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Weimar University

Don Mackintosh

The Certainty and Need of Resurrection Hope

We're going to study today the chapter in the Bible, 1 Corinthians Chapter 15, because this is the weekend that many celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Of course, this is probably off by several weeks because of the quatro decimum controversy.

But they tried to make sure that the resurrection weekend never came at the same time as Passover and kind of an anti-Semitic move.

Still, this passage is a powerful passage that we need to consider.

So turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

Father in heaven, bless us again as we open your word.

We ask that you would give us understanding, bring thoughts to our hearts and minds that could be used to not only bless us, bless others, and expand your kingdom, and bring eternal life.

Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which you also received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved.

You Hold fast that word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain." Is coming to church important?

Then why are so few people becoming preachers?

American membership in houses of worship declined last year, dropping below 50% for the first time, and Gallup's accounting of this over 8 decades.

So there is a decrease in attending to God's Word at a time when perhaps there needs to be an increase in God's Word.

Because the preaching is not the preaching of a person or a personality, it's a preaching of the gospel.

It's coming under God's spell, the gospel, rather than the devil's spell.

And Paul is saying here, I'm worried because you're not really listening to what is being preached or you might be tempted.

It's the gospel but what specifically verse 3?

For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received." How many of you are thankful that he didn't make it up?

How many of you have heard sermons that are largely made up?

How do you know whether or not a sermon is made up?

Because if it's manifestly in the text or referring to the text, then it was received.

And he says what he received, verse 3, For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received, number 1, that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

So number 1, the scriptures are important.

I received it from the scriptures, but when I look at the scriptures, what's the most important thing in the scriptures?

That Christ died for our sins according to the scripture.

So the number 1 most important thing is God's Word, but coming out of God's Word is the doctrine of what?

How many of you think that you don't need Christ's help today?

How many of you think the world does not need Christ's help?

How many of you have not ever committed a sin?

Well, if you join me in the category of having committed a sin, then this is good news because Christ died for our sins.

Now if you were to pick a passage that would explain in greater detail the substitutionary atonement, what passage in the Bible would you pick?

What chapter, if you had to pick a chapter?

I think I heard someone say it, Isaiah 53, great chapter.

Christ died for our transgressions, it says in Isaiah 53, for our iniquities, and he was chastised for our peace.

So if you're going to have any peace, any hope, any joy, if you're able to get rid of guilt and able to go forward, if you're able to have a Jubilee experience in life, if you're able to repossess what God has for you, if you're able to be a person of faith, then you need the substitutionary atonement that God provides.

Secondly, there in verse 4, we see that the teaching of the Scriptures and also of the substitutionary atonement is directly related to our subject today, which is in verse 4.

Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.

Rose again the third day according to the Scriptures.

Can you see that the substitutionary atonement would be of no value as a doctrine unless Christ died and rose again?

So the resurrection is directly connected to this idea of atonement and eternal life.

I like Psalm, says according to the scriptures, and as I'm thinking here, let's look in a scripture that hints at this, well, actually directly alludes to it in Psalm 16.

Psalm 16, If you're turning there, I'll give you some time.

Preserve me, O God, for in you I put my trust.

So this whole idea then shows how they have hastened after other gods and yet, David of the lineage of David, of the throne of David.

Therefore, my heart is glad and my glory rejoices.

For You will not leave my soul in Sheol, in other words, in the grave, nor will you allow your Holy 1 to see corruption.

So I'm not gonna be put in the grave and allowed to rot in the grave.

You will show me the path of life, and your presence is fullness of joy, and in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

So I won't die and just be in the grave, I'll be resurrected, I'll be in fullness of joy, I'll be in the presence of God and there'll be pleasures forevermore.

Can you see how that Psalm, and there are many others that allude to the idea that Christ would live, he would die, but he also, he would do what?

We could look at many But we won't look at many just a few Psalm 68 Verse 18 Psalm 68, verse 18, you have ascended on high.

You have received gifts among men, even from the rebellious, that the Lord God might dwell there.

He had that 1 faith, 1 God, 1 hope, 1 baptism.

Some people misuse the text and say you should only get baptized once it's not the meaning of the text Because there's only 1 faith the faith of Jesus.

There's only 1 true baptism that we enter into, it's the baptism of Jesus.

And This is because he ascended on high, that means he died, rose again, went to heaven, and he gives gifts to men.

And this resurrection doctrine is the foundation, not only the doctrine of the substitutionary atonement and the doctrine of the scriptures, But also many other doctrines, many other teachings.

None of them would make any sense without the resurrection.

So this is so important that he goes on in chapter 15 and says I want you to be grounded in this faith by giving you evidence.

He was seen by Cephas, then by the 12, and then he was seen by over 500 brethren at once.

We're moving from the scriptures as evidence now to those who were eyewitnesses.

So Cephas, the 12, 500 brethren, the greater part which remain at present, but some have fallen asleep.

And also by James, who was 1 that had doubted, and then by the apostles.

So Cephas, Luke 24, called Simon, he saw him.

The 12, Luke chapter 24, verse 36 through 39.

They saw him and they first of all were afraid.

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The Certainty and Need of Resurrection Hope

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