THE THIRD DAY HE ROSE AGAIN … WHOSE KINGDOM SHALL HAVE NO END
Prayer: Risen Lord, You have given us Your holy Word which records in the New Testament the eyewitness testimony that You rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. Help us to live – and pray – as if we believe that You are risen, living and ascended, that we live in a kingdom that never ends, and that we have access to Your glory, grace, and power. Amen!
Sermon Text: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, 19-26. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. … If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. But each one in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.
Lord, this is Your Word and these are Your words. Sanctify us by the truth; Your Word is truth. Amen.
With this portion of the Nicene Creed:
And the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
Dear fellow redeemed in Christ, our risen, living, and ascended Lord:
These are powerful words. Because it’s a creed that we say, you have to put the words, “I believe,” in front of these words:
Not only: “And the third day He rose again,” etc., but:
“I believe the third day He rose again according to the Scriptures, and I believe He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and I believe He will come again with glory to judge both the living and the dead.” The last part too: “I believe His kingdom shall never end.”
Why do I say these words are powerful? Because these are the truths with the most power in heaven and earth. It’s the power over death. It’s the power over the devil. It’s the power to forgive sins, the power that forgives sins – sends them away. It’s the power of an unending life. It’s the power of the King of kings and a kingdom that can’t be shaken or overthrown.
When you believe Christ is risen, then you’re connected to this power. His victory is your victory. His glory is your glory. His power is something you have constant access to. When you say, “I believe” with these words, then you are saying not only what He is, but also what you are. That death has no power over you. That the devil has no claim on you. That you have no sins before God. That you have an unending life That you’re in the kingdom that can’t be shaken, so you can’t be shaken.
Saying it is confessing Christ before men, and so He confesses you before His Father in heaven. Romans 10:9 says: “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Saying it brings it home to yourself too.
This is about the fact that Jesus is risen. Not everyone believes this. In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is making a case against those who say that Christ is not risen, that there’s no resurrection, nothing after this life.
But before we think about the atheists out there, think of the atheist in here. When you aren’t sure that you are forgiven, or can be. When you are trembling in your faith. When the world beats you down and you just feel weak. When you have persistent grief. When you’re afraid for loved ones. When you have no peace. When you feel alone. When you feel God must only judge you. When God feels far away. When your prayers feel weak, or your prayers die on your lips. When you don’t feel like praising God.
Just think how in your life you don’t live like Jesus is risen, like He’s living, and in control. You live like He’s far away and you are on your own. This is a practical atheism, where you believe in God but think everything in life is up to you, it’s all on you. You act as if you live in a homeless camp, not in a kingdom. You get shaken by everything, a fluttering leaf can scare you, that’s what a fearful conscience is like. There’s no confidence.
So when Paul is arguing against the atheist mind that denies Christ’s resurrection, He is arguing against the sinful mind in you too.
He’s also arguing against the skepticism that is out there, those who don’t believe what Scripture teaches. You live in a world where many people don’t believe. They might attack your faith. But realize this comes from a dark place, a place where they lack hope, or where they are hurting.
You can understand it too. When you’re stuck in guilt or shame, when you feel all alone, if you’re fearful for your loved ones’ health or you are in deep grief over a death, and you lack confidence or feel unsure of yourself, you struggle to live in the joy and confidence of Christ’s resurrection.
This is why St. Paul simply presents the inarguable evidence for Jesus’ resurrection. This is what to do with people who don’t believe – not to argue with them, but just to present the good news of what Jesus has done. Same thing with yourself – not to browbeat yourself for your weak faith, for what you need is just to hear the Gospel more. To focus less on yourself and to hear more of what Jesus has done for you.
St. Paul lists all these eyewitnesses of the risen Lord Jesus Christ. All those times – in the 40 days after He rose – that Jesus appeared to His followers, so there would be overabundant evidence of His resurrection.
It says He appeared to Peter one on one. He appeared to the 11 apostles minus Thomas. He appeared to the 11 apostles including Thomas. He appeared to 500 of His followers on one occasion. We know of at least four other times in the gospels that He appeared to His followers, plus this one to His brother James who didn’t believe before, but now seeing Jesus risen from the dead, he began to believe. That’s what Jesus’ resurrection does.
As St. Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 15, Jesus’ resurrection proves that the Christian faith is true, that all God’s promises are true, that all that the Scriptures teach is true. He says if Jesus isn’t risen then no sins are forgiven; if Jesus isn’t risen then your faith is empty. His resurrection – attested by so many eyewitnesses – proves that the sins are forgiven, for since He rose from the dead it proves the Father accepted His death as the payment for everyone’s sins. His resurrection is proof He conquered death, and He conquered it not for Himself but for you, me and everyone.
This is what we confess in the creed: we believe He “rose from the dead according to the Scriptures,” quoting St. Paul here. But it isn’t only about what happened in history. Not only is He risen, He’s living. After the 40 days, “He ascended into heaven,” which the Church observes this Thursday.
There is so much to say about this. But perhaps the main thing to think about is this, that He is your King. He is ruling over everything for our good. He has a kingdom. It includes us. It includes you. He brings you into His kingdom through faith. We say that “His kingdom shall have no end,”which means if you’re in His kingdom then you shall have no end.
This means that He is living and He’s given you a life with Him. “In Christ all shall be made alive.” It refers to a life that isn’t “this life only,” but eternal, a life that starts now and never ends; it ends in heaven. “The last enemy that will be destroyed” – it’s destroyed for you – “is death.” This means heaven has broken into your life. Wherever you are, you’re always in His kingdom, the “kingdom He delivers to God the Father.”
If you’re in His kingdom then it means He has forgiven you. He deals with you not as your sins deserve but by grace alone. So if you feel weak or fearful, or your trust isn’t good, you aren’t steadfast or victorious in your faith, or you’re stuck in grief, or your attitude stinks, or you feel alone, or you can’t praise Him or don’t have the words to pray, it’s OK. The true reality for you isn’t according to what you feel and experience. You are in His kingdom, and goodness knows it isn’t due to you. It’s due to Him. He does not look upon your sins. He forgives them. He says: “You, you’re in My kingdom, I’m your King, you can count on Me, just give it to Me.”
He is risen and by grace you believe it. His victory is your victory. His glory is given to you. His power is available to you, for you are constantly connected to Him by faith and your baptism.
This means something for your prayers. If you think your problem is impossible, remember You pray to the one who won the victory over all enemies. He has all power in His hand, all to help you. “He puts an end to all rule and authority and power,” Paul says, that is, all evil spiritual powers that want to be obstacles to your good. “He puts an end” to them, so He is more powerful and He has this power for your good. “He must reign,” Paul says. You are coming to the King. He listens to you. He is near.
He invites you to speak to Him in prayer with all boldness and confi-dence. For through Him, for His sake, God looks on you with favor. Amen!