the This week, we will continue to look at what the Bible says about the promise of the resurrection. Last week we looked at the awesome reality of the Resurrection of Jesus. He lives, and because he lives we will live with him forever. The grave will not have the last word. I’ll pray and we can get started.

Prayer:

“Father, we praise you that you are the God of the Living.We pray that by your Holy Spirit that our eyes would be open to see the joy that we have in the resurrection. May I teach with clarity and that by what i say, hearts will be open to see the greatness of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”

1 Corinthians 15:12-19: What If Jesus is not Alive?

12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.19 If in Christ we have hope  in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

   Everything about the Christian faith depends on rather Jesus rose or not for if he didn’t Paul points out the following:

v.12: If Christ is proclaimed as raised, why are some saying there is no resurrection of the dead.

v.13: if there is no resurrection then not even Jesus is raised.

       So what’s the impact on our life and faith if this was true? Paul continues to break it down for us:

v.14: Preaching Christ is in vain. Our faith in him is in vain.

v.15: if its true that Jesus raised, but we say he is then Paul says we are misrepresenting God.

v.17: If Jesus is not raised, our faith means nothing and we are still in our sins. Wrap your heart around this. Last week we learned that Jesus died for our sins and was raised for our justification. But if he is dead we are still in our sin and God’s wrath remains on us.

v.18: those who died believing in Christ has perished. They will never live again. we will never see them again.

v.19: we should be pitied if only in this life we have hope in Christ. If there is no grace, no forgiveness of sins, no new creation, and no eternal life then we have been fools to believe in Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:20-33: Great News, Jesus is Alive!

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God  has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

       Yes! Yes! Yes! Praise God, Jesus is alive. We are not fools. Our faith is not dead because our God and Savior is not dead. We are free from our sins.Dig in and see for yourself:

v.20: Christ has been raised from the dead, the first from those who have fallen asleep. Because he lives, by a living hope, we know that we will live.

v.21: Through Adam came death but through Jesus comes the resurrection to life. Eternal life is only in a risen Lord Jesus.

v.23: At his second coming all those who have died in Christ will be raised to life everlasting.

v.26: Our enemy Death will be destroyed forever.

v.29: People can’t be baptized for those who have already died, but Paul is asking the Corinthians why people are doing that if they didn’t believe in the resurrection. The fact that they were baptizing for the dead showed that they believed in the resurrection.

v.30,32: Paul is saying why is he risking his life for the Gospel if Jesus is not alive. That would make no sense. But like Paul we know that whatever we face for Christ and his Gospel because even if we die Jesus is coming with his reward. Life with Him.I think he even is using sarcasm in verse 32 when he quotes the false teachers who were saying “Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die.” That would be true if our God is not alive but because he lives we should aim to live a life that honors God for the grace he has showered us with.Read 2Corinthians 5:6-10:

6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

  To wrap it up, Jesus is living today as our Advocate with the Father and as our King. This truth should bring you joy as you live your life for Jesus by the power of His Spirit. If you believe this your not going to be careless about how you live. We who believe this will live with God forever. I’ll end with one of my favorite scriptures. Revelation 21:1-8

21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place  of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people,  and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

5 And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” 6 And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7 The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

Amen! No more cerebral palsy, no more cancer, no more fathers leaving their families. No more tears caused by pain. No more depression. No more little girls being raped. All so we can enjoy living with Jesus more to his glory. In your heart you know you want this, i pray you desire this. I pray you desire him. People with disabilities should take hope in this. This truth does not take away from your current life like some in the disability movement are falsey saying. It adds to it. It makes sense of your life with a disability. I long for the day I don’t have CP,and the first person to see me without it will be My Jesus. With My new body I’ll raise my hands high in worship. With a perfect mouth I’ll sing with the angels praising my king. With perfect eyes I’ll see the reward of my long battle with my Cp.:Jesus! It’s Jesus! Oh how I want that day to come. But till then I’ll press on as Jesus uses my life and circumstances to bring him glory. Be encouraged by this. Don’t have a hard heart and run from this. Because He lives we can face tomorrow.

Next 2 weeks:

Part 3:The resurrection body: how will it look like? Will people know us?

Part 4: Jesus and the Disability movement