TITLE: The Importance of the Resurrection

TEXT: 1 Corinthians 15:17

Introduction:

1. It would be hard to exaggerate the importance of the resurrection of Jesus.

2. If He arose, then He conquered death, His righteousness is fully vindicated, and our hope in Him for our own salvation and resurrection is well-founded.

3. If, on the other hand, He did not arise from the dead, then Satan won the fight, Jesus isn’t the Son of God, and the whole Christian religion is a cruel deception, a monstrous hoax.

4. There is no room here for compromise or neutrality. If Christians need to be certain of anything, we need to be certain (we need to know) of the resurrection of our Lord.

DISCUSSION:

WHY IS THE RESURRECTION SO IMPORTANT?

1. The credibility of Jesus Himself is at stake:
   1. John 2:19 - Jesus spoke of the “temple” of His body (raise it up in 3 days)
   2. Jesus repeatedly and plainly predicted His own resurrection,
   3. Matthew 16:21
   4. Matthew 17:23; 20:19
2. The credibility of the New Testament is at stake:
   1. Of the 8 known writers of the New Testament, 6 writers specifically affirm the resurrection; James & Jude (along with the Hebrew writer) imply it.
   2. 15 of the 27 NT books specifically affirm the resurrection; most of the remaining 12 imply it
   3. The credibility of Old Testament prophecy is at stake - Psalm 16:8-11 - notice Peter’s explanation of this passage
      1. Acts 2:25-27
      2. David wrote Psalm 16 over 1000 years before the crucifixion - he could not have been writing about himself because he died, was buried, and Peter could point to his tomb (thus David’s soul was still in Hades, and his flesh had decayed)
      3. David was a prophet and foretold of the resurrection of Jesus - His soul wasn’t left in Hades, nor did His flesh undergo decay. Why is the Resurrection of Jesus so important, because…
         1. It is a foundational truth without which the gospel ceases to be good news - 1 Corinthians 15:14-19
         2. Without it, preaching is vain, v.14
         3. Without it, faith is vain, v.14
         4. Without it, Paul and others are false witnesses, v.15
         5. Without it, you are yet in your sins, v.17
         6. Romans 4:25, raised for our justification
         7. 1 Peter 3:21
         8. Compare Romans 6:4-5 - without the resurrection of Jesus, baptism would be meaningless.
         9. Furthermore, according to 1 Corinthians 15:14-19, without the resurrection of Christ
            1. those who have fallen asleep (died) in Christ have perished, v.18 (His resurrection is the basis for our own hope of resurrection)
            2. Without it, we are the most pitiable people on earth, v.1 (because our religion is a cruel hoax)
      4. You MUST believe it to be saved
         1. Romans 10:9, believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead
         2. Throughout the book of Acts the resurrection was a dominant theme of apostolic preaching - those who “believed” certainly accepted the resurrection of Jesus.
         3. Nominal “Christians” who reject the resurrection of Jesus are simply not Christians at all!

ADDITIONAL POSITIVE EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

1. It was sufficiently witnessed
   1. Honest witnesses (not immoral reprobates, liars)
   2. Competent witnesses (not gullible simpletons)
   3. Sufficient number of witnesses (well over 500)
   4. Testimony of witnesses was not refuted by the 1st century enemies of Christianity
      1. All anyone would have needed to do was to produce the body - Christianity would have died in its tracks!
      2. If the resurrection did not occur, 1st century skeptics were in a prime position to refute it!
      3. Certainly these enemies (Jews, pagans) were motivated - if they could have refuted the resurrection, they would have done so!
2. The change the resurrection brought in the apostles
   1. From fearful, trembling men of “little faith” to strong, fearless, militant soldiers of the cross
   2. Paul changed from a blasphemous persecutor to persecuted proclaimer (Paul had no reason to want to believe in the resurrection - he had nothing to gain financially, or socially, and had everything to loose - i.e. his standing within Judaism)

CONCLUSION:

1. The empty tomb speaks volumes as to the fact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
2. The OT prophesied of the resurrection.
3. Jesus repeatedly said, both plainly and in figures of speech, that he would be raised the 3rd day.
4. The disciples witnessed it; the inspired writers recorded it.
5. The early Christians believed it and proclaimed it shamelessly.
6. Without the resurrection, there is no gospel, no salvation, no eternal life.
7. Thank God that we can say with great confidence: “This Jesus did God raise up…”

Author's web site: http://avenuetchurchofchrist.com/