What If Easter Didn't Exist?
I Corinthians 15:12-19
Intro: Periodically I drive up to the cemetery and I stop and check on my parent's grave. And every time I find that they are still there. Then I look around and I do not see any of the graves opening up and people walking out of their graves. And I am really glad about that. I might end up dying on the spot myself if that were to happen.
But the truth about it is, when your dead, your dead. Look at all the leaders of the world religions. None of them could escape the grave……………………………. They are still there as well……
2000 years ago death laid his hands on Jesus as well…… Death put Jesus in a grave. And on that day to ensure that Jesus stayed in the grave, Pilate ordered Romans soldiers to roll a very large stone in front of the mouth of the tomb that Jesus was placed in. Then they put a wax seal of the Roman government, making sure that Jesus stayed in. Then the soldiers guarded the tomb, making sure that no one would open it.
(PP)
But on the third day, the enemy that is called death, could not keep Jesus in the grave… And Jesus Christ rolled the rock from the tomb. And walked out. He concurred death and hell, providing all people with the opportunity for eternal life.
But, suppose that had not happened. Suppose death still held Jesus like it does all the people in Huntington cemetery and all cemeteries, then what? What if the resurrection of Jesus didn't Exist?................ Well, the apostle Paul talks about that in (PP) 1 Corinthians 15:12-19-
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is in vain. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
Think about this: What if Easter Did not Exist? Our faith hinges upon this event…… Countless millions of people place their faith in Christ because they believe His resurrection to be true……..
Objective: So what would our lives be like if the resurrection never occurred, if this day didn't exist? Think about that question.
Transition: If this message was not true…………
(PP)I- We would have no power in our message:
Notice what the Bible says in (PP) verse 14. “And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is in vain.” The word “vain” means “without effect or powerless.”
I can’t imagine sharing with someone a message of hope without power or truth….. If Christ was not resurrected then all we could say is….. “GOOD LUCK.”
Illustration: Imagine someone knocked on your door one Saturday afternoon and said, congratulations, the publish house clearinghouse people are standing there and they tell you that you have been selected as the winner of our sweepstakes. You have just won 10 million dollars! Now that would be good news right. Now, you would be excited for sure after the EMT revived you. The only problem is, it is not true. There are no sweepstakes, there is no winner, there is no money. It’s all a lie. Now that would be a pretty mean trick, wouldn’t it! It’s not just a powerless message, it’s a cruel message.
Application: But, here the thing folks, our message is not powerless, it true all because Christ is risen!
Paul says in (PP) Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.”
I have seen the preaching of the cross change lives. I have seen it bring stubborn selfish men to their knees. I have seen the power of the gospel bring to women hope. I have seen people who were addicted, set free. I have seen the power of the gospel to restore marriages. And hateful people fall in love with Jesus!
Application: The message of the reserection has the power to change lives! And it has the power to change your life as well.
The question for us all is: Have you been changed by the risen Christ?.....................
Transition: Because ……………………………………….
(PP)II- If this were untrue, our faith would be useless:
(PP) And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
In other words, what good is faith if Christ hasn’t risen from the dead? If it never really happened, then our faith is useless.
Application: But fortunately for us, Jesus did rise from the dead. We can trust Him with our lives and live for Him.
(PP)Paul says in Galatians 2:20, “The life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
The message of the cross does have power. It canand does change lives. You can trust the risen Lord with your life, with your family, friendships, finances, and your future.
Transition: And finally…
(PP) III- If the Resurrection is false then our salvation would be pointless:
(PP) The Bible tells us in verse 17, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”
Our salvation would be pointlessand we would still be guilty of our sin before God. We would still owe a debt for our sin, and because of our sins, we cannot have fellowship with God at all. God would still be holding the debt of our sins against us.
And to have fellowship with God our sin must be forgiven. No resurrection,…… no forgiveness.
The Bible does say in (PP) 1 Corinthians 15:3, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures.”
The reason that God raised His Son from the dead was to vindicate that Jesus was truly innocent of sin and to validate our forgiveness as a demonstration that God had received Christ’s sacrifice for our sin.
Transition: So aren’t you thankful that we have this day to celebrate….. Christ is risen! And as a result of that, our salvation is not pointless. It is essential and necessary it is the point of life………..
(PP) Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:17, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison.”
Conclusion: Let me end with this illustration:
A woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor and asked him to come to her house to discuss some of her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted to be sung at her funeral service, what Scriptures she would like to be read. And what outfit she wanted to be buried in……. She requested to be buried with her favorite Bible.
As the pastor prepared to leave, the woman suddenly remembered something else. There is one more thing pastor. , She said excitedly. What is that said the pastor?
This is important, the woman said. I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand. The pastor stood looking at the woman, not knowing quite what to say. The woman explained. In all my years of attending church potluck dinners, when the dishes of the main course were being cleared; someone would inevitably lean over and say, Keep your fork.
It was my favorite part of the meal because I knew something better was coming like velvety chocolate cake or deep-dish apple pie. So, when people see me in that casket with a fork in my hand and they ask, What is with the fork?
I want you to tell them: Keep your fork…… The best is yet to come!
If you are in Christ you have something so incredible awaiting you when this earthly life comes to an end…….
Praise God that the Resurrection of Jesus is real and Jesus has gone before us to prepare a wonderful place for us….….
