Why The Resurrection Of Jesus Christ Matters (1 Corinthians 15:1-20)

Lee Strobel-Four Compelling Reasons To Believe The Resurrection 

Execution - There is no credible historian, believer, or non-believer who would dispute the fact that Jesus was a historical figure and died at the hands of the Romans.  More than a few sources substantiate this fact. Jesus did exist and did die.

 Early - The reports of Jesus being raised from the dead were not some fantasy concocted years after his death.  The resurrection story was circulating within weeks of His death on the cross.  What makes this even more striking is the next “E.”

 Empty - There is no arguing this fact.  The tomb of Jesus was empty on the third day.  Even his enemies admitted to this crucial fact.  To have a resurrection, there must be an empty tomb.  The very soldiers guarding the tomb, under the threat of death, testified to the fact the tomb was empty. Jesus was gone.

 Eyewitnesses - The number of eyewitnesses who testified to Jesus being raised is staggering.  In a court of law, one only needs one or two credible witnesses to substantiate the fact.  Here, we have 515 eyewitness accounts of the fact that Jesus lives, thus proving He is who He said He is. God in the flesh.

Frank Turek-Six Evidences For The Resurrection

• Early Testimony- NT Documents written less than 40 years after the resurrection of Jesus. 
• Eyewitness Testimony-Over 140 details just in the book of Acts and the Gospel of John that only an eyewitness could know. 
• Embarrassing Details-People naturally don’t like to make up embarrassing details about themselves in their stories or testimonies. 
• Excruciating Testimony-The crucifixion in and of itself is excruciating. Yet the men who witnessed the resurrected Jesus would go on to live excruciating lives, even to the point of being put to death. 
• Expected Testimony- Old Testament prophecies about the coming of a Messiah. Documents and scrolls were written years before the coming of the Messiah. 
• Extra-Biblical Testimony-Over 100 ancient, non-Christian sources within 150 years of Jesus’s life that mention Jesus and the apostles very briefly, and they say the same basic story that the New Testament documents say. 

Minimal Facts Argument

• Jesus died by crucifixion. 
• Experiences of the Early Disciples
• Transformed lives
• The spread of the Gospel message

Christianity is not just based upon blind faith but historical fact. 

Christianity is not a fabricated religion. The resurrection of Jesus Christ makes this claim all the more true. 

Core Of The Christian Faith 

• Without the Resurrection Of Jesus Christ, our faith would have no foundation. (V. 12-19)
  • Our Faith would be vain
  • We would still be dead in our sins
  • Those who have died before us believing in Christ are lost!!
  • Pitied, seen as most miserable!! 

Capstone Of The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15, Luke 24:46-49)

• Without the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, there are several ways that history could have been written…
• All of these stories heard end with Jesus dying and staying dead. However, this is not how the story goes….
• The reason why the disciples and apostles were able to go forward and preach the Good News was because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. 
• Had not Jesus Christ raised from the dead as He said, there would be no Christ to present a Great Commission. 
• Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ…
  • Our preaching would be meaningless. 
  • The Gospel would be powerless. 
  • Our witness would be ineffective. 

Catalyst For The Changed Man or Woman Of God (V. 5-10)

• 12 Disciples (V. 5)
  • Peter, Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James, Thaddaeus, Simon
• Over 500 followers (V. 6)
• James, the Brother Of Jesus, and all the Apostles (V. 7)
• Paul (V. 8-10)
• Women who were the first to the tomb (Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James, Joanna, Salome, and several other women-Matthew 28:1-2, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10)
• Each of these went from persecutors, skeptics, and cowards to prominent leaders and missionaries of the early church. What was the catalyst??? 
• Because the Resurrection of Jesus Christ matters, what does that mean for you and me? 
  • Solid Foundation We Can Stand Upon
  • Power In Our Preaching And Proclaiming
  • Hope Beyond The Grave (1 Corinthians 15:51-58)