1 Corinthians 15:1-11 Easter More than Eggs / It’s about the gospel

Danny Parker

Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

1 Corinthians 15:1–11

Easter

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Ten things you never knew about Easter eggs!

From Lovefood.com Kirsty Page

25 April 2011

Fact 1.

80 million chocolate Easter eggs are sold each year. This accounts for 10% of Britain’s annual spending on chocolate!

Fact 2.

The tradition of giving eggs at Easter has been traced back to Egyptians, Persians, Gauls, Greeks and Romans, who saw the egg as a symbol of life.

Fact 3.

Medieval Easter eggs were boiled with onions to give them a golden sheen. Edward I, however, went one better and in 1290 he ordered 450 eggs to be covered in gold leaf and given as Easter gifts.

Fact 4.

In medieval times, a festival of egg throwing was held in church. The priest would throw a hardboiled egg to one of the choirboys and it would then be tossed from one boy to another. Whoever held the egg when the clock struck 12 was the winner.

Fact 5.

The first chocolate Easter egg was produced in 1873 by Fry’s. Before this, people would give hollow cardboard eggs, filled with gifts.

Fact 6.

John Cadbury soon followed suit and made his first Cadbury Easter egg in 1875. By 1892 the company was producing 19 different lines, all made from dark chocolate.

Fact 7.

The famous ‘crocodile’ finish that you see on Easter eggs came from Germany and was originally designed to cover up any minor imperfections in the chocolate. And we thought it was just to make it look pretty!

Fact 8.

In England, crowds still gather to watch Egg rolling on Easter Sunday. This tradition goes back hundreds of years and the objective is to see which egg can go furthest without breaking.

Fact 9.

The world’s largest Easter egg was made by the Belgian chocolate producer, Guyilan, in 2005. The egg measured 8.3m ( over 27 feet) high and took 26 craftsmen 525 hours to build. 1950kg (4,300 lbs – over 2 tons) of chocolate was used and the egg was displayed in the city of St. Niklass in Belgium.

I am afraid the culture has turned this time of year to be about eggs, about festivals, about Spring – in fact about everything but about Christ Himself.

But this day is about more than eggs. It’s about the risen Christ.

This morning we had a sunrise service. It’s about Christ

More than Eggs / It’s about the gospel - 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

I. Easter, More than Eggs > The gospel: A living reality

The scriptures give good news – we can have life

A. The gospel –good news 1 Cor 15:1

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved,

1. Good news

(ESV) Isaiah 61 1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;

Isaiah / John / Jesus / Philip / Peter / Paul

B. The gospel – the power of God producing salvation Rom 1:16

(ESV) Romans 1 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

1. Became a technical term that described the work of Jesus / the work that became the means for salvation / the work that enables anyone who trusts in this Jesus to find salvation.

But what is the gospel specifically

II. Easter, More than Eggs > The gospel:: Christ died for sin

A. Someone has to pay Rom 6:23

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 1 … the gospel I preached … 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, …

(ESV) Romans 6 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1. The critical message

2. Christ died for our sins

a. Christ took this penalty on Himself

B. Sin demands a payment of blood Heb 9:22

(ESV) Hebrews 9 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

a. Animal sacrifices would never work

C. Christ’s death was sufficient Heb 10:4, 12; 1 Pet 1:18-19

(ESV) Hebrews 10 4 For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

(ESV) Hebrews 10 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,

(ESV) 1 Peter 1 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Atonement was made once for all

D. Predicted by scripture / proven by burial 1 Cor 15:3-4a

(NKJV) 1 Corinthians 15 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, …

(ESV) Isaiah 53 10 Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, …

1. Proven by His burial

a. Everyone knew Jesus died

1) The brutal torture / the cross --- no one could survive 2) Experts on death confirmed it at the cross – centurian 3) Jewish leaders who had a vested interest in His death made sure 4) Disciples / enemies / later writers recording the event

Christ died for sin and He rose from the grave

III. Easter, More than Eggs > The gospel: Christ rose & lives

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 1 … the gospel I preached … 3 … Christ died for our sins… 4 … that he was raised on the third dayin accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to …

A. Jesus’ death Not the end of the story 1 Cor 15:4b, John10:17b-18a

(ESV) John 10 17 … I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. …

He said He would lay down His life and then take it back up gain

B. No one expected it Matt 17:22-23

1. No one expected what happened – no one believed Him

a. Even when He predicted it – they only saw the death – not the resurrection

(ESV) Matthew 17 22 As they were gathering in Galilee, Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men, 23 and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.” And they were greatly distressed.

b. Disciples discouraged

c. Enemies still careful / ensure no tricks

1) Seal / guard the tomb

C. Yet on the third day He arose Matt 28:5-6

(ESV) Matthew 28 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.

a. Seeking a dead man – missed it – He had risen

b. Come see the evidence

D. Predicted by scripture / proven by witnesses 1 Cor 15:5-7 Ps 16:10

(ESV) Psalms 16 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

a. Made an offering for sin yet He will continue to live

2. Proven by the witnesses – the NT means for proof – go confirm my statements with others

a. The Women – unexpected / confused

b. Peter – the denyer

c. The hidden twelve

d. James (1/2 brother) who viewed him as crazy

e. 500 others (a variety of backgrounds – those healed – those who listened – Jewish leaders / gentiles / poor / rich / soldiers) – alive – go talk to them

f. Talked with Him / saw Him eat / touched Him --- not an illusion

The changed lives of His followers are the most powerful proof of the Resurrection ---- from frightened & scattered to ones who turned the world upside down ---- something radical happened.

IV. Easter, More than Eggs > The gospel: A continuing impact

A. A secure footing 1 Cor 15:1

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,

1. a living foundation for life

2. You are different on the inside – should reflect it on the outside

a. You are different / continue to become different

b. You are saved / continue to be saved in practice

c. You are free from the power of sin /continue to be made free from sin in practice

B. A new life 2 Cor 5:17; 1 Peter 3:18

(ESV) 2 Corinthians 5 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

(NKJV) 1 Peter 3 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

(ESV) 1 Peter 3 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

C. A continuing work of Christ 1 Cor 15:2; Phil 2:13; Eph 4:22-24; 1 Cor 15:55, 56

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved,

(ESV) Phil 2 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Anyone can receive this new life

D. A message for all to receive 1 Cor 15:11

1. Personally

(ESV) 1 Corinthians 15 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospelI preached to you, which you received, … 11 … so we preach and so you believed.

a. With a message like this how could we not engage

b. What He has done for me

c. What He will do with others

2. To share

(NKJV) John 1 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: