April 8, 2007

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Scripture KJV

Reverend David S. Huffer

 Westwood Baptist Church - 2124 Davis Road
Waynesboro, VA

1 Corinthians
 
15:1    Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
 
15:2    By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
 
15:3    For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
 
15:4    And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
 
15:5    And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
 
15:6    After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
 
15:7    After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
 
15:8    And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
 
15:9    For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
 
15:10    But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
 
15:11    Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.
 
15:12    Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
 
15:13    But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
15:14    And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
 
15:15    Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
 
15:16    For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
 
15:17    And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
 
15:18    Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
 
15:19    If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
 
15:20    But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
 
15:21    For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
 
15:22    For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
 
15:23    But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

 

SONrise Service

 The Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:1-23

 

This morning we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

But what does that really mean to you this morning?

  • To some folks this day means nothing. It is just another day – just another Sunday morning with no particular importance
  • To others it is considered a “High Holy Day” … For them it may be the only day that they attend church … and they may only be there to display their new Spring Wardrobe

 

FRIENDS – I trust that it means more than that to you here this morning.

  • It is a day set aside to worship our risen Lord who will one day come again to resurrect all those who have placed their faith and trust in Him.

 

CONSIDER THE EVENTS THAT LED UP TO THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST – V.1-3

A. Reflections on the Death of Christ

  1. The betrayal, Peter’s denials, Pilate’s decision – Luke 22-23
  2. The suffering and the substitionary death for sinners
  3. The supreme example of God’s love

FRIENDS – His death would have no meaning without the resurrection!

 

B. But the Gospel is also about the Resurrection – V.3-4

  1. Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures
  2. He was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures

 

CONSIDER THE THREE GREAT GUARANTEES PROVIDED TO BELIEVERS THROUGH HIS RESURRECTION

A. The Guarantee of a Savior – v.5-7

  1. The resurrection declares Christ is the Son of God

·         Romans 1:4 – “And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of Holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

·         All conquerors throughout history have been conquered by death

·         All kings have been ruled by death

·         The great philosophers of our time have died as fools die

·         Even many of the great religious leaders of our time are in their graves

  1. All have died

·         Heb. 9:27 – “And it is appointed unto men once to die, but after that the judgment”

·         Samson was not strong enough to resist death

·         Solomon was not wise enough to escape death

·         Methuselah lived 969 years – but finally died

FRIENDS – Only Jesus conquered death! This was His sign of deity!

·         John 2 – “Destroy this temple and I will raise it up”

·         John 10 – “The power to lay it down and I have power to take it up again”

B. The Guarantee of Our Salvation

1.       Paul’s fearful “IF” – v.12-19

·         We are yet in our sins

·         No forgiveness – eternally guilty

·         The dead are perished

·         Every terminal illness is eternally terminal

·         No Christian joy – nothing for which to live

FRIENDS - “But now Christ is risen from the dead”

·         All the negatives above have been turned into positives

·         We have forgiveness, eternal life, joy!

C. The Guarantee of Our Resurrection – v.21-23

  1. The resurrection of Christ’s body
  2. Christ the firstfruits in the resurrection

·         Like the first of the harvest

·         Christians will rise when our Lord returns

CLOSE

We will be resurrected at the Lord’s return -1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

We shall be like Him and we shall be with Him!

No limitations anymore!

 

FRIENDS – Are you resting in these great guarantees – these great promises of our Lord?

·         Do you know the great joy of salvation in Christ?

If not – why not come this morning and accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior?

 

Christ is risen: How will this change your life today?

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