1 Corinthians 15. The claims! The Implications! Paul Knew This, Too: 1 Cor. 15:1-2 Christianity isn’t Christianity without it! Now, brothers, I

WHAT REALLY MATTERS1 Corinthians 15

A FIERCE BATTLE: THE RESURRECTION

The claims! The Implications! Paul Knew This, Too: 1 Cor. 15:1-2 Christianity isn’t Christianity without it!

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. 1 Corinthians 15:1-2 (NLT)

A FIERCE BATTLE: THE RESURRECTION

The claims! The Implications! Paul Knew This, Too: 1 Cor. 15:1-2 Christianity isn’t Christianity without it! It is of first importance (v.3-4)

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

A FIERCE BATTLE: THE RESURRECTION The claims! The Implications! Paul Knew This, Too: 1 Cor. 15:1-2 Christianity isn’t Christianity without it! It is of first importance (v.3-4) A completely unique, incomparable,

outrageous, amazing claim no one has dared to copy or out-do: anywhere, at any time!

Why?Because it’s outrageous!

They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus…So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened Luke 24:2-3,9

Human history wasnever the same!

Human history wasnever the same!

“OF FIRST IMPORTANCE”

HOW TO VERIFY THE RESURRECTION?

1. The extensive historical record still survives… Citing well-known historical figures: Herod,

Pilate Occurring in well-known, well-documented

place… At a very precise time, within a tight

chronology… Countless scholars devoting lifetimes

picking at it…

Quirinius / Augustus / Herod the Great

Pilate, Herod (Jr.), Friday Passover…

Paul’s chronologies: Tiberius, Sejanus, Claudius, etc., etc.The Record Still Stands, Unchanged


1. The extensive historical record still survives…

2. The extensive prophetic record fulfilled by Jesus.

…that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

How do we know he really“died for sins” ?








Ancient & well-known: centuries before Christ…






Detailing every aspect of his life: birth, activities, crucifixion, resurrection…

Describing events no prophet could guess…







Psalm 22

“they have pierced my

hands and feet”

“throw dice for my garmets”

“let the Lord rescue him!”







Isaiah 53

“he was pierced through for our

sake…”

“he was crushed for our

sins”

“the Lord caused our sins to fall on him”







Even the precise date for “Messiah the King” foretold 534 B.C.! (See Daniel 9)

300 details fulfilled in all…




the Written Record• The BEST way to verify the

facts…• Not just a “creed”

the Resurrection!• Requires a miracle…




3. The Roman guard (Matt. 27:64-65) 16 men, guarding 4 sq. ft. each Rotated every 4 hours – always fresh.

“…His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead…'" Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.“ Matthew 27:64-65




3. The Roman guard (Matt. 27:64-65) 16 men, guarding 4 sq. ft. each Rotated every 4 hours – always fresh.

Bribed: “thosefishermen stolethe body whilewe slept!”

Absurd!

All the soldiers fell asleep?

Why did they need to be

bribed?

Why did they unwrap the corpse first?

If asleep, how do they know who stole the body?




3. The Roman guard (Matt. 27:64-65)4. The Seal

a chord stretchedacross the rock,fastened with claypacks, stampedwith the governor’ssignet.

And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone. Matthew 27:66




3. The Roman guard (Matt. 27:64-65)4. The Seal5. The Tomb

When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus…laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. Matthew 27:57-60 (NASB95)

Come on, LOOK!

It’s EMPTY!




3. The Roman guard (Matt. 27:64-65)4. The Seal5. The Tomb6. The Linens

The “not-quite emptytomb”

Linens collapsed Hood folded neatly…

John: “I saw it…and believed!”




3. The Roman guard (Matt. 27:64-65)4. The Seal5. The Tomb6. The Linens7. His Scars

Thomas: “until I can stick my fingers in the holes…”




3. The Roman guard (Matt. 27:64-65)4. The Seal5. The Tomb6. The Linens7. His Scars8. The Large Number of Witnesses… (v.5-

8 )

and that He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve.

They never Expected it!• Thought he was a

ghost!

All Changed!• Cowards, fleeing,

denying…• “THIS IS REAL!”

All Killed!• Started

immediately• Cruel tortcher• “Just deny it!”

Why Die for a Lie?

Hey babah,

Will you die for

me?





8 ) The disciples / 500 others!

After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep;

People still alive!

How can it be a conspiracy?

Why didn’t EVEN ONE

deny?

Why couldn’t they stamp

it out?





8 ) The disciples / 500 others! / JAMES!

“My older brother…”

Hard to take!

Thought Jesus was craaazy!

Changed his mind

when…

James was also a

martyr!

then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;





8 ) The disciples / 500 others! / JAMES! PAUL!

Hated Christians!

Until 1 moment…

“I’M WRONG!”

The greatest advocate

“…and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.”





8 )

CAN YOU SUGGEST ANY BELIEF, RELIGION OR

PHILOSOPHY WITH THIS BODY OF EVIDENCE?

SO WHAT?

1. It proves Christ died for your sins! Resurrection is the receipt: “Paid in

full!”

2. You must have Christ pay for your sins!

There is no other authoritative way to eternal life!And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.

1 Corinthians 15:17

if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; Romans 10:9

SO WHAT?


full!”


There is no other authoritative way to eternal life!

3. Your Past: set free from your defeats, sins, setbacks.

“And if Christ has been raised, then you are no longer guilty of your sins.”

1 Corinthians 15:17 (RKV)

SO WHAT?


full!”



3. Your Past: Set free from your defeats, sins…

4. Your Present: the power of Christ living in us.

Why would you want to live in any other way?

And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Romans 6:4

SO WHAT?


full!”



3. Your Past: Set free from your defeats, sins…

4. Your Present: the power of Christ living in us.

Why would you want to live in any other way?

Your Future: is guaranteed!

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:20

You’ll spend somewhere forever and ever. You may die physically, but never spiritually. You’ll be raised as Jesus was…

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1 Corinthians 15. The claims! The Implications! Paul Knew This, Too: 1 Cor. 15:1-2 Christianity isn’t Christianity without it! Now, brothers, I