Sermon – “First Importance”

Paul the Apostle Paul writing Moreover brother and I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you which also you received and in which you stand by which you also are saved if you hold fast that word which I preach to you unless you believed in vain For I delivered to you 1st of all that which I also received here is the most important thing that any of us can ever understand that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures that he was buried and that he rose again the 3rd day according to the Scriptures do you mean leave that

nod your head or a man police who don’t believe that will pray with you.

All right.

And that he was seen by Cbus them by the 12 and after that he was seen by over $500.00 brother at once of whom the greater part remained to the present but some have fallen asleep after that he was seen by James then by all the Apostles then last of all he was seen by me also as by one born out of due time for I am the least of the apostles who are not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God but by the grace of God I am what I am

you know my friends we can say the same thing

I was an awful center but by the grace of God I am now what I am I My Son of God you were a daughter of God because of the grace of God I don’t care how great your sins were but by the grace of God I am what I am but a grace of God POA was an apostle an amazing apostle and his grace towards me was not in vain but I labored more abundantly then they all yet not I but the grace of God which was in me with me therefore whether it was I or they so we preach and so you believed Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead but if there is no resurrection of the dead then Christ is not risen and if Christ has not risen then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty that’s the main focus of Paul’s message to the small earning

the diff there is no resurrection then Christ is not risen right yet. And we found Yes and Yes and we are found false witnesses of God because we have testified of God that he raised up price to me did not raise up if in fact the dead do not rise further the dead do not rise in Christ has not risen and if Christ is not risen your faith is futile you are still in your sins then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished if in this life only we have hope in Christ we are of all man the most pitiful

but now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the 1st fruits of those who have fallen asleep for since by man came death by man also came the resurrection of the dead for as in Adam all die even so in Christ all shall be made alive but each one in his own order Christ the 1st fruits afterwards those who are Christ at His coming how it then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father when he puts an end to all rule and all of the word he and power they got at his blessings to the hearing and the reading of His Holy Word

but we can all rejoice when he says but now but now Christ is risen from the dead friends this is our hope this is our hope imagine living a life with no hope as he said you know if there was doubt not that hope of the resurrection why bother why bother coming to church yes we could come to church to learn how to live more a good moral life but if there is no hope at the end it would all be for naught wouldn’t it

yes we could still yes we could know him but if there was no resurrection

it would be said it would be. A sad thing but we have the hope of the resurrection to live for eternity with Him That is our hope

I want to begin with a question well I’ve already began but

not necessarily for our individual church but friends think of the church in general the church as a whole do you think that in the average church that there are people attending church that do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ

absolutely right so yes there are people in church through their Maybe every week or maybe once in a while that have not repented of their sins do not believe actually have a relationship let’s say with Jesus Christ they might know of him but they’re there for various reasons you know there might be there because they want to make that business connection there some influence influential people there that I might get the chance to talk to they might be there because it’s just tradition mom and dad always went grandma grandpa up went that’s just the thing to do they might be there because their spouse dragged them there I mean that’s why I’m here to this morning my wife drug me she says you got to go going to church I’m so I don’t want to go today says you gotta go you’re the pastor.

Just kidding I’m here because I want to be here but good people go for various reasons

but with that said it would only stand the reason that there would also be some within the church that don’t believe in the resurrection

correct. Yes you’ll find some that do not believe in the Trinity you’ll find some that do not believe in baptism you’ll find some that don’t believe that Christ was born of the Virgen so it only stands to reason that yes there could be people within the church not necessarily this church but the church that do not have the hope of the resurrection the do not believe in the bodily resurrection

