Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 12-19

I. Christianity teaches that Christ died for our sins.

A. These are the words that Paul wrote in vs. 3. By saying that Jesus died for our sins Paul is making it clear that Christianity is based on events that really happened in human history. To say that Jesus died FOR us means that Jesus died in our place. It was us who deserved to die on that cross. Why? Because we have all rebelled against God our Maker. This rebellion against God is what the Bible calls sin. And in Romans 6:23 the Bible says that the penalty for sin is death. Jesus died on our behalf to satisfy the penalty of death for our sins and to overcome the hostility between us and God.

B. Paul then makes it clear Christ died for our sins by using similar language to a prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 53:5: “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” Why was Jesus pierced on the cross? For our transgressions. Why was he crushed on the cross? For our iniquities. Jesus took the penalty we deserved. And what was the result for us who believe that Christ died for our sins? Peace and healing.

II. Christianity teaches that Christ is risen from the dead.

A. I Corinthians 15:4 tells what happened next in history after Jesus died. We read that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. And the reason we know the resurrection really happened is because of all the eyewitnesses who saw Jesus alive after He had died. In vs. 5 we read about Cephas or Peter who saw Jesus alive along with the 12 disciples. And verses 6 to 8 speak about other eyewitnesses who saw Christ risen from the dead.

B. Paul wrote against false teaching in vs. 12: “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead?” These false teachers believed that our spirits live on after death, but they did not believe that our bodies will rise from the dead and live for eternity. But the fact of the empty tomb, the eyewitness testimony of those who saw Christ alive after His death, and the changed lives of the Christians after Easter all point to the reality of Christ’s bodily resurrection.

III. Christianity teaches that if Christ is not raised, Christianity is useless.

A. Beginning in vs. 12 Paul speaks about what logically follows if Jesus’ body did not rise from the dead. The most devastating logical conclusion is found in vs. 14: “If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain and your faith is in vain.” If the resurrection of Jesus did not happen, then Christianity is worthless. Christianity stands or falls on the resurrection. But if the resurrection did not happen, all that we are is fertilizer. Nothing more. Nothing less. But if Jesus really rose from the dead, then not only do you have hope of your own resurrection if you have faith in Christ. You also have hope that God can solve your sin problem. If Jesus really rose from the dead, then someone has conquered death. Someone has taken care of the penalty that I owe to God for my sin. Someone can bring me peace with God and forgiveness. And that someone is Jesus.

Application:
Trust in Christ to pay the penalty for your sin and give you eternal life.

Sources:
The first letter to the Corinthians
Commentaries on 1 Corinthians by Gordon Fee and Craig Blomberg,
“Making Sense of God” by Timothy Keller