Sermon_on_1_Corinthian_15

Introduction: Resurrection by it very meaning is act of rising of dead. The word had derived from the latin word resurrēctus, past participle of resurgere, which means to rise again. The cultural meaning to the word is as follows… o The rising again of Jesus on the third day after the Crucifixion. o The rising again of the dead at the Last Judgment. Resurrection is the nucleus of the Christian faith, the very fundamentals of our faith is laid on resurrection of Christ Jesus on the third day after he laid down his life on the cross for our sins. The gospel actually can be considered a package which includes the birth, life and works redemption through the expiatory offering of Jesus Christ for one's sins, his death, burial and resurrection, great commission and ascension and out of which the resurrection becomes core theme of the Christian faith. Resurrection is significant because it not only confined to the life on this earth but gives a hope for the believer on his/her afterlife. It is thought that has to be preached with utmost importance but it was not given the due importance it deserves and it is unpopular and it is preached mostly at the funerals. |The word gospel derives from the Old English god-spel (rarely godspel), meaning "good tidings" or "glad tidings". It is a calque (word-for-word translation) of the Greek word εὐαγγέλιον, euangelion (eu- "good", -angelion "message"). The Greek word "euangelion" is also the source of the term "evangelist" in English. Originally, the gospel was the glad tidings of redemption through the expiatory offering of Jesus Christ for one's sins, the central Christian message. Note: John 3:16. Before the first gospel was written (Mark, c 65-70), Paul the Apostle used the term εὐαγγέλιον gospel when he reminded the people of the church at Corinth "of the gospel I preached to you" (1 Corinthians 15.1). Paul averred that they were being saved by the gospel, and he characterized it in the simplest terms, emphasizing Christ's appearances after the Resurrection (15.3 – 8) | | |While coming to earth resurrection is also the part of the good news that Christ Jesus had bought from heaven as we read in Luke 2: 9 where the angel of the Lord says| |to Shepard “I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people”. | |It is the human tendency to find out “what is there in it for me” i.e. what sort of benefits he / she would generally get if he opts for a particular thing. Suppose | |if I am being offered a job in a multi-national company I would rather be inquisitive to know what would be the benefits that come as the riders to the job. And if I | |have got more than what I expected it would be a great joy for me. Getting a Job I desired is good news and attached with the benefits which I am going to receive | |would be of a great joy. Similarly Jesus Christ coming to earth to redeem mankind from the sins is good news for us and the everlasting that would be offered to us on| |redemption is a great joy for us and the everlasting life we would attain is through resurrection. | |Christ Jesus through his life, death resurrection and ascension had perfectly demonstrated to the mankind which had been in complete darkness over years about the | |eternal life. Jesus had to demonstrate through his death and resurrection on how the resurrection of the mankind would be. If we remove the resurrection from the | |gospel and our faith in eternity would sink immediately. Jesus had led us by example. | |The Gospel proclaims that Christ died for our sins that is offered as a sacrifice and buried and he was raised on the third day as earlier prophesized in the | |scriptures and scripture types. Such prophecies as Psalms_16:10; Isaiah_53:4-6; Daniel_9:26, 27; Hos_6:2. Such scripture-types as Jonah (Mat_12:4). The Gospel which | |he preached was also is in accordance with the scriptures of the Old Testament. While preaching the gospel to the people of Corinth, Apostle Paul assures that the | |gospel he received was of the first order and never compromised in quality. Paul preaches the same gospel to them i.e. to the people of Corinth which he had received.| |He assures the implied needs of the consumers of the gospel would be definitely met if they believed and hold fast with what they believed. | |The people who believed in the gospel would be saved, saved for eternal life and those who do not accept would have face eternal contempt of God. Thus we have enough | |space to believe that resurrection is the integral part of the gospel and if been taken out our hope in eternity would definitely sink. | |Resurrection of Christ: | |But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. (Vs. 20) | |The following scriptures in the new testament accounts the resurecction of the Jesus Christ… | |Mark 16: 1 -8, | |Mathew 28: 1 -15, | |Luke 24: 1 - 12, | |John 20: 1 -18 | |After Jesus body was laid in a new empty tomb on Friday, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome had prepared ointments and spices and rested on Sabbath | |and they came to the tomb where they laid Jesus to anoint his body very early on the first day of the week i.e. Sunday. As they were nearing the tomb they found the| |stone of the tomb had been rolled. Matthew records there was a great earth quake and an angel of the Lord were descending from the heaven came and rolled the stone | |and sat on it. The men guarding the stone were terrified at the sight and become like dead men. | |Mary saw the stone had been removed she then went and ran to Simon Peter to tell that the Jesus body had been taken away. Then Peter and “the other disciple” ran | |together towards the tomb and “the other disciple” outran Peter bent down and looked in and he found the linen wrappings lying there and he stood there without | |entering into the tomb. Peter entered the tomb and found the linen