The Gospel and the Resurrection
Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15
The word "Gospel" means "Good News". There is only one Gospel!
The Gospel is described in many ways:
Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.
Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
The Gospel of the Grace of God.
Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, "lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them".
The glorious Gospel.
Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
The Everlasting Gospel.
This church at Corinth, like many churches today, is confused about the resurrection of believers.
This resurrection concerns our bodies, no matter if they are in the grave, have been burnt to ashes, thrown into the ocean, or eaten by some wild animal.
Some were denying the resurrection of the body.
Some were following false teaching, claiming that it occurred at the time of our death.
Some just said God couldn't resurrect our old bodies when God made us from the dust of the ground to begin with.
There is nothing too hard for God!
Paul said this was a simple thing for God when He showed the power of resurrection by raising His own Son from the dead.
We do not need any other proof!
*****1Co 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
1Co 15:2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
No matter where the Apostle Paul preached, he included the resurrection as part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
We cannot take our stand on the Gospel of Jesus Christ without standing on the fact of His resurrection and our resurrection.
Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
Paul had said earlier that he was not able to preach the meat of the Gospel to these Corinthians, but he did preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a major doctrine and principle of our salvation and our resurrection.
We, as the Church, need to pay particular attention to this chapter.
Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
Eph 1:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
We should understand that we will see our Heavenly Father face-to-face, and we will be in a glorified body, and that body will be a version of the body we had when we were upon this earth.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
Paul is declaring these things again to these Corinthians as if they had never heard them because they had not remained with them.
We must live by faith in the Word of God.
We already know that without faith, we cannot even please God.
Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
We are being saved by the same Gospel that was presented to these Corinthians!
We must hold fast to the Gospel.
When we take a stand as a Christian, we are standing upon the truth of the Gospel!
Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
*****1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
The first act of the Gospel was that Jesus Christ died for our sins, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament.
Isa 53:5-8, Daniel 9:26, Psalms 22, Zec 12:10, Gen 22.
All these Scriptures teach us the death and resurrection of our Savior, God's Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ.
The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the first thing that should be preached because with His death, He paid for our sins.
Paul is saying that these are the first words that he received from the Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 11:23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
Gal 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
The death of Jesus Christ was the substitute that Our Heavenly Father allowed for payment of our sins.
Jesus died as our sacrifice.
Jesus died as our ransom.
Jesus died as our propitiation.
Jesus died according to the Scriptures.
Luk 24:25 Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken:
Luk 24:26 Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory?
Joh 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
He was wounded for our transgressions.
He was despised and rejected by men.
*****1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
The second fact of the Gospel is that the Lord Jesus died and was buried, and He rose again on the third day, just as the Old Testament had testified.
We should understand that there were many witnesses to these events; they were not done in the dark or hidden from sight.
There are still those today who say there was no resurrection because there was no actual death.
We need to just pay attention to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the truth, and it is our faith that saves us and our faith that pleases our Heavenly Father.
Jesus Christ did die a human death. No one buries a man who is alive except a murderer.
If Jesus had not been buried, then there could be no resurrection.
The empty tomb is still evidence that the Lord Jesus arose from the dead!
It is the resurrection of Christ Jesus that proves that our bodies will also one day rise from the grave, and our tombs will be empty no matter how our bodies were buried, scattered, or remain in some urn, or thrown in the ocean.
The resurrection proves that the Lord Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is, the Living God!
There is no other power anywhere upon this earth that can raise people from their death!
Rom 1:4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is our Savior.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is the Spirit of Life.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is no liar.
Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Psa 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
The resurrection proves that Christianity is real!
The resurrection proves that our Heavenly Father accepted the work that His Son Jesus did for our reconciliation, our salvation.
When the Lord Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, it was a prayer that His death would bring life through His resurrection.
His Heavenly Father heard His prayer!
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
His resurrection was essential in the plan of God for us to receive the Holy Spirit.
Joh 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Joh 16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Joh 16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
There was an empty tomb.
There was the shape of the linen wrappings. Those wrappings still retained the shape of the body. The Lord Jesus had passed right through those wrappings.
Remember Lazarus: Joh 11:44 And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
The graveclothes of Jesus had remained in that empty tomb with the napkin folded and laid aside, which meant He would return.
Then some witnessed seeing Him after He arose.
*****1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
Peter, who had denied the Lord, now became one of the greatest witnesses for the Lord.
The Lord appeared to the remaining Apostles. Judas at that time was already dead having committed suicide. There were twelve Apostles after his death.
Then there were five hundred witnesses at one time who could testify to seeing the resurrected Christ.
Then the Lord appeared to James, His stepbrother, who would be the Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem.
It is then that the family of the Lord Jesus Christ found out that their stepbrother was telling the truth all along.
He later met Paul on the Damascus Road. Paul became the twelfth apostle hand-chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ.
And Paul preached:
*****1Co 15:12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Still today, some unbelievers deny the resurrection of the human body of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We know that the Lord was one hundred percent God, but He was also one hundred percent human. That human body did die, but God cannot die. He has always existed!
Psa 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
Isa 44:6 Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
There may be many things I do not understand and cannot explain, but the resurrection of my Savior has enough witnesses to make me a believer, and I have enough faith to accept all the Word of God as the truth.
