Our Sermons

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:20-24
Pastor: Pastor Berg
Sermon Date:  November 22, 2020

You can understand why they feel this way, can’t you? Can’t you identify with the fears and misgivings of the people of Corinth? Chapter 15 of First Corinthians is the clearest and longest proclamation of our Lord’s resurrection that you find in Scripture. The apostle devotes all 58 verses of this chapter to that one subject, the resurrection. But do you know why he spends so much time talking about the resurrection? That’s the part at you and I can understand–what the people of Corinth were thinking and feeling–that made this extended discussion necessary. Many people have trouble with the whole idea of a resurrection. Not just with Jesus’ resurrection, but with resurrections in general. “Dead people don’t come back to life again,” they say. “When you’re dead, you’re dead, and that’s it!” It’s a nice idea to think that people who die can come back to life again. We wish it were true. Who here hasn’t lost a loved one you wished could come back to life again?

It’s hard to argue with that logic, isn’t it? After all, how many resurrections have you heard of taking place in the last ten years or even the last century? Ten? Two? One? Even the National Enquirer or “rags” like it at the checkout counters don’t write stories about resurrections. They peddle a lot of unbelievable stuff, but even they have their “principles.” They have to draw the line somewhere, and it’s at the resurrection. That’s the position the people of Corinth were in: They were struggling with the whole idea of someone who was “dead and buried,” coming back to life.

Right before our verses today, Paul presents what we might call “the awful alternative to Easter.” The people of Corinth are struggling with the idea of the resurrection. In verse 12, Paul quotes them when he says, “How is it that some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” Then Paul says, “Let’s just consider that for a moment. Let’s think about the consequences of there being no resurrection.” It doesn’t make for pleasant reading. In fact, it’s so awful that you don’t want to hear it. Paul says if there’s no resurrection, then Christ isn’t raised either–and then all of our preaching is absolutely pointless. Even worse, we’re actually lying when we preach. What is more, our faith is also pointless. It doesn’t do us any good to believe in a “dead and still buried” Jesus. All those deadly, damning sins you and I commit continually and so casually are still clinging to us. Our loved ones who have already died are now suffering the consequences of their sins, for they “perished,” that is they are in the eternal torment of hell. Those are the awful alternatives to Easter. If Jesus didn’t rise, then we have to quit kidding ourselves. We are just deceiving ourselves–and that’s pathetic, yes, pitiful and disgusting. 

But that’s not the situation we are in, because Paul tells us, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead…” What a simple, but incredibly powerful statement this is. It’s a fact! The Corinthians and our human nature may tell us one thing–people just don’t rise from the dead; but the reality is something far, far different. Now, Christ is risen from the dead. Your mind may stagger at this thought and raise all sorts of objections. “It just doesn’t make sense! I’ve never heard of anytone rising from the dead. Not even once!” But Paul brushes aside all the objections with this simple, unmistakable affirmation: “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.” We have a risen, living Savior! He, who was literally dead and buried, is now risen from the dead and is truly alive.

We believe this, but do we live like we believe it? Do we live in the joy of the resurrection? Do we reflect that truth in our daily lives? Or do we sometimes have our moments and days of weakness and doubt? Even the staunchest of believers can lose sight of this glorious comfort as we see in the life of Martin Luther. Something had Luther down in the dumps. For a week he was just moping around. Fed up with his behavior, his wife Katie taught him a lesson. She dressed up in all black and went around the house crying inconsolably. When Luther heard her, he rushed to her as asked, “Katie, what’s wrong.” “It’s my Lord,” Katie said between sobs, “He’s, he’s dead!” “That’s nonsense!” Luther thundered. “Our Lord isn’t dead. He’s risen and reigning.” “Why then,” Katie asked, “have you been moping around the last week as if Jesus were dead? I thought surely our Lord had died, judging from the way you were acting.” Perhaps we too, in light of the recent news cycles and all that it entails, need that periodic reminder right now, at this very moment. It’s a fact! Christ has been raised!