by the resurrection that’s what we mean a bodily resurrection that after death that the body comes back to life no it’s not going to be the same we’ll get there next the next Sabbath because that’s at the end of this chapter I’m going to have to have 2 messages up Chapter 15 because it’s a long one so we’ll get to we’ll get to that but we believe in a bodily resurrection the crisis going to come back and those that have died in Christ will be raised from the grave and will be changed that is our hope friends and if we are alive when he comes back we’ll be changed so we believe that that’s with all of our heart that is our hope the most important thing you know in previous chapters as we’ve worked through 1st Corinthians here you know Paul addresses a lot of faults a lot of divisions within the church in Corinth as we said they had a lot of issues friends the church has always had a lot of issues but he’s still addressing issues but he’s addressing the disbelief of the resurrection by some people not the whole church but I’ve got to believe as I read this to it there’s a little bit change in the tune to polls addressing here it seems that he’s reaffirming their faith he is reaffirming their commitment he says more of a brother not declare to you the gospel which I preach to you. Which you also received serious and knowledge and you received the word you received the truth that I preach to you and in which you stand so they were standing in the truth that Paul preached to them and by which you also are saved I want to read those verses to you from the message about version the Bible it says friends let me go over the message with you one final time this message which I proclaimed and that you made your own

have you done that made it your own have you received that made it yours this message on which you took your stand and by what your life has been saved I am assuming now that your belief was the real thing and not a passing fancy that you’re in this for the good for good and holding fast are you kind of had that discussion with the kids it’s morning in the membership class about what a commitment is it’s for a lifetime commitment to Christ are you really ready and prepared to take that and make that to make him your master for the rest of your life that’s what he wants and that’s what we are to do

we’re in day one has a song that I was here yesterday that’s travel and I will take my stand where hope can be found it’s a beautiful song Friends Will we take our stand where hope can be found and hope is in Jesus Christ and our hope is in the resurrection will take that stand on our belief. You know Jesus’ parable before Sorrells soils describes the one whose faith is not solid who is maybe whose faith is like a passing fancy and Matthew 101323248 says but he who received the seed on stony places this is he who hears the word and immediately were sees it with joy yet he has no root in themselves but indoors only for a while for when tribulation or persecution arises because of the word immediately he stumbles so it’s a passing fancy for him now when he receives seed among the thorns it is he who hears the word and the cares of this world and a deceitful Inus of riches choke the word and it becomes unfruitful but he who receive seat on the good ground is he who hears the word understands it

who indeed bears fruit and produces some a 100 fold some 60 and some 30 it’s not a passing fancy for those who receive that word make it their own and stand on that truth

when he said in the message that you made it your own made that they received it whole heartedly good ground good soil pose a firm and he’s a commending their faith what does it mean for instance take a stand

do we take a stand

taking a stand me to take or make a firm decision for or against something that you are passionate about that you believe in Martin Luther King took a stand against racial discrimination Winston Churchill took a stand against Nazi Germany when many in Britain wanted to seek a deal with Hitler but he took a stand in the Book of Daniel we have examples were Daniel took a stand and went ahead and prayed.

Even though it meant being thrown in the Lion’s Den his friend sat ject me shack in the bed to go they took a stand the set of Bally and down to the golden image that King Nebuchadnezzar had put up

Shadrach going to Bendigo said to the king the king our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the fiery furnace and he will deliver us from your hand but if not we will not serve nor bow down to the image they made a stand that day we will not bow down to we make a stand for what we believe in

for the believe that Christ died was buried rose again do we make that stand.

Many people today make a stand for things they are passionate about there are many that take a stand against abortion praise the Lord to stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves to try to show young women a better way the way of adoption or some other means they attend rallies a raves funds to help women praise the Lord they do that do we take a stand for that which we are passionate about

Paul knows that the enemy works he does to deceive and destroy he was well aware that the enemy will try to get people to doubt their faith and he is still going at today trying to get people to doubt their faith to question whether there is a resurrection to try to take people’s hope away

the devil will attempt to cause division

and bring in doubt he will try to get people to doubt the fundamental principle the fundamentals that Christianity is founded upon

in Corinthian that day it was a Greek city and Greeks in general did not believe in the resurrection of the dead.