wrappings there and also found the cloth on the head of Jesus was not found with the wrappings but | |kept separately. They then believed what Mary had told. The disciples then returned to their homes. Mary Magdalene had stayed there and was weeping before the tomb. | |Then she sneaked into the tomb and she saw two angels one at the foot and other at the head where Jesus body was laid. And she said to the angels “they have taken | |away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him”. When she turned around she found Jesus standing but she was unable to recognize him as Jesus but Jesus | |asked Mary what she is looking for. Mary thought him as gardener and had mistaken him that he would have carried the body of Christ. She enquired him where he had | |laid the body of Jesus. | |Jesus called her by name, and she replied to him "Rab-bo'ni!" (Which means Teacher), Jesus said to her not to hold him and he added that he was “ascending to my | |Father and your Father, to my God and your God”. Also, Jesus requested her to go to his disciples and convey the news. Mary Magdalene went and said to the disciples, | |"I have seen the Lord". | |Post Resurrection appearances of Jesus Christ: | |Paul in his first epistle to the Corinthians substantiates the Gospels on the post resurrection account of Jesus to the people of Corinth who flatly denied the | |resurrection of the dead. It is evident that the Paul writes the epistle to the believers in the Corinth and they very well know about the resurrection of Christ but | |the denied resurrection of the dead. There were also heretical teaching attached to resurrection of dead by people like Hymenae'us and Phile'tus who taught to the | |fellow believers that resurrection had already past. Since people of Corinth already knew about the risen savior Paul reminds them about the resurrection of the | |savior and his post rising appearances to the different people on different occasions. | |(Vs. 5) and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. | |(Vs. 6)Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. | |(Vs. 7)Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. | |(Vs. 8)Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. | | | | | |(Vs. 5) and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. | |Jesus had a special emphasis for Peter (Mark 16: 7) even he denied him three times earlier when he wanted his disciples to assemble in Galilee | |(Vs. 6)Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. | |This may refer to Matt. 28:16-20, which shows that the Great Commission was given to the whole church, not just a few leaders. | |(Vs. 7) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. | |All of his family were present in the Upper Room (cf. Acts 1:14). | |(Vs. 8) Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. | |Lord Jesus appeared to him by the way to Damascus, Act-9:17 | |As Jesus burial is evident for his death as so is his Post resurrection appearance to many eye witnesses as an evidence for his rising and ascension. | |Preaching in Jerusalem: The preaching of the gospel done in Jerusalem, the city where it was all have happened, under the noses of the very people who would have able| |to contradict their claims if they were untrue. The fact the resurrection were preached first of all in Jerusalem, and so soon after resurrection, denotes the | |tremendous confidence in the case. | |On one occasion Michelangelo turned to his fellow artists and asked them with frustration in his voice, "Why do you keep filling gallery after gallery with endless | |pictures on the one theme of Christ in weakness, Christ on the cross, and most of all, Christ hanging dead' Why concentrate on the passing episode as if it were the | |last work, as if the curtain dropped down there on disaster and defeat' That dreadful scene lasted only a few hours. But to unending eternity Christ is alive; Christ | |rules and reigns and triumphs!" | |Michelangelo was right. Even though the cross is vitally important because of the redemption Jesus accomplished for us there, we must not emphasize His death to the | |exclusion of His resurrection victory. For don't forget, both are "of first importance." | |1 Corinthians 15:14, 20 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. (20) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the | |“first fruits” of those who have fallen asleep. | Sunday Observance: Many think that the first Christians changed their day of worship from Saturday to Sunday after the resurrection of Jesus. Luke in his book to most excellent The-oph'ilus, he is compiling all the data that he had collected from the eye witnesses and ministers of the word and he have went through very closely and he is accounting the same to the The-oph'ilus. In his second book he clearly mentions that he had dealt with all the Jesus had done and taught the day of the ascension of Jesus Christ. Luke clearly states that Jesus after his resurrection showed himself to his disciples many times during the forty days as a proof and reproof. Luke: 1 1. Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, 2. just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, 3. it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account or you, most excellent The-oph'ilus Acts.1 1. In the first book, O The-oph'ilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2. until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commandment through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. 