The Impact Of Jesus’ Resurrection

Introduction

I am so built up by our worship already. Man, I hope I don’t ruin it. Wow, what an encouraging song service and worship it has been to this time. What on earth are you doing here? Have you lost your mind? Okay, I know I asked the question a lot, but I’m going to ask it one more time. Why? Why are you here? Does this make any sense at all? And while I emphasize this question a lot, I do so because I think sometimes we forget important things that we need to think about a lot and meditate upon. And we neglect them. So I want to ask you again. Why are you here? Simply put.

1. Received the Gospel and Hold It Fast

Thank you, Scott, for leading us in these songs, reminding us of this essential, foundational, undeniable and important truth. I take you this morning to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 1 beginning. Now I make known to you, brethren the gospel, the good news which I preached to you. That which Paul had committed his life to. Which also you received. In which also you beloved brethren in Corinth, in which you stand. And by which you are saved. Oh, what rich word that is. By which you are saved if you hold fast the word which I preach to you unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received. That Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. And that he was buried.

And that he was raised on the third day, according to the scriptures. A couple of observations from this text. Number one, it says that they had received this message. That is man’s part in God’s salvation by grace through faith. After listening to God’s message, we believe. We receive the message and obey it. In Ephesians chapter 1 and verse 13, that’s what they did in Ephesus. That’s what they did in Corinth. The Thessalonians are praised because they receive the word of God’s message for what it really is, the word of God, and it performs its work in you who believe. And thus they are admonished to walk worthy of their calling. This is precisely what happens in the Corneus story. As he tells Peter when he arrives and explains the vision that he’s had.

We are all here present before God to hear this message. And they embraced that message. They believed that message. They received it. But once one has embraced or received and obeyed this message, ongoing salvation. Eternal salvation is dependent upon something. And I have this word underlined in my Bible. It is a very large two-letter word. It is a word stating a condition by which also you are saved. If. And what follows the if must be paid attention to. If you hold fast. A failure to hold fast this word, which I am admonishing you today. Why are you here? Why have you come to this place? Because your eternal salvation is dependent upon your continuing to cling to this word. If you hold it fast, unless you have believed in me.

2. Our Faith Is Rooted in History

At the core of this gospel message. It has been said that perhaps verses three and four reflect an early creed that the disciples had. We hear the word creed and we cringe. Because we think of human creed. This is God’s creed. This is what early believers said when somebody said, Why do you believe in this Jesus? Because I believe, as the scriptures have said, that he died for our sins. He was buried, and he rose the third day. That’s what they espoused. And they were persecuted for saying it. This was the early creed of the disciples. He died for our sins according to the scripture. He was buried, and then he rose again the third days, and let it be our creed in the 21st century.

At the core of the gospel message, as I said, is the death and resurrection of Jesus. And it is the core of my faith and belief, no matter the doubts that sometimes beset. And they do. Despite the troubling questions that are sometimes raised that can be answered, but may not easily be answered at times, as we talked about in our Bible class this morning. And I’ll tell you, it’s true, notwithstanding. Even those who claim to be Christians, notwithstanding brethren, who sometimes fail, who sometimes disappoint, even though they may inflict me with injury. Emotional hurt. Even though those who should know better, who sometimes fall short of God’s glory, or simply inflict me with pain in some way. That does not invalidate this message. All of Christianity and our confidence in this book hinges on these events.

Listen, our faith is rooted in history, and that’s important. And that’s what Paul goes on to say when he said, as he was raised the third day according to the scriptures, he appeared to Cephas. Then to the twelve. He appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time. And I like this. You don’t believe what I’m telling you. There’s a lot of other witnesses of this. Most of them remain until now, but some have fallen asleep. They have died, but they have not perished ultimately. They are simply awaiting the resurrection. I love the way he says that, because that’s going to be the foundation of all that follows in his argumentation. They have simply fallen asleep. It’s not over for them because of Jesus’ resurrection, they will be raised.

