1 Corinthians chapter 15. In the very first verse, as I
was reading this over the last several days and evenings and
thinking about it, I could almost just pitch tent, as they say,
at verse 1 and not go past that. In the very first verse of the
chapter, Paul gives us, and I thank God for this, Paul gives us a
very clear, very concise statement as to what he did in the time
he spent at Cornuth. And what he said that he did
there in chapter 2, he said he was determined to do this. He
wasn't impressed with their philosophy, their thoughts. No, he said,
I'm determined to know nothing among you. And Cornuth was known
for its philosophy and its smart folks. He said, but I'm not impressed
with it, I'm not going to be sucked into that. He said, I'm
determined to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him
crucified. And what Paul said to the church
at Corinth, he could say wherever he went. Because wherever Paul
went, he did the same thing, didn't he? That's what God sent
him to do. I mean, after all, The Great
Commission, we all know it by heart. And what did Christ say?
Go into all the world and correct all evils. Go into all the world
and take up a sign and march against the ills of society.
No, go into all the world and preach the gospel. The world
is passing away. The church is not trying to save
the world. Christ said, go into all the
world and preach the gospel. And Paul took that command from
the captain of his salvation seriously. He didn't campaign
for political reform. Now, I know a lot of preachers
do that. Paul didn't. Paul didn't even leave a building
with his name on it, did he? Not a cathedral, not St. Paul.
Men have done so, but Paul didn't. Paul would have never had that.
Paul didn't even want to be called Reverend. Can you imagine that?
If you would have called Paul Reverend, he would have been
insulted. He would have stopped you in a New York minute. He
wasn't called doctor. No, no, no. In verse 1 of chapter
1, this is what we read. Paul called to be an apostle
of Jesus Christ. How did you do that, Paul? Did
you go to college? No. Through the will of God. Paul called to be an apostle
of Jesus Christ. What higher honor could a sinner
have than that? And then in Romans 1, in most
of his epistles, he referred to himself in these same words. Paul, Romans 1 and 1. Paul, a
servant of Jesus Christ. Oh, and Paul was glad to be so. We just read a moment ago in
this chapter of 1 Corinthians 15, Paul said, I'm not worthy,
I'm not meet, I'm not fit to be called an apostle. Oh, Paul,
a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle. Separated,
Romans 1 and 1. Separated unto what? Separated
unto the gospel of God. Likewise in verse 1 of 1 Corinthians
15, Paul tells us what he did while at Corinth. Moreover brethren,
moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel. Now think about that a minute.
There's a lot of stuff going on around us today in the name
of Christ. A lot of things going on. Paul
says, I declare unto you the gospel, that's all. That's all. What about that? Isn't that refreshing? To a child
of God, that's refreshing. That's good to hear. It's rare
in our day, that glorious gospel. glorious gospel of the blessed
God that concerns his son, it can't be heard just everywhere.
Now if you think it can, you don't know gospel. Now that message
that gives all the glory to that one from whom we receive all
the grace, it's rare, it's rare. You can walk through Sylacauga,
I know I'll be accused of being prideful and boastful and so
forth, but you can walk through Sylacauga and there's a church
on every corner, you go in and sit down this morning, then you
come back and tell me if you heard the gospel. If you'd hear
everything but the gospel, that's why I say again, how refreshing
it is to hear Paul, I declare unto you the gospel, nothing
else. How refreshing, how refreshing. If all the churches, Are preaching
the same thing we are? We ought to just shut the doors
on this little flock and go join them. You know, just join up
with the crowd, if that's so. And I'm serious about that. We
should, we should. Oh, but, but, if God Almighty
has given us an appreciation for that message that gives all
the glory for a sinner's salvation to the triune God, that message
that says, not unto us, O God, not unto us, that's what free
will says, oh, us, us, us, look at me, look at me, no, not unto
us, O God, not unto us, no matter who we may be, but unto thy name
give all the glory for thy mercy and for that truth's sake. That's
precious, isn't it? That's precious. I suppose, and
if you've read the bulletin, your bulletin, what I'm about
to say I said in the article, but I suppose there is more nonsense
going on today in the religious world than even at Christmas.
Now, I think so. Easter is a bigger charade than
even that. You remember Ed Solomon. Terry,
you're old enough. Well, most of us are old enough.
Ed Solomon's show, he would come on. He was the first one that
had the Beatles on with it, wasn't it? Ed Solomon, remember he'd
come out, we got a really big show for you tonight, really
big show. That's what preachers do, don't they? We got a really
big show. Come, come, we'll give you whatever
it takes. We'll entertain you. I was asked
by a lady a few years ago, I think I may have shared this with you
at the time, but it was during about this same time of the year.
