I Corinthians 15:12-22
Preached Easter Sunday Morning April 12, 2009
1 Corinthians 15:17
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
Introduction:
Jesus Christ is risen from the grave! On this Easter Sunday morning, we celebrate one of the basic doctrines of orthodox Christianity, the resurrection. Have you ever wondered why it is necessary that Jesus actually rise from the grave? We know that He is sinless and paid the price for our sin with His death. If His death paid the price, why does the Bible say that Jesus had to rise from the grave? Why could Jesus not just go immediately to Heaven to be with His Father? Some would say that He had to prove that He had power over sin and death. To whom did He have to prove this? Would our salvation really hinge upon this proof?
This morning we are going to take a detailed doctrinal look at the reason behind the statement of 1 Corinthians 15:17. We will discover that Jesus Christ had to rise from the dead because His blood needed to be applied in order to obtain our redemption from sin.
I. Essential Elements of the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
A. Christ died for our sins
1. Because the price for sin is death.
Romans 5:12
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
2. Because we cannot pay that price with works.
Romans 3:19-20
19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
Galatians 2:21
21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
B. Christ was buried
1. Dream- an altered reality
2. We are unaware of what is happening around us
3. Are unable to respond to danger
4. Are unable to warn others of danger
C. Christ rose again on the third day.
1. This is essential to our salvation
1 Corinthians 15:17-18
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
2. If Christ did not rise again, then your faith is in vain
3. Why was the resurrection an essential element of the Gospel?
4. Could not Jesus have still paid the price of death without the resurrection?
è Jesus Christ had to rise from the dead because His blood needed to be applied in order to obtain our redemption from sin.
II. The Essential Elements of the Passover
Exodus 12:3-7, 12-13
3 Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house: 4 And if the household be too little for the lamb, let him and his neighbour next unto his house take it according to the number of the souls; every man according to his eating shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats: 6 And ye shall keep it up until the fourteenth day of the same month: and the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. 7 And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it.
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD. 13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
A. A spotless lamb
B. A beloved lamb
C. Slay the lamb before all
D. Apply the blood to the doorposts
1. Sign of the Trinity
2. The death of the Lamb was not enough
E. Jesus is our Passover Lamb
1 Corinthians 5:7
7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
III. The Essential Elements of the Day of Atonement
Hebrews 9:7-9
7 But into the second went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people:
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: 9 Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience;
A. There was a separation between God and man, the veil.
Leviticus 16:2
2 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron thy brother, that he come not at all times into the holy place within the vail before the mercy seat, which is upon the ark; that he die not: for I will appear in the cloud upon the mercy seat.
B. The only one allowed access to the Mercy Seat was the High Priest
C. The High priest must enter with innocent blood offered for his sins and the sins of the people.
Leviticus 16:6,16
6 And Aaron shall offer his bullock of the sin offering, which is for himself, and make an atonement for himself, and for his house. 16 And he shall make an atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleanness of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions in all their sins: and so shall he do for the tabernacle of the congregation, that remaineth among them in the midst of their uncleanness.
IV. Jesus Ascended to Heaven after the Resurrection
A. Mary was told not to touch Jesus
John 20:11-17
11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
B. Eight days later Jesus told men to go ahead and touch Him
John 20:26-28
26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
C. The Blood had been applied
V. Jesus Had to Rise Again in order to act as our High Priest and Apply His Blood for Us
Hebrews 9:11-14
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; 12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
A. There is a Mercy Seat in Heaven
B. Jesus enter Heaven with His own blood
C. Redemption was obtained when the Blood was applied
D. The Blood stains the mercy seat, purging you from dead works.