Living Hope (1 Corinthians 15)

He is risen. (He is risen indeed.) Good morning, Garden City. Welcome – Guests. Today – The most important day of the Christian faith. Pick one Sunday. – This is the one. See – What church is all about and why Jesus’ resurrection matters so much.

Group Projects – Remember? Multiple people, but one grade for the group. How many of you were the hard workers that made sure you and the group got a good grade? How many of you were the slackers that just made sure you were in the group with hard workers so you didn’t have to do the work. – Working smart, not hard. 1st – X Fair. Group Project – You rise and fall together. The story of human history…

We can all look around the world today and regardless of where/who you are – we can all agree that the world is not how it should be. Things are broken. There’s evil. There’s suffering. And it doesn’t seem like the bad things are getting any better.

And the reason why – Bible – We’ve all sinned against God. Sin – anything that goes against God’s good and holy character/ways – is not just a problem out there. The sin problem is in every human heart. So all humanity, as a group, have failed and are dead in sin. That’s our grade.

But the Good News – There’s a group project you can be part of – Where you contribute nothing but you get everything.

1 Cor. 15. Bible. Turn. Text: 1 Cor. 15 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. …. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Apostle Paul – Starts to address a problem not just for Christianity but for all religions – If the founder, the prophet, the leader, is dead – What hope is there for anyone? What do they know about eternal life? And how will their teachings save us from death when they couldn’t save themselves? 

So Paul says, If Jesus is dead – If his body is still in the tomb, then we can throw all his teachings out the window. None of it matters. Don’t follow Jesus because a dead man’s thoughts aren’t going to do you any good. But if Jesus is alive – And the tomb is empty – It changes everything. So even if you don’t believe right now – you should wish it’s true. And I invite you to seriously consider the resurrection and all it promises today…

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive… 57 … thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. Jesus’ resurrection frees us from having to save ourselves. 

Other World Religions – try harder, do better, be better, fix yourself. If you’re good enough – You can save yourself. If you give enough, if you pray enough, if you do enough good works, then god will weigh out your life and if the good is more than the bad, you’ll get to be reincarnated to a better life or get into paradise. But how do you know if you’ve done enough? How can you be certain?

Christianity is radically different. – You can never do or be good enough to save yourself. – Not what you have to do for God but what he’s done for you. Other religions – Do. Christianity – Done. God has done for us what we could not do for ourselves – He saved us. He made a way through Jesus.

Because of Jesus’ victory over sin and death through his resurrection we – everyone who puts their trust in him – also have victory. PICTURE – Kids BJJ Comp. Wife does BJJ too. (Try to stay on her good side.) But this is mom wearing all the kids’ medals. She’s really the one that put in all the work – paying for the kids’ classes, taking them to their classes, making sure they don’t quit, encouraging them, pushing them when they need it. Packing all their snacks and water. Without her, none of it would be possible. There are no medals. But because of her, the kids got to stand on the podium and get medals. 

In the same way – Jesus’ victory is our victory. In the group project of salvation – Jesus did all the work himself. And we get the perfect grade because of him. We get to share in all the benefits of Jesus’ work on the cross and his victory over death. And we don’t have to save ourselves because he’s saved us. 

2. Jesus’ resurrection frees us from sin and death.

24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” 

50 I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable … 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Of all the problems humanity has – and we have a lot – selfishness, self-centeredness, oppression, depression, anxiety, anger, fear, shame, guilt, pride, greed – the biggest is death. The death rate today is steady at 100%. It’s something we will all face. It was never God’s intention for us to know death, pain, and suffering. But we chose it. It was the result of our sin against God. So how do we escape, how are we set free from the penalty of sin?

Someone has to pay. Us OR Jesus. – He’s the only one who could pay/trade places with us because only he’s lived a perfect, sinless life. And we get his victory and all he deserved BECAUSE Jesus took our place for our sin on the cross. See – Before Jesus is our victory, he is our substitute. And because he was our substitute who died the death we deserved – our sins can be forgiven and we can go free.

And because Jesus’ rose to life – our greatest enemy has been defeated. Death is just a shadow – the sting of death has been removed. Jesus took the sting. (Shadow – Walking down the street.) So death is not something to be feared. It’s just a transition into eternal life – God’s presence where there is fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore. Death cannot touch you. It’s powerless over you. Sin and death don’t have the final word. And all the pain of sin and its effects will be gone one day. No more.

But – I’m not that bad. I’m generally a good person. – I don’t need Jesus. Not trying to be mean – You’re worse/wicked than you can ever imagine. We all are. Livestream – Everything you’ve ever said in secret. Every deep, dark thought in your heart/mind. For the world to see – Anyone think they would be judged as a good person? No. Our hearts are evil/broken.

Oh but pastor – You don’t know me. How much bad I’ve done. I’m so bad, Jesus could never love/save me. Listen – There is more forgiveness and grace in God than sin in you. Your worst sins – all of them – have been placed on Jesus. The price has been paid. God made Jesus who knew no sin, to become sin for you, so you could become perfectly righteous before God. Scarlet/Guilt turned white because of Jesus’ blood. So when God sees you – He doesn’t look at all your mistakes and flaws. He sees Jesus. – God’s saving love for you in Jesus is the power that frees us from sin, not the reward for having saved yourself. (PJD)

The resurrection is the guarantee. – Sin will die and we will live because  Jesus lives. All you have to do is receive it and he will set you free and make you new…

3. Jesus’ resurrection frees us to live for him.

32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, … If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” … 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God.

