Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

March 27, 2005

THE RESURRECTION: DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

I Corinthians 15:12-19

Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain; your faith is also vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins, then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

This morning there will be hundreds of people going to church. Some will hear about the resurrection of Jesus Christ - and some will not. Many of those people will leave church, go back to their homes, their families, their work and their life without giving a second thought to what they have heard on Easter Sunday. So what – does it really matter? It’s a nice thought. It may or may not brighten their day. Kind of fanciful – like the Easter bunny or Easter eggs or Santa Claus. Some will even go to church with a vehement denial that resurrection – any resurrection - is possible and therefore ridiculous. Yes, there are those in the church – professing Christian churches - who believe that.

This morning and next week I want to approach the Resurrection of Jesus Christ with Biblical logic – the logic that Paul the Apostle used in arguing for the resurrection against some in the Corinthian Church who obviously did not believe in it (I Corinthians 15:12).

IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION at all – if the bodily resurrection conception is a farce – then Christ did not rise from the dead (v.13).

AND IF CHRIST DID NOT RISE FROM THE DEAD:

• Then the church has no message of hope to proclaim – v.14a

      I Corinthians 1:18a would be true: “For the word of the cross is to those who are

perishing foolishness…”

• Faith has no basis – just empty delusion - v.14b
• The Apostles are liars and deceivers – as well as all who have preached the Gospel throughout the centuries – giving a false representation of God - v.15a
• Your faith, not only is without basis, it has no value. Faith is non functional. It can accomplish nothing - v.17. It is like an insolvent bank or writing a check with no funds. The Hall of Faith  (Hebrews 11) becomes a hall of foolishness.
• You are still in your sins – Ephesians 2:1-3, 11, 12
• Those who have died believing that Jesus was raised from the dead are ruined. They have perished forever - v.18.
• If Christ did not rise from the dead then our only hope is in this life – we are to be pitied – felt sorry for.
• All of us are marching headlong into a hopeless night of nothing. It could be that the terrorist situation in Iran could be the launching pad that propels us into that hopeless night - IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION!

BUT IF THE RESURRECTION IS TRUE - A HISTORICAL FACT THAT HAPPENED. If it were possible for God to bring someone back from the dead – then who would be the logical one? What book informs us of authentic resurrection? THE BIBLE! What Person in the Bible qualifies for resurrection? THE LORD JESUS CHRIST! The angel told the women at the grave of Jesus in Matthew 28:6 “He is not here, for He is risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.”

Convicting statement: The truth hated most by the world is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Men are content to let Jesus die – as our example, as a revolutionary- but let Him stay in the grave – a part of ancient history. Do not make Him a living part of the contemporary world which holds men and women accountable for their actions. But the fact of the matter is that He is alive and He does hold men and women accountable for their actions. Beloved, we serve a risen Savior!

In our next pen pulpit we will take up part two of “The Resurrection: Does it Really Matter?”

Until then- God bless,