It was in a store she worked in at Walmart. I spend a lot
of time in Walmart. But anyway, I think Robin mentioned
something about church or something, and I was waiting for you to
try something on, and this lady, she button-holed me, and she
said, oh, you're a preacher? I said, yes, ma'am. She said,
are you going to the Ministerial Associations get-together this
Sunday? I said, no, ma'am, what's going
on? She said, they're going to have a sunrise service at the
cemetery. They probably did it again this
year, I don't know. They're having a sunrise service. Aren't you
going to be there? I said, no, ma'am, I won't be
there. I wasn't invited, but I won't be there. And she looked
kind of puzzled. And she said, why not? And when
I gave her my answer, she looked even more puzzled because I said,
the Lord Jesus Christ, the angels, the angels, told those women
that came to the tomb that morning, why are you seeking the living
among the dead? Christ is not out here anymore.
Christ is not here. You won't find him here. Where
is he at? He's risen. He's risen, just like he told
you he would do. He's not here. It just went right
over our heads. That's sad, isn't it? After all
the entertainment. all the gimmicks, all those things
that are done dishonoring our God and Savior, after all the
utter insanity put on in the name of Jesus Christ, the real
issue will never be considered. And that's this. Will anybody
be brought to the realization that they're lost? Huh? Will
entertainment do that? Will Easter bunnies do that?
Will collared eggs do that? Will all this ungodly activity
do that? Will anybody be brought to ask,
how can I be just with God? Has anybody ever been brought
to ask that question about all that stuff? What must I do to
be sad? No, no. That's not what they're
there for, to be entertained. Oh, those questions are only
answered when the gospel is declared. When the gospel is declared,
that gives the answer to those momentous questions. Look at
verse 3. Look at verse 3 here in 1 Corinthians
15. It doesn't simply say that Christ died. Everybody knows
that. Everybody says they believe that.
But notice what it says, how that Christ died. How? In the reading I told you, underline
that word, how. That's the word. How that Christ
died for our sins according to the scriptures. And that he was
buried. And that he rose again the third
day according to the scriptures. Jesus Christ died according to
the word of God. According to the purpose of God. And the word of God declares
that Jesus Christ came to save his people from their sins. That's what he came to do. Now
Terry, he either did it or he didn't. He either succeeded or
he failed. I don't see how you can slice
it any other way. That's why he was given that
glorious name. That name that God Almighty said
is above every name that's his name. God has determined that
every knee shall bow to that name, the Lord Jesus Christ. And he was given that name while
he was still in the womb of his mother. Call his name Jesus. Why? Why? Because he shall save
his people from their sin. And if you're one of his people,
you're thankful that he succeeded, aren't you? He's the mighty God,
God many years before that, 700 years before that said, my son
shall not fail. He shall, behold my servant,
my righteous servant, he shall not fail. Listen again to the
words of Jesus Christ himself. I love this passage in Luke 18. You're welcome to look at it
with me. Luke 18, verse 31. We're nearing that time now when
our Lord shall go up to Jerusalem, when he will trod the winepress
alone. It's very near. It's near that
time when he spoke these words. Verse 31 of Luke 18, Then he
took unto him the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, Behold,
I'm going to tell you again. He told them before but it was
just hid from their eyes because their concept of what the Messiah
came to do just didn't jive with what the Lord was saying. They
were like the typical Jew. He's going to set up an earthly
kingdom. He's going to bring us out from the power of Rome
and he's going to give us a prominent place in that earthly kingdom.
No, that's not what he came to do. They had those blinders on. But he says to the twelve, Behold,
We go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the
prophets concerning the Son of Man shall be what? Accomplished. Accomplished. For he shall be
delivered unto the Gentiles, and he shall be mocked, and spitefully
entreated, and spitted on, and they shall scourge him. All those
shalls happened, and they'll put him to death, Oh, but here,
and the third day he shall rise again. Verse 22 of 1 Corinthians
15. For as in Adam all die, even
so in Christ shall all be made alive. Here's a good commentary
on that verse that we just read. Again, the words of Christ himself. The hour has come, this is in
John 12. The hour has come. Oh, how often
he spoke of that hour, that hour for which time began. The hour
is come that the Son of Man should be glorified. This is John 12,
23. Verily, verily, truthfully, truthfully, I say unto you, except
the corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone. If Christ hadn't died, he'd have
been alone. He'd have never been the firstborn
among many brothers. He'd have been alone. Oh, but
if it died, what happens? It bringeth forth much fruit. In Adam all die, in Christ shall
many, many be made alive. For it became him, that is Christ,
for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing
many sons unto glory, many sons, that make the captain of their
salvation perfect through suffering. The Son of God came out from
the Father into this world that he might bring us out of this
world and take us back to the Father. Isn't that so? Jesus Christ became what he was
not that we might become what he is. He came here and was made
like unto his brethren that he might take all of his redeemed
brethren back to glory and present them to the Father in the Father's
house. Remember what he told them after
his resurrection? Mary, you go tell my brethren,
my brethren. You tell them I ascend unto my
Father and their Father, my God and their God. Oh, what a glorious,
glorious prospect. What a glorious future a child
of God has. Behold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, John wrote, that we should be
called the sons of God. Let the world have the world.