But look, it’s not just Cephas, somebody that his audience knew and knew very well. Not just the twelve apostles, not just himself. But 500 people at one time saw the resurrected Lord. Many are still alive and can testify to this. He appeared to James. The brother of the Lord. And then all the apostles. And last of all, as it were to one untimely born, he appeared to me also. This faith is rooted in history. It is a history, folks, that is undeniable. I can’t get around this. I can’t make this go away. This early creed of the disciples that Jesus died and was buried and rose the third day is a fact that cannot be explained away. Or denied. And I’ll tell you this. Its truthfulness is further evident in the transforming work that it did in the life of one who once opposed it.

That’s his point that he’s making here. When he said, I am the least of the apostles, I’m not even fit to be called an apostle. Because I persecuted this way. I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God, I am what I am. I received mercy, as he says in 1 Timothy chapter 1. And his grace toward me did not prove vain. He’s still holding fast. But I labored even more than all of them, yet not I. It’s not about me. It’s not about Saul of Tarsus. It’s about God and the grace that was given to me. But the grace of God with me, he says in verse 10. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.

3. If Christ Has Not Been Raised

Jesus’ resurrection is the foundation and basis and hope of our resurrection. It is a living testimony to the power of God. And so this argumentation follows in verses 12 through 19, when he says, Now, if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how does some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? It all hinges upon Christ’s resurrection. But if there is no resurrection of the dead, look, if this does not anticipate a general resurrection of the dead, then I want to tell you what, not even Christ is raised. That’s the implication of that doctrine. And if Christ has not been raised, oh, think of the implications of that. All this preaching I’ve been doing, it’s purposeless. It’s in vain.

Your faith also in vain. That’s why I’ll tell you this morning. If you’re here and Jesus was not raised from the dead, you’ve made a tragic waste of time of your Sunday. That’s how significant Jesus’ resurrection is. Furthermore, we’re a bunch of liars, he says, because we’ve been saying he is raised. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses of God because we witnessed against God that he raised Christ, whom he then did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. See how it all goes together? For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ had been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless. And the sins on your account, they’re still there. You’re still in your sins.

4. Of All Men Most to Be Pitied?

And those that he mentioned earlier that had already fallen asleep, they’re like rover. They’re dead all over. 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. It is this last grace that I want to spend a few minutes talking to you about this morning. What does he mean by that? If Christ has not been raised, we are of all men most to be pitied. And I want to give you a couple of explanations that are possible. Well, we would be of all men most to be pitied because the Christian life is so otherwise unrewarding. That’s what someone might answer as to why. I mean, if you think about what I’m doing as a Christian and what it calls me to be, this is very confining.

This is very shackling. I might want to do some things that I cannot allow myself to do. And so I am of all men most to be pitied because I’m confining myself in this way, and it’s very difficult and challenging. Why would I do this? And so we might say that by answering the question this way, that folks are focused on the negative aspects of being a Christian, a follower of this person who is raised from the dead. Negative. Notice negative is in quotes. Because it’s not negative at all. But we see it negatively, and that’s a big part of our problem. We look at the commitment that’s required to be a Christian, the time and diligence necessary to fulfill his requirements of us. We’ve got to know the word, and I want to tell you, this is a pretty big and tough book to digest.

It’s one thing to become familiar with all of its information, but it’s an even bigger challenge to implement. The information that we’re supposed to implement in our lives so that we can be doers of the word. James chapter 1 and verse 22. There’s time preparing for Bible classes. Let’s repeat that again. There’s time preparing for Bible classes. There is time spent in prayer, fulfilling responsibilities toward brethren, commitment to assembling, serving others. Look, it’s a drain on our resources. No wonder, brethren had to be told, do not grow weary in doing good. For in due time you shall reap if you do not faint. Galatians 6 and verse 9. The challenge of self-control, as I mentioned, and self-sacrifice. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal, Paul would say in 2 Corinthians chapter 10, but mighty to the destruction of fortresses, and then he would go on to say that we are taking captive every thought to the obedience of Christ.

