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Texts from Mark 16:1-8 and 1st Corinthians 15:12-25 for the major references.
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Details
Texts from Mark 16:1-8 and 1st Corinthians 15:12-25 for the major references.
Comment
Texts from Mark 16:1-8 and 1st Corinthians 15:12-25 for the major references.
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Today we will be looking at two passages: Mark 16:1-8 and 1 Corinthians 15:12-25. The first passage recounts the story of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus. The second passage discusses the implications of Christ's resurrection and the importance of belief in the resurrection. The word "anastasis" is used to describe the resurrection, meaning to rise up or stand again. The reliability of the Bible is emphasized as the source of the resurrection story. The Bible is considered the inspired and authoritative word of God. The claim of scripture is that Jesus has risen from the dead. Today we're going to look at two passages, and so you're going to want a piece of paper or a bookmark or stick a finger in one spot. We're going to flip to a couple of different spots. First, we're going to look at the story of Easter because, of course, it is Easter, and so we must look at the story of Easter. And we're going to consider the historical record, the story of Christ's resurrection. We'll reference Mark's Gospel, so this will be Mark 16, verses 1 through 8. This will be our first text, Mark 16, verses 1 through 8. This is Mark's accounts of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Mark 16, starting with verse 1, and this is God's Word. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome brought spices, so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb, and they asked each other, who will roll a stone away from the entrance of the tomb? But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Don't be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples, and Peter, he is going ahead of you into Galilee, and there you will see him, just as he told you. Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid. Now, turn with me, please, to our primary sermon text, 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verses 10, I'm sorry, verses 12 through 25. So if you're unsure about the location of 1 Corinthians, you can go forward from Mark to Luke, then John, then Acts, then Romans, then 1 Corinthians. This is not too far, just a few pages ahead, but we'll be in 1 Corinthians, and we'll be in chapter 15, and we're going to start with verse 12 going through verse 25. So 1 Corinthians chapter 15, starting with verse 12, and this is God's Word. But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if, in fact, the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. You are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ. We are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own turn, Christ the firstfruits, then when he comes, those who belong to him. Then the end will come. When he hands over the kingdom of God, the Father, after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power, for he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The word of the Lord. Thanks be to God. Please be seated. So today, as we consider the great and glorious truth of the resurrection, we'll look at the impact of his resurrection. And here's how we're going to study the Scriptures. First, we'll look briefly at the narrative, Mark 16, verses 1-8, the historical record. And then we will consider its implication for man. We'll study 1 Corinthians 15, verses 12-19. We'll ask the question, is this all there is? And verses 20-22, the statement, the affirmative, this is not all there is. And then verses 23-25, the blessed truth for the child of God. So the word for the day is anastasis. Anastasis. It's the word in which we translate as resurrection. This word, anastasis, is of the ancient Greek language in which the New Testament Gospels and letters were originally written some 2,000 years ago. Anastasis is a compound word. The first part of the word, the prefix an or ana, can mean several things, but it means up or upward, back or backward, on or upon, again or anew. This is the prefix ana. And then the second part of the word, the suffix stasis, we read as an adjective, which means that which is stable, something which has a sense of permanence, something that's firmly fixed, something not subject to overturning or giving way or watering down or deteriorating or being disturbed. And from this adjectival use of stable, we get words such as stay and stability and stand, like the verb meaning to stand. So we put all this together. I know you weren't looking for an English lesson this morning, but if you put all this together, the word anastasis means to raise up or to stand up or to stand again. Now years later, the Latin language developed the word surger, which means to rise, and they added the Latin prefix re, meaning again, and so the Latin language settled on the word resurger, which means to rise again. And from the Latin, we then get our word resurrection. Now generally we look at a dictionary for a definition of the word, and the way the dictionary generally lines things out is first they will give you kind of the general definition of a word, and then they'll give you some more specific definitions. If you look at the Oxford Dictionary or you look at the Webster Dictionary or any of the dictionaries, you'll generally find that this is how words are defined. But with regard to the word resurrection, you would notice that both the Oxford English Dictionary and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, at least in their online versions, give the specific definition first. Both sources state as the primary definition of the word resurrection, the primary definition is the resurrection of Christ. That's what they give first. Now what source must Oxford or Webster use for this? What justification is there? For, of course, there's now no living eyewitnesses to the resurrection of Christ. There are also no photos. There's no video to provide verification of the event. How is Oxford or Webster justified in using this, and by what evidence do they rely on to say, well, the first definition of the word resurrection means the resurrection of Christ? The reality is this. There is one source, and