BUT:
*****1Co 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then there is nothing to Christianity.
Most of this world believes in some supernatural being, and that being would not be much if it could not bring a human body back to life.
The message of the Gospel is the "good news" of our resurrected Savior, who is the God of the Bible and the God of all truth.
Since the God of the Bible raised the Lord Jesus Christ back to life, He will have no problem raising all the bodies in the future that He wants to raise.
Jesus said to his disciples after He had risen Luk 24:38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
Luk 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Luk 24:40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
I will live forever in the presence of the Lord!
I will have a personal face-to-face relationship with the Lord!
I will be made perfect and serve the Lord face-to-face in a New Heaven and a New Earth!
I do know that I know all these things are true!
The Lord Jesus died to free me from death and all other believers, and His Father raised Him, so He will raise all those who have been freed from death!
1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1Pe 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1Pe 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
*****1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
1Co 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1Co 15:20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Christians whose bodies are in the sleep of death is a principle that we must reject as impossible!
The goodness, the faith, the love, the tenderness of that Saint of God cannot be dissolved into nothing.
God simply will not allow it!
Since Jesus Christ rose from His death, then that old body of that saint of God that is asleep in Jesus will also rise from that grave!
That old body will not only rise from the dead, but it will be glorified just as the body of Christ is glorified.
The Lord Jesus did not have to take His earthly body back to Heaven with Him, but He did.
He could just as easily have gone back in His Spirit, but He chose to take that earthly body with Him.
If the Lord Jesus Christ did not arise from that grave, then neither will we. It is just that simple.
Why do we question God so much when He expects us to have faith?
The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ goes hand in hand with our own resurrection!
If all we have is hope in this life, then certainly we will be miserable as we grow older in years.
If we have served the Lord as He commanded and suffered for it, then we have endured something false.
But now Jesus Christ is risen!
1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
The fact is, we will live in the New Heaven with our Redeemer in our glorified bodies throughout eternity.
Since we are in our old body that is now glorified, we will be known by sight, just as we will recognize those who have gone before us by sight.
Where is our faith?
We should be very clear if it is possible to live in the presence of God, and it is, then the human body must first undergo a radical change. Th
1Pe 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1Pe 5:11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
*****1Co 15:49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
1Co 15:52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
If we are not settled on this issue of our bodies, then listen as Paul tells us how these things will take place.
The human body is flesh and blood. It is a physical body and not a spiritual body that will be needed in the New Heaven.
This body is made of earthly materials and substances, not spiritual materials and substances.
This body must be completely remade!
The bodies we have today are made to live in this physical world and dimension.
This physical body is made for the kingdoms of this world and not to inherit the Kingdom of God.
We cannot inherit eternity as we are; a change is necessary!
This means those who have gone on to meet the Lord and their old flesh was left behind and, includes any who are alive when the Trumpet sounds, and we will all meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds.
1Th 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
1Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
1Th 4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
When we meet the Lord Jesus in the clouds, it will not be for salvation, but the Lord will take this time to issue rewards for the work that was done on earth.
1Co 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Co 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
The workman is saved the work itself is burned with fire.
Both the living and the dead will receive newly created bodies.
These things will happen quicker than can be seen clearly and will be invisible to those who will remain on earth during the tribulation period.
We should not worry, as the Lord Jesus said, the Lord's children will hear that trumpet!
These things are absolutely certain!
The trumpet will sound.
The Lord's saints will hear it.
The dead shall be raised incorruptible.
We shall be changed.
These things will take place in the twinkling of an eye.
Joh 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.
Joh 5:28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
Joh 5:29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.
The resurrection of the damned will take place over a thousand years later than the Rapture of the Church.
*****1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
The nature of our old bodies is corruptible, but the nature of our new bodies will be uncorruptible!
You do not have to tell a senior citizen about how his body is deteriorating, and his days are getting shorter, and a day of death awaits us all unless the Lord Jesus returns soon.
We are all waiting for our heavenly body that will live throughout eternity.
We know that if we are going to live with God, then these old bodies must change!
*****1Co 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
1Co 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
This change of our bodies will swallow up death, as it will not exist in our new bodies.
The grave will no longer be in our future.
This is the victory that was promised by Jehovah long ago.
Isa 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.
It is sin that gave death its power, and the New Heaven is a place where there is no sin and there will never be any sin.
Rom 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
Sin will now be erased from the picture.
It is laws and standards that show us our shortcomings.
Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
Yes, Lord, I believe you.
When we have been perfected by the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be no law hanging over our heads.
With no law, there will be no condemnation!
Rev 21:4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
*****1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
It was the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that proved He had the power over death.
It is through Him and Him alone that we can be resurrected from our death!
His perfect righteousness overcomes sin and sin's penalty; it condemns sin!
Rom 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Those who are afraid of the Holy Ghost will find that He is our greatest gift after salvation.
Heb 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
These things should encourage us all as we live for Jesus Christ.
These promises are to all those who believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! These are promises!
We must stand on the truth of our Lord, unmovable!
Unyielding.
Unshaken.
Undisturbed by what goes on in this world around us.
We must work harder for those we love and those we meet.
Our labor will not be in vain!
1Pe 1:13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Amen
