Bible Study - Truth (1) - The Resurrection - 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 - April 12, 2020

Bible Study – Resurrection (Truth) 2 of 3 – Truth (1) – April 12, 2020

This is a two-lesson study on the resurrection of JESUS.

Our focus scripture is 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

The resurrection of CHRIST is a historical fact.

This study is like looking at your most perfect dessert that you love and not knowing where to begin eating it because it is so beautiful.

I wrestled with this subject for many years but my journey finally led me to scripture that confirmed my struggle.

I read John 7:1-5 - After this, Jesus traveled in Galilee, since he did not want to travel in Judea because the Jews were trying to kill him. ² The Jewish Festival of Shelters^[a] was near. ³ So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea so your disciples can see your works that you are doing. ⁴ For no one does anything in secret while he’s seeking public recognition. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” ⁵ (For not even his brothers believed in him.)

My Catholic friends had trouble accepting the fact that JESUS had brothers and sisters. Matthew 13:53-57:

⁵³ When Jesus had finished these parables, he left there. ⁵⁴ He went to his hometown and began to teach them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? ⁵⁵ Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joseph,^[n] Simon, and Judas? ⁵⁶ And his sisters, aren’t they all with us? So where does he get all these things?” ⁵⁷ And they were offended by him.

Let’s fast forward to after the resurrection and ascension of JESUS. JESUS had instructed a group of HIS followers to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit. Let’s see who made up this group as recorded in Acts 1:12-14:

¹² Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. ¹³ When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. ¹⁴ They all were continually united in prayer,^[b] along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.

WOW! The resurrection of JESUS from the physically dead to the physically alive* convinced JESUS’ brothers and likely HIS sisters that HE was the promised Messiah.

JESUS’ brother James went on to head up the Christian church in Jerusalem and was martyred.

*(JESUS had HIS Glorified Body like the Glorified body all born-again believers will have at the second coming of JESUS)

Let’s explore!

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:1-3:

Resurrection Essential to the Gospel

15 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand ² and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. ³ For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 

The Apostle Paul wanted to make sure that the Christians in Corinth were on the solid foundation of JESUS’ physical life and journey upon earth in the flesh. Since JESUS walked earth in the flesh, HE died according to the prophecies recorded in what we know as the Old Testament scriptures.

Paul used the term “you are being saved” which causes some to question their salvation. Once a person asks JESUS to forgive him or her for his or her sin believing that JESUS gave HIS sinless life to pay in full for sin are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family. All Christians are on life’s journey of perfecting by building the right relationship with GOD. Christians are learning to trust and obey through life upon earth.  

The fact that JESUS was crucified was recorded by non-Christians such as – Tacitus, the most trusted ancient Roman historian, Josephus, the Jewish historian, Lucian of Samosota, the Greek satirist and  Roman historian Suetonius wrote of Christians being expelled from Rome because of their belief that JESUS was resurrected, which the Romans considered a “superstition.”

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:4:

⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 

JESUS came to earth 100% human. HE gave HIS physical life upon the Roman cross. HE was dead as a door knell. HE was buried. JESUS had raised the physically dead but who would raise HIM? GOD! On the third day GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead to walk upon earth for forty days. Why? It was to confirm HIS resurrection.

GOD raised JESUS from the physically dead on the third day:

The Jewish day began at 6 PM. JESUS died and was buried late on Friday before 6 PM (what we observe as Good Friday). Therefore at 6 PM on Friday that was considered one day and night in the grave. Then Saturday began at 6 PM Friday to 6 PM Saturday. Then Sunday began at 6 PM on what we would call Saturday evening and go until 6 PM Sunday the third day. JESUS was resurrected on the third day. Keeping in mind that the Jews considered any part of a day was considered a full day.

What were the events surrounding the retrieval of JESUS’ body for burial after HIS crucifixion?

Let’s read John 19:38-42:

Jesus’s Burial

³⁸ After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so, he came and took his body away. ³⁹ Nicodemus (who had previously come to him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about seventy-five pounds^[j] of myrrh and aloes. ⁴⁰ They took Jesus’s body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the fragrant spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ There was a garden in the place where he was crucified. A new tomb was in the garden; no one had yet been placed in it. ⁴² They placed Jesus there because of the Jewish day of preparation and since the tomb was nearby.

Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were both Jewish religious leaders and followers of JESUS buried JESUS and began the embalming process using a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. They wrapped JESUS with linen cloths Yes, JESUS was dead.

But the victory for all humans who place their faith in JESUS is that the grave could not hold HIM – UP FROM THE GRAVE HE AROSE!!! GOD raised HIM and this is proof that GOD will raise those who place their faith in JESUS. The resurrection of JESUS is mankind’s assurance that all who place their faith in JESUS have at the instant of salvation, eternal life and are Spiritually born into GOD’S Family, never to be Spiritually unborn.

On the third day GOD raised JESUS

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:5-8:

⁵ and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. ⁶ Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers and sisters at one time; most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. ⁸ Last of all, as to one born at the wrong time,^[a] he also appeared to me.

JESUS’ resurrection was documented by those living at that time. The Apostle Paul told his readers that if they needed to check these facts out, then have at it because many are still alive at Paul’s writing of the letter.

