(I preached this sermon Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017 at Christ Center Alliance Church (Chinese) in Miami Florida)
Breakpoint
Radio Co-host John Stonestreet wrote an article entitled, "Questioning
Jesus' Existence." He writes, "When you're CNN, you publish annual
articles suggesting Jesus never existed. It's what you do" He continues, "Every
year around March and December, this and other news outlets exhume the
long-dead thesis that the New Testament is based on a mythological figure, not
a Man who really lived, died, and rose from the grave two thousand years
ago."
He goes on
to report that in March of this year CNN republished an article by John Blake entitled,
"Decoding Jesus: Separating Man from Myth." Blake writes, "On
Easter Sunday millions of Christians worldwide mark the resurrection of Jesus. Though
Christians clash on many issues, almost all agree that he existed." He
continues, "But there's another view of Jesus that's been emerging, one
that strikes at the heart of the Easter story. A number of authors and scholars
say Jesus never existed."
In
December of 2014 The Washington Post published an article by Raphael Lataster entitled,
"Did historical Jesus really exist? The evidence just does not add
up" He concludes his article, writing, "In sum, there are clearly good reasons to
doubt Jesus' historical existence--if not think it outright improbable."
I could
go on and on citing others who attack the credibility of the Biblical account of
the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. And perhaps there is nothing that gains
the attention of the skeptics more frequently than the New Testament claim that
Jesus Christ died, was buried in a tomb and three days later rose from the dead.
The
Apostle Paul faced a similar controversy. As we read in I Corinthians 15 the
Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthian church was compelled to address those
who denied the resurrection of the dead and the implication of that denial with
regard to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As we
look at this text this morning, note with me first of all, the evidence for the
historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In verse one and two, Paul
reminds the church in Corinth of the gospel he had previously preached to them.
He writes, "Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to
you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if
you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain."
He
continues in verses 3 - 5 writing, "For I delivered to you as of first
importance..." Did you get that? "...of first importance what I also
received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, and
that he was buried,
that he
was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he
appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve." (ESV)
Paul then
continues to identify others, including himself, who had seen or encountered the
risen and living Christ. Verses 6 - 9, "Then he appeared to more than five
hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have
fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of
all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the
apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of
God." (ESV)
Elsewhere
other Biblical writers emphasized the authenticity of Jesus' resurrection. The
physician Luke in Acts 1:3 says that Jesus, "...presented himself alive to
them", that is the apostles, "...after his suffering by many proofs, appearing
to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God." (ESV)
Dr. Clark
Pinnock, one of my theology professors in seminary, commenting on this verse
writes,
"The
certainty of the apostles was founded on their experiences in the factual
realm. To them Jesus showed himself alive by 'many infallible proofs' (Acts
1:3). The term Luke uses is tekmerion, which indicates a demonstrable proof.
The
disciples came to their Easter faith through inescapable evidence available to
us through their written testimony."
He
continues, "It is important for us, in an age that calls for evidence to
sustain the Christian claim, to answer the call with appropriate historical
considerations. For the resurrection stands within the realm of historical
factuality, and constitutes the excellent motivation for a person to trust
Christ as Savior."
Despite
the claims and protests of the skeptics, the Scriptures place an emphasis on
the historicity of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is this
truth that we stand on when we proclaim the gospel to a world in need of a
Savior!
Our faith
is not based on fiction nor tradition. It is not based on theory, nor the conjecture,
speculation, opinions or other notions conceived in the mind or heart of men. It
is grounded in historical fact and authenticated by the testimony of
eyewitnesses. Jesus Christ, God incarnate, lived on this earth, died for our
sins, was buried in a tomb and rose from the dead three days later.
As
Alexander MaClaren writes of this passage,
"Now
the first thing that strikes me here is that, whatever else the system unfolded
in the New Testament is, it is to begin with a simple record of historical
fact." He continues, "It
becomes a philosophy, it becomes a religious system; it is a revelation of God;
it is an unveiling of man; it is a body of ethical precepts. It is morals and
philosophy all in one; but it is first of all a story of something that took
place in the world."
Jesus
Christ was not the figment of someone's imagination. He was not the product of
someone's dream world or ecstatic vision. He was God incarnate, who lived in
our space and time dimension over two thousand years ago in the land of
Palestine.
As the
Apostle John testified, the Word "..became flesh and dwelt among us" John
1:14 And in his first letter, writing of
Jesus Christ he said, (SLIDE) "... which we have heard, which we have seen
with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning
the word of life--the life was made manifest, [public] and we have seen it, and
testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and
was made manifest to us--" 1 John 1:1-2
(ESV)
And the
Apostle Paul goes out of his way to emphasize the authenticity of the
historical facts that shape the gospel, the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
And of
course, this was consistent with Jesus' own words. On several occasions He
spoke to His disciples of His impending death and resurrection. His death did
not catch him by surprise. He knew His assignment from the beginning, telling
his disciples on one occasion, "For even the Son of Man came not to be
served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark
10:45 (ESV)
And Luke
records these words of Jesus, in his gospel, chapter 9, verse 22, "The Son
of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests
and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised." (ESV)
So first
of all we have the historical evidence that Jesus Christ did live, die and was
raised from the dead. Note secondly, the centrality of the resurrection to the
gospel message.
Having
made a compelling case for the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus Christ,
Paul continues by drawing very important deductions or inferences with regard
to our faith. verses, 12-13,
"Now
if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that
there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if
there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised."
