EASTER MEANS HOPE (1 Corinthians 15:1-11, 51-58)

1 Corinthians, Easter, Expository, Holidays, Letters of Paul, New Testament

1 CORINTHIANS 15:1-11, 51-58 – EASTER MEANS HOPE

The Corona Virus and reactions to the Corona Virus produced:

  • Thousands of sick and dying people
  • Overworked and vulnerable health care workers
  • Hospitals overloaded not open to visitors
  • Social Distancing – a new term to me
  • Closed Schools
  • Cancelled/Postponed Sports Events
  • Cancelled/Postponed Social Events
  • A Devastated Economy
  • Facemasks
  • Cancelled Church Services
  • Depression, Suicides, increased heroin Overdoses
  • Unrest
  • A general feeling of helplessness and hopelessness

So here I am, preaching to two people and a bunch of empty pews. Easter dinner will not be eaten with family. We’re attending church by watching an Easter Service on T.V. There was no Easter Breakfast. Sunday School will be a few of us connecting on Zoom.

Do you think conditions were any better the first Easter?

  • The Son of God was murdered by His own people after being falsely accused, falsely condemned, unmercifully beaten and mocked
  • One of His disciples betrayed Him, the others forsook Him and the lead disciple denied him three times!
  • The disciples were in hiding, disillusioned with their hopes dashed.
  • The forces of evil seemingly won the victory.

Then Easter came, and with Easter came hope as Jesus rose from the dead, having defeated sin and death. The first Easter meant hope for the disciples that motivated them to evangelize the world and suffer persecution themselves. This Easter means hope for us as we understand and believe the message of hope that it carries.

Our Scripture this morning is the first 11 verses and the last 7 verses of 1 Corinthians 15. Let’s see that Easter means hope by spelling the Word hope.

H – HISTORY’S TWO GREATEST MOMENTS – 1 Corinthians 15:1-10

  • History’s two greatest moments were preceded thousands of years before by history’s saddest moment. Genesis 3:1-6
  • History’s saddest moment produced history’s greatest promise. Genesis 3:15
  • As a result, sin and death have caused all sorts of grief and each one of us is guilty. Romans 3:10-19, 23
  • Greatest Moment #1 – 1 Corinthians 15:3 – Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures. Isaiah 53:3-6, Romans 5:6-8, 2 Corinthians 5:21
  • Second Greatest #2 – 1 Corinthians 15:4 – Christ rose from the dead showing the payment for our sins was accepted. Revelation 1:18
  • 1 Corinthians 15:5-10 – Provide a list of eyewitnesses to the resurrection.

0 – OPEN INVITATION – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:11

  • All these witnesses preached the same good news and offered an open opportunity for anyone to believe.
  • Today we proclaim the same Gospel which guarantees forgiveness of sin and eternal life.
  • The apostles preached hope. We preach hope, that no matter what happens in this world we have eternal life. John 3:16, Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 10:13, Romans 5:1, 17

P – PROMISE OF RESURRECTION – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-57

  • 1 Corinthians 15:16-20 – We would be hopeless without the Resurrection!
  • 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 – This is what we look forward to. Sin and death will not win the day!

E – ENCOURAGEMENT TO ENDURE – 1 CORINTHIANS 15:58

  • We are to remain steadfast and unmoveable through the work of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:15-18, Galatinans 5:16, 22-23, Ephesians 5:18-21
  • We are to abound in the work of the Lord, no matter what the circumstances. Ephesians 2:10, Matthew 5:14-16
  • Our labor is not in vain in the Lord 1 Corinthians 4:5