Sermon: Many Infallible Proofs of Christ’s Resurrection 1 Corinthians 15:1-28
Truth Taught- God presents many infallible proofs that Jesus has been raised from the dead
My goal today is to increase your assurance in what you already believe. If you will, somewhat like Luke did for his friend Theophilus.
Luke 1:2–4 (ESV)
2 just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us, 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.
Then if there is someone here today that does not believe in the bodily resurrection of our Lord, perhaps this will be of some help as we look to God’s Word together.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to the Christian faith. All the NT writers either address it or base what they write upon the foundational truth of the resurrection. The Gospels contain clear and precise teaching on the bodily resurrection of Jesus from the grave. The Book of Acts is the account of the Apostles all preaching about the resurrection of Jesus. Likewise, all the epistles either teach it or assume the truth that Jesus is not dead but alive forevermore. Even the Book of Revelation teaches that Christ is currently reigning in heaven and is awaiting the time when He will return. According to the Bible, Jesus is alive and well.
Truth Taught- God presents many infallible proofs that Jesus has been raised from the dead
1 Corinthians 15:1–11 (ESV)
15 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, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
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, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 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. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
1. Paul Proclaimed God’s Gospel, Centering on the Resurrection (15:1-4)
What we must understand here and this is at the heart of Paul’s argument for the bodily resurrection of Jesus, is that he preached, proclaimed and taught that Jesus rose from the dead.
15 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, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
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, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
An example of Paul’s proclamation
Acts 17:2–4 (ESV)
2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women.
The Gospel that Paul preached was not something Paul came up with. He did not invent it or develop it. No, it is God’s Gospel and was given to him and entrusted to him. God’s Gospel centers on the resurrection. Paul could preach the Gospel better than most preachers but he couldn’t preach a better Gospel.
A. The Gospel is found in the OT
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, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
The Gospel Paul preached included…
i. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures
Here, he makes sure we see that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ). He uses the title Christ to refer to Jesus. He tells us that our Lord’s death happened just as the OT Scriptures tell us it would. The OT does not tell us the date of Jesus’ death but they tell us the significance of the Messiah’s death and how it happened as the OT Scriptures tell us it would.
Isaiah 53:4–6 (ESV)
4 Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
Psalm 22:14–18 (ESV)
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint;
my heart is like wax;
it is melted within my breast;
15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to my jaws;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs encompass me;
a company of evildoers encircles me;
they have pierced my hands and feet—
17 I can count all my bones—
they stare and gloat over me;
18 they divide my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.
Let’s think for a moment the impact this message would have on those who had been taught the OT Scriptures from childhood. They knew the Passover story. They knew that the Messiah would come and be a sin bearing Savior. They had these basic details from the OT and then they also had heard all that took place in Jerusalem and how Jesus was crucified. Then Paul takes them by the hand, as it were, and connects the dots for them and shows them from the OT Scriptures how all they had previously learned and how they had been fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah.
This also tells us that the Gospel and all its parts, namely, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ was planned by God prior to these OT books even being written down. God’s Gospel is a planned and preordained Gospel.
ii. Jesus was buried
Paul makes sure to include this. Jesus actually died and was really buried.
Acts 13:29 (ESV)
29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.
iii. He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
Psalm 16:9–10 (ESV)
9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
The first century Christians considered Easter to be the third day following the Friday that Jesus was crucified. It was also 40 days following this resurrection Sunday that marked our Lord’s ascension.
2. Paul Proclaimed That Jesus Appeared to Many and is Alive and Well (15:5-8)
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. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
During the 40 days between the resurrection and the ascension, Jesus was seen by many witnesses. These post resurrection appearances are documented. So, our faith is grounded in absolute proof.
2 Corinthians 13:1 (ESV)
13 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
Multiple witnesses establish true evidence. Because this is the case Paul lists some of the people who saw Jesus alive after the crucifixion. So, for Jesus to be alive after He died on the cross, He had to be raised from the dead.
Peter is the first reported that saw Jesus alive. Why did Paul list the Apostles as eyewitnesses of the risen Lord? They were with Jesus all the time. They witnessed, albeit from a distance the crucifixion. They also saw the Lord after He was raised from the dead.
They all saw Jesus alive and well. Their testimony can be trusted.
Here also, Paul writes that Jesus appeared to more than 500 at the same time. The idea is that if two or three witnesses establish a fact then 500 should go even further to provide proof positive that Jesus truly did rise from the dead.
Then Paul writes that there was another appearance. Jesus also appeared to Paul on the Road to Damascus. This being an actual post resurrection appearance and even a post ascension appearance of Christ. Paul was last in line to see the risen Christ. This appearance is important to establish Paul as an Apostle.
3. Paul’s Apostolic Authority Qualified Him to Proclaim God’s Word
9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Here the Apostle Paul explains that he has God’s authority to proclaim the message of the Gospel of God which includes the resurrection.
Galatians 1:1 (ESV)
1 Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead—
Acts 9:27–28 (ESV)
27 But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles and declared to them how on the road he had seen the Lord, who spoke to him, and how at Damascus he had preached boldly in the name of Jesus. 28 So he went in and out among them at Jerusalem, preaching boldly in the name of the Lord.
We have been given infallible, inerrant, absolute truth by Paul. When the Apostles wrote Scripture their testimony is God’s Word. Just as it is impossible for God to lie so it is impossible for the writings of any of the Apostles to be in error. Paul’s proclamation is absolutely trustworthy and true.
What Paul says God says. What the Bible says, God says. Whether the ink is black or red it is all trustworthy and true and carries the authority of God.
4. Paul’s Apostolic Proclamation Highlights Christ’s Resurrection (15:12-28)
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 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 not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
Do you see now what weight Paul’s words carry?
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Since Jesus has been proclaimed as raised then based on that alone He has to have risen from the dead. There is no other option. Because if He was proclaimed as raised but wasn’t raised then God is a liar.
Conclusion…
Based on the facts…
1. The Gospel Saves
2. The Gospel is from God and found in the OT
3. The Gospel came from God not man
4. The Gospel contains the resurrection as a vital part
5. There were many eyewitnesses to the risen Lord
6. The resurrection has been proclaimed by the Apostles
7. The resurrection has been proclaimed by Paul
8. The Proclamation of Paul is equivalent and is God’s Word
9. The Proclamation of the Gospel saves
We can be assured Jesus rose from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures Old and New and the fact that Jesus is alive and well.
Resources Used
New Testament Commentary: 1 Corinthians by Hendriksen
1&2 Corinthians by Charles Hodge