Do you find that to be troubling at times and difficult? Sometimes my mind doesn’t want to be captive to the obedience of Christ. It wants to go down a certain path because it is tantalized to go that way. It seems actually rewarding to go that way. And so sometimes I’m in a real battle. No wonder Christianity is presented as a warfare. I’m in a real battle, not wanting to mold my thoughts and bring my thoughts captive to the obedience of Christ. And so, if there’s no resurrection from the dead, we should be pitied because of all the sacrifices we’re called upon to make. For all the things that we must pursue, even in our relationships with one another, because Christ is raised. It’s a lot of work.

And when some people look at Christianity, and I know I’m talking to some this morning, and we’ve all thought this way before. This is work. It’s hard work, and sometimes I don’t want to do the work. I want to let me be me, however, me wants to be. Instead of denying myself, taking up my cross and serving others, especially in the relationships in the home. After all, shouldn’t I be the king? Or shouldn’t I be the queen? What is this subject ourselves to one another in the fear of Christ? Ephesians 5 and 25. You mean put myself aside for the welfare and benefit of others? To exalt others. Hey, I’m the man in the house. You mean put my will aside to make my wife’s life better and richer?

That’s going to actually require some effort instead of just going with the flow. That’s right. Oh, poor, pitiful us. Well, you know, certainly there’s an element of this involved, because Paul said, if the dead are not raised. Later in this context, in 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 32, the last part of that, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Why put such sweat into something that has only little practical benefit and no eternal benefit? There’s certainly no reason to restrain yourself if this life is all there is. And so he’s saying, if there is no resurrection, adopt a new philosophy. Live it up. Whatever that means to you, whatever you can get out of life, get it, whatever pursuit you think is best to do that, eat and drink.

For tomorrow you die. Watch whatever movies you want to watch. Say whatever you want to say. Live it up. But that recommendation would only follow if Christ has not been raised and if there is no resurrection from the dead. Now, that being the case, if there is no resurrection of the dead and Christ has not been raised, eat and drink for tomorrow we die flows out of that because the God of this book can’t be trusted.

This is not the wisest and highest way to live. But I don’t believe that is the main point Paul is making with the phrase. And I certainly don’t believe for one second, listen, that Paul is saying that the Christian life has so little to recommend it otherwise unless there’s a prize awaiting us at the end. I don’t believe that’s really the point that he’s making overall. The Christian life, look, it’s so negative. Who would want it? There’s very little reward to it. It has so little to recommend it, so we’re of all men most to be pitied. Look at poor pitiful us. We cannot approach Christianity like that. Well, if it wasn’t for the resurrection, if it wasn’t for the hope of glory, forget this. You mean we have to refrain from the partying and wantonness that motivates most everyone else these days?

We cannot give in to sexual lusts or exciting liaisons if we feel like it. Or if we’re in search of a feeling or missing intimacy in our lives. We cannot dress provocatively to be someone’s object of desire or for our great beauty to be admired. We must guard our tongues instead of spewing forth expletives and crude speech without restraint. We have to worship and engage in Bible study constantly. And so we leave this poor pitiful be that I have to have all these restrictions. The reward of Christianity is not an after this life only consideration. Now, if there’s no resurrection of the dead, if Jesus has not been raised, then yes, eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die. Because God Himself could not be trusted.

Because He has told us that these things did indeed happen, and that this is His will for us, and it all stands and falls together. But the fact is, Jesus has been raised, and there is a resurrection of the dead, and that then validates not only the truth of the resurrection, but the value and the benefit of the Christian life. Worship itself. It’s not a drudgery. We’re here to honor our very real creator and to give our creator what is due him, the one who gave me life and breath and sustains it to this very hour. And look, it’s true. Jesus is raised from the dead. And so that validates the rest of this. And what that means is righteousness exalts a nation. But sin is a reproach to any people.

Proverbs 14 and verse 34. That validates Proverbs 13 and verse 15. The way of the transgressor is hard. Yep, if Jesus isn’t raised, then we can question all of this, but he is raised. And furthermore, we find out that if you’re just going to eat and drink and be merry, for tomorrow you die, there’s some results of that are hard. And that’s validated. The way of the transgressor is hard. Even if the point in Proverbs 13 and verse 15, it’s the treacherous person instead of the transgressor. Either way, the way of the treacherous is hard. And then this, 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 8. Bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for the life that now is, and also the life that is to come.

