dead 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, your faith in God and your Salvation in Christ is futile; you are still in your sins – you have no hope of eternal life. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than anyone else. 1 Corinthians 15:20 20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Special Music We are here today to verify our belief that Jesus Christ has indeed risen from the dead and that our spirit will be carried, by the angels to the Presence of God when we die, and one day our bodies will be resurrected and transformed to a new and glorious body, and we will be with Christ for eternity. 2. The Gospel: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is The Foundation of Our Faith 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 The gospel by which you are saved… 3 …Of first importance: 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 Peter, and then to the Twelve. 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. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. Jesus appearance to · Peter · The Disciples · More than 500…most alive at the time of writing · James · Paul If we had lived when Jesus Christ had first come, and we heard Him teach, saw Him heal the sick and raise the dead, and then watched as the authorities took Him into custody, beat Him, falsely tried Him and then crucified Him, we would have been shocked and terrified. If then we witnessed Him rising from the tomb and being alive again among us for 40 days (Acts 1:3), teaching about the Kingdom of God, fellowshipping and eating with us, we would certainly have written as Paul did on behalf of all the disciples, including the 500 eyewitnesses who experienced Christ’s resurrected life following His crucifixion, including His later experience, conversion and personal instruction from Christ (Gal. 1:11-24). We would not hide such a profound event, confirming the coming of the prophesied Messiah, and the reaffirmation of Resurrection and eternal life! Congregational Song   3. Death through a Man; Resurrection through a Man 1 Corinthians 15:21–28 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: The Timeline of Eternity A. “Christ, the firstfruits; then” – Christ is Raised from the Dead B. “when He comes” – Christ Returns a Second Time C. “those who belong to Him.” – Christ brings His Redeemed to Himself D. 24“Then the end will come” – The End of this Age is Finalized E. “when He hands over the Kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.” – Christ destroys all dominion, authority and power and gives the Kingdom to His Father o 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. o 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For He “has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put everything under Christ. F. 28 When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all. -- Jesus makes Himself subject to the Father so God is All in all! Parallel the above passage (1 Corinthians 15:21–28) with Daniel’s Vision Regarding “The Son of Man” – Jesus Christ The Messiah, reveals that God the Father ordains God the Son to have Eternal Kingdom and Authority Daniel 7:13–14 13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. The Awe-Inspiring Unity and Uniqueness of the Godhead Trinity · The Son of Man – (Daniel 7:13-14 above) o Jesus, is given authority, glory and sovereign power over all peoples. o All worship Him. (Who alone can be worshipped? – God This confirms again that Jesus is God the Son – “The Son of Man”) o He is given an everlasting dominion that will not pass away and will never be destroyed. · God the Father – (1 Corinthians 15:25-28) o Jesus reigns until all His enemies are under His feet. o Death is destroyed. o Then Jesus makes Himself as Son, and all under Him, subject to God the Father so God is All in all! “Wounded for Me” - Congregation  Special Music: 4. Underlying Human Beliefs Confirm the Resurrection A. Diverse Worldly Rituals and Traditions 1 Corinthians 15:29 29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? B. Personal Determination through Hardships Reveals a Belief in Responsibility, Accountability and ultimately, the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:30-31 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. C. Those Dying for their Faith Affirm the Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:32a 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? (The response in vs. 32b-34 was represented in opening remarks.) 1 Corinthians 15:32 32 …If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” “Christ Arose” - Congregation  Worship in Giving Offertory Special “Were You There” - Congregation   5. What are Our New Bodies Going to Look Like? 1 Corinthians 15:35-38 35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 6. There are Amazingly Diverse Genetics 1 Corinthians 15:39 39 All flesh is not the same: · People have one kind of flesh, · Animals have another, · Birds another and · Fish another. 7. There is Diverse Splendor in Planetary Bodies 1 Corinthians 15:40-41 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies;  but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.  Special Music: 8. Perishable Bodies becoming Imperishable 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. 9. Natural vs. Spiritual 1 Corinthians 15:44b-49 If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. “Thine Is the Glory” - Congregation   10. Death Swallowed up in Victory 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. Conclusion “Crown Him with Many Crowns”

The Truth About the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15

By Pastor Dan Kennedy

www.pastorkennedy.com

Easter Sunday Morning Worship Service

Prelude

•“Christ the Lord is Risen Today” - Congregation

Welcome and Prayer

Paul clearly show us the liability of believing in Christ’s Resurrection, if He did not rise form the dead.

Some Say There Is No Resurrection of The Dead

If Christ has not been raised from the dead:

~ Believing in God and going to Church is stupid and useless.

~ Those who teach about God and Christ’s Resurrection are downright liars!

1. If Jesus Christ Didn’t Rise from the Dead, Christians Have A Real Problem!

1 Corinthians 15:12–19

If God did not raise Christ from the dead then no one will be raised from the dead:

~ There is no accountability to anyone.

~ There is no God.

~ And there is no afterlife.

If there is NO Resurrection then Everyone should just “eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die!”

· Party until you can’t party any longer.

· Get stoned-drunk often.

· OD on drugs as much as possible without losing your mind or dying.

· Strive only to live what the world tells us is the “good life.”

· Be as ruthless as possible and get as rich as you can be.

· Buy anything you want without worrying about pay-back.

· Steal, cheat, and take advantage of people, if you can get by with it – when no one is looking.

· Don’t worry about being faithful to your husband or wife – sleep around whenever you can, because it really doesn’t matter…anyone who believes in fidelity is simply being a prude.

· If it feels good to you – do it.

· Try to disable or destroy anyone who gets in your way.

· “Turn the knife” hard to get revenge against anyone who doesn’t let you get your way or who makes you frustrated or angry.