there's only one source. The Bible remains as the reliable and verifiable source to certify the historicity of the resurrection of Christ. So let's take a moment to consider the reliability of the Scriptures, because that's what we're relying on. We're going to rely on Scriptures itself, so let's consider their reliability, because we hold that the Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired word of God, and so therefore it is authoritative, and is authoritative in two ways. First, the Bible declares what man is to believe concerning God, and then second, the Bible declares what duty God then requires of man. This is foundational doctrine for us. The Westminster Shorter Catechism says, what do the Scriptures principally teach? And the answer it gives is, Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. And in a like manner, our denomination also makes this subscription. The essentials of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church is prefaced with these words when it says, all Scripture is self-attesting and being truth, requires our unreserved submission in all areas of life. And are we not thankful we're part of a denomination that sees fit to start what it believes and declare what it believes by declaring the reliability of Scripture? The Bible has been inspired by the Holy Spirit so that the writers would be divinely inspired to write what they wrote, and further, the Holy Spirit has preserved the Scriptures over the years, over the centuries, so that even with the passage of time, and even with the development of the changes of the various languages of the world, even though we no longer possess the original letters and writings, we no longer possess what's called the autographs, that would be like the original Gospels or the original letters, we no longer have those, the original writings that would come to include in the canon, we know and we trust and we believe that the Bible, the Bible that we possess, nevertheless is the Word of God. And we believe this because, of course, the Bible itself makes this claim. The Bible has to be self-attesting, and it is so. Recall the words of the Apostle Paul, 2 Timothy 3, starting with verse 14. Remember, Paul writes these words. He says, but as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which were able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. Now you might say, well, why do I need to know this? Why is it essential on this day of all days that we would take this time to revisit this doctrinal position about the Scriptures? Because we read just a little while ago, we today confront a claim that the Bible holds as truth. We first read from Mark's Gospel. Consider this again, what we just read. Notice Mark's Gospel, chapter 16. Let's focus specifically on verse 6. Let's consider what it says when it says this. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus of Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen. This is the claim of Scripture. Scripture claims that Jesus, who was crucified, has risen. The resurrection of Jesus Christ. And we hold that it stands as a fundamental truth. It is foundational for our faith. It is historical facts. The Bible says it, and we believe it, and that settles it. The Bible is making this most fundamental and foundational claim, Jesus, who was crucified, has risen. Now, we do realize that there are those who regularly and consistently engage in the denial of Christ's resurrection. Islam, for example, says that they believe in Jesus, and yet the Quran explicitly denies the resurrection. Also, the Chinese Communist Party allows the church to exist in China as the sanctioned and authorized church, and yet the Chinese Communist Party will not allow the pastors of those churches to preach on the resurrection. They can preach on anything else they want, but for some reason, they can't preach on the resurrection. Why would that be so? And not to be outdone, a certain Presbyterian denomination, which shall not be named, remains increasingly hostile to anyone who would dare affirm the historicity of the resurrection. Send an ordination candidate to one of their Presbyterian meetings, and have him or her examined for ordination, and have that candidate affirm their belief in the resurrection of Christ, and you will be utterly amazed and utterly disgusted at the criticism that this candidate will then have to endure. Now, when we think of resurrection, we think of Jesus, and we are right to do so because the Word of God makes the case for the resurrection. It doesn't just claim that the resurrection had happened. It does do that. We read that in Mark. But the Word of God also gives us the evidence for backing up this claim. The proof is overwhelming. The Bible describes Christ's resurrection as something which actually occurred. The gospel accounts, for example, are four separate descriptions of Christ's resurrection. We know that there are four separate writings. They're written at different times by different people in different ages for different audiences. They're written as either eyewitness accounts or they're written as interviews of eyewitnesses. So we know that the four gospel accounts themselves stand as four separate accounts of the resurrection. Scripture also contains the evidence of the accounting of those who testified to seeing the resurrected Christ. Paul says that at the time he was writing, he could name 500 individuals who were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ. Now, we understand that there are many, many events throughout the history of man of which we have absolute certainty. But these events do not possess anything close to the documentation compiled which argues for the historicity of the resurrection of Christ. Now, this is all true. But it's not enough. Because God is not looking for men and women who would just make a mental assent to the event called the resurrection. You and I don't know of its occurring. We weren't there. We didn't see it happen. But the call is not just that we would know about the resurrection. Rather, the call of God is that we would believe in the resurrection of our Lord and Savior. But how do we do this? The crisis of the resurrection certainly is that it absolutely stands in opposition to everything we know based on our human experience. Pastor, I can't believe this. How do I accept the notion that one who was alive and then dead was