Christianity is not at its core a better way to live or changing to become better people. Not behavior modification. Though it is a better way to live and it does change us. It is a restored relationship with God through Jesus and living that out…

If you understand God’s love for you. The cost he paid to save you. Changes everything. You can’t go on living like nothing’s happened. Completely changes your life. You’re no longer a slave to sin and death. You’re no longer dead. You’re alive. You’re free. You’re a new person, a new creation. So you need to take off your old self, your grave clothes, and put on new life. – Your life becomes, like Paul – About knowing and loving Jesus and living for him on mission with the gospel so everyone can find their hope in Jesus too. And…

4. Jesus’ resurrection frees us to a living hope now and forever.

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

36 … What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. … 42 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. … 45 Thus it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. … 49 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.

If our hope is for this life only – because Jesus is still dead in the tomb – Christians are most to be pitied. Because their hope is not real. Wishful thinking. But because Jesus is not in the tomb – He’s alive – He can actually give us a living hope that goes beyond the grave. Our hope of eternal life and heaven is secured by the finished work of Jesus.

1 Pe. 1:3-5 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Amazing – We don’t just have a future hope. Yes. – One day, he’s going to put an end to all the sin/suffering/bad/brokenness as his victory over sin and grave is fulfilled and applied to every broken thing.

But we don’t just have to struggle through life, waiting to go to heaven. We have hope now for this life. Whatever we go through – no matter how hard/horrible – there’s nothing that can rob us of the eternal hope we have in Jesus. Living Hope – Not the absence of bad things happening. Not a life free from brokenness and suffering – Jesus’ presence with you through it all and the promise that this is not how it will be forever. 

And it’s also the power of Jesus’ resurrection working in our lives now. His power is working to transform us and resurrecting/restoring the dead and broken things in our lives today. 

Many of you are in situations where there’s not much hope. Things aren’t going your way. You’ve tried it all but it’s just not working. So if you’re here today and you could summarize your life as being hopeless, the gospel is for you.

Hope is not found within yourself. Hope is not in education, money,  family or a good life. Hope is not in technology or AI. Because none of those things cannot save us. They cannot bring us back to God, back to life. Hope is a person and his name is Jesus.

Ask You: What are you putting your hope in? Are you sure/certain that it will save you? Does it give you peace or does it make you more anxious? How you can tell – If I lose it, things will be bad. Devastated. = WRONG. Who cares if you attain all this world has to offer? You take nothing with you when you die. The person who has believed and received the resurrection hope and life is far richer/blessed than the one who has it all but doesn’t have Jesus. Because they have a hope that not even death can take away.

Unless you die to yourself and to any other hope other than Jesus – There is no hope for you. But when you die to yourself and put your hope in Jesus – You find true hope/life. Take a look at this video where some of our members share who the resurrection has given them hope.

Video

This all sounds great BUT how do I know if it’s true – that the resurrection really happened? Again – If it’s not true – Just live your life however you want. None of it matters. And please tell me – Cause as a pastor I’d be wasting my time and life away. But it did…

1 Cor. 15 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain.

After being crucified – Jesus’ body was sealed in a tomb and guarded by soldiers… Several reasons to believe in the resurrection…

1. Disciples – Cowards. Peter – Denier. How/Why? They gained nothing – no power, no prestige, no position, no privilege – instead – persecution, poverty, and pain. Gave up their lives. Including…

2. James – Brother of Jesus. How many of you have siblings? An older brother? What would it take to convince you that your older brother was God?

3. 500+ – Not a hallucination. Go ask – They saw. They’ll tell you.

4. Paul – Persecuted and killed Christians. Met the resurrected Christ. Changed his life. Went on missionary journeys, planted churches, wrote lots of Scripture – these verses – and he suffered greatly for his faith. 

5. 1Cor. written within ~20yrs from Jesus’ death and resurrection.

6. Most importantly – The tomb is empty! Jesus’ body is not there!

The evidence for the resurrection is far greater than trying to come up with another explanation. Because the tomb is empty – You can’t just live your life and ignore it… 

1 Cor. 15 1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 

First importance – Most important. There are other important things in life but not more than this. – While we were dead in our sin, without hope. Jesus came – he lived a perfect sinless life. And he died the death we deserved for our sins. He died in our place. But he didn’t stay in the grave. He rose up in victory. Defeating our greatest enemy and making a way for us to be restored back to God. He alone has power and victory over the grave. He’s the only one who has defeated death. 

Because Jesus walked out of the grave – Jesus is who he said he is. He’s God. He’s our Savior. He’s our hope. And you can trust him – His words and promises are true. He loves you and he desires to save you and he desires to give you hope in him. Doesn’t matter who you are – . There’s only one name by which you can be saved – Jesus. 

Group Project – Individual. We contributed nothing. Jesus did everything necessary to save us. And when we believe in him, we get all that is Jesus’ – His victory over the grave. His relationship with God the Father. A resurrection like his to eternal life with God. 

And it gets even better, the power that raised Jesus from the dead, the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ, lives within us – Reminding us of God’s love for us and that all his good promises to us are YES in Jesus. – That’s why we have a living hope. 

In accordance with the Scriptures – As promised. As hoped for. God’s plan all along… Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s purposes for humanity. (ESV Study Bible. 15:27- Ps. 8.)

God will not force you to believe. Ultimately – God, your will be done vs. My will be done. The only question is – Will what you lived for and put your hope in save you? Lovingly – Doesn’t matter how good you think you are. How nice you are. How much money you have. You have a nice family. All your kids are doing well. None of it is going to matter. Apart from Jesus – there is no hope. You are lost, dead, destined for eternity apart from Jesus.

FREE GIFT – Eternal life/hope in Jesus. Not a new season/chapter. New life. New hope.