Amelia Church of Christ - Christian Church in Amelia, OH near Cincinnati in Clermont County

We’re starting a brand new series this morning that we’re calling a “Re:series.” Through this six-week series, we’re going to explore the truth of Jesus’ resurrection from 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15 is sometimes called “The Resurrection Chapter.” It’s a long chapter that gives some of the most detailed Biblical teaching on the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection is a basic doctrine of our faith. It is critical to all we believe.

Our theme verse from this series is 1 Corinthians 15:17, which says, “Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins.” (CEV)

Jesus’ physical, bodily resurrection is more than a magic trick. It’s more than an interesting historical fact. The power and significance of the resurrection permeates our lives and it is critical to our salvation. Over the next six weeks, we’re going to explore 1 Corinthians 15 and discover just how Jesus’ resurrection impacts us so profoundly.

Our journey begins with this first message entitled Reveal. Let’s pray as we get started.

We’re going to kick off this series in the beginning and the end of 1 Corinthians 15. Our key verses this morning really serve as bookends for this chapter, so they are really a great place for us to begin.

This chapter, and this entire series, is based on the premise that Paul writes in verses 3-4.

Paul says, “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…” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NIV)

The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus are the central points of our faith. Paul says that he passed this on to the Corinthian believers “as of first importance.” The Apostle Paul wrote the lion’s share of the New Testament, and his writings cover a plethora of different themes and subjects. But in these verses, Paul lets us know that not all of his teachings were of equal weight and importance. This doctrine of Jesus’ death and resurrection leads the pack. Nothing else tops this. Nothing else is as important as this.

Throughout this series, we’re going to discover just why this resurrection is so important to us. And it starts with this incredible truth: The death and resurrection of Jesus reveal just how far God will go for us. One reason this truth is “of first importance” is that it is a tangible demonstration of how much we mean to God.

When someone goes above and beyond, it reveals the depth of their love. My son, Ryan, is really into animals. He’s collecting all these very realistic looking farm animals. As his collection has grown, we started to need a place to store all of them. What better place to store farm animals than a barn? We knew Ryan would love a farm set for all his animals, so we thought we’d get Ryan a barn for Christmas. We looked all over and we just couldn’t find one that was right. The barns we found were too flimsy, too small, or far too expensive.

So we approached my Dad. My dad is an amazing craftsman. We asked if he could make Ryan a barn for Christmas. Dad had a few options. He could have just shelled out the money and bought him a barn. Or he could have made a little, simple barn without too much trouble. But instead, Dad put in hours upon hours of painstaking work to create this incredible barn for his grandson. When we opened this barn on Christmas Day, we were totally floored. He took our request and turned it into something that was way above and beyond what he had to do. This barn will always be a reminder to Ryan of how much his Pop-Pop cares for him.

Love is revealed when someone goes the extra mile. That is the story of Jesus. It started, possibly in a barn, when Jesus was born in the crudest of circumstances. His life eventually led him to the cross, a death reserved only for the very worst of criminals. The lowest of the low. And then it climaxed when, after three days, he rose physically from the dead. And if you wonder why he went through all of that, you don’t have to go any further than the closest mirror. He did it for you.

His death pays the penalty for our sins, once and for all. And his resurrection fully and finally defeated death and seals our promise of a new life after our time here in this world comes to an end.

And as we think through this, we can’t miss this critical truth: He didn’t have to do it.

There’s a great verse in the book of Luke that, at first glance, doesn’t seem all that significant.

Luke 9:51 says, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.” (NIV)

Jesus was a nomad. He never let too much grass grow under his feet. He traveled throughout his entire ministry. So what’s the big deal about this trip? The big deal is that Jesus knew how this particular road trip would end. It would end with a conspiracy against him, false accusations, betrayal by one of his own followers, an angry mob that would choose to release a guilty murderer instead of the innocent Jesus, a scourging that would kill many men by itself, and ultimately hanging on a rough, wooden cross for six hours until he finally died.

He knew all of that before he took the first step toward Jerusalem. This little verse from Luke marks the pivotal time when Jesus faced a fork in the road. It was decision time for God’s Son. To go to Jerusalem, or to go somewhere, anywhere else. He knew what lied ahead if he went to Jerusalem. I’m sure he played out the scenario a million times in his mind. He knew that if he made this trip, it would be his death march. And yet he still set out resolutely, intentionally, purposefully on this trek. And he did endure the humiliation, torture, and death of the cross. But had his story ended there, we wouldn’t be here talking about Jesus today.

Thousands upon thousands of people in antiquity were crucified. In 519 B.C., Persian King Darius crucified 3,000 Babylonians. In A.D. 66, the Romans crucified 3,600 Jews, which sparked an immense uprising in Palestine. By the time order was restored, the executioners had literally run out of wood to make crosses.

