Victory: First Importance
1 Corinthians 15:1-3
March 5, 2023
Jay Haugh
If the resurrection is not true, then Christianity would be nothing more than wishful thinking.
If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied. —1 Corinthians 15:19 NASB
Thanatology is the study of death.
“Anastasis” means “resurrection.”
The resurrection is not merely a talking point; it’s a historical event.
Christianity stands or falls on the presence or absence of a body of a dead man.
The Non-negotiable Gospel
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand. —1 Corinthians 15:1
The Gospel is “good news.”
The Gospel in five words: “Jesus died and rose again.”
and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. —1 Corinthians 15:2
Don’t think condition. Think indication.
The Gospel is of first importance.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures. —1 Corinthians 15:3
Paul was persecuting and killing those who were spreading the Gospel.
Big Idea:
The Gospel of first importance: “Jesus died for your sins and rose from the dead!”
STUDY GUIDE QUESTIONS
Memory Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:55-57
Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read Hebrews 9:27; 2:14-15.
Death is the most certain thing in life, yet many people avoid talking about it. Why do you think this is? How have you witnessed people responding to a realization about their own death? When you consider your own death, how does that make you feel? How can meditating on the resurrection help people who fear death?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:23.
The resurrection is referred to as a “stumbling block” and “foolishness.” Have you ever interacted with someone who struggled with belief in Christianity because of the claims about the resurrection? Have you ever struggled with this magnificent claim? If so, what helped you come to believe in its truth?
What did you understand about the Gospel before trusting in Jesus? Why did you choose to surrender your life to Christ? Since becoming a Christian, how have you grown?
Is the resurrection an event that everyone will experience? What will be different for believers vs. non-believers?
Read Colossians 3:1-6.
What does it mean to be raised with Christ? How can we consistently set our minds on the things that are above? Do you see any of the earthly nature present in yourself that you need to “put to death?”
Read 1 Corinthians 15:1-3
Paul says the message he is sharing about the resurrection is of “first importance.” How can you live your life to show that the doctrine of the resurrection is of first importance? How public are you about your faith? How forward should we be?
Paul encourages us to “hold firmly to the word that was preached to them.” What does that mean and how do we do that? As a group, how can we support one another to hold firmly to the Gospel? How can a Christian avoid believing the gospel in vain?
Paul shares that he is passing on what he received. Who did Paul receive the Good News from? Who shared the Gospel message with you? Who have you shared (or are you sharing) the message of Christ with? How has the message been received?
Conduct a thought experiment: If Jesus did not physically rise from the dead, what would change about the Christian faith? In your opinion, are there worthwhile/compelling components of Christianity that would still be valuable to humanity even if the resurrection were not true? What would those components be? Would you still want to be a Christian?