I Corinthians 15:1-23

1. Matthew 26:56 – "Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled."

2. I Peter 1:3 "begotten again unto a lively hope."

3. Three guarantees provided by the resurrection of Christ, from I Corinthians 15.

I. Guarantee of our savior (15:1-7).

A. Declares Jesus is the Son of God (Romans 1:4).

B. All will die (Hebrews 9:27). Conquerors throughout the history of the world, such as Alexander the Great, have been considered powerful by others yet they have died. Samson was known for his great strength, yet his strength did not enable him to escape death. Solomon was known for his great wisdom, yet his wisdom did not enable him to escape death. Methusaleh lived to be 969 years old, yet he eventually died.

C. Only Jesus conquered death. Consider the accounts of Enoch (Genesis 5:24; Hebrews 11:5) and Elijah (II Kings 2:11). Although these men did not die, they did not conquer death in the sense that Jesus conquered death. These men were not dead and later resurrected. Consider the case of Lazarus. He was resurrected, yet he died again.

D. Jesus resurrection was a sign of his deity.

1. John 2:18-22 – When the Jews asked for a sign Jesus responded, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

2. Matthew 12:40-41 – "As Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly, so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

II. Guarantee of our salvation (15:17-20).

A. If Christ were not raised, consider the consequences (v14 - our preaching is in vain; v14 - our faith is in vain; v15 - the apostles were liars; v17 – we are yet in our sins; v18 – those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished without hope).

B. But Christ is risen from the dead.

C. All of the above negative consequences turn into positive. Our preaching is not in vain; our faith is not in vain; the apostles were not liars; those who have obeyed the gospel are no longer in their sins; we have hope.

D. Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have forgiveness, hope (I Peter 1:3-4), joy (I John 1:4 – these things I write unto you that your joy may be full), etc.

III. Guarantee of our future state (15:20-23).

A. Christ the firstfruits. Christ was the firstfruit in that he did not die again after he was resurrected.

B. Just as offering firstfruits served as an acknowledgement that the whole harvest is possible because of God (Leviticus 23:10-16), Christ being the "firstfruit" of them that are asleep is an acknowledgement that our resurrection is possible because of Christ.

C. In Adam all die (Romans 5:12), but in Christ all shall be made alive (Romans 5:17-19).

D. We will one day be resurrected (I Thessalonians 4:13-18).

1. We can have confidence because of these guarantees:

a) Guarantee of our savior.

b) Guarantee of our salvation.

c) Guarantee of our future state.

2. How has Christ’s resurrection changed your life?