FOLLOWING A LIVING CHRIST

Following Christ: (Part II) FOLLOWING A LIVING CHRIST

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

12) But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13) If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14) And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.15) More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16) For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17) And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18) Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19) If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

            In February 27, 2006, The New York Times has reported - “Two limestone boxes said to contain residue from the remains of Jesus and Mary Magdalene were unveiled yesterday at a news conference at the New York Public Library.” This was done by James Cameron, who is producing a documentary for the Discovery Channel entitled “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.”

            The truth behind this is that this is another Hollywood attempt to discredit Christianity just like The Da Vinci Code since it contradicts the very core of the Gospel, which is founded on Jesus’ bodily resurrection from the dead.

            Of course, such attacks are not something new. From the time of Jesus Christ, there were people who wanted to undermine the validity of His resurrection.  If you look at Matthew 28: 12-13: "When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, and ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 

            In this passage, the religious leaders of the Jews instructed the soldiers guarding the tomb to say that Jesus’ body was stolen by His disciples while they were sleeping.  Today, after The Da Vinci Code has made hundred of millions in movie and books sales, we can expect more attacks like this especially from people who wants to profit out of it. But we should never be persuaded by these people. The resurrection of the Lord Jesus is not fictional, it is a fact.  And this is the heart of our faith. By the way, there’s no way, those were remains of Jesus Christ. Archeologists who are skeptical about it are saying that during those times, the names Jesus and Mary were very common. It would be like finding a tomb with the names John and Maria today. Besides, if Jesus was really alive and was married to Mary Magdalene, then the early church would have never been able to get away with preaching the bodily resurrection of Christ from the dead.

           Last Sunday, we started with our theme, Following Christ. We tried to explain what it means to be a true follower of Jesus Christ or what it really means to be a true Christian. This morning, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, I believe it is appropriate to say that His resurrection is the most significant reason why Jesus is worth following. HE IS THE ONLY LIVING SAVIOR.

            Josh McDowell in his book, Evidences That Demands a Verdict, gives an explanation:

“All but four of the major world religions are based on mere philosophical propositions. Of the four that are based on personalities rather than a philosophical system, only Christianity claims an empty tomb for its founder. Mohammad died June 8, 632 A.D. and the age of 61 at Medina where his tomb is annually visited by thousands of devout Muslims. Buddha is dead, there is a grave. Abraham, is dead, there is a grave. All the millions and millions of Jews, Buddhists, and Muslims agree that their founders have never come up out of the dust of the earth in resurrection!”

            In our assigned passage, the apostle Paul took the time to help the Corinthian believers comprehend the value of Christ resurrection.  Because Corinth was a Greek city, and the Greeks did not believe in the resurrection of the dead, Bible scholars believe that there were many in the church that were doubtful about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul dealt with this subject, and showed them several consequences if this is not true.

I           WE HAVE NO FAITH: (vv. 12-14)

            The Bible declares that Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Our Christian faith rests first in the reliability of Jesus as a person, and second on what He has accomplished or His work:

A.     His Person

If Jesus is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, then He must be trustworthy and not a liar. Jesus while He was still alive predicted His resurrection in many occasions. At first He used some vague terms to talk about it:

John 2:19

19) Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

            Later in His ministry, He was more plain and direct about it:

Matthew 16:21

21) From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.

            If the resurrection did not take place, Jesus would be the biggest liar, and being so, he cannot be from God. God is always committed to the truth.

B.     His Work:

In the early part of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul had taken the time to explain to the church in Corinth what our Gospel is. The word Gospel simply means “Good News”

1 Corinthians 15:1-4

1) Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2) By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3) For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

            Our Gospel can easily be divided in three major parts.

Ø      Christ Died – His death in behalf of the human race paid the penalty of sin. ( Rom. 4:25)

Ø      Christ was Buried – His burial proves that he actually died. There should be no question about the reality of His death.

Ø       Christ Resurrected – His resurrection demonstrated His absolute victory over death. (1 Cor. 15:55-57)

To only emphasize His death is incomplete. His resurrection authenticates the completion of Christ work for the forgiveness of our sins.

Without the resurrection of Jesus, our faith is empty because Jesus will be unreliable as a person and as a Savior.       

II         WE ARE FALSE WITNESSESS:

            All believers are called to be witnesses for the Lord Jesus (Acts 1:8).  A witness is a person who can provide a firsthand account of something seen, heard, or experienced.

            Prior to our assigned text, Paul has established that after Jesus resurrected there were many who has seen Him and can be His witnesses:

1 Cor. 15:5-8

5) and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

6) After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

7) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,

8) and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

            The Old Testament Law (Deut. 17:6), only required two or three witnesses to establish a fact. The resurrection of Christ has more than 500 people, and many of them were still alive to confirm their experience. These were the same people who were changed because of their experienced. The once discouraged and skeptical, turned to be the most vocal witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ. John R.W. Stott said, “Perhaps the transformation of the disciples of Jesus is the greatest evidence of all for the resurrection.”
            If the resurrection did not really happen, then all of them were liars who simply invented a story.  But not just them, all of those who stood up for the Lord Jesus and shared the message of the gospel from then up to now are all liars.   All are preaching something that did not actually happen.           

III        WE HAVE NO FUTURE (vv. 16-19)

            Lastly, if the resurrection did not happen then the followers of Jesus have no hope for the future.

            As I have said earlier, there were many in the Corinthian church that was skeptical about the resurrection of believers from the dead. You see, one of the precious truths we believe today is because Jesus resurrected, we who have believed in Him will live forever. Paul clearly declared that because death did not have dominion over Jesus, it won’t have dominion over us:

Romans 6:8-10

8) Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.

9) For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him.

10) The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

            We, as believers of Jesus have the blessed assurance that we will experience what Jesus Himself had experienced. In verse 19, Paul said that if we don’t have this assurance, “we are to be pitied more than all men.” Why? Well, suppose Christians will not resurrect, then all our efforts of devotion, obedience, and services will be deemed as misuse of our lives. People ought to be sorry for us.

            However, we should never be alarmed. Jesus resurrection is real. He is alive; He has left an empty tomb. For this reason, Paul concludes 1 Corinthians 15 with these words:

1 Corinthians 15:58

58) Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

            Indeed, nothing will be in vain. Praise God because we are following a living Christ!

I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today,
I know that He is living, whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer.
And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.

He Lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way
He Lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me How I know He lives.