The Resurrection of Christ and Our Resurrection

This is the manuscript of the first sermon in the Recognizing and "Responding to the Indwelling Spirit" series of sermons to start the year of 2022.   Without a proper response to the Holy Spirit, our lives will be unproductive and our service will be feeble. We closed out 2021 with the series “Come Let Us Adore Him” and in the last message of 2021 we said the real spirit of Christmas starts when we accept the best gift of all, the gift who was born in a manger, the Son of God. When we accept Jesus Christ, we accept the gift of salvation, the gift of forgiveness. But that is not all. We also receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us and guide our steps.

As we begin this new year, let's rejoice in the new life that Jesus Christ provides for us through his death and resurrection. We start with year with the first sermon in this series "The Resurrection of Christ and Our Resurrection".

One of the great truths of Christianity is that death has been defeated, giving us hope for a life beyond this life, which is full of evil, and chaos.  

1 Corinthians 15:54‭-‬55 NIV When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

An audio recording of the sermon is at the end of the manuscript. You can also see a video recording of the entire service on the Christ Church YouTube Channel https://youtu.be/amYx4ZIv4WU

Scripture Reading: 

1 Corinthians 15:20‭-‬23‭, ‬35‭-‬45 NIV But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.

Text:

1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV  “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Introduction 

We closed out 2021 with the series “Come Let Us Adore Him” and in the last message of 2021 we said the real spirit of Christmas starts when we accept the best gift of all, the gift who was born in a manger, the Son of God. When we accept Jesus Christ, we accept the gift of salvation, the gift of forgiveness. But that is not all. We also receive the precious gift of the Holy Spirit, who comes to live in us and guide our steps.

As we begin this new year, let's rejoice in the new life that Jesus Christ provides for us through his death and resurrection. 

2 Corinthians 5:17‭-‬19 NIV Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

One of the great truths of Christianity is that death has been defeated, giving us hope for a life beyond this life, which is full of evil, and chaos.  

1 Corinthians 15:54‭-‬55 NIV When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

The word resurrection means a “state of standing up” or a “state of standing again.” In the New Testament the word refers to the raising up of the body, the victory of the body from the cruel clutches of death. Our belief in resurrection is based solidly on the fact that Jesus Christ has conquered death and the grave.

 I. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. 

The New Testament writers based their belief in the resurrection of the  believers on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. They believed that the victory Jesus experienced over death is a victory that is to be experienced by those who believe in him and follow him as his disciples.  There's a scripture that we are very familiar with

1 Thessalonians 4:13‭-‬18 NIV Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

A. Jesus said, on more than one occasion that He would be resurrected.  

Matthew 12:38‭-‬40 NIV Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from you.” He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

John 2:19‭-‬22 NIV Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

B. The resurrection of Christ is the central fact of the New Testament. 

The Scriptures declare that Jesus’ physical body did not decay in the grave. 

David wrote Psalm 16 and says:

Psalms 16:9‭-‬10 NIV Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

Now look at 

Acts 13:36‭-‬37 NIV “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay.

Jesus body was made alive again by the power of God. 

Romans 8:9‭-‬11 NIV You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.

Jesus's body was gloriously transformed so that it was no longer limited by time or space nor subject to change, decay, and death. 

Acts 2:29‭-‬31 NIV “Fellow Israelites, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.

C. We have at least ten recorded instances in which the Christ who experienced crucifixion and death appeared to his disciples. Here are six of the most significant.   

1. The appearance to Mary Magdalene in the garden

John 20:11‭-‬17 NIV Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

2. Then there was the appearance on the road to Emmaus.  The entire encounter is in Luke 24 but I want to read just a part of it. 

Luke 24:30‭-‬35  When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

3. Then the appearance to the disciples in the upper room

Luke 24:36‭-‬43 NIV While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

4. Then one week later

John 20:26‭-‬28 NIV A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”

 5. There’s the appearance by the sea

 John 21:4‭-‬7 NIV Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.

6. And finally the appearance to Saul.  

Acts 9:1‭-‬6 NIV Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” “Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked. “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

D. The nature of Jesus’ resurrected body was that it was 

1. Jesus’ body was tangible. 

a. The disciples saw Jesus. 

b. Jesus talked to the disciples. 

c. Mary clasped the feet of the resurrected Christ. 

d. Jesus ate with the disciples. 

2. Jesus’ body was also transcendent, in other words, it was

beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience.