· Be totally self-centered, it doesn’t matter.

· You are not accountable to anyone! You are totally free to be your wicked, profane, and irreverent self!

· Think the worst about people and use the most demeaning, cutting curse words whenever you want to, especially when someone crosses you or does something you think is stupid.

· You are going to die like an animal anyway, so live it up like a king or queen while you have a chance.

· If you get sick, or old, or crippled, hope someone will have compassion on you, and be sure and take as much advantage of gullible and kind people as possible, especially if they say they are a Christian…you never know how long their foolish goodwill will last!

Accountability Begins with God

For the Christian, their primarily accountability is to God and His expectations. God has told us to be respectful to the laws and leadership over us on earth…that is why we should also be some of the best citizens in the land… but, it all goes back to our basic respect and accountability before God.

Because Jesus Christ rose from the dead all people are assured that there will be eternal life...and accountability before a Holy and Righteous God.

Paul was writing to those who had seen Jesus resurrected, or knew someone who had.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19

The Resurrection of the Dead

12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

If Christ has not been raised from the dead, your faith in God and your Salvation in Christ is futile; you are still in your sins – you have no hope of eternal life.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ,

we are to be pitied more than anyone else.

1 Corinthians 15:20

20 “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Special Music

We are here today to verify our belief that Jesus Christ has indeed risen from the dead and that our spirit will be carried, by the angels to the Presence of God when we die, and one day our bodies will be resurrected and transformed to a new and glorious body, and we will be with Christ for eternity.

2. The Gospel: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is The Foundation of Our Faith

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

The gospel by which you are saved…

3 …Of first importance: 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 Peter, and then to the Twelve. 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. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

Jesus appearance to

· Peter

· The Disciples

· More than 500…most alive at the time of writing

· James

· Paul

If we had lived when Jesus Christ had first come, and we heard Him teach, saw Him heal the sick and raise the dead, and then watched as the authorities took Him into custody, beat Him, falsely tried Him and then crucified Him, we would have been shocked and terrified. If then we witnessed Him rising from the tomb and being alive again among us for 40 days (Acts 1:3), teaching about the Kingdom of God, fellowshipping and eating with us, we would certainly have written as Paul did on behalf of all the disciples, including the 500 eyewitnesses who experienced Christ’s resurrected life following His crucifixion, including His later experience, conversion and personal instruction from Christ (Gal. 1:11-24). We would not hide such a profound event, confirming the coming of the prophesied Messiah, and the reaffirmation of Resurrection and eternal life!

•Congregational Song

3. Death through a Man; Resurrection through a Man

1 Corinthians 15:21–28

21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

23 But each in his own turn:

The Timeline of Eternity

A. “Christ, the firstfruits; then” – Christ is Raised from the Dead

B. “when He comes” – Christ Returns a Second Time

C. “those who belong to Him.” – Christ brings His Redeemed to Himself

D. 24“Then the end will come” – The End of this Age is Finalized

E. “when He hands over the Kingdom to God the Father after He has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.”

– Christ destroys all dominion, authority and power and gives the Kingdom to His Father

o 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

o 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For He “has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under Him, it is clear that this does not include God Himself, who put everything under Christ.

F. 28 When He has done this, then the Son Himself will be made subject to Him who put everything under Him, so that God may be all in all.

-- Jesus makes Himself subject to the Father so God is All in all!

Parallel the above passage (1 Corinthians 15:21–28) with Daniel’s Vision Regarding “The Son of Man” – Jesus Christ The Messiah, reveals that God the Father ordains God the Son to have Eternal Kingdom and Authority

Daniel 7:13–14

13 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His Kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

The Awe-Inspiring Unity and Uniqueness of the Godhead Trinity

· The Son of Man – (Daniel 7:13-14 above)

o Jesus, is given authority, glory and sovereign power over all peoples.

o All worship Him. (Who alone can be worshipped? – God

This confirms again that Jesus is God the Son – “The Son of Man”)

o He is given an everlasting dominion that will not pass away and will never be destroyed.

· God the Father – (1 Corinthians 15:25-28)

o Jesus reigns until all His enemies are under His feet.

o Death is destroyed.

o Then Jesus makes Himself as Son, and all under Him, subject to God the Father so God is All in all!

•“Wounded for Me” - Congregation

Special Music:

4. Underlying Human Beliefs Confirm the Resurrection

A. Diverse Worldly Rituals and Traditions

1 Corinthians 15:29

29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

B. Personal Determination through Hardships Reveals a Belief in Responsibility, Accountability and ultimately, the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:30-31

30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. Those Dying for their Faith Affirm the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:32a

32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained?

(The response in vs. 32b-34 was represented in opening remarks.)

1 Corinthians 15:32

32 …If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,

for tomorrow we die.”

•“Christ Arose” - Congregation

Worship in Giving Offertory Special

•“Were You There” - Congregation

5. What are Our New Bodies Going to Look Like?

1 Corinthians 15:35-38

35 But someone may ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body.

6. There are Amazingly Diverse Genetics

1 Corinthians 15:39

39 All flesh is not the same:

· People have one kind of flesh,

· Animals have another,

· Birds another and

· Fish another.

7. There is Diverse Splendor in Planetary Bodies

1 Corinthians 15:40-41

40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies;
but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another.

41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and

the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.

Special Music:

8. Perishable Bodies becoming Imperishable

1 Corinthians 15:42-44

42 So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

9. Natural vs. Spiritual

1 Corinthians 15:44b-49

If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man from heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

•“Thine Is the Glory” - Congregation

10. Death Swallowed up in Victory

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Conclusion

•“Crown Him with Many Crowns” - Congregation

Postlude