Jesus death was excruciating. It was pure agony. But it was not unique. If the story of Jesus ended at Calvary, then his name would barely be a blip on the radar screen of history. But the story doesn’t end with the cross. Three days after his death, the borrowed tomb he had been laid in was empty. And the historical reliability of his resurrection was driven home by his many post-resurrection appearances.

Almost no one denies Jesus’ death on the cross. After critical investigation, millions of scholars have also accepted his resurrection. And it was through a cross and through an empty tomb that God revealed just how far he would go for us.

This, then, begs the question: How far will we go for God? If you believe everything we’ve discussed today, then how has affected your life? What are you living out as a testimony that you believe Jesus died and rose again for you? Because if it’s all just a bunch of head-knowledge that is never demonstrated in a practical, real way in our lives, then so what? We know how far God was willing to go for us. What do we offer him in return?

Paul answers that question at the very end of 1 Corinthians 15. “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:58, NIV)

The word, “therefore,” tells us that he is connecting two things together. We might use the word, “because.” Paul just spent a lengthy chapter emphasizing that Jesus died and rose to life for all of us. And then, in this last verse of the chapter, he gives us the practical application for our lives. Because Jesus died and rose again, because he went to such great lengths for us, because he has revealed that there is nothing he wouldn’t do for us, here is our response. Here is what we live out to reveal what we’re willing to do for him.

Paul lays out two responses for us to apply in our lives. The first one is stand. He tells us that, because the resurrection of Jesus is true, we need to “stand firm.” He says, “Let nothing move you.”

It’s obvious that Paul simply assumes that our faith will be tested. He doesn’t even question it. If you walk with Jesus for any length of time, you will experience tough times and testing times. It may be persecution for your beliefs at work or at school. Our culture is becoming increasingly hostile toward Christianity, and this means that it will become tougher to stand for your faith.

Your faith test may mean facing down the demons of your past. Old habits, addictions, sins die hard. They’re always there, calling us to return to our old way of life.

Your faith test may mean standing with God when it seems like he has gone silent. When you have experienced a tragedy in your life. When it seems like nothing makes sense.

Paul doesn’t elaborate on the kinds of testing we may experience, but he does let us know that testing times will come. And because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, because Jesus took his stand for us, Paul calls us to stand for him. To stand strong, to not allow ourselves to be moved.

Where have you allowed yourself to bend? Maybe even break? What area of your walk with God has really deteriorated? We have to understand that Satan’s attacks on our lives come on multiple fronts. We strengthen and fortify one area, he attacks another. He comes at us where he believes us to be the most vulnerable. So we need to be doing constant spiritual inventory in our lives. We have to search out our weak areas, areas that need the most prayer and attention.

A lot of people assume that, once you become a Christian, your faith kind of runs on cruise control. In time, you’ll just become what God wants you to be. Go to church, put in your time, and let it ride. But that is not a faith that will endure times of testing. While we are not saved by our own works, our faith still requires work. It requires effort and dedication. But Jesus was willing to lay it all on the line for us. So Paul calls us to reciprocate by taking a stand for him. That is our first life response to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

The second response Paul lays out for us is serve. He writes, “Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

The connection between Jesus’ death and resurrection and our service and ministry is easy. Jesus gave himself fully for us, so we are called to give ourselves fully to him. To his service and work. The idea here is for us to offer ourselves with reckless abandon to the work of God.

Instead of being begged to serve, we should jump at the chance. Instead of shying away from a new area of service that makes us a little uncomfortable, we’re called to jump in with both feet. Instead of looking for opportunities to receive something, we’re called to seek out chances to give something. And the thought of personal comfort and convenience doesn’t even enter into the thought process of a reckless follower of Christ. That’s what it means to give yourself fully to the work of the Lord.

Stand. Serve. Those are the responses we give to a God who gave everything for us. But here’s the beautiful part. We’re not alone in the process.

In the book of Ephesians, Paul said, “I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death…” (Ephesians 1:19-20, CEV)

Did you catch that? The very same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us when we struggling to stand our ground, to stand for our faith, to stand against temptation. That same power gives us the courage and strength to give ourselves to God’s service and ministry with reckless abandon.

Standing and serving are not easy things to do. Not at all. But we’re not expected to do them alone. The resurrection power of God is at work in us. God simply needs a willing partner in the process.

So the only question that’s left is, “Are we willing partners?” God has revealed how much he loves us. He has revealed the lengths he will go to for us. His cards are on the table. The only hands left to play are yours and mine. Do our lives reveal how much we love God? Is there practical evidence of what we are willing to do in response to God’s great love for us?

In this time of decision, you have a chance to lay your cards out for all to see. You have a chance to declare your commitment to standing for and serving God. Jesus’ death and resurrection made our check good with God. We simply need to accept the gift and devote our lives and our eternities to him.

Mike Edmisten

Tags: 1 Corinthians 15, love, resurrection, service, stand, testing