(ESV)
He argues
that if there is no resurrection, Christ could not have been raised from the
dead. He then he draws this logical and faith shattering conclusion. Follow carefully
the logic of his reasoning in verses 14 - 19,
"And
if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is
vain." He continues verse 15,
"We
are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that
he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are nor raised."
Then he
makes this deduction, verses 16 - 19, "For if the dead are not raised, not
even Christ has been raised.
And if
Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your
sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in
Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be
pitied." (ESV)
Friends,
our faith as followers of Jesus Christ rests on the testimony of those who over
two thousand years ago witnessed a Savior who lived a sinless life, died a
substitutionary death for our sin, and by the shedding of his blood on that
cross of shame paid the penalty of our sin, broke the power of sin, and then
conquered death when He was resurrected from the grave three days later. But
all of that would have been to no avail, writes Paul, if there is no
resurrection and if Jesus Christ had not been raised from the dead.
Back in
April of 1990, the cover of the news magazine, U.S. News and World Report was
entitled, "The Last Days of Jesus" In his concluding section on the
resurrection of Jesus Christ Jeffrey Sheler wrote,
"It
is Christianity's most irreducible tenet: On the third day, Jesus arose from
the dead." He continues, "From the very beginning Christians have
proclaimed the bodily resurrection as a validation of all that Jesus taught and
all that they believe. It is the
foundation upon which all else rests."
G.
Campbell Morgan writes, "If Christ hath not been raised then the Cross of
Calvary was nothing more than the tragic ending of a mistaken, if noble life.
All the values of evangelical Christianity are dependent on interpretations of
the person and mission of Jesus resulting from acceptation of the central fact
of His resurrection."
Deny the
cross and you have no Savior. Deny the resurrection and you have a dead man who
claimed to be a savior.
We have
noted the historicity of the resurrection and what follows logically, the
centrality of the resurrection to the gospel message and our faith. Notice
thirdly that the resurrection of Jesus Christ provides the only hope of eternal
life for those who believe. Verses 20 - 23 of our text. "But in fact
Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen
asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of
the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But
each to his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who
belong to Christ." (ESV)
There are
two relationships described here. One comes by physical birth; one comes by
spiritual birth. All of us by human birth are related to Adam the first man. And
by virtue of that relationship share in a common end, death, both physically
and spiritually.
Adam was
created a perfect human being. Morally, he was without sin. Physically he was
without a flaw. Socially, once he awoke with Eve at his side, he was complete
and content. In fact he had a perfect marriage.
Spiritually
he walked in fellowship and harmony with God. He lived in a perfect
environment, free of disease and conflict or evil of any kind. But he chose to
step beyond the limits God had placed upon him. And his rebellion and
disobedience brought spiritual and physical death to his experience. And to
ours for we share in the result of his rebellion. Verses 21 and 22, "...by
a man came death...""For as in Adam all die..." Our sinful nature
is evidence of our relationship with Adam.
But Paul
speaks of another relationship, again verse 22, "...in Christ shall all be
made alive." We did not enter into our relationship with Adam by choice.
We entered into it by virtue of our physical birth. But the relationship Paul
speaks of,
whereby
we enter into life, is established by faith in a risen Savior.
Remember
Paul's words in verse 1 and 2, "...I would remind you... of the gospel I
preached to you, which you received... and by which you are being
saved..." Then in verse three he goes on to declare, "...that Christ
died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that
he was raised on the third day..."
As
sinners, we all must pay the penalty for our sin. "In Adam all
die..." But Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin on the cross of
Calvary and was raised from the dead.
Before
Christopher Columbus ventured west and discovered the new world, Spanish coins
had the stamped outline of the Strait of Gibraltar imprinted on them. Under
that imprint were the words, "No more beyond." The Strait of
Gibraltar lies at the western end of the Mediterranean Sea, the western end of
the known world at that time. After his return and the discovery of the new
world to the west, the wording was changed to read "More beyond."
Jesus
Christ went through the narrow gate of death on our behalf. Many thought he
would never return. But He did. He paid the penalty for our sin. He broke the
power of sin. He triumphed over death in His resurrection from the grave.
Therefore
He can guarantee the same for those who put their trust in Him. There is life
beyond the grave!
Verses 24-27a
"Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after
destroying every rule and authority and power. For he must reign until he has
put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For
God put all things in subjection under his feet."
And later
in this chapter, Paul writes these words of triumph, verses 54b-57, "'Death
is swallowed up in victory.' O death,
where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is
sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (ESV)
Remember verse
23, "Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to
Christ."? The question I ask this morning is, 'Do you belong to Christ?"
If you know Jesus Christ this morning, take comfort in these words. But, if you
are here this morning, and have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, I
urge you to respond to the evidence you have heard this morning from the Word
of God. The evidence points to but one conclusion: Jesus Christ is alive! And
if He is alive, it would be foolish to ignore His claim on your life.
We are
told that the upper peninsula of Michigan used to be an almost unbroken
wilderness. Back then two men set out on foot to go to a new mining camp. After
traveling quite a distance a snowstorm obliterated their path. A little later
they were surprised to notice they were not alone. They saw the footprints of
at least two other men. This reassured them that they were on the right path
and they hurried on. Suddenly, an Indian appeared, pointed to the tracks in the
snow, and in broken English said, "White man lost --go round and
round." You see, the two men had been treading on what is called "the
death track" walking round and round and round in a life threatening
blizzard, but going nowhere.
Are you
on the death track this morning? Or is your ultimate victory over death secure in
Christ in whom you have placed your trust for the forgiveness of your sins and
the gift of eternal life. His resurrection from the grave is the only thing
that guarantees that hope. He alone can offer you resurrection life.
© James P
McGarvey, All Rights Reserved