1. The Past - christ’s resurrection

1 Cor 15:3,4 Christ’s death. burial and resurrection.

· Reliable - witnesses, transformed lives, recorded in the scriptures.

15:5-8 (witnesses) 15:9,10,15,30-32 (transformed lives) 15:3,4 (scriptures).

This is strong evidence, not weak. In all areas of knowledge we depend on the same kind of evidence. Lawrence Edward Townsend married Eva Willis and gave birth to me - how do I know? They told me and I’m telling you, you can see me, and I have it documented. Similar for scientific knowledge, geographical knowledge, etc.

· Real - the physical body was raised, but transformed into a “spiritual body”.

Some have said that it doesn’t matter whether or not Christ’s body actually came alive again - even if it was carried away by persons unknown and lies in an unknown tomb, it was the spiritual dimension that was and is all-important. This fundamentally mis-represents the gospel.

(i) Paul’s appeal to the Corinthians would have been undermined if Christ’s dead body actually existed after the resurrection.

(ii) The Scriptures, and Peter’s testimony, deny that Christ’s dead body existed after the resurrection (Acts 2:27-31)

(iii) Jesus himself demonstrated that he was not a ghost or disembodied spirit (Luke 24:36-43).

(iv) Paul explains that the resurrection body is a body - transformed, spiritual and not subject to death or decay, but a body all the same (1 Cor 15:42-44)

· Required - it is the anchor for our faith; without it we believe in vain.

15:12-19,32. If no resurrection then Christianity is a deception. The only creed worth following in that case is that of self preservation and self indulgence (15:32). In that case the best we can hope for on death is annihilation, and the worst is hell. There is no ‘gospel’ there. This generation has been bombarded with two creeds (i) Jesus didn’t actually rise from the dead (ii) the principle governing all life is ‘survival of the fittest’. Little wonder, then, if some people live as though these were true. With these it doesn;t matter what happens to others so long as you and your kind survive.

Paradoxically it is true, only the ‘fittest’ will survive - but the gospel teaches us that is why Christ died and rose again, to make us ‘fit’ for the kingdom of God (last line of Away in a Manger).

2. the future - our redemption

1 Cor 15:51-54 our resurrection, transformation and entrance into the heavenly realm.

· Life - we will live again (15:22)

· Likeness -we will have transformed bodies, bearing the likeness of Christ (15:49-51)

· New home - we will dwell where Christ reigns supreme (15:24,25)

3. the present - our reassurance

1 Cor 15:58 stand firm, work hard, think clearly

· stand firm - let nothing move you from your faith; it is reliable.

· give fully - work hard; give yourself fully to the work of the Lord; nothing else is so important

· think fervently - knowing the truth, reassured that this labour is not in vain, allowing the peace and joy of Christ to fill you

4. finale

It seems to me that the attacks to faith that the Corinthian Christians were enduring are attacks that we and our children experience to day. Does it matter what you believe? Yes, yes, yes, since what you believe determines how you live, how you feel, and where you’re going. But the Christian gospel is more than belief, more than creed, essential though this is. The gospel is essentially about relationship - our relationship to God through Christ and our relationship to others through Christ. Our relationship with Christ transforms our living today, and will transform our dying in the future. This is real, not theoretical. And it is based on facts, not unsubstantiated stories. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. But Christ has indeed been raised, and so the Christian gospel is still the power of God unto salvation. So let us believe it unreservedly, live it abundantly, pass it on to others excitedly, and finally enter God’s presence triumphantly. Finish with verses from 1 Peter.