Called to Be Saints - 1 Corinthians 15 - His Resurrection and Ours

We Know He Lives Because …

Because He Lives We Know ...

Because He Lives We Must ...

We Know He Lives Because … 1 Cor 15:1-11

1. There is a God who is able! Acts 26:8

2. Many witnesses reported seeing Him.

Mary Magdalene - John 20:14

Women - Matt 28:9-10

Peter - Luke 24:34

Emmaus disciples - Luke 24:13-33

Apostles (Thomas) - John 20:19-29

Seven disciples fishing - John 21:1-23

More than 500 - 1 Cor 15:6

Paul - 1 Cor 15:8

3. Jesus Himself promised He would rise.

Mt 12:40; Mk 8:31-32; 9:31-32; 10:32-34

4. Jesus died publicly.

Ignatius, church leader in Antioch, Syria, lived AD 50-115. Sentenced to death by Emperor Trajan. Fed to the lions in the Coliseum in Rome.

“He was crucified and died under Pontius Pilate.  He really, and not merely in appearance, was crucified, and died, in the sight of beings … on earth … But he rose again in three days ... crucified in reality, and not in appearance, not in imagination, not in deceit …”

5. His tomb was sealed shut.

Matt 27:62-66

6. His tomb was and is empty.

All four gospels; Acts 2 … and all of Acts

7. Enemies tried to explain it.

Matt 28:11-15

8. Christianity and the church began.

In Jerusalem, 50 days after His death. Acts 2

9. Witnesses risked all and died.

Acts 26:22-23

10. There is no other logical answer.

Skeptics deny His death or appearances. How?

1. The Fiction or Legend Theory

2. The Stolen Body Theory

         Oldest; invented by priests. Matt 28:11-15

         By … Disciples, Romans, Jews, thieves (?).

3. The Wrong Tomb Theory

         Proposed by Prof. Kirsopp Lake in 1907

Both 2. and 3. admit that Jesus died, that He was buried, and that the tomb was empty. Neither theory can account for His appearances.

4. The Swoon theory

         The Passover Plot, by Hugh Schonfield

         Admits Joseph, Nicodemus, spices, etc.

         Admits that He appeared to His disciples.

         Cannot explain proofs that He died.

5. The mass hallucination theory

         Admits that He died.

         Admits that hundreds claimed to see Him.

Because He Lives

We Know …

1.   Our preaching is true; our faith is valid.

2.   We are no longer in our sins.

3.   Saints have “fallen asleep,” but they have not perished.

4.   We are not pitied, but eternally hopeful.

5.   As Adam > death, Christ > life.

6.   Death, our last enemy, will fall.

7.   We will bear the image of Christ. Imperishable, glorious, immortal.

8.   God gives the victory over sin and death!

Because He lives we must …

1.   Hold fast His saving word. 15:1-5

2.   Live out His empowering grace. 15:9-11

3.   Prize and protect His forgiveness. 15:17-19

4.   Fight in the arena for His cause. 15:30-32a

5.   Live today in light of tomorrow. 15:32b

6.   Choose our companions carefully. 15:33

7.   Wake up, sober up, and repent. 15:34

8.   Anticipate our own resurrection. 15:50-53

9.   Give thanks to God through Him. 15:54-57

10.               Abound in the work that honors Him. 15:58