The Resurrection of Jesus: The Heart of the Gospel

Easter Sunday
April 8, 2012
Sermon

The Resurrection of Jesus: The Heart of the Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:1-8, 51-57

Because Christ rose from the dead, believers in Christ will also rise from the dead.
The Corinthian error: Denial of bodily resurrection (12)
God's solution: The Gospel (1-8)
Understand the importance of the Gospel (1-2)
Paul had preached it (1a)
They had received it (1b)
They were “standing” in it (1c)
They were being saved by it (2)
If they “held fast” (2b)
If they truly believed (2c)
God had conveyed it to them (3a-b)
Received by the Apostle Paul (3b)
Delivered by the Apostle Paul (3a)
Know the Gospel's elements (3c-8) (“Gospel in a nutshell”)
Christ died (3c)
Purpose: For our sins (3d)
Cause: In accord with the Scriptures (3e)
Christ was buried (4a)
Proof of actual death (4a)
Proof of actual resurrection (4a)
Christ was raised from the dead (4b)
On the third day (4c)
In accordance with the Scriptures (4d)
Christ's resurrection verified by witnesses (5-8)
By Cephas (Peter)
By the Twelve
By more than 500 brothers at one time
By James (the brother of Christ)
By “all the apostles”
By the Apostle Paul
Understand the Gospel's outcome: We will be raised! (51-57)
Applications:
Are we holding fast to the Gospel?
Do we know the essential elements of the Gospel?
Do we really believe in the resurrection of the dead? (not just soul's immortality)