April 12, 2009 Message

1 Corinthians 15:1-11; John 20:1-18
“Say What You Believe”

In today’s reading from 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds his readers – and us – of something so important it should never be forgotten. It is something they have already heard, something they have already accepted, and something that has already changed their lives. Paul wants them to remain firm and unwavering in their belief in the risen Christ.

Paul offers proof of the Resurrection of Jesus the Christ - the cornerstone of everything we believe as Christians - when he says:
1. Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures,
2. Christ was buried, and on the third day he was raised in accordance with scripture,
3. He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve,
4. then, he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.
5. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
6. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Not only can proof of the resurrection be found in the writings of the prophets in Hebrew scripture, but also in the testimony of those who witnessed first hand a risen Christ - first Peter and the ‘inner circle’ of his followers (the twelve minus Judas), then the five hundred in Galilee, then to James, the brother of Jesus, and all Jesus’ followers (the seventy), and finally to Paul. Paul’s hierarchy for determining what is true is very much Wesleyan and Methodist; first he goes to the Bible for proof, which in turn is supported by the experiences of Jesus’ followers (John Wesley added tradition and reason as additional ‘supporting legs’ in his ‘methodology’ for theological reflection. “Faith,” Wesley said, “is revealed in Scripture, illumined by tradition, vivified in personal experience, and confirmed by reason.” Like Paul who put the testimony of Scripture above the witness of those who saw the Lord after His resurrection, Wesley maintained that, “Scripture [however] is primary, revealing the Word of God 'so far as it is necessary for our salvation.”

Paul reminds us of our faith in the Resurrection, he gives us proof of the Resurrection. And then he gives us encouragement. He says, “If Christ would appear to me – the lowest of the lowest (who persecuted the church of God) – Christ can also come into your lives.” That is good to know! Christ can come into my life – broken and unworthy as it is! Even when we are as far from God as we can possibly get. Christ is there.

Paul also reveals to his readers something else, Christ coming into our lives – and our becoming disciples – all happens by the grace of God. He says, “I am what I am… because of God’s grace (not because of anything I have done). Although our cooperation is important, our conformity to God’s will results solely from the work of the Holy Spirit within us. And then ‘tongue in cheek,’ Paul says, “In my case, God’s grace had to work overtime.” Isn’t that true for us as well?

Finally in verse 11, Paul sort of ‘puts the bow on the package’ (so to speak) when he says - for this (the grace of God) to not be “in vain,” we must “proclaim” what “we have come to believe.” [11] In other words, we must say what we believe!

This is what everyone, especially our new members, should take home today – this life – yours and mine – doesn’t end with grace, it begins there. You have got to “say what you believe.” On Friday Jesus died on a cross. Then he was buried in a tomb. His burial and that tomb are more closely connected with His resurrection than His death. Today on Easter Sunday, and every time we join in the Great Thanksgiving, we affirm our faith by saying, “Christ has died, CHRIST IS RISEN!, Christ will come again.” This is a statement of our faith – of our belief - that Christ “suffered, was crucified, died and was buried; on the third day he rose again...” The Greek word that translates “rose again,” means "hath risen": the condition (of living) begun; and its consequences still continue.

Easter is a good day to say what we believe – to use words that define all that we are. We are an “Easter people” who believe in the resurrection of Jesus the Christ and in our own resurrection (by the grace of God). May God’s grace result in our fruitfulness. May our response always be, by the way we live our lives, “HE IS RISEN INDEED!”