I Corinthians 15 1 8 1 Now brothers

I Corinthians 15: 1 -8 1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

I Corinthians 15: 1 -8 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

I Corinthians 15: 1 -8 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

I Corinthians 15: 1 -8 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

To Know It Is Good: To Know Him Is Best Larry Cline – Hardin Valley Church of Christ – 4/20/2014

Do You Believe In Life After Death? Why?

It’s Good Theology I Corinthians 15: 51 -55 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? ”

Paul’s Contention If the dead are not raised, LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE. (I Corinthians 15: 32 b)

We believe because that’s what we are supposed to believe. • But if good theology is all we have to stand on… if it’s the only reason we believe in the resurrection… • When life gets hard & death is REAL… • We are in trouble.

Lazarus had decayed for four days (John 11) • Martha has good theology (v. 24) • Jesus doesn’t see her answer as sufficient • Do you believe this? (v. 26) THIS? ?

Jesus wasn’t asking her if she believed the teaching but if she believed in the teacher.

The warranty is only as good as the company behind it.

Jesus was saying to believe in the resurrection because He was the one guaranteeing it. NOT just because it was good theology.

With that in mind, the idea of our own resurrection isn’t just intellectual gymnastics but a burning conviction that drives us.

It makes a difference in: 1. How we see ourselves • Romans 8: 10 -11 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

It makes a difference in: 1. How we see ourselves 2. How we live • Job 19: 25 -27 25“As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. 26 Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; 27 Whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another. My heart faints within me!” • Philippians 3: 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;

It makes a difference in: 1. How we see ourselves 2. How we live 3. How we face death • I Thessalonians 4: 13 -14 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

But I know whom I have believed And an persuaded that He is able To keep that which I’ve committed Unto Him against that day.

What do you know?

Who do you know?