This is not, oh, this is so much sweat and work and challenge, difficult and battle. It’s so negative. It’s not a just next life only consideration. Godliness has promise of the life that now is. Would you read Psalm 119? Oh, I’m not going to read the whole Psalm. I wish I could this morning. And this is before the entire revelation has been delivered. But he says, Blessed is the one whose way is blameless in verse 1, who walks in the way of the Lord. That person’s blessed. Who seek him with all their heart. They do no unrighteousness. They walk in his ways. Thou hast ordained thy precepts that we should keep them diligently. Verses 49 and following. Remember the word to thy servant in which thou hast made me hope.

This is my comfort. It’s not just a future consideration. This is my comfort in my affliction. Thy word revives me. I don’t turn aside from thy law. I’ve remembered thine ordinances. He goes on to say, They are mine. I observe the Lord is my portion. I have promised to keep thy words. I have hastened and did not delay to keep thy commandments, verse 60. I don’t forget thy law. At midnight I shall give rise, shall rise to give thanks to thee because of thy righteous ordinances. I am a companion of all those who fear you, and of those who keep thy precepts. The earth is full of thy loving kindness, O Lord. Teach me thy statutes. And that’s just the beginning.

God is real, and the resurrection is true. And because that is so, the devil is going to oppose, and he’s going to make us think that Christianity is not worth the effort that’s involved. And time would bail me to talk again about the Psalm of Asaph when he looks out. Oh, the wicked have it so good. I was so envious that I almost slipped. The righteous suffer. The unrighteous are wealthy and fat. Man, I’m not sure that this righteousness ain’t really paying off. But how suddenly they are cast down. When he comes to the sanctuary of God, he realizes that the nearness of God is my good, and ultimately the wicked will be destroyed, and that there are so many benefits to having your hope in the Lord.

5. Suffering for a Cause That's Not Real

But the devil makes us think that we’re missing out, that we’re being abused. Poor me. I can’t give in to my lusts. I’m being abused. All these restrictions, all of this effort, listening to this preacher over and over again. Unrighteousness is infinitely better. That’s what the devil is tempting us with all of that. So I don’t think really the idea here of all men most to be pitied is the idea that the Christian life is so otherwise unrewarding. I think the answer is found in the context. That Paul is really saying, we are of all men most to be pitied if Christ is not raised, because we would be suffering. It’s not just living the Christian life, but we would be suffering for a cause that’s not real.

It’s false. It’s counterfeit. Look on in 1 Corinthians 15 what he goes on to say. Remember, we mentioned the latter part of verse 32, but look at verse 30. Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brethren, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. I die daily. If from human motives I fought with wild beasts at Ephesus, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Yes, he makes that argumentation at the end of verse 32, but I think the primary consideration here is we are of all men most to be pity. We’re suffering here. Don’t discount the pursuit of righteousness. Ever. Jesus is raised, and the promise of our resurrection is real.

He is the first fruits, and our resurrection will follow. And we have this assurance that the perishable shall put on the imperishable when Jesus returns at the last trump. There’s a lot of great trumpets in the Bible signaling God’s judgment. But I want you to underscore that word in 1 Corinthians 15. Of all the trumpets in the Bible, this is the last one. And you know what last means. There will be a literal last trumpet to signal the end of everything. And we who are alive will be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, and the dead will be raised imperishable. What flows out of these thoughts? Verse 58. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

And so I would tell you, don’t fall into that trap that the devil has sat that, boy, if it wasn’t for the fact that I knew that Christ was raised from the dead, I ought to just ought to live like a heathen. It’d be, it’s it’s a so much better way to live. No. The way of the transgressor is hard. There’s a lot of wisdom in living the way of righteousness. Don’t fall into that trap that Christianity is negative otherwise. Why am I preaching this? Because I know that’s what people think.