Let’s consider Paul. Paul was well educated in the Jewish religion. He was a Pharisee and he knew the scriptures. He was dedicated to eradicating these people who followed JESUS, even though HE had been crucified and was dead. This early group of JESUS followers were called The Way. Paul was on his way to Damascus to round up the members of “The Way” because they were a threat to Judaism. JESUS revealed Himself to Paul on the road to Damascus, Acts 9:1-

The Damascus Road

9 Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord. He went to the high priest ² and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem. ³ As he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him. ⁴ Falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

⁵ “Who are you, Lord?” Saul said.

“I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting,” he replied. ⁶ “But get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

⁷ The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. ⁸ Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So, they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. ⁹ He was unable to see for three days and did not eat or drink.

Saul’s Baptism

¹⁰ There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.”

“Here I am, Lord,” he replied.

¹¹ “Get up and go to the street called Straight,” the Lord said to him, “to the house of Judas, and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, since he is praying there. ¹² In a vision^[a] he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and placing his hands on him so that he may regain his sight.”

¹³ “Lord,” Ananias answered, “I have heard from many people about this man, how much harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And he has authority here from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name.”

¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is my chosen instrument to take my name to Gentiles, kings, and Israelites. ¹⁶ I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.”

¹⁷ Ananias went and entered the house. He placed his hands on him and said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road you were traveling, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

¹⁸ At once something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized. ¹⁹ And after taking some food, he regained his strength.

Saul Proclaiming the Messiah

Saul was with the disciples in Damascus for some time. ²⁰ Immediately he began proclaiming Jesus in the synagogues: “He is the Son of God.”

²¹ All who heard him were astounded and said, “Isn’t this the man in Jerusalem who was causing havoc for those who called on this name and came here for the purpose of taking them as prisoners to the chief priests?”

²² But Saul grew stronger and kept confounding the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Messiah.

²³ After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, ²⁴ but Saul learned of their plot. So, they were watching the gates day and night intending to kill him, ²⁵ but his disciples took him by night and lowered him in a large basket through an opening in the wall.

Skip to Galatians 1:15-24 for continuity.

Saul in Jerusalem

²⁶ When he arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, since they did not believe he was a disciple. ²⁷ Barnabas, however, took him and brought him to the apostles and explained to them how Saul had seen the Lord on the road and that the Lord had talked to him, and how in Damascus he had spoken boldly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ Saul was coming and going with them in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He conversed and debated with the Hellenistic Jews, but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the brothers found out, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus.

After Paul’s conversion to becoming a Christian, let’s read Galatians 1:11-24 to get a few details:

¹¹ For I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel preached by me is not of human origin. ¹² For I did not receive it from a human source and I was not taught it, but it came by a revelation of Jesus Christ.

¹³ For you have heard about my former way of life in Judaism: I intensely persecuted God’s church and tried to destroy it. ¹⁴ I advanced in Judaism beyond many contemporaries among my people, because I was extremely zealous for the traditions of my ancestors. ¹⁵ But when God, who from my mother’s womb set me apart and called me by his grace, was pleased ¹⁶ to reveal his Son in me, so that I could preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone.^[d] 17 I did not go up to Jerusalem to those who had become apostles before me; instead I went to Arabia and came back to Damascus.

¹⁸ Then after three years I did go up to Jerusalem to get to know Cephas,^[e] and I stayed with him fifteen days. ¹⁹ But I didn’t see any of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. ²⁰ I declare in the sight of God: I am not lying in what I write to you.

²¹ Afterward, I went to the regions of Syria and Cilicia. ²² I remained personally unknown to the Judean churches that are in Christ. ²³ They simply kept hearing: “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith he once tried to destroy.” ²⁴ And they glorified God because of me.^[f]

The Apostle Paul thoroughly investigated the experience he had on the road to Damascus.

So, what proof do we have today? We have the Bible, where truth has been recorded. How is this truth confirmed? It is confirmed by the Holy Spirit, who indwells all born-again Christians. Well, non-Christians may think or say, I am not a Christian, “How can the Holy Spirit reveal truth to me?” That my friend is the power of GOD. GOD reveals truth to those who seek it. HE desires for all people to know the truth because HE does NOT desire that any person go to Hell that was made for Satan and his followers. (Matthew 25:41 - “Then He will say to those on His left, ‘Leave Me, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels (demons))

Read the Books of John, Mark, Luke, Matthew or where GOD leads you to read. I have friends who received salvation while reading the Bible. GOD loves you and HE desires to pluck you from your road to Hell to place you on the road to Heaven. Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will open to marvelous discoveries of treasures previously unknown to you.

The resurrection of JESUS is every born-again believer’s assurance of his or her resurrection and eternal life in Heaven in their Glorified bodies, which we will receive at the second coming of JESUS. What body will we have when we die and are waiting for CHRIST’S return. A special body which GOD is fashioning within all born-again believers as we serve HIM upon earth. That new Spiritual body is born at the instant a person places his or her faith in JESUS and is released at the death of his or her earth-suit. Think of your earth-suit as the cocoon for perfecting your eternal Glorified body which Christians will receive at the second coming of JESUS. As a Christian your Spiritual body is released at your physical death which is suitable for Heaven until JESUS returns to earth at HIS second coming. When JESUS returns to earth the Christians in Heaven will accompany HIM and in an instant, they will receive their Glorified bodies. Too good to be true? NO! GOD is the planner. Without the resurrection of JESUS there is no hope.

HAPPY EASTER! JESUS has risen indeed! Rejoice in HIS love as it flows over your soul.  

Blessings!!!