Now many did become believers and believe that as Paul preached a minister there but Paul knowing that being in that city that there were many that didn’t and they would commit into the church and bring in doubt just plant that seed of doubt that there is no resurrection

when Paul preached in Athens and declared the fact of the resurrection and accepting 32 it says when they had heard of the resurrection of the dead some mocked while other said We will hear you again on this matter

nothing has changed people some believe it some don’t some laugh and think we’re full

but I’m going to stand on a word whether they think I’m a full or not

because that’s where my hope is found

some laughed

Paul’s wise enough to know that the unbelievers would try to sway the believers try to plant that doubt Paul said in verse 3 through 5 fraud delivered to you 1st of all that which you also received meaning of 1st importance that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures that he was buried that he rose again the 3rd day according to the Scriptures and that he was seen by Cbus them by the 12 and after that was seen by over 500 brother and

you know we’ve heard many times

what faith is right Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen

because any of you there was any of you there did you see the risen Christ no more there by faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God so that the things which are seeing were not made of things which are visible.

That’s a common understanding of what faith is believing in something or somebody vent that we ourselves have not actually seen believing and trusting God’s Word to be true right is that not what’s faith is

whether we believe the account of the Apostles the prophets the patriarchs friends for us that’s what the faith is believing is true or is it not

over $500.00 witnesses

that’s amazing as far as I’m concerned

that is one of the most important facts that that I’ve read from that scripture

it cannot be overlooked

when you can sit or the resurrection being seen by over 500 witnesses is amazing

Paul said the majority these people are still alive if you don’t believe me you go ask them

when that because. Hey if you don’t believe ma word on this account go ask the 500

that’s some pretty hard evidence as far as I’m concerned

you know think about this as I was travelling issue I got a visual image think about in a courtroom and you have we’re just going to say you got a criminal there someone a did some criminal act all right and you’ve got 12 jurors right so these jurors are going to listen to the testimony or the witness from both sides and if there’s a credible witness

against that criminal that jury has to decide now if they’re a very good credible witness plus some other evidence that jury is going to decide whether that person is guilty or not guilty right is that not the way it works

so they have to make that decision now with one witness All right you’re going to have some that’s going to be swaying back and forth what if there were 10 witnesses. Had to same story again separate Would it not be a little easier for that jury to make a decision with all 10 of them they all agree pretty obvious guilty or not guilty whichever may be a friend’s what about 500 witnesses

I hope this is sinking in over 500 witnesses

there is not a lawyer to land the could beat that case right 500 witness said I saw him I saw him that’s Paul’s testimony that is the word that is written right here at 1st Corinthians over 500 so of for me that’s hard facts very hard facts that Jesus Christ did indeed Eros from the dead so we are the jury friends the world is the jury what we have to decide is it true this word that’s it I believe this word is true so I believe it’s fact that he rose from the grave they’ve been resurrected That’s the question here so the question is do you believe this if you believe this then you believe the witness of the over 500 people this saw Jesus Christ bodily resurrected a man so you do you believe the word is the question that is the question for the day the resurrection is the resurrection of Jesus Christ that is is the cornerstone of the Christian faith without it the believer has no hope for this life or the life to come.

The apostle Paul wrote in if Christ is not raise your faith is in vain our belief in this great teaching is not based on some upon some religious feeling or upon an unfounded idea about what may have happened in the past nor are we talking about an isolated rumor but about historical fact was solid evidence to support it

it was recorded friends it’s been recorded it’s evidence do you believe in it that’s the question for today

in his little book Countdown G.B. Harty was given a has given us some thought provoking questions about the resurrection there are but 2 essential questions Has anyone cheated death and proven it

Yes who knew

Jesus has anyone cheated death and proven it Jesus Is it available to me

is it available to May

Yes

Confucius tomb friends is occupied Buddhist whom is also occupied Muhammad’s tomb is occupied Jesus’ tomb empty alright

argue if you will but there’s no point in following no point phoning loser is are

going to follow Jesus because his tomb is empty and because his tomb is empty someday our grave will be empty when we believe in him amen Paul declares a hopeless hopelessness of man if there is no resurrection if Jesus Christ has not risen your fate is futile you are still in your sins and if then this life only we have hope we are men most credible which means we would be wretched were in great need of mercy.

