1 Corinthians 15:12-18 God’s Plan: Life from Death

John R.W. Stott- “The Glorious Paradox” We live and die! Christ died and lived! V.12- Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, “how do some say there is no resurrection of the dead?” V.1- I make known to you the [gospel] which I preached to you V.3- Christ died for our sins (affirming His act of redemption) V.3- He was buried (confirming His death) V.3- He was raised on the third day Vs.5-8 He appeared to a multitude of people (confirming His bodily resurrection)

V.12- How can you say there is no resurrection of the dead? V.1- the gospel which I preached V.1- which you received Accepted it and believed it V.1- you also stand A living hope (faith) V.2- by which also you are saved The cornerstone of salvation V.11- so we preached and so you believed

V.13- If there is no resurrection of the dead: V.13- Not even Christ has been raised Vs.3-4- According to the Scriptures Genesis 22:8; 14 Psalm 16:8-11 Isaiah 53 Matthew 20:18-19 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and will hand Him over to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him, and on the third day He will be raised up."

John 14:3 "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:19 "After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also. John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?"

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not [whether or not you like his teaching] but [whether or not he rose from the dead].”― The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

V.14- Our preaching is in vain Vain- empty; without purpose or effect V.1- as of first importance Christ died for our sins He was buried He was raised on the third day According to the Scriptures V.15- We are false witnesses of God, because we testified against God We- those listed in vs.5-8 (over 500) Heresy

V.17- Worthless- a lie, devoid of truth V.1- the gospel which I preached V.17- You are still in your sins Romans 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned– Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. V.56- The sting of death is sin V.18- Those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished V.19- We are of all men most to be pitied

Vs Imperishable for the perishable Immortality for mortality Victory over death V.58- Always abounding in the work of the Lord

Philippians 1:19-24 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

When the world seems a defeat for God and you are sick with the disorder, the violence, the terror, the war on the streets; when the earth seems to be chaos, say to yourself, "Jesus died and rose again on purpose to save, and his salvation is already with us." Every departing missionary is an act of faith in the resurrection. Every agreed commitment is an act of faith in the resurrection. When you forgive your enemy When you feed the hungry When you defend the weak, you believe in the resurrection.

When you have the courage to marry When you welcome the newly-born child When you build your home, you believe in the resurrection. When you wake at peace in the morning When you sing to the rising sun When you go to work with joy, you believe in the resurrection!

1 Corinthians 15:12-18 God’s Plan: Life from Death