The resurrection of Jesus Christ. What does it mean? Why is it important and how did it occur. 1 Corinthians 15:1-19

1. First
IMPORTANCE
1 Corinthians 15:1–19

2. 1 Corinthians 15:1–19
1 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which
I preached to you, which also you received, in which
also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you
hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you
believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first
importance what I also received, that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was
buried, and that He was raised on the third day
according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He appeared

3. to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 After that He appeared
to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most
of whom remain until now, but some have fallen
asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the
apostles; 8 and last of all, as to one untimely born, He
appeared to me also. 9 For I am the least of the
apostles, and not fit 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 did not
prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them,
yet not I, but the grace of God with me. 11 Whether
then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

4. 12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised
from the dead, how do some among you say that there
is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no
resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been
raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our
preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we
are even found to be false witnesses of God, because
we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom
He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For
if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been
raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is
worthless; you are still in your sins.

5. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have
perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only,
we are of all men most to be pitied.

6. I nt ro
I like to cook. What’s most important or first
importance? Taste and appearance. How do you get
there? Recipe, ingredients, kitchen tools, skill and
appliances
Shooting. What’s the most important thing? Hitting
the target as close to bullseye as possible. How do you
get there? Good stance, good grip and find a good site
picture (stare down that front site)

7. Problem at Corinth
1 Corinthians 15:12…Now if Christ is preached, that He
has been raised from the dead, how do some among
you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

8. Problem in early church
1. There is no resurrection (Gnostics)
2. The resurrection has already occurred (2 Tim 2:18)
3. Jesus didn’t actually die

9. Apologetics
There is was no Jesus.
There wasn’t a resurrection.
The resurrection was faked. (Swoon Theory)
Da Vinci Code, The Jesus Scroll
Hollywood
Atheists
Liberal theologians/Christians

10. No Jesus?
1. No serious historian or theologian believes this.
2. Six different non Christian writers mention Jesus
and early Christians.
3. Jesus is one of the most authenticated person of
ancient history.

11. No resurrection?
1. It was a supernatural event by definition.
2. The changed life of the Apostles.

12. Faked resurrection?
1. Physiological answer: Jesus died of asphyxiation.
That cannot be faked
2. Physiological answer: Blood and water from his
pierced side. Heart and pericardium pierced.
3. Historical answer: Roman soldiers would have face
execution for setting a condemned man free.

13. Study to show yourself approved
Frank Turek-CrossExamined.org
Lee Strobel-The Case for Christ
John Lennox lectures on YouTube

14. Paul’s Proof
Jesus appeared to:
Simon Peter (Cephas)
The 12 (disciples)
500 on the Mt. of Olives
James
The Apostles
Paul himself on the road to Damascus

15. The Gospel is based on the resurrection of
Jesus
1 Corinthians 15:1–2…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.

16. A whole
lot in
that
scripture
Preached
Believed/Received
Saved
Stand
Hold fast

17. Preached
 Jesus the Messiah
 The cross
 Forgiveness of sin
 Peace with God
 The Kingdom
 A sure message of sin,
righteousness and judgement to
come

18. Believed
&
Received
Ephesians 1:13…In Him, you also,
after listening to the message of
truth, the gospel of your
salvation—having also believed,
you were sealed in Him with the
Holy Spirit of promise,

19. Saved
Romans 10:8b–10…that is, the
word of faith which we are
preaching, that if you confess
with your mouth Jesus as Lord,
and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved; for with the
heart a person believes,
resulting in righteousness, and
with the mouth he confesses,
resulting in salvation.

20. Stand
Positions of grace (God) and faith (us)
This term expresses both the covenantal grace and
mercy of a sovereign God and the fact that believers
need to respond to it and cling to it by faith! Both are
biblical truths. They must be held together!
Bob Utley

21. Hold fast
Perseverance of saints
2 Peter 2:21…For it would be
better for them not to have known
the way of righteousness, than
having known it, to turn away
from the holy commandment
handed on to them.

22. First Importance
1 Corinthians 15:3–4…For I delivered to you as of first
importance what I also received, that Christ died for
our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was
buried, and that He was raised on the third day
according to the Scriptures,

23. Faith Foundation
Died for our sins
Was buried
Rose from the dead

24. Died for our sins
1. We are sinners
2. The soul that sins must die
3. Jesus’ death satisfied God’s wrath

25. Was buried
1. The burial proves that Jesus was really dead.
2. The burial fulfilled Scripture.
3. The burial has theological significance.
Dread and fear overcome
Descended as low as possible
Entered lower parts of the earth

26. Rose from the dead
 Jesus defeated death, hell
and the grave
 Our future resurrection
 Power to live a Christian life

27. You must
believe not
just like Him
If Christ is not raised:
You have no hope
You will not be raised

28. Christ is not a feel good fairy
..if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is
vain, your faith also is vain.
You cannot just like the teaching.
This is not a social club.
I’m a lying idiot

29. Jesus was not just a
good man
…if Christ has not
been raised, your faith
is worthless; you are
still in your sins.
Waste of time
God will judge you a
sinner

30. No hope
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all
men most to be pitied.
Make for a way to get along with others?
The dead are dead and so will you be.

31. Do you know Jesus?

32. First
IMPORTANCE
1 Corinthians 15:1–19