Oh my soul, children of God, don't be envious of this world.
I mean, it's all they've got. It's the best they're going to
have. I know unbelievers, they They want the world. The more
they get, the more they want. Let them have it. Let them have
it. I know we're tempted to look across the fence and say, well,
that ungodly man doesn't give God a thought, and he's better
off than I am. Oh, no, he's not. No, he's not. We're going on our way to the
Father's house. Behold what manner of love the
Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the
sons of God. Therefore, the world knoweth
us not good. That's OK, isn't it? That's OK.
Because it knew him not. After Christ returned to glory
and sent the Holy Spirit back, just like he said he would, the
theme of the apostles' preaching was, he's alive. He's alive. We read that over and over again
in the Book of Acts. That's what so gnawed at the
religious leaders so much, the message that they preached. They
called them on the carpet, they beat them, they threatened them.
Don't you preach anymore in this man's name. Don't you preach. You better not. You're trying
to bring that man's blood up on our heads because they went
out preaching a living Savior. And they looked right into the
Pharisees' eyes and said, I tell you what, you let us go and we're
going to go out and keep preaching a risen Savior. Now is Christ
risen from the dead. A living, reigning Savior. Paul, when he was preaching to
those philosophers In Athens, we read in Acts 17, verse 3,
Paul opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered,
the Messiah must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead,
and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you, he's the Christ. All
those glorious, blessed links we read of in Romans 8. In that
golden chain of God's great salvation, they're welded together on the
truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If that's not true,
they would have never been forged in God's eternal purpose of grace
in the first place. From God's purpose to save in
eternity past, to God's bringing all the redeemed to glory in
eternity to come depend upon the fact, the truth, whether
Jesus Christ rose again from the dead. It all depends upon
that His resurrection is the evidence that his great work
of redemption succeeded. That's exactly right. If it hadn't, if it hadn't, he'd
have never left the tomb. It's proved that God Almighty
was well pleased with the sacrifice of Jesus Christ made of himself
to God. That's what Paul says in so many
places. I'm reading now from Ephesians
5. Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children. in walking
love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for
us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a sweet-smelling savor."
A sweet-smelling savor. And God proved how sweet the
sacrifice of His Son was to Him when Christ offered Himself with
that spot of God, when He raised Him from the dead, satisfied
Satisfied. I can demand no more. No more. There was an old fella in a church
I tried to pastor for a couple of years, years ago. I was a
young fella. Back in West Virginia. Waldo
Arthur was his name. And when we would have the Lord's
Supper, and if I would call upon Waldo to pray, he would say this,
Father, thank you. for the sacrifice of your son. Thank you for sending Jesus Christ
to put away the sins of his people. We know you're satisfied with
that sacrifice, Father. You feast on it. Father, you
feast on it. And we feast on it. And we're
both satisfied. We're both satisfied. I like
that, don't you? Oh, if a king's son were to go
out to protect the father's kingdom in battle against the enemy,
a threat to his father's kingdom. And as he went through the gate
with the great army behind him, oh, how comforting that would
have been, the sight of that would have been to the subjects
of the father's kingdom. But after a day went by, and
a week went by, and a month went by, and he never came back. The
king's son, the prince, never came back. you would finally
conclude, well, he didn't succeed. He was overcome, the captain
of our salvation. When the fullness of the time
was come, God sent forth his son and he came back. He came
back because he succeeded. The very fact, again, I repeat,
that God raised his son from the dead is his eternal affirmation
that he was satisfied with what his son has done. The fact, the
resurrection of Jesus Christ is God saying to everyone for
eternity, once for all, that he's been accepted by God and
we are accepted in him. Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ,
Romans 1 and 1. I almost wish I'd have turned
on some AC. Y'all would have probably froze.
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated
unto the gospel of God, concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord,
which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh,
great is the mystery of godliness, God was manifest in the flesh,
and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the
spirit of holiness by the resurrection from the dead. Matthew chapter
27. Verse 62. This is after the crucifixion. Now the next day, that followed
the day of the preparation, Matthew 27, 62. The chief priest and
Pharisees came together with Pilate, saying, Sir, we remember
that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, after three
days I will rise again. That's what he said. Command,
therefore, that the sepulcher be made sure until the third
day, lest his disciples come by night and steal him away,
and say to the people, he is risen from the dead, so the last
era should be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them,
these were prophetic words, weren't they? Although Pilate didn't
know it. Ye have a watch, Pilate said. Go your way, make it as
sure as you can. Do your very best. So they went. and made the sepulcher sure,
sealing the stone and setting a watch." How does the old hymn
express it? Vainly they watch his bed, Jesus
my Savior. Vainly they sealed the dead,
Jesus my Lord. What happened? What happened?