And that makes all the difference in our lives, as Paul says. “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came by a man, the resurrection of the dead also is going to come by a man. For as in Adam they all die, so also in Christ they all will be made alive.” Do you see the picture that Paul is using here? It’s a harvest picture. It refers to the first sheaf of grain that the farmer harvested. When the farmer harvested that first sheaf, he brought it to the Lord and presented it as a wave offering before the Lord. He gladly gave this offering to his God, because he knew how generous God is. He had absolute confidence that there would be so many other sheaves to follow to sustain him and provide for him. That’s the confidence we have because Jesus is risen. Our risen Lord is just the firstfruit, just the first of countless others who will follow him in his resurrection. Don’t let go of this picture too quickly! Let it sink into your heart and comfort you anew. Jesus is only the firstfruit, remember. That means other fruits will follow and we are the “others.” Just as Christ was raised, so we and all who believe in Jesus as their Savior will be raised as well. 

It’s rather illuminating to see that when Paul talks about what came as the result of Adam’s sin, he uses the word, “death.” Paul doesn’t try to lessen the seriousness of sin or soften its consequences, which is how our world operates. “Sin” and “death” and “hell” are the ultimate “four-letter words” in today’s society, words that shouldn’t be repeated in polite company. Our world has replaced such ugly words as “sin” medical or mental health terminology. We no longer talk about people rebelling against God or violating his holy will. That’s too harsh and unfeeling. Instead, we say someone is “misguided” or “just going through a faze,” as if that resolves the problem. But Paul speaks the law clearly and specifically, pointing out that sin has brought “death” into the world–eternal separation from God. Paul can be so straightforward about sin and its consequences because God is straightforward. His Law is clear. And so is the Gospel. Notice what happens the minute Paul turns to the Gospel. His language changes. “Death” is replaced with “the resurrection of the dead.” “Die” is supplanted by “made alive.” We, who started dying the unending death the moment we took our first breath, have had our immortality restored because Jesus rose from the dead. On the cross, our Savior paid in full the penalty for all sin, including your sins and mine. He has completely satisfied all the demands of divine justice. And when he rose victoriously on Easter morning, he rolled away the stones in front of our graves and opened the gates of heaven to all believers. 

So how do we celebrate this glorious news that because Jesus lives, we also shall live? Perhaps we could follow Luther’s example and write some sacred graffiti around our homes. Luther had days of doubts and discouragements, just as we do today. The same questions and concerns that creep into our hearts and minds plagued Luther as well. When that happened, Luther would write, “Vivit! Vivit! Vivit!” in large letters on his table and the walls of his room. “He lives! He lives! He lives!” Luther was reminding himself that he had a living Lord, and that makes all the difference in the lives of his people. Shouldn’t we be writing those same words on our hearts and minds, if not on our walls, and then remember and rejoice in them every single day?

And we certainly do want to celebrate, especially when we consider that our Lord has ushered in a whole new reign for his people. Paul tells us: “But each in his own order: Christ as the firstfruits and then Christ’s people, at his coming. Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, after he has done away with every other ruler and every other authority and power.” How differently you and I look at life, including the end of life, because Christ has risen. We know, for one thing, that death will not be the end of everything. When we are raised, “Then comes the end,” Paul says–the end of the world in which we live and the end of life on earth here as we know it. Christ our King will “[do] away with every other ruler and every other authority and power.” All power will come to an end. That kind of power won’t exist anymore. There will only be the rule of Christ the King and he will “[hand] over the kingdom to God the Father.” He will hand over the Father his rule of grace, which will include all of “Christ’s people” whether they are still alive when he comes back or the believers who have already been enjoying the perfection of heaven.

What a blessed day that will be, when every eye will see Christ our King ushering in a perfect eternity because his resurrection is a fact! And you know what will be the best part of that day? You and I will be among those who are singing that joyful song! No heart will know more joy on that day than yours or mine and no voice will sing with greater delight than ours. We will thrill to sing, “Christ our King is risen and reigns–and we who have been raised will reign with him for all eternity!”

Let our song of celebration and joy begin on this Christ the King Sunday! Let it never stop until our King returns and we can sing it with even greater joy before his throne! Come quickly, Lord Jesus! Amen.