READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l The Resurrection of Christ is the anchor tenet of our Christian faith.
In 1 Cor 15:1-49, Paul addresses the Church of Corinth who had allowed pagan beliefs and the practices of the Imperial Cult to sway them from their conviction in the resurrection of Christ. Paul corrects them in their understanding of:
- The theology of Death
- The definition of Salvation
- The perspective of Christian Hope
1.A bad theology of Death will lead to a bad way of life (1 Cor 15: 29-34)
The Corinthian Christians wanted the benefits and blessing of life in Jesus Christ but rejected belief in the resurrection. They rejected the concept of Eschatology (the afterlife) concerning death, judgement and the final destiny of the soul and humankind. Influenced by Greco-Roman paganism and the Imperial Cult, they focused on the present benefits of religion (health, wealth, safety, and wellness). The Roman emperor, seen as the source of these benefits, was elevated to God status.
The influences of these practices corrupted the way the Corinthian Christians lived. The concept of Salvation became distorted and the Church lived focused on the tangible benefits of the here and now.
Paul exhorts the Corinthian Church to come back to their senses, and to stop being misled by bad company (1 Cor 15:33-34).
Are there parallels that can be drawn to the present-day Church? Why do we follow Christ? What is our personal definition of salvation?
2. Salvation is Jesus destroying Death (through resurrection) and granting believers eternal victory over Sin (1 Cor 15:21-22, 26)
The evidence of sin is death.
All who are borne of Adam have sinned and are under the penalty of death (vs 21-22).
Death was not part of God’s original design of life.
In John 11, Jesus was at the funeral of Lazarus. Twice, he groaned in His spirit (John 11: 31, 38), akin to an angry rebuke. His anger was targeted towards death and suffering. Sin had entered life, and Sin had given Death the right to work in mankind. This curse was hurting the people He loved.
Christ’s resurrection has conquered sin and death! The last enemy to be destroyed is death, and in Christ all will be made alive (vs 22, 26). Christian Salvation is:
- The freedom from the curse of sin and death
- Eternal life in heaven
3. Christian hope is the proclamation of the Resurrection Hope (1 Cor 15:1-8, 54-58)
Paul’s way of life is compelled by the resurrection hope of Christ and its power over sin and death. He proclaims in 1 Cor 15:55,
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
He urges the Church to stand firm, always giving ourselves to the work of the LORD because we know that it is not in vain (1 Cor 15:58).
Let us embrace the resurrection, salvation and victory of Christ! In doing so, responding as Paul did in bold proclamation of God’s resurrection hope through word and deed.
(Sermon notes by Stella Chiam)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What are your thoughts on resurrection? How does it differ from other concepts like re-incarnation? Have you ever questioned if resurrection is possible? Do you think it’s true and something believable of the Christian faith? Why?
- If you are a Christian, how have you come to terms about the credibility of Jesus’ resurrection? Is this important to you? Is this important to the Christian faith? Why? (v12-33)
- Do you think your body will be resurrected and what kind of body will you have? (v50-54).
- Resurrection cannot happen without death. What does death communicate and what are your thoughts on death? But Christian faith reveals another aspect of death (it only has the right to act when there is sin). But what does V55-57 reveal about the role of death and what Christ did?
- How would this change and transform your faith? Share your thoughts on how Christ’s resurrection made a difference and the hope Christians have? How does v58 spur us on in our faith (even in the face of death?). What are your fears and struggles in comparison to this hope – share and pray for one another.
