1 month ago

If There Were No Easter

By Pastor Gary Wayne

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:13-19, 20-22, 51-58

Ver.13 If there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen.
What we celebrate at Easier time is the single most important event in all of History.
Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection speaks more than any other happening.
Jesus’ birth is radically important, but it is only as significant as the events surrounding Easter give it validity.

If there were no resurrection, then all of what the Bible is about, All of what we do in Christianity, What we do every Sunday mornings is just mere religious activity.
It has some social value, but it would only be like a club for likeminded people.

Paul says, if there were no resurrection:
1. Our message is powerless: ver.12-15
2. Our faith is useless: ver.14
3. Our salvation is pointless: ver.17-18
4. Our life would be hopeless: ver.19

BUT Easter Is True!!! Christ has risen!
Paul did not leave us standing at the side grave without hope.
He went on to write the rest of this chapter.

V.20-22 Notice Paul moves from “if” to “is.” Christ IS risen!

The resurrection clearly demonstrates that God is who He says He is.
If God is who He says He is, then I need to hold what He says in the highest regard.
How I live places His instructions as the highest of importance.
When He says, don’t sin because it will hurt you – I need to understand that takes in every area He has explained regardless of whether social norms say something is ok. Because it’s legal by the laws of the land is irrelevant.

We get so accustomed by our culture that sin is normal and it’s not that bad.
Rom. 12:9 “… Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.”

But Jesus’ death on the cross sets us free from the power of sin to rule us.
And the Resurrection puts in perspective God’s values system.

Because God is who He says He is, I give my life to Him - my present and future.
I make Him the Lord of my life. (What does that mean?)
Not only when it’s convenient, or when the mood hits me.

De 5:33 “You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess.”
De 12:28 “Observe and obey all these words which I command you, that it may go well with you and your children after you forever, when you do what is good and right in the sight of the LORD your God.”

Because Easter is real, I dedicate my life to serving Him.
I follow hard after fulfilling His heart – for me, my family, my city.

2 Cor.3 Paul says our lives are a living epistle that other people read.
How we live tells them who Christ is.
Is He alive? How we serve Him lets others know!

Ver.58
“With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don’t hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for Him is a waste of time or effort.” Message Bible

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