Did it change anything? Did it matter at all? Oh, up
from the grave he rose. with a mighty triumph over his
foes, he arose a victor from the dark domain, and he lives
forever with his saints to reign. He arose, he arose, hallelujah,
Christ arose. He's our living, reigning savior. John saw him in Revelation chapter
1, verse 5. And from Jesus Christ, who is
the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and
the prince of the kings of the earth, unto him that loved us,
and washed us from our sins in his own blood." Revelation 1,
5 and 6. And it made us kings and priests
unto God and his Father. To him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen. The old Puritan Thomas
Brooks made this statement. He said, Christ is a jewel worth
more than a thousand worlds. As all know who have him, get
him and you get all. Miss him and you miss all. Verse 4 here in 1 Corinthians
15 tells us, and he rose again. He had risen. He had risen. Brother Henry Mahan, I was going
to use this in today's bulletin, but I didn't have room. I'll
save it for another one soon. He made this statement. He said
that God is able in his mercy and grace and wisdom to make
way for our sins to be laid on a substitute, and the guilty
sinner to go free is the greatest glory of his nature that he has
seen fit to reveal. Oh, the depths, Henry wrote,
oh, the depths of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge
of God. How unsearchable are his judgments
and his way past finding out. Thomas Watson, I did include
in your bulletin today. The great work of redemption,
he wrote, great was the work of creation. And is it not? Is it not? An evidence of our
great creator. Great is the work of creation,
but greater was the work of redemption. Great wisdom was seen in making
us, but more miraculous wisdom in saving us. Great power was
seen in bringing us out of nothing, but greater power in helping
us when we were worse than nothing. The creation, God gave us ourselves. In redemption, he gave us himself. My dear friend and yours, my
pastor, for 20 years, I was asking him something that I had read
or someone had suggested and I had a little difficulty with,
and I asked Don about it. He said, Larry, let me tell you
something. The best way to expose a crooked stick is to lay a straight
stick down beside of it. That's what Paul does here. Gives us the straight stick of
God's gospel. And anybody that knows that glorious
gospel knows anything contrary to it, it's a crooked stick. Thank God, thank God that those
things Paul was forced to deal with in the verses that I read,
if Christ be not risen, Paul just brushes them all aside. Because if Christ is risen now,
now is Christ risen from the dead, verse 20. So now we have
a good hope through grace. Now. Now we have a high priest
that can be touched with our infirmities. Now when we sin,
we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Because right now is Christ risen
from the dead. Now Christ says to each and every
one of his own, I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth
in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever
liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Now he asked this
question, and I'm asking it of each of you. Do you really believe
that? That's what he asked Martha, at the grave of her dead brother.
Martha, I'm the resurrection. Whoever believes in me is never
gonna die. Never gonna die. Gonna live forever. I give them
eternal life, they'll never perish. Now do you really believe that?
Do you really believe that? Do you really believe that? If
you do, if you do, you have eternal life. Do you believe that? Has Jesus Christ given you the
precious gift of faith whereby you believe? You can say, yes,
Larry, I believe. I know whom I have believed. I know whom I have, not what,
not what. Larry, I can rattle off the five points, the five
doctrines of grace. I'm not interested in that. I
can tell you about those five points of Calvary. I'm not interested
in that. Oh, can you say, I believe that
Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 1 John 5, 11, and this is the
record that God has given to us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life,
and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. There's
only two categories there. Only two classes there. Those
that believe and those who don't. Those who are God's people and
those who aren't. Those who embrace Christ and
those who don't. That's all there is. There's
no in-between. There's not a place for the carnal Christian called
purgatory. No, we're either believing on
the Son of God at this very moment by His grace or we don't believe.
That's it. I'll read it again. He that hath
the Son of God has life. And he that hath not the Son
of God hath not life. I mentioned my pastor, Brother
Don, a moment ago. Let me close with a good sentence
or two by him. He's referring to this verse
in Revelation 14 and 14. They are without fault before
the throne of God. Don said, this is the finality
of the work of grace, the fruition of God's purpose. They were chosen,
redeemed, and called to be holy and without blame before Him.
And holy they shall be, holy as God Himself. In Christ Jesus,
grace will accomplish its work, because we serve a living, reigning
Savior. God bless you. Thank you for
your time. Amen.