The Challenge to Believe
Sermon Notes for 1 Corinthians 15
Introduction
A friend wrote a lyric many years ago that still captures my attention “Give me something to believe in, give me something to hold on to.” There are many challenges to our faith - sometimes we face daily.
In 1 Corinthians Paul has outlined several ways that the faith of the Corinthians had been chipped away one piece at a time. Brothers and sisters who chose argument over peace. Jealousy and factions in the church. Sin was openly accepted, sometimes even bragged about. Distrust, alienation, division, and pride all drove a stake in the heart of the fellowship that should be present. The culture of Corinth didn’t help at all, adding to the struggle to maintain faith in a faithless world. These kinds of problems make it hard to love others. They can damage our belief and faith in God.
We are familiar with this - we live in a world like that too. Terrible events in life that leave us grasping for answers. The idea of “truth” has been redefined as “feelings”. Weaknesses plague us, and prayers seem to be unanswered. Incomplete and inadequate ideas about God: There is no God ... God is there, but he doesn’t care what happens to us ... This life is it, so live it up.
Paul’s answer to the challenge of believing rings true today:
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.” - 1 Corinthians 15:1-2
Paul’s Message: Don’t give up believing - it costs you too much!
1 Corinthians 15:3-7
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
Christ Died, Was Buried, Rose Again! Hayford: "The importance of the Resurrection is underscored by its being mentioned more than 100 times in the New Testament. It is the most profound and prominent point in all apostolic preaching in the primitive church." He is Risen! This is not just the Easter message, but the daily message that brings us hope and strength! He was seen by Peter, the Twelve, James.
Then Paul says, vs 8, "Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
1. THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS
Transformation. I Am (10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me."). The transformation of Saul of Tarsus into Paul the Apostle was dramatic. What about your transformation - what has changed your life more dramatically than believing in the risen Christ?
Forgiveness (17 “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”)
Hope of a Life to Come (19 “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”)
Defeat of Death (26 “The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”)
Eternity. Gives us assurance of our own resurrection (42 “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable.”)
Victory (51-57)
1 Corinthians 15:51-57
Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
That day will come. Nowhere in the Bible are we given a date for the return for Christ. But that day is coming!
That day will come Suddenly! (51-52). Moment, atomos - from which we get our word atomic. Uncut, indivisible…infinitely small. … Christ’s return will be in an atomic second (Hayford). “When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in him be found. Dressed in his righteousness alone, Faultless to stand before the throne” Philippians 1:23 “My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.” This would not be true apart from faith in the resurrection.
It is a day of great CHANGE (53-54). We will experience a body not subject to decay, an undying body.
It is a day of ultimate victory (55-56) Hobbs wrote, “In this assurance, we can rest our hope. Death may strut with bloody boots across the stage of time. With his sting he may capture us for a little while. But so long as the resurrection of Jesus stands, we need not fear. Death itself will become the victim, and we shall become the victors.”
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” -1 Corinthians 15:57
2. THEREFORE GET TO WORK! (15:58)
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”
5 encouragements in reflection of the resurrection:
1. Don’t let the winds of doubt blow you off course. Remember the foundation of your faith.
2. Abound in your work for the Lord! What is your work for the Lord? Abound in it. Never let the Lord be marginalized by 100 other activities and interests. Johnson wrote, “Work of the Lord is almost certainly labor directed toward the gospel proclamation, the growth of Christians, and ministries of love toward others in the name of Christ.” What is your primary focus in this life? Are you growing in your service to God?
3. Know that God is at work, using your efforts. Have faith that beyond your own efforts is a work of God that will bring Him glory. Keep reaching out and keep on serving and loving in His name!
4. Live on the margin of the atomic moment when it will all be over. It could be in our lifetime or the lifetime of the next generation. Don’t shove resurrection to the Easter holiday!
5. Every knee will bow in that day. Bow your knee today by obeying the gospel or by turning away from sin that you have allowed to become a part of your life!
Conclusion
The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of all of our faith.
The resurrection of Jesus offers the assurance of our own resurrection and the promise of eternal life.
There are many things in this world / life that attempt to chip away at our faith - and sometimes assail our faith - but hang on to the truth about Jesus!
He is coming again and the victory is assured!
Be about the work of the Lord every day!
As believers, we can now see beyond the limitations of this world and death to the realities of heaven and eternal life. We have a powerful incentive and thrilling prospects for steadfast, faithful service to Christ in the present.
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Questions for Discussion
1. What are some reasons Paul may have chosen to spend this extended time writing about the resurrection toward the end of 1 Corinthians? Why is the resurrection of Jesus a truth that strengthens weary faith?
2. Do you think we place more emphasis on the cross than on the resurrection? What would be the impact of that if it were true?
3. Paul brings his own transformation into the discussion about the resurrection. For him particularly, why would the resurrection be crucial to his turnaround? What does he mean, in vs 8, about being "one untimely born" (NIV "abnormally born")?
4. In what way does the resurrection of Jesus give you assurance of your own resurrection? Why are those who have hope in this life only to be pitied? (vs 19)
5. Verse 49 was not referenced in the sermon. It says, "Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven." (NIV "And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man.") What is Paul telling us about the resurrection here?
6. Paul ends this section with an admonition to "abound in the work of the Lord" in verse 58. (AMPC "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be firm (steadfast), immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord [always being superior, excelling, doing more than enough in the service of the Lord], knowing and being continually aware that your labor in the Lord is not futile [it is never wasted or to no purpose].")
What do you consider the "work of the Lord"? How can we "abound" in the work of the Lord today? What connection is there between the resurrection and the ongoing work of the Lord?
7. What else did you want to talk about today?
Resources
John, I wish everyone would listen and ponder very hard about this lesson. Everyone needs this.
Have a blessed week, be safe.