Easter Sermon Notes

I Corinthians 15

Jesus is alive!!

 

Paul’s account

1 Corinthians 15:3–10 (The Message)

      3–10     The first thing I did was place before you what was placed so emphatically before me: that the Messiah (Jesus) died for our sins, exactly as Scripture tells it; that he was buried; that he was raised from death on the third day, again exactly as Scripture says; that he presented himself alive to Peter, then to his closest followers, and later to more than five hundred of his followers all at the same time, most of them still around (although a few have since died); that he then spent time with James and the rest of those he commissioned to represent him; and that he finally presented himself alive to me.

It was fitting that I bring up the rear. I don’t deserve to be included in that inner circle, as you well know, having spent all those early years trying my best to stamp God’s church right out of existence.  But because God was so gracious, so very generous, here I am. And I’m not about to let his grace go to waste.

Paul was a very ugly man that needed a savior. He was the worst kind of religious over lord. He killed Christians and was trying to kill off the church. And after he meet Jesus he spent the rest of his life proclaiming the GOOD NEWS of Jesus.

Jesus had to die for People like Paul to be saved, people like you and people like me. And here are few reasons why Jesus had to die and rise for you and for me.

Why did Jesus Die?

Forgiveness of Sin

Matthew 26:28 (NLT) 28 for this is my blood, which confirms the covenant between God and his people. It is poured out as a sacrifice to forgive the sins of many.

·         The old and new Covenant

o   The old covenant was on a slab written on Stone

§  Was never personal

§  Was cold

§  Was a lot of rules and no love

o   The new was written on Man’s heart

§  Its grace driven

§  God speaks to us through His spirit

·         Forgiveness costs us nothing

o   Jesus did all the work

o   We only have to follow him

o   The fruit of grace and forgiveness is obedience

§  Not all who say I am a follower is

§  If you truly follow you will change

To show us how much he loved us!

Ephesians 5:2 (ESV) And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

·         Its personal, he died for you

·         He died to take your sins

·         He died to give you eternal life

·         “God so loved the world”

o   He wants you

o   He wants me

John 15:13 (ESV) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

Jesus died because he loves you, even now Jesus is waiting for you to turn and say I ready. I ready to stop running, I ready to live a life of purpose and meaning. It’s not all easy, Life will still be hard, but god gives you a reason to push through, to find hope, to find Joy!

He died so you can be reconciled to God!

Romans 5:8–11 (NLT)

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

·         We need a savior

·         Hang on the cross Jesus took our sin so to restore our relationship with God

God cannot deal with us in our sin, so we need a savior. The resurrection is all about righting our relationship with God. We are a hot mess without God we see it in our country every day. We can’t sit back any longer and allow our family’s, and our country to fall apart we need a savior and we need Him Now!

To make us blameless and perfect before God!

Colossians 1:22 (NIV) But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—

·         God knew you would be a Hot Mess

·         God sees all your sins

Hebrews 4:15 (ESV) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

·         God knows your hurts, your problems, your hang ups. He knows what you worship other than Him.

·         God knew you need help and he sent Jesus to take it all for you

·         All you have to do is ask and Jesus will wipe you clean

Jesus knows you and he knows what you need, he came to make you perfect in the eyes of the most holy God. Like a Good big brother, He protects you and stood in your place and took all of God’s Wrath for you, there is no more wrath for those who believe. Do you believe? Or are you content with living in a world where you have no one standing before God on your behalf.