If There is a Resurrection, What Do We Gain?

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:20-58

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The church in Corinth was immersed in a Greek culture that did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. When Paul preached at Athens and declared the fact of Christ’s resurrection, some of his listeners laughed at him and considered him mad (Acts 17:32). This skeptical attitude against the resurrection had invaded the church and Paul had to address it. In this section Paul deals with several important questions regarding the resurrection.

If Jesus did not rise from the grave what do we loose?
(1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

• No one will ever beat death.
• The apostle’s teaching and preaching is a lie.
• The Christian faith is worthless.
• Sin cannot be forgiven.
• Christians are hopeless fools.
• There is no hope beyond the grave.
• Christians are the most pitiful people on earth.

If Jesus rose from the grave what do we gain in eternity?
(1 Corinthians 15:20-28)

• We gain a resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51-53)
• We belong to Christ and not Adam (1 Corinthians 15:45, 46, 49)
• We will live forever with Christ in His kingdom (Ecclesiastes 3:11)
• Sin, Satan & death have been conquered (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

What are the implications of the resurrection in this life?
(1 Corinthians 15:29-35)

• We can die in the hope and faith of eternity with Christ
• We can live this life with an eternal perspective

Paul addresses the real problem concerning the resurrection. Some people resisted the idea of a resurrection for so called academic reasons saying it did not make sense or was not logical. However, Paul argues that resistance to believing in the resurrection is really not an academic issue but a heart issue. The truth is people love their sin more than they love God’s truth and His gospel. Paul calls them to come to their senses through repentance of sin and embrace an eternal vision.

If There is No Resurrection…

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-19

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Christianity is the largest religion in the history of the world with billions of followers who worship Jesus Christ as God. Unlike the founder of any other religion, Jesus declared Himself to be God and then proved His divinity through His resurrection from death as the only person to ever defeat the grave. Thus, the entirety of the Christian faith is built upon the historical fact of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Simply, if Jesus did not rise from death then Christianity is not merely a well-intentioned error, but a deceitful delusion of the worst kind. In Chapter 15, Paul addresses questions concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ, by proving its validity and demonstrating its power.

The Gospel succinct
(1 Corinthians 15:3-4)

• Jesus died
• Jesus was buried
• Jesus rose from the grave

The proofs of the resurrection
(1 Corinthians 15:4-11)

• Historical evidence, death, burial & resurrection
• Peter’s eye witness testimony
• Jesus appeared to the twelve disciples
• James the brother of Jesus believed
• Paul the persecutor of the church was transformed

The devastating implications if Jesus did not rise from the grave
(1 Corinthians 15:12-19)

• No one can overcome death (verses 12-13)
• The apostles teaching is worthless (verses 14-15)
• Christianity is a worthless faith (verse 14)
• Our sins cannot be forgiven (verse 17)
• Christians are hopeless fools (verse 19)
• There is no hope beyond the grave (verse 18)
• Christians live the most miserable life of all (verse 19)

The Most Important Information! The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Message by Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Series: Christianity, Not As God Intended!

Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11

We live in an age of mass information and we are constantly bombarded with the need to know more! There is a constant influx of information from countless sources, all clamoring for our attention. But did you ever stop to think: What is the most important information to know? Paul tells us plainly in these first few verses of 1 Corinthians 15 the most important information to posses is contained the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul gives us five line of powerful evidence to prove the Gospel is true and of supreme importance

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is “good news!”
It has the power to save us!
It is for everyone!
It must be believed, received and stood upon!

1. Christ died! 1 Corinthians 15:3 – For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.
2. Christ was buried! 1 Corinthians 15:3 – and that He was buried.
   
3. Christ rose from the dead! buried! 1 Corinthians 15:4 – and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.
4. Christ appeared to many eyewitnesses! 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 – and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
5. Christ by His grace continues to transform lives! 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 – For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am…

The Triumph Of The Resurrection

Pastor Craig Diestelkamp

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Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

These Christians that Paul writes to believed Christ could come at any moment. But they were especially worried that their believing loved ones who had died, might be cheated out of eternity? Paul assures them of God’s two fold promise to both resurrect the dead and “catch away” those who are alive in Christ. He bases his assurance on two essential truths–Jesus’ death and His resurrection. In Christ’s death we have the triumph over sin, and in His resurrection we have the triumph over death.

1. The resurrection is a triumph over despair!
1 Thessalonians 4:13 “that you may not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.”
1 Corinthians 15:19 “If in this life only we have hop in Christ we are of all men the most to be pitied.”

2. The resurrection is a triumph over depravity!
1 Corinthians 15:3  “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,”
Romans 7:24-25 “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? I thank God-through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

3. The resurrection is a triumph over destiny!
2 Thessalonians 1:7 “…Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, and in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,”