You know even the Old Testament patriarchs look forward to the hope of life beyond this life in Psalm 17 verse 15 It says As for me I will see your face in righteousness I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness

how the

looking forward man because we know we don’t know what will be able we know will be like Him He knew that I will wake in your likeness in job 501413 through 15000 that you would hide me in the grave that you would conceal me until your wrath is passed that you would appoint me a set time and remember me if a man dies shall he live again all the days of my heart service I will wait till my change comes you shall call and I will answer you you shall desire the work of your hands

I will answer you’ll call friends he’s going to call some day Dorry that’s what gets excited

in Revelations

Chapter 20 it speaks of the glorious resurrection Chapter 20 verses 4 through 6 and I saw thrones and they sat on them and judgment was committed to them then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the Word of God who had not worship the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ for a 1000 years but the rest of the dead did not live again until the 1000 years were finished this is the 1st resurrection blessid and holy is he who has part in the 1st resurrection overset the 2nd death as has no power but they shall be priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a 1000 years and also revelations $35.00. He who overcomes shall be closed in white garments and I will not blot blot out his name from the book of life but I will confess his name before my father and before Zane Jules you know his past week as I was reading this Actually it was even last weekend that I was reading again 1st Corinthians 15

and for some reason I just had an image came into my mind of the New Jerusalem coming down out of heaven so I go to revelations I begin reading that as I read that just the image of it such a beautiful glorious city and you know it has you’ve read his read of that many many of read of that Ari So you know it’s got the 12 gates and what does it say about the 12 gates that the names of the Patriarchs are on the 12 gates correct yes their names the patriarchs those beloved followers of God Their names are on the gates but the city also has 12 foundations each of beautiful stones.

I don’t remember all the stones on ICS so many beautiful stones gems whose names is on the foundation the Apostles

the word tells us that the pager Arcus their names on the gates and the Apostles names are on the foundation

and you know as I thought of that what a beautiful thing Little did those guys know when Jesus walked by and said follow me

and they was faithful to get up and follow him that someday their name will be on the foundation of that amazing city Little did they know that but they were faithful to follow friends here’s the point Jesus is calling you. He’s calling you he’s saying sinner come home sooner believin may repent and you have to receive forgiveness of your sins and I will give you hope I will give you a resurrected life if you believe in me and friends it may not put our names on that foundation but it will put our names in that Lamb’s book of life

in that man’s book a life that we can have the promise the hope of eternal life that’s what it’s all about that’s why we’re here and that’s the message we have for all for all it’s for all the world because he wants all to come to him and have eternal life to have that glorious hope that we know that we stand on

our names are written in that book I’ll just be glad to see the foundation with the names on there and glad to know that our name is that my name is in the book that’s the most important thing so that is the question is your name in the book if you believed in Jesus Christ repented of your sin your name is in that book and if it is not in there you need to get your name in that book today

if you don’t know Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior don’t leave today before you do so get your name written in the book if you’re watching you might be watching this a month from now or year from now if your name is not written in that book Please repent of your sins receive Jesus Christ as your lord and savior so that you can have that hope of life beyond this life because if this life is all there is I don’t care if we live to be a 100 years old it’s not enough.

Because this life we have pain and we have suffering we have evil we want that life we’re none of those things will be my friends think about back in the garden the word Also he said as in Adam all men die but in Christ all shall be made a lot I was almost done but I’m not and that a moment shall die right because Adam sinned we all die I want you to think about this Satan deceived out of the name did he not he deceived them into thinking they would not die

but that was a lie because then they did when aid is true so what is Satan trying to deceive people to think now that you will not live he told them they wouldn’t die 2 days trying to get people to believe that will not live that this is it this life is it just eat drink be merry have a good old time it don’t matter what you do because you’re not going to live friends outside of the law of the devil don’t believe it stand on the Word of God and say Get Behind Me Satan because I can have life when I believe in Jesus Christ I preach myself excited this morning I don’t know how did that but believe in Jesus Christ

and ye shall live you can have the resurrected life Glory Hallelujah Amen All right.

There’s each side some of the time he just gives me stuff for it in there but so I have to give it to you I hope you got excited because I did and are closing him is when we all get to heaven we are going to rejoice the friends we come together and can rejoice every week every day let’s rejoice in Him Amen.