Easter 2022 1 Corinthians 15:3-20
Notes
Transcript
Jesus Died for our Sins
Jesus Died for our Sins
Paul writes that this is of first importance to believe. Jesus is the atoning sacrifice that satisfies the wrath of God towards our sin. All of us are sinners. There is not one of us who have not sinned. Just to do a quick test to see if this is accurate I would propose to you just 10 laws of God.
1. You shall have no other God before me.
2. You shall not make an idol for yourself.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not murder.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. (Lie)
10. You shall not covet.
If you have ever broken any one of these ten then you are a sinner in need of a Savior. You cannot atone or make up for your own sin. Only Jesus can atone for your sin because He is the only on who is without sin.
To put it in perspective we fall in the category which James claims as lawbreakers. James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all.
Jesus on the other hand never stumbled and kept the whole law. Paul explains from 2 Corinthians 5:21
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
Jesus atones for our sin so that we become the righteousness of God!
According to the Scriptures
According to the Scriptures
Not only is Paul proclaiming the atoning death of Jesus Christ, but the old testament prophet Isaiah proclaimed the death of Christ approximately 730-750 years before it happened. Isaiah 53:5-6
But He was pierced through for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our iniquities;
The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him,
And by His scourging we are healed.
All of us like sheep have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all
To fall on Him.
Jesus died for you
Jesus died for you
The death of Jesus Christ satisfied the wrath of God for all sin. Though salvation is available to all it is not automatic. You must put your faith in Jesus sacrifice as enough to atone for your sin. The way you do this is by repenting and believing. Mark 1:15
and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Repent (Metenoia) is to have an inward change. Believe (Pistis) is to have an outward change. This will lead to forgiveness of sin and salvation 1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Jesus Rose From the Dead
Jesus Rose From the Dead
Not only did Jesus die for our sins, He conquered death through His resurrection. Jesus died a real death was buried in a real grave and rose in bodily form.
It is important to note that Jesus rose on the third day. This is important because in Jewish tradition a person was officially dead after the third day. They believed the spirit hovered around the body for three days and could re-enter within those three days. Jesus wanted people to know that His death was real, so he waited three days after his passing to be resurrected.
Paul writes about the importance from the negative standpoint. His point is to demonstrate the importance of the resurrection. I would like to show the importance through both the negative and positive.
Vain Preaching
Vain Preaching
Paul states that without the resurrection that the preaching of the gospel is vain. This means that the proclamation of the gospel is of no value. The preaching of the gospel has no power to change lives. We are wasting our time preaching the gospel.
If the resurrection is true, then the opposite of vain preaching is powerful or meaningful. Paul said in 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.
The gospel made true by the resurrection gives meaning and power to the preaching of the gospel message.
Vain and worthless faith
Vain and worthless faith
If the resurrection didn’t occur, then your faith in Jesus is meaningless. This means that your faith in Jesus does not provide salvation from your sins. You are still separated from God in your sinful nature and must face the wrath of God for your sins. Paul says, “you are still in your sins.”
If the resurrection of Jesus is true, then your faith in Jesus is powerful and saving. Paul puts it this way in Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
We do not save ourselves. It is the faith in the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, that we are saved. We are saved in Christ alone by faith alone.
We are to be pitied
We are to be pitied
If the resurrection did not occur then above everyone else we are to be pitied. This means that we are in the most miserable circumstance. This is because we are false witnesses of God and are condemned to eternal death in the lake of fire. We are eternally separated from God in a place that we will forever be tortured and in anguish.
If the the resurrection is true then we are to be most celebrated. This is because we will be saved for the wrath of God in the Lake of Fire. Instead we will have everlasting life in heaven with Jesus. John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Because of the resurrection we can have everlasting life.
CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
This is the good news. However it is only good for those who believe or will believe.
I want to leave you this morning with a few thoughts and an invitation.
Has Jesus died for your sins?
Have you put your faith in His atoning sacrifice?
Do you believe that Jesus rose form the dead?
Are you sharing the powerful gospel?
Is your faith nonexistent or saving?
Where will you spend eternity when you die?