6. Because Jesus Is Raised, We Are Hardly to Be Pitied

This commitment that’s involved. The self-control that is necessary. All this hard work. Watch your perspective. Especially when you’re in pain. Most of you are too young. And you don’t remember the Walt Garrison Skull commercial, do you?

Walt Garrison, former fullback of the Dallas Cowboys in the glory days. When Tom Landry was the head coach. That’s when things were good in Dallas. And after Walt Garrison’s nine-year playing career, he latched on with the skull commercial. Nothing beats my skull, Walt Garrison. Just take a little pinch and put it. I gotta go in the Walt Garrison voice. Just take a little pinch and put it between what you can go. Sure feels good. I think going smokeless is the only way to go. For me, Walt Garrison. This is the only way to live. Try going smokeless.

Well, I quoted old Walt because I figured some of you might know him. Texas boy through and through. But I quoted him because I thought he said something he didn’t say in that commercial. I had to research it. I thought he said, this is as good as it gets. Now he didn’t actually say that, but that’s really what he was saying. For Walt Garrison, this is the only way to live. This is as good as it gets. Really? Rustling cattle and chewing skull? That’s as good as it gets. I’d like to interview Walt now at age 67. See if his perspective on life has changed any. But there is the George Jones song in the mid-90s. It doesn’t get any better than this. I guess because he was singing with Johnny Cash and Wayland Jennings and the other guys.

Doesn’t get any better than this. Look. That’s not true of anything else, like it’s true of the Christian life. We, not Walt Garrison, George Jones, or anyone else who lives a worldly life. It doesn’t get any better than this. The pursuit of Jesus’ example. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. Our pursuit of that in Philippians chapter 2, verses 1 through 8. The pursuit of those things that Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount calls blessed. The ideal state of living. That we, by being children of faith, can be the sons of Abraham. The Father of the faithful. And that we can have bold access because we are servants of the risen king. We can have bold access at the throne of God to find help in a time of need.

But Jesus is our high priest. Yes, he is raised from the dead, and he is our high priest, and he is able to save forever those who draw near to him. And we he never lives to make intercession for us. Hebrews 7 and verse 25. And Christ in you. Yes, there is an after this life consideration. Christ in you is the hope of glory. Folks, it doesn’t get any better than that on this quote. And so, because Jesus is raised, we are hardly to be pitied, even for the sacrifices that we’re called upon to make as we live for him. Because they are for our betterment. They are for our enriching and exalting as we live. But we are also hardly to be pitied because we will be glorified on that last day.

In 1 Thessalonians. Or 2 Thessalonians, rather, chapter 1. It says, when he comes to be glorified in his saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, for our testimony to you was believed. He has said earlier in this text in verse 5, this is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment, so that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering. For after you have suffered for a little while. For after all, it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who have afflicted you and to give you relief who are afflicted. One day is coming. When the angels shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God.

And they will pay the penalty of eternal destruction. Away from the presence of the Lord and the glory of his power. But in his saints, he will be glorified on that day.

Conclusion

C.S. Lewis well captures this. When he says, God will invade. When that happens, it is the end of the world. When the author walks on to the stage, the play is over. God is going to invade, all right. He has furnished proof unto all men in that Jesus rose from the dead. Acts 17 and verse 31. He will judge the world in righteousness. God is going to invade all right, but this time it will be God without disguise. Something so overwhelming that it will strike either irresistible love or irresistible horror. And to every creature. Those will be the two reactions. When that day comes. What if it was today? I don’t want anybody here this morning to be in the irresistible horror category. Oh, it’ll be more acute.

For those who have known the way of righteousness. Will it be irresistible horror? Or irresistible delight? He goes on to say, it will be too late then to choose your side. It will be the time when we discover which side we have really chosen. Whether we realized it before or not. But now today, this is our chance to choose the right side. Have you made that choice? Are you sticking with that choice? Are you holding fast the word unless you believed in vain? What will it be for us? Irresistible horror. Or will it be the morning of joy?

If you need to respond, do so as we sing that song. Let’s think.