Resurrection Sunday

What If It Had Never Happened?
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Resurrection Sunday, April 8, 2007 (AM)

As we think of the Resurrection of our Lord, let’s look at magnitude of this great event.

• The Wonder of the Resurrection – The stone was rolled away.

• The Power of the Resurrection – The Dead coming to life.

• The Impact of the Resurrection – God the Father accepted Jesus as the Sacrifice for sin.

But what if Jesus had not come out of the grave. Let’s suppose the stone was rolled back and Christ was still in the tomb. The grave clothes were still around Him, the napkin still across His face, and He still lay among the dead.

What If Jesus Did Not Come Out Of The Grave?

1. The Preaching of the Gospel Would Be In Vain. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,” – vv. 3,4

If Jesus did not come out of the grave…

• He did not conquer death, hell, and sin. They would still be mankind’s conquerors.
o The Good News would be Bad News. Instead of the news reading “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 6:23 it would read, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is just an empty promise.”
• There would be nothing worth preaching. Preaching would be a “no hope” message.
• The Gospel would be meaningless. “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” – v. 17

2. The “Hall of Fame” Would Be the “Hall of Shame”. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” – Hebrews 11:13-16

Those who “were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented—of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. 
And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.” – vv. 35b-40 went through all of this in vain if there is no Resurrection of Christ. The faith of Old Testament saints looked forward to the promised salvation, whereas the faith of those after Christ look forward to the fulfillment of the promise. Both groups are characterized by genuine faith and are saved by Christ’s work on the cross and the Resurrection.

Paul could not have said, “And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 4:16b-17

3. Hell Would Be the Final Home of the Believer. “For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” – 1 Corinthians 15:16-18
This is a picture of those who have no hope. For if the Resurrection of Christ did not take place, all of our loved ones who were “saved” were not really saved at all but believed a lie. As a result, they have perished.

4. Thanks Be Unto God, He Was Resurrected. “But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.” – vv. 20-22 Christ did die on the cross and God did raise Him from the dead. The stone was rolled back, the tomb was empty, only the grave clothes were there, and He was not among the dead. He truly did finish the work His Father sent Him to do. (Play “Further Still” by the Pfeifers)

Twelve ordinary men were witnesses to the Resurrected Savior.
Twelve ordinary men, along with the Apostle Paul and Stephen, carried the message of a Resurrected Savior to the lost. Many of these trusted men gave their life for their witness…

Andrew – Died on a cross
Mark – Dragged to death
Peter – Crucified upside down
Paul – Was beheaded
Jude – Was crucified
Stephen – Was stoned to death
Phillip – Was crucified
Matthew – Slain with a sword
James the Less – Beaten to death
Thomas – Was killed with a spear
John – Died of old age but suffered while the others were already in glory.
James - Was beheaded
Bartholomew - Was crucified

On this glorious day, we have a hope beyond this world because of our Resurrected Savior. He alone is the Christian’s hope. He can be yours also.

'Til the storm passes,

Pastor Gary