READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l The Greeks in the Greek city of Corinth did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. They sneered at Paul when he preached on the resurrection of Christ (Acts 17). Paul outlined the following in support of Christ’s resurrection:
A) The Importance of Christ’s Resurrection (V1-11)
Christ’s resurrection is the foundation of our Christian faith and the gospel message we need to embrace. Paul had preached the gospel, lives were transformed and their standing firm is proof that their faith is genuine (V1,2). Paul listed 5 facts of gospel truth:
1. Christ died for our sins (V3). He is fully God and fully man. He came to live among us and sacrificed Himself as the Passover lamb for our sins.
2. Christ was buried and raised on the third day (V4).
His burial is proof of His death and the empty tomb proved He was raised. Resurrection of Jesus proves He is the Son of God as He had claimed. God’s power that raised Christ from the dead is available to all who believe Jesus (Eph 1:19,20).
3. More than 500 people were eyewitnesses to this historical event of Christ’s resurrection.
4. Paul himself witnessed the resurrected Christ (V8-10) and his life was transformed thereafter from being a persecutor of Christ to a faithful disciple (Acts 9).
5. This is the one true gospel that is preached (V11).
Trust in the resurrection is attested by reliable sources and supported by eyewitnesses’ account to form the solid foundation for Christian faith.
Discipleship Lesson:
Embrace the gospel truth. Be prepared to articulate the gospel truth and diligent to preserve and share the gospel message.
B) The Implications of Christ’s Resurrection (V12-34)
If we deny Christ’s resurrection, Jesus is still dead, our sins are not forgiven, we are all lost and hopeless, our lives are mistaken and we are a people most to be pitied (Andrew Wilson). But Christ has indeed risen (V20) and His resurrection guarantees our resurrection(V20-23) and the coming reign of God’s kingdom and end of all evil (V24-28).
Discipleship Lesson:
Embrace the hope of eternity.
We can live with hope and purpose, respond to trials and suffering with hope of eternity. God’s kingdom is here but not yet as well. Our Christian journey is like the days between Christ’s death and resurrection when we wrestle in faith with our struggles and cling on to the hope we have in Him.
C) The Transformation of the Resurrection Body (V35-49)
What will our resurrection body look like? Paul likens our physical body to a seed which is perishable when planted in the ground but grows into a new plant to something imperishable, glorious, powerful, spirit-filled and perfectly Christ-like.
Discipleship Lesson:
Embrace the hope of Christian perfection.
Be perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect (Mt 5:48). John Wesley describes Christian perfection as the state where we wilfully choose not to sin. It does not include unknown sin. As we experience more and more of Christ’s love, we grow in Christian perfection and will not even sin unknowingly when we are fully glorified one day.
May we embrace the gospel truth, look to God as our eternal hope and grow in Christian perfection as we await eagerly Christ’s return.
(Sermon notes by Woo Choi Yin)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- What is one key takeaway for you from this message?
- How would you embrace and articulate the gospel truth of Christ to others just as Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 15:2-8?
- Share a time where you have faced a trial in your life and embracing the hope of eternity helped you through those circumstances?
- Reflect on your current relationship with Christ and describe the journey that you are in towards Christian Perfection today? How can you practically embrace this hope of Christian Perfection as you grow in Christ-likeness each day?
