February 20, 2022

The Power of the Resurrection

Pastor: Shannon Brown Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1–19

The Power of the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:1-19

The heartbeat of Christianity is the good news of Christ’s atoning death and glorious resurrection. (Charles Swindoll)

The resurrection is not merely important to the Christian faith; without it, there would be no Christian faith.  It is the singular doctrine that elevates Christianity above all other religions.  (Adrian Rogers)

Proofs of the Resurrection

  1. The failure of naturalistic theories to explain the event
  2. The birth of the disciples’ faith and radical change in their lives
  3. The empty tomb and discarded grave clothes
  4. The change in the day of worship from Sabbath to Sunday
  5. Post-resurrection appearances
  6. The inability of Jewish and Roman leaders to disprove the empty tomb
  7. The conversion of two skeptics: James and Paul

According to the laws of legal evidence used in courts of law, there is more evidence for the historical fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ than for just about any other event in history.  (Harvard Law Professor Dr. Simon Greenleaf)

Proclamation of the Resurrection (1 Corinthians 15)

1) Process of the Gospel (1-4)

  • Passing on the Gospel
  • Objective of the Gospel
  • Content of the Gospel

2) Presence of the Resurrection (5-9)

  • Public Appearances
  • Private Appearances

3) Products of the Resurrection (10-11)

  • Produces Life
  • Produces Labor

4) Points of the Resurrection (12-19)

If the resurrection is false, then ...

  1. Christ Himself is dead (12-13)
  2. Our message is meaningless (14a)
  3. Our faith is useless (14b)
  4. We are all liars (15-16)
  5. We are lost in our sins (17)
  6. Heaven is hopeless (18)
  7. We are to be pitied (19)

If Christ was not raised, His death was in vain, your faith in Him would be pointless and your sins would still be counted against you with no hope.  (John MacArthur)

Promises from the Resurrection

  1. Resurrection proves that Jesus Christ is God (Romans 1:3-4)
  2. Our salvation depends on our faith in the resurrection (Romans 10:9)
  3. The resurrection secured our justification (Romans 4:24-25)
  4. Our own resurrection depends on Jesus’ resurrection
    (2 Corinthians 4:14)
  5. New life in Jesus is made possible by the resurrection (Romans 6:4)
  6. Resurrection of Christ assures us that there is life after death (John 11:25-26)
  7. The resurrection assures us of new spiritual bodies
    (1 Corinthians 15:42-44)

I didn’t become a Christian because God promised I would have a happier life than I had as an atheist. Rather, I became a Christian because the evidence was so compelling that Jesus really is the one-and-only Son of God who proved his divinity by rising from the dead. That meant following him was the most rational and logical step I could take.  (Lee Strobel)

Making it Personal:

  • Have you experienced the life changing power of the resurrection through repentance of sin and placing your faith in the finished work of Jesus Christ?
  • How is the reality of the resurrection of Jesus shaping the way I look at and live in these current times?
  • Have you faced the loss of a loved one? How does belief in the resurrection affect the way you view that loss?
  • What is the next step of obedience that God is calling you to take right now?