alive again? Something does not make sense. I've never seen this happen anywhere else before. How can I possibly accept it? And then we know, based on our reading of 1 Corinthians, that there's a further claim. The Bible claims that just as Christ is resurrected, so there will also come a day when all who rest in Christ will be resurrected. Now, how do we get to that belief? How do we get to the spot where Christ is resurrected? The Apostle Paul makes this connection for us. It's the claim of Scripture. Listen to what Paul writes to the church at Philippi. He writes, Paul's looking forward to it. Paul was anticipating it. The Apostle Paul wants to see this too. But really, how is this going to happen? How is this possibly going to happen? Because I pick up a newspaper, or I go online and look at obituaries, and every day there's a listing of local residents who have died. And I have yet to find one story where that has to be retracted because they're alive again. Unless it was a mistake and got put in error. There's not one story of anybody dying and then living again. And there are cemeteries all over this world, and there are several around here in Napanee. And they all are full of people laid to rest. And many of them include our loved ones and our friends, people who have died. And we've yet to see any of them again. So we see the problem is that we want to believe. We really want to believe in the resurrection. We want to know the reality of it. And yes, we want to see our loved ones again. But where's the evidence? Where's the proof that this is going to happen? What are we relying on here? Well, now let's turn to our second text for today. Now let's turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. We'll begin with verse 12. And it's clear at the beginning that Paul feels the weight of this same crisis. Paul feels the same weight. Paul asks the same questions. Notice what Paul writes. This is 1 Corinthians chapter 15, starting with verse 12. Paul says, But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? In other words, Christians are claiming it, but how can you say there's none? Well, here's how, Paul says. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then apparently Christ has not been, not even Christ has been raised. And then Paul continues. He says, And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless, and so is your faith. If this is not true, if this is not right, if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. More than that, then we are found to be false witnesses about God. For we have testified about God that He raised Christ from the dead. We're running around today telling everybody that this is what's happened. We do this all the time as believers in Christ. We say Jesus is alive. But if we can't see Him, how do we know this is true? Are we not indeed false witnesses? And so Paul is trying to figure this all out. He says, But He did not raise Him if in fact the dead are not raised. For the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And here's the tragedy. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. You notice where Paul goes with this. You are still in your sins. So all the stuff about believing in salvation and forgiveness of sins is gone. It's out the window. If Jesus isn't resurrected, none of it matters. His death was useless. His sacrifice means nothing if there's no resurrection. And if there's no resurrection, y'all have been going to this church a long time, and you're missing the boat. You're still in your sins, and your faith is futile. There's a lot here in this text. We're feeling the weight of this thing. We've got serious questions about it. And we know these are real questions because we have loved ones who ask us this very question. How can you believe that stuff? You really can believe that stuff? It's a myth. It's legend. It's Christian cultic ideas. These are things that are taught, promoted, and pushed. And you've heard some of these concerns. Where do you go? Your faith is futile. You're still in your sins. You see the problem that's before us. It appears that we who are believers in Christ have bought into the biggest lie of all, and we've bought into it hook, line, and sinker. Paul points out that the argument made is that because we do not see any of these who preceded us in death now alive again, because we don't see this, then we must conclude that Christ himself was not resurrected. So Paul is working through the argument that the unbelieving world uses to deny the resurrection of Christ. And here he works through the argument to its conclusion. The logical progression is that because Christ was not resurrected, our faith is futile. It therefore must be true that we believe in a false God. This must be the case. We must believe in a false God. And any benefits we then derive from believing in Christ, well, maybe we might have a little peace now and then in this life. But when this life's over, it's done. It's done. There's nothing else for us. If there is no resurrection of Christ, then each of the children of God stand condemned. Each of us would be then judged in our own sin. Ours is then indeed a sad state. Have we been lied to? Have we fallen for the biggest lie of all? Well, Paul continues the thought in verses 18 and 19. You can hear his heart motivation here when he says, Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. Think of all the loved ones who have gone before us, and they have died, and they're waiting for the return of Jesus, expectantly for Christ to come back. But those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all people. So from this, it sounds like you and I are done for. And apparently the slogan, you only live once, is the real deal. It appears that all is lost, and it appears that you and I have no hope. What we need is a real Savior. What we need is one who not only demonstrates His power and His victory over the evil of this world, but also one that would lead us into victory. A Savior that opens the doors for eternity and draws us through them. A Savior that provides the assurance and the certainty that His resurrection can also be ours. And we must ask the question, does such a Savior actually exist? Here's what Paul says, beginning with verse 20. Does such a Savior actually exist? Paul says, The world's argument was that because people who have died have not raised, therefore Christ cannot have been resurrected. But the claim of God's Word is the opposite is true. Christ has been resurrected. And certainly Paul is emphatic about this. He says Christ has indeed been raised. You see that in the text. Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. Recall that Paul, remember, counts himself as a witness of the resurrected Christ. But also remember that when Paul saw Christ, he was an unbeliever. You might say, Listen, all those claims of people in the Bible, they're a bunch of believers in Jesus. Yeah, but Paul was an unbeliever when he says he saw Christ. Paul was one who was without faith in Jesus when he saw Jesus. Yet Paul is absolutely confident in that Christ has indeed been raised. And because this is so, Paul says, Christ remains therefore as the first of those, the children of God, who would also be resurrected. You see, Christ rules over and reigns over death. Sin and death has no sway over him. The grave cannot hold him down or hold him back or restrict his actions. The grave can never claim him as one of his own. And he willingly went to the cross to bear the sin of the world, to bear your sins and my sins. Adam's sins meant death for all, but Christ's death and resurrection meant life for all, for all those who would believe in Jesus. Jesus died on the cross, but death was not the final arbiter over his life. And now Christ stands as the one whom Paul describes as the firstfruits, which means there'll be many, many more to follow. So believers in Jesus, here we find real hope. We trust and we rely that although you and I will experience death, you and I have been in our being and will be made alive in and through Christ. The resurrection of Christ points us to the resurrection that we as God's children will enjoy on that great and glorious day. Writers of Hebrews state the case this way. Hebrews 7, verse 22, he writes, Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant. The word of God reminds us that because Jesus was resurrected, we who are in Christ are guaranteed that we shall also be resurrected. The Bible uses the words guarantee. It is guaranteed. It is declared to be so. It cannot be revoked. It's a truth which never can be counted as null and void. It is sure and certain. It is the truth. It is a fact. God has made this covenant promise and God keeps his covenant promises. And we have Christ's resurrection then as the ironclad guarantee that resurrection awaits the children of God. Look with me at our text in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 23. But each in his own turn, Christ the firstfruits, then when he comes, those who belong to him. Here the apostle Paul describes Jesus as the lead of a great and glorious harvest made up of those who, as the text says, belong to him. The first of the harvest remains as the guarantee of the full harvest. Let me repeat that one again. The first of the harvest remains as the guarantee of the full harvest. And we see here in the text that the resurrection of the children of God is indicative of this comprehensive end of all things. Notice here in the text, the kingdom is finalized and consummated. Evil is defeated. The powers of darkness are eliminated. Christ sets this all in motion by his resurrection. And he brings it all to completion along with our resurrection. Notice verse 24. Then the end will come when he hands over the kingdom of God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority, and power. And this victory will come about and this victory must come about. We recall the promise of the Old Testament. Remember Psalm 110 and the first verse of that psalm. And the psalmist writes, The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. And Paul here confirms the necessity of Christ's victory. Paul says, For he, speaking of Jesus, he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. So Jesus' resurrection proves to be the foundation of our resurrection. And it proves to be the completion of the work of the kingdom of God. So it is true that resurrection, the resurrection of Christ, is essential as to who we are. Absolutely true. But it is much more than this. The resurrection is essential as to who we are, but also and even more so, the resurrection is essential as to whose we are. We are Christ's. And because we live, because he lives, we shall live also. Can the same be said for you, my friend? Hear this this morning. If you're one who has never made a profession of faith in Christ, know that the opportunity for you to do so is available here and now. Do not turn your back on this opportunity. Place your life in the hands of the one who conquered death, the one who was resurrected, and the one who remains as the first fruits of the children of God, the one who guarantees eternal life. Will you respond to Jesus? Will you place your faith and your trust in Christ for your salvation? And for the believer in Christ, I encourage you today, do not be dismayed. Do not be discouraged. Do not give up hope. Continue to look to Jesus, the one who was alive and then dead and then alive again, and rest with assurance and certainty that life eternal is the covenant promise of God Almighty, the true guarantee and the loving comfort of our Heavenly Father. Here's how Paul expressed his confidence a little later in the text. 1 Corinthians 15, starting in verse 42, Paul says, So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, but it is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown a natural body, but it is raised a spiritual body. And our God is the God who makes sure in certain promises, and our God is the God who keeps His promises. Amen. Let's bow our heads and pray, shall we? Lord Jesus, we do indeed celebrate and we give thanks for not only have you defeated sin and death by your death on the cross, you defeated sin and death by your resurrection, and you have declared through your word that this resurrection is available for all who would believe, and we place our faith and trust in you for salvation, for there is no other name under heaven or earth whereby we must be saved. Thank you, Jesus, for this glorious gift. We thank you that you have opened the door to paradise. You have broken the chains of the prisoners. You have set free the captives. For this we praise you and we give you glory. This in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
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