The resurrection of Jesus was not a restoration to the natural body.  His resurrected body was not subject to time, space, or material objects. Just as his pre-crucifixion body had been perfectly adapted to the life in this world, so his resurrection body was adapted to the spiritual experience of life.

1 Corinthians 15:42‭-‬44 NIV So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

 II. The resurrection of believers (1 Cor. 15:20–22). 

Christianity’s belief, our belief, in the certainty of a resurrection is based solidly on our belief that Jesus Christ conquered death and as such is the first fruits from among the dead. 

1 Corinthians 15:20‭-‬22 NIV But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

A. The resurrection of believers is based on the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The gospel, stated in capsule form, relates to the truth taught in the Scriptures that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried in a tomb, and that he was raised from the dead on the third day.

1 Corinthians 15:3‭-‬8 NIV 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, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born

Jesus claimed the ultimate victory over death! One of the core beliefs of Christianity is that Jesus rose from the dead. This is a breathtaking assertion. Jesus died, then three days later He physically and bodily arose. The grave could not hold Him. Paul points out that Jesus’ defeat of death was not just good news for Jesus, it is good news for us as well. The resurrection of Jesus confirmed everything He had said. He is the Son of God who came to take away the sin of the world. 

What an indescribable gift.

Jesus’ resurrection is described as the “firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep”. 

The concept of firstfruits comes from the Old Testament. At harvest, Israel was instructed to offer the firstfruits of their crops to the Lord.

Leviticus 23:10‭, ‬14 NIV “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. 

You must not eat any bread, or roasted or new grain, until the very day you bring this offering to your God. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come, wherever you live.

These firstfruits were simply the first portion of their much larger harvest. They would withhold that first portion and reserve it for God. The same is true with Jesus. He rose from the dead, but that resurrection was just the beginning. When He returns, all who “belong to him” will also be raised from the dead.

1 Corinthians 15:23‭-‬24 NIV  But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.

Jesus' resurrection is not a myth it is not fiction. He was seen by many people, giving indisputable proof of his living presence.

Acts 1:1‭-‬3 NIV In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

That Christ has been raised from the dead is our proof that the kingdom of death has been invaded and the power of death has been defeated. The message of Christianity is that ultimately death will be completely destroyed. 

1 Corinthians 15:54‭-‬55 NIV When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

C. The resurrection of believers is possible because of the wisdom of God and his power. 

1 Corinthians 15:42‭-‬44 NIV So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

The earthly body has been perfectly adapted to the needs of our physical existence. The resurrected body, the spiritual body, in which we will exist eternally will be perfectly adapted to the needs of that level of spiritual experience. 

Out of our relationship to Adam, we received a physical body subject to decay and death, but through our relationship with Jesus Christ, we will receive a spiritual body that is subject to neither decay nor death. 

III. Knowing what we know about Jesus' resurrection how do we respond positively to the prospect of our resurrection?

If Jesus Christ is not risen, we are whistling in the dark when we think about the possibility of survival beyond death. If Jesus Christ is not risen, it is goodbye forever when we go to the cemetery that last time. If Jesus Christ is not risen, there is absolutely no hope for a life beyond. 

1 Corinthians 15:12‭-‬19 NIV But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

The message of the Scriptures and Christianity is that Jesus Christ is risen. Consequently, there are four great responses we should make. 

1. We should respond with gratitude

1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. We should respond with comfort 

1 Thessalonians 4:17‭-‬18 NIV After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

3.  We should respond with faithfulness and diligence in service with the conviction that what we do for God is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

4. We should respond with joyful obedience to the living Lord as he commands us to carry the good news of his life, death, resurrection, and living presence to the ends of the earth.

Matthew 28:18‭-‬20 NIV Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Let's pray,

You’ve taught us that we don’t have to fear death. Through the resurrection of Jesus, You showed that the grave holds no power over You or Your children. We can look unflinchingly at our future knowing that You are in complete control.

Invitation 

Everybody needs to respond to the resurrection of Christ by trusting him as Lord and Savior. Jesus Christ arose from the dead to give proof of the fact that his death on the cross was the ultimate solution to your sin problem. He conquered death and the grave that he might be able to give you the gift of eternal life.

Hebrews 7:25 NIV Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.

Today is the day in which you can do business with the living Christ. Let him become the Lord of your life now.

Romans 10:9‭-‬13 NIV If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Sermon Audio