Bro. Phillip Skipworth Florence Baptist Church Sermon Outline for 8/21/10 1 st Corinthians 15:1-8 1 st Corinthians 15 is one of the greatest chapters in the Word of God. It is commonly called The Resurrection Chapter. We have a God that is alive! 1 Cor. 15:1 :Moreover... moves to a new subject. Paul is correcting a problem in Corinth. Up until about 200 years ago, no one really doubted the resurrection. During the time 1 st Corinthians 15 was taking place, they did not doubt the resurrection. Verse 12 tells us they did not doubt. The issue was are WE going to rise from the dead? How does the resurrection affect me? Paul is re-telling the Gospel. V1 A word of rebuke. Moreover, but. Paul shouldn t have had to make it known again. The church at Corinth emphasized spiritual gifts, specifically tongues. Paul was saying, Let me tell you what the primary interest of the church is: What is the primary focus of the church? The proclamation of the Gospel. Mark 16:15 People need the Gospel. Your church should be known for preaching the Gospel. We must focus on the Gospel. It is the church s function and the individual s function. He has us here for a purpose. I. They received it. They were saved V1 V3 What is the Gospel? You ve heard people say, That s the Gospel truth. Matthew to Revelation? No! The Gospel is narrow. Go to 1 st Corinthians 15:3-4. First of all not chronological order, but of importance. 1. Christ died for our sins. 2. And that He was buried. (He included this for a reason. There is an emphasis on the burial. He died a literal death. He was as dead as dead could be, and they buried Him.) 3. He rose again the third day. 1
No one is saved apart from Jesus. You can t add to or take away from the Gospel. He convicts us of sin and we see our only hope is in Jesus. Romans 1:16--For I am not ashamed of the Gospel II. They were standing on the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved only because of the Gospel because of what He has done. I can see a chair. I can receive facts about the chair. Until I sit in it then I can t believe in it. I must commit all my weight to the chair. Many hear the Gospel. They believe the historical facts. Salvation a supernatural work of the Lord Jesus Christ. III. Ye are saved. Not if you do a lot of good things. Paul wants them to get back to what s most important. You don t have to keep it or lose it. Unless you believed in vain a shallow Gospel. Just going through the motions. Among our churches: In the 1800 s D.L. Moody stated he thought 50% of all church members were not actually saved. Dr. Laken believed 75% were unsaved. Dr W.A. Criswell believed a higher number were unsaved 85% People have a head knowledge, Sinners separated from a holy God. They must surrender. You are not saved by walking down an aisle, by raising your hand, or repeating a prayer. James said even the demons believe and tremble. Meeting God. What people need is a good dose of conversion. Many people think they have done something to merit their salvation. Joy unspeakable. There will be a desire to study and pray, etc. Examine yourself to see if ye be in the faith. The Holy Spirit convicts us Converts us Changes us 15:3 Receive got it from another source. Other religions embrace their own gospel. They have to do that to be saved. 2
Where did Paul get the Gospel? Galatians 1:8 (Another Gospel preached? Let him be accursed. V9 Did you not hear what I said? This Gospel did not come from man. V12 Paul got it directly from Jesus. Paul didn t have the four Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. He did not have the details of 1 st Corinthians 11 to look at for the Lord s Supper. Jesus taught it to Him. V13 wasted it. Being zealous of the traditions of my fathers. V15 Called by grace. The Gospel is one of grace, not works. Called me its personal. Don t get puffed up. Romans tells us that no man seeks after God. 1 st John says we love Him because He first loved us. He sought us, we were not seeking Him. John 1:14 He wants to reveal His Son in us. We should never be ashamed of the Gospel. V16 Didn t run out and consult a man. Three years Paul was with the Lord. After 2,000 years that same Gospel still has powerful results today. Acts 4:12 V1 The devil doesn t really make them deny the Gospel, but to distort it. The same Gospel preached from the beginning. When it comes to the most important relationship, Don t be narrow minded, we say. We received the Gospel from Christ. It did not come from any man. The Gospel is not a creed or set of rules. No one is saved by a list of verses. No, we are by believing on Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus was not just a great teacher who came from God. He was a great God Who came to teach. 3
Continuation to Sunday August 21 st PM Study: Paul only had the Old Testament. According to the Scriptures, was used two times. The death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus should not have been a shock to them. The Bible is a picture book. It is about Jesus. John 5:39 Jesus is speaking saying that the Old Testament testifies of Him. John 5:45 Moses wrote the Law and it testifies of Jesus. Matthew 9:4-5 A word for word quote of Genesis 2:23-24. Mark 12/Exodus 3 Matthew 8:4/Leviticus 14 (Sent him to the priest) John 3/Numbers and Deuteronomy (Reference to brazen serpent.) 1 st mention of the Gospel is in Genesis 3:15 We see Jesus throughout the Old Testament: Ruth Kinsman Redeemer Tabernacle Water from the Rock Isaiah 53 Psalms 86:11 Joseph Noah s Ark Genesis 22 The Passover Ark of the Covenant Manna Ezra The gates Serpent on the pole The emphasis of the church is the Gospel. Genesis 3:15 Adam and Eve hid from God, out of shame. They couldn t cover up their sin. 1. God has to do it. (John 3:16) There was no death before Adam sinned. By one man sin entered the world. The wages of sin is death. 4
2. There has to be an innocent substitute. (Romans 5:8) 3. There always has to be the shedding of blood. (Hebrews 9:22) 1 st Peter 1:18-19 Cain brought something from the ground. If you don t do it God s way, He will reject it. 5