3. To them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of God. Another biblical evidence that clearly stand as a proof to our savior has risen is from the below mentioned verse. Acts 5: 12 “now many signs and wonders were done among the people by the hands of the apostles”… The signs and wonders what Jesus had done, the apostles also did among their people. Jesus said earlier to his disciples when he was with them, “"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do…”. Resurrection and Christians: Resurrection (How the dead are raised'''): Paul from verse 35, answers to the queries regarding, How the dead will raised and what kind of body the will possess' He explains what is sown will not come to life unless it dies. And what is been sown is not the body but a bare kernel of some grain and the God gives them the body accordingly. All flesh are not same they differ with Men, Animals and Fish. Similar rule applies to the bodies too there are different kind of bodies, the celestial ones and terrestrial ones and they differ in their glory and capacities. As like the Sun, Moon and the stars differ in their glories. So it is when the resurrection is concerned they are sown as perishable and raised as imperishable. Sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. Sown in weakness, it is raised in power. Sown a physical body, it is raised a spiritual body. The first man Adam was a living being and the last Adam was a life giving spirit. The first man was from earth and the Last was from Heaven. As was the first man Adam was of dust, so are those who are of the dust; and as is the Second man Jesus Christ was of heaven, so are those who are of heaven. Paul briefs that as we are wearing the borne the image of dust we will also bear the image of heaven. So by this it is implicit that the flesh and blood will not inherit the kingdom of God. Mystery revealed: The dead will not sleep always as the last trumpet is blown by the arch angel they would be changed. The perishable will wear the imperishable and as it was written “Death will be swallowed in Victory”. The triumphant song is sung over the victory of the vanquished enemy, "O death, where is thy victory' O death, where is thy sting'" The very poison nature of death is sin itself. Issues in the Church concerning Resurrection: Comparatively less is discussed on resurrection in church today either due to pre occupation among the present day Christians, pre occupation of present day issues, or may be due to people may get offended when the teaching from the bible goes against their assumptions. They take resurrection lightly and give more importance to salvation and Good works. Or we may concluded teaching on resurrection have to be done only a ceremonial teaching that has to be made in funeral services or thanks giving memorial services. Some of the believers would listen only what they would like to listen. We are influenced by the other faiths too. India people have belief on cycles of life death and afterlife and they believe in reincarnation. These too have well rooted in our minds. There are many Christians who still would offer food to the dead in the tombs of their loved ones on death anniversary or on All Souls day. It still happens like how it had happened during the days of 1st century Christians where they baptized for the dead. As like the people of Corinth there are people in the Churches where they believe in resurrection of Jesus Christ because he is son of God but it is impossible for men / women. Solutions: We live in a place where evolved many religions, beliefs and faiths where the enemy had kept many in the darkness. Even today Christians in India are influenced by the earlier beliefs. The saddest part is they don’t even know what they follow does being endorsed by Christ. They are in ignorance and they could not also analyze what they are doing and believing and one such thing is afterlife. When Paul preached the resurrection to the Athenian philosophers they responded negatively: Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, "We will hear you again about this.” (Acts 17: 32). This negative reaction didn’t stop Paul from further carrying the Gospel Paul with more courage preached resurrection in Corinth which was his next destination (Ref: 1 Corinthians 15). Whether it gains acceptance of the believers or not the gospel should be preached to its fullness. Salvation will not come to effect when one believes Jesus died for my sins on the cross therefore I repent and believe him, for sure he will not gain redemption. Salvation does not stop there but goes beyond, the believer has to believe that God had raised Jesus from dead then he would be saved. If Jesus has been raised we would be raised also because Jesus is the perfect model who demonstrated resurrection, and one who believes in him will have everlasting life. As Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live” Because of exsistence of many beliefs on afterlife it is very essential to know about the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The worldly philosophy or our assumption should not erode away ones faith. As like people of Corinth we have no problem in believing in risen Christ, due to the aforesaid philosophies we are diverted and have difficulties in resurrection of the dead. Some say they believe but they have questions deep down, some are not honest and some are not aware of them. It is very important to know the power of resurrection. Resurrection is Christ proven. Paul does not seem to have any problem in accepting resurrection because he saw Jesus! He believed and He transoformed. A very well seasoned christian knows that the death has been swallowed up, swallowed up on the cross. As we study in the John 11: 25 & 26 Jesus speaks to Martha who had earlier had lot of pre occupations in mind, in front of tomb of Lazarus, I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this'" Martha humbly replied in the following verse “Yes, Lord; I believe…” We have to simply believe and follow Jesus as flock of Sheep follow the Shepard as we read in John 10: 4. Then with the loud voice Jesus will call us outside of our tomb and as we know his voice we the dead would then come out.