Transcription downloaded from https://archives.bafreechurch.org.uk/sermons/30103/1-corinthians-151-35/.

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[0:00] We're going to contemplate now the resurrection of Jesus. This passage that Shep just read will be something of a guide, but actually the entire Bible is going to be a guide this morning.

[0:21] The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christianity. It's an exciting doctrine. Some great songs have been written praising God for the resurrection of His Son.

[0:36] Just this morning, our family listened. As we woke up, we listened to the song, Up from the grave He arose with a mighty triumph for His foes. He arose a victor from the dark domain, and He lives forever with His saints to reign.

[0:51] Incredibly exciting song about the resurrection of Jesus. It's central to our confession, as we just read. It's one of the core things.

[1:03] Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures. He was buried. He rose from the dead, according to the Scriptures, and was seen by many, many people.

[1:14] If you don't believe this, then you're not a Christian, and you're not saved. As Paul says, very bluntly, he says, If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

[1:34] It's very essential to Christianity. As Shep just read, as the passage says, If Christ didn't raise from the dead, our faith, the Christian faith, is pointless, useless.

[1:48] It's futile. We're still in our sins if He didn't rise from the dead. We have no hope for the future. And those loved ones who have died trusting Jesus, there is no hope for them, if Jesus didn't raise from the dead.

[2:06] The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christianity. I wonder, however, if we can contemplate it in a way that many of us might not have thought about before.

[2:17] As I was preparing things for today, this sermon and the one tonight, I kept thinking about the resurrection from the point of view of us.

[2:28] What do we gain from the resurrection? What are the benefits to us? And that's not a bad thing. That's exactly what Paul is writing about in 1 Corinthians. And we are going to talk about that tonight.

[2:41] We're going to explore how we are affected by Jesus rising from the dead. But I was challenged by a few statements in 1 Corinthians and other places that focus on God.

[2:56] What was His perspective on the resurrection of His Son? What did God gain, if you could put it like that? What did God the Father gain from His Son rising from the dead?

[3:12] I thought we could explore that for a bit this morning. Focus on God and on what He got out of the resurrection. And I would suggest that it's precisely God's glory that is at issue.

[3:29] God's glory, His fame, His worthiness, weightiness, His honor, His majesty, all of these things, characteristics about God, His glory, has been the issue since the very beginning.

[3:44] Throughout history, and coming to a focal point in Jesus, His glory. It seems that God has directed history to come to this focal point in Jesus.

[4:00] You could call it the Christ event so that we don't just single out, you know, His death or His resurrection. Jesus as a whole, the Son of God, eternally existent, becoming flesh.

[4:12] Being anointed with the Holy Spirit at His baptism. Teaching, driving out demons, doing miracles, healing, setting people free.

[4:25] Dying for sins. Raising from the dead. Being exalted in a glorified body to the heavens. Seated on the throne. Reigning now forever and going to return.

[4:35] That entire thing which is vast in scope. Jesus Christ. God has been directing history to focus on Jesus. And the resurrection of Jesus is very important for the Christ event, if we can put it that way.

[4:54] Very important. So, I hope we can ask two questions that will guide our thinking on what God was thinking in the resurrection.

[5:04] Or what God would gain out of it. The first question is, what had God been doing in history leading up to this point? What had God been doing in history?

[5:17] The first question. We'll explore that for a bit. And the second is, what did it seem like God was doing in Jesus when He came? So, what had God been doing building history?

[5:31] And then what did it seem like He was doing in Jesus? And then we're going to wrestle with a problem. So, first, what had God been doing in history?

[5:42]  You see, in the beginning, God established His glory. He created the heavens and the heavens. He created the heavens and the heavens.