Skip to content

Importance of The Resurrection in the Gospel (radio)

1 Corinthians 15:1-19

Pastor Albert N. Martin expounds 1 Corinthians 15:1-19, emphasizing the indispensable role of the bodily resurrection of Christ in the apostolic gospel. He outlines three core principles: the necessity of hearing, receiving, and holding fast to the apostolic gospel for salvation; the gospel's heart being two fundamental affirmations—Christ's death for sins and His bodily resurrection on the third day, both 'according to the scriptures'; and the destructive nature of any human opinion that denies these affirmations. Martin meticulously details the 'office,' 'purpose,' 'pattern,' and 'proof' of Christ's death and resurrection, concluding that denying the resurrection renders faith vain and leaves one in their sins.

2 illustrations in this sermon

Affirmation 2: Christ Was Raised on the Third Day According to the Scriptures
compare analogy

Jewish Sabbath and Lord's Day

Driving home: I was dead and I am alive forevermore. I was dead, but I am alive forevermore. The factual statement of his resurrection. It wasn't an idea. It wasn't a noble concept.

Martin uses the transition from the Jewish Sabbath to the Lord's Day to illustrate how Christ's resurrection on the first day of the week signifies a new creation and a new day of rest, leaving the old Sabbath in the tomb.

And so He would die once for all. Once for all, He has been raised, and in the resurrection state He now is, and ever shall be to all eternity. He hath been raised and maintains the reality of resurrection, life and existence. And this on the third day, according to Jewish reckoning, buried on Friday, part of the day, is taken for the whole on the Jewish Sabbath.

17:54 - 18:30 Read in full sermon
compare analogy

Resurrection as a Factual Event

Driving home: I was dead and I am alive forevermore. I was dead, but I am alive forevermore. The factual statement of his resurrection. It wasn't an idea. It wasn't a noble concept.

Martin contrasts the factual, bodily resurrection of Jesus with abstract ideas or noble concepts, emphasizing that the same physical body that died came out of the tomb alive forevermore.

That old Jewish Sabbath is with Him in His tomb, and it's buried, and it never came out of the tomb. And on that first day of the week, the risen Lord comes out of the tomb, leaving the Jewish Sabbath, Sabbath in that tomb and bringing out of it with him the original day of rest, the Lord's day Sabbath now bursting with all the glorious dynamics of the new creation. And on the third day, he was raised and remains the risen and the living one. That's why when he appears to John in the book of the Revelation, he says, I was dead and I am alive forevermore. I was dead, but I am alive forevermore....

18:31 - 19:33 Read in full sermon