Saturday, April 22, 2006
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead.
CONCLUSION: BUT NOW CHRIST IS RISEN FROM THE DEAD!
Over the past week we have been considering the words of the apostle Paul as he quite literally plays the Devil's advocate by stating, If Christ is not risen . . . But based on those words "Christ is not risen" Paul has revealed five tragic results to this denial of Christ's resurrection. Anyone who denies the resurrection of Jesus or even the resurrection from the dead in general denies the whole of Christianity!
Paul has now finished pointing out the futility of our faith, our preaching, our life and our death in Christ, if He has not been raised from death to life. But Paul doesn't end his defense of the resurrection with such a negative thought. We are confidently assured, "But now Christ is risen from the dead!" It is a fact based on the eyewitness accounts of those who were there, who saw Jesus alive, touched the wounds in his hands and in His side and who took the message of the risen Jesus into the world!
Christ is risen and as a result our faith and our preaching are not in vain, our sins are forgiven, the dead in Christ live, and we who are alive and remain are of all people the most blessed! The truth of Christ's resurrection nullifies all of Paul previous arguments, and shows us the many and great blessings which are ours because of His resurrection. But now Christ is risen from the dead! Yes, He is risen indeed!
He is arisen! Glorious Word! Now reconciled is God, my Lord;
The gates of heav'n are open.
My Jesus did triumphant die, and Satan's arrows broken lie,
Destroyed hell's direst weapon.
Oh, hear! What cheer! Christ victorious riseth glorious,
Life He giveth -- He was dead, but see, He liveth!
Amen.
(TLH 189)
