The Impact of the Resurrection (Part Three)

This week following Easter Sunday we are considering the impact of the resurrection in microcosm. If the macrocosm is seen in the resurrection’s impact on the world, the microcosm is seem in its impact on one person—the apostle Paul. That impact began to unfold as we saw evidence in Paul’s heart of genuine spiritual humility, real honesty, and utter dependency upon God. We conclude today with this week’s final look at 1 Corinthians 15 with:

Intensity (v.10b) “Labored all the more.” Part of the results of transforming grace for Paul was intensity of ministry focus and commitment. Not only did he labor more than all the rest—working harder, traveling more (2 Cor.11:23-12:12)—Paul was effective in that ministry. Yet notice the realities in Paul’s heart…

• How he served- “the grace of God with me”
• Why he served- to get more praise? No, to catch up with the others who were born “in due time.”

            It seems almost a given then that we must also examine our own level of intensity in the service of the Savior. Paul’s heart?

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. (2 Tim 2:1-4).

            Where is your heart? Where is mine?

Integrity (v.11)- In the final analysis, the point is that it is not the messenger, but the message that counts. This challenges us in two significant ways…

• To make sure that the message is being clearly and accurately presented,
• To encourage those who truly proclaim the Gospel of grace.

            Paul did and we see his passion for the Cross as a result.

• 1 Cor. 3- the hero cults of the Corinthians don’t matter for God gives the increase
• Phil.1- even the ones who preached from inappropriate motives didn’t gain Paul’s animosity- as long as Christ was preached in truth.

            That is integrity of ministry, and shows the true maturity in Christ that Paul has seen instilled into his own heart and mind. Someone has said, “It is truly amazing what you can get done when you don’t care who gets the credit.” Integrity doesn’t worry about getting the credit, just spreading the truth!

The point? Paul declares that the resurrection is borne witness by the message of the Gospel and by scores of witnesses, but the greatest witness to the reality of the Gospel is the evidence of a changed life! The Gospel of the Risen Lord is a life-transforming reality. One historian wrote…

It was the conviction of the resurrection of Jesus which lifted His followers out of the despair into which His death had cast them and which led to the perpetuation of a movement begun by Him. But for their profound belief that the crucified had risen from the dead and they had seen Him and talked with Him, the death of Jesus and even Jesus Himself would probably have been all but forgotten.

            A follower of Buddha writes of that religious leader, “When Buddha died it was with that utter passing away in which nothing whatever remains.” For the follower of Christ, it couldn’t be more different! As the hymn says, “I serve a risen Savior who’s in the world today.”

If Jesus isn’t risen, we have no Savior to serve. “Yet, now is Christ risen from the dead”—and the transformed lives of the saints are the greatest earthly witness to the power of the resurrection.

How has the resurrection transformed your life? Values? Attitudes?