Because He Lives | Easter Sunday
We trust today’s message encouraged and guided you in your journey of following Jesus. These notes are meant to help you remember and reflect on the message, help you go deeper into study on the subject, or be used for a sermon group discussion.
Sermon Title: BECAUSE HE LIVES!
Main Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-23
If you’re going through this discussion with a community group this week consider taking the time to read the provided scripture to catch everyone up!
Summary:
Happy Easter! Our Lord and Savior has Risen from dead! Because He lives we have new life now and forevermore!
How important is Easter morning and the resurrection of Jesus? According to the Lexham Survey of Theology, “The resurrection of Jesus Christ validates his identity as the divine Son of God, demonstrates his irrevocable victory over death and the grave, and secures both the present salvation and future physical resurrection of believers.” Pastor Ryan agrees and went on to say, “The doctrine of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is essential in keeping all the other Christian doctrines alive. If Jesus didn’t rise again then none of the other teachings of Christ matter.” Intrigued? What does the resurrection mean for us today and in a practical sense? Watch on the sermon on YouTube or read below!
Notes:
1 Corinthians 15:1-23 NLT
V.1-2 Reminder of the good news
This was a reminder to the believers to hold fast to the gospel that Paul had preached and they had received. They are saved by this gospel, but they must continue to believe.
I prefer verse 2 in the NIV version: By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
The reason Paul is writing this is found in verse 12: “Since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?”
V. 3-4 The Gospel, The Good News
“According to the scriptures…” This should be the test in all matters of faith and life…”What do the scriptures say?”
A few Old Testament scriptures that Paul most likely had in mind…
Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all.
Isaiah 53:9 He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man’s grave. (Joseph of Arimathea)
Psalm 16:9-11 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety. 10 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave. 11 You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever. (The Apostle Peter quotes this Psalm as evidence as well in Acts 2:27).
V. 5-9 Eyewitnesses to the resurrection
To the 500, which most are still alive. Paul was saying if anyone would wish to contest the truthfulness of his testimony many witnesses are still alive and could be questioned.
Paul’s own experience with the resurrected Christ was very powerful and he shares his unworthiness because of his history of persecuting the church.
There was a dramatic shift in the lives of the witnesses. In those appearances, the disciples touched Jesus’ wounds, spoke, listened, and ate with Him. The disciples changed from hiding in fear and despair to boldly going and telling all they could that Jesus is alive.
V.10-11 Paul and the Apostles are on the same page
Paul gives glory to the grace of God that he would be saved and chosen to minister.
Paul verifies that the apostles preach the same message, they are on the same page.
V. 12-19 The consequences if Jesus had not resurrected…
Paul gives numerous consequences if there is no resurrection of the dead…If that were true the detrimental effects would impact us today.
Paul begins with… “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not risen…” and if Jesus hasn’t risen then it only gets worse…
1. If there was no resurrection of Christ, the claims of Jesus are not true
See v. 15
Jesus claimed, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19).
Jesus said to Martha, Lazarus’ sister in John 11:25-26 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
John 10-17-18
If Jesus didn’t rise again then He is not the Son of God and the author of life.
2. If there was no resurrection of Christ there is no salvation from sin and death
If Jesus has not been raised from the dead then sin defeated Jesus and death has become the victor.
We would still be guilty of our sins and eternal death is inevitable.
3. If there was no resurrection of Christ then faith is useless
There is nothing to believe in and no hope for the next life. All the faith we’ve been learning about in Hebrews 11 has been in vain.
4. If there was no resurrection of Christ the ministry of the gospel is useless
If Christ has not risen then the ministry and preaching of Paul and the Apostles are useless. Same today. There’s no one to put your faith in for forgiveness of sin and eternal life so why preach and declare faith in Christ?
See v. 30-32
If there is no resurrection then everything Paul has gone through for the gospel has been a complete waste of time.
5. If there was no resurrection of Christ there is no hope for life after death
If Christ has not been raised from the dead then all those who have already died have perished, they are forever lost.
If no resurrection, death is our final destination.
To deny the resurrection of Christ is to remove the “good” from the good news, it's just bad news.
“A denial of the Resurrection tears the heart out of the gospel message and leaves it lifeless.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary
Sounds awful…
*Like a deep sigh of relief, Paul says, But in fact! Or The truth is…
Read V. 20-23 But in fact! Jesus did rise from the dead!
“First fruits were a handful of ripened grain from the harvest field before the actual harvest started. They were a pledge, a guarantee, a foretaste of what was to follow.”-Believers Commentary
What Adam (and every person) was incapable of accomplishing, Jesus accomplished for us by dying on the cross and rising again on the third day. Jesus defeated sin and death for us.
The cross is the payment for our sin, the resurrection is our receipt!
Everyone who belongs to Christ (by faith) will be given new life. The destiny of Christians is tied to the destiny of Christ. Those who believe in Jesus, who put their faith in Jesus, share in His resurrection.
That my friends is the driving message of the resurrection of Christ. Because Jesus lives we can live a new life now and forevermore. The resurrection is God’s invitation to live a new life, to exchange or let our old life die, and receive the new life that is redeemed and made for eternity.
APPLICATION Are we living a life that looks like the resurrection has happened? Have we let Jesus, who is the resurrection and life, come in and change us? What does that look like?
Because He Lives There is Freedom from sin
1 Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds, you have been healed.
Romans 6:10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:2 And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.
Death couldn't hold him, all of hell couldn’t stop him. Through the resurrection, Christ invites us to share in the same life and power over sin and death. As believers, our life should resemble a resurrection life. Unbelievers, you can't change without the living Christ dwelling in you!
Jesus doesn’t just invite us to imitate Him, Jesus enables us, giving us the power to live a new life through the Holy Spirit. When we believe we receive this enabling power.
Get out of the graveyard!
Because He Lives death is defeated
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Despair, gloom, fear, and dread are emotions we experience but they shouldn’t dominate or control our outlook on life. Joy, peace, courage, and hope were all evident changes in the followers of Christ after He appeared to them.
The resurrection is our living hope. We don’t have to fear death or the future.
Because Jesus lives we can face trials in life with faith that He will work out all things for our good!
Because He lives the gospel lives on!
The resurrection proves that people can change and change for the better. There’s still work and ministry to be done. With our new life comes a new purpose.
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, 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.
*Our work FOR THE LORD is not in vain, Because He Lives! We'll see the fruit of our labor one day and the truth will be revealed because only the truth will remain forever!
Rather than living a life without meaning or purpose, we should be the bearers of the greatest news the world has ever heard.
God’s love has dealt a lethal blow to destroy the power of sin over us, death has been defeated, and eternal life is available for all who put their life in the resurrection of Christ. This is good news!
We must never let the gospel become old news! Because He lives the gospel lives on!
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…
Discussion:
What did God use in this sermon to speak directly to you?
What were some of the consequences if Jesus did rise from the dead?
In what ways do believers some times live like Jesus never resurrected?
Because He lives…how should believers live? What should we do with our lives?
What other notes did you write down that you would like to share?
The most important decision you will ever make!
Are you ready to experience salvation and be transformed? We encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, amen!
We would love to know if you made the decision to accept this wonderful gift from God. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hoped you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!