The Empty Tomb: Dead Or Alive?

Scripture Passage: 1 Cor 15:12-33
Background:
•Paul is writing in 52-54 AD
•Paul is having to deal with several issues in Corinth…law suits, spiritual gifts, lack of respect at the Lord’s table, sexual immorality and food offered to idols etc
•Paul visited Corinth in his second missionary journey and then moved to Ephesus

The Foundation :
•A major theme of the whole of Ch 15 is the resurrection
•He reminds the church of what he preached and its purpose (15:1)
•He confirms Scriptural fulfillment of the Cross, the Burial and the Empty Tomb
 
THE CONTENTION FOR THE FAITH:
•Jesus’ resurrection is not just about himself about all who are in Christ
•An un-resurrected Christ is a failed God and a failed Gospel
•And those who preach it are false teachers
•The resurrection is a statement towards sins forgiven
 
TWO MEN WHO AFFECT HUMANITY
•Paul argues for fallen humanity through Adam and salvation from it through Christ
•He is the firstfruit of life after physical death…an order (Rom 11:16)
•A believers destiny is tied to Christ’s destiny
•There is a work to come that Christ will complete…Ps 8:6; Eph 6:12

THE ENDANGERED LIFE 
•Paul questions a tradition which in itself is meaningless more so if resurrection is not a fact
•He then gives personal evidence of why he is doing what he is doing. Why? Because the resurrection is true.
•A final exhortation of what to guard and to the unguarded (Is 22:13)
 
TAKE AWAY
LET THE RESURRECTION MOTIVATE US TO LIVE FOR CHRIST WHILE BE DYING TO SIN