09/25/2026
✝️ THE RISEN CHRIST: THE FOUNDATION OF OUR SALVATION
“If Christ be not raised, your faith is vain.” — 1 Corinthians 15:17 KJV
🔰 INTRODUCTION — CHRISTIANITY STANDS ON A RISEN SAVIOUR
The central issue of the Gospel is not merely that Jesus Christ lived, taught, performed miracles, and died. According to Paul, the saving Gospel includes the glorious truth that Christ rose from the dead.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 KJV
“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…”
In a Dispensational understanding, we should be careful when comparing Christianity with other religions. Our message is not simply, “Our religious founder is better than theirs.” Our message is that salvation is found in the finished work of Jesus Christ, the crucified and risen Lord.
Paul does not tell the Body of Christ to preach a superior religious system. He tells us to preach Christ crucified and risen.
📖 Romans 4:24–25
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
📖 2 Timothy 2:8
The great question is therefore not:
“Which religion have you joined?”
It is:
“HAVE YOU TRUSTED THE RISEN CHRIST AND HIS FINISHED CROSSWORK?”
1️⃣ PROBLEM OF MAN — SIN
📖 Romans 3:23
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Before man needs religion, education, philosophy, morality, or self-improvement, man needs salvation.
A. SIN IS UNIVERSAL
📖 Romans 3:10, 23
There is no race, nationality, social class, or religious background exempt from sin.
Paul concludes the whole world is guilty before God.
B. SIN IS UNPAYABLE BY WORKS
📖 Romans 3:20
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight…”
Good works cannot erase bad works.
Religion cannot cancel guilt.
Law-keeping cannot justify the sinner.
C. SIN RESULTS IN DEATH
📖 Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death…”
Our greatest problem is therefore deeper than poverty, sickness, loneliness, or earthly failure.
Our greatest problem is SIN.
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
MAN DOES NOT PRIMARILY NEED A BETTER RELIGION—MAN NEEDS A SAVIOUR.
2️⃣ PROVISION OF CHRIST — THE CROSS
📖 Romans 5:8
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
God's answer to sinful humanity is found in His Son.
A. CHRIST TOOK OUR PLACE
📖 2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ was sinless, yet He died on behalf of sinners.
Salvation is therefore based on substitution, not human achievement.
B. CHRIST PAID THE PRICE
📖 Ephesians 1:7
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins…”
Our redemption was purchased by Christ.
Not by money.
Not by ceremonies.
Not by religious sacrifices.
Not by our righteousness.
C. CHRIST PERFORMED THE WORK
📖 Romans 3:24–26
Justification is freely given by God's grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, the believer does not boast:
“Look what I did for God.”
He boasts:
“LOOK WHAT CHRIST DID FOR ME!”
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
RELIGION SAYS “DO.” GRACE POINTS TO WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.
3️⃣ PROCLAMATION OF PAUL — THE GOSPEL
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
In a Dispensational understanding, Paul clearly defines the Gospel he preached to the Corinthians.
A. CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS
📖 1 Corinthians 15:3
Notice Paul does not merely say:
“Christ died.”
He says:
“Christ died for our sins…”
The cross has saving significance because Christ's death dealt with our sin.
B. CHRIST WAS BURIED
📖 1 Corinthians 15:4
The burial confirms the reality of His death.
Christ did not merely faint or appear to die. He died and was buried.
📖 Romans 6:4
C. CHRIST ROSE AGAIN
📖 1 Corinthians 15:4
The Gospel does not end at the tomb.
The One who died for our sins rose again the third day.
Paul later declares:
📖 1 Corinthians 15:20
“But now is Christ risen from the dead…”
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
THE GOSPEL IS NOT GOOD ADVICE ABOUT WHAT YOU SHOULD DO—IT IS GOOD NEWS ABOUT WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE.
4️⃣ POWER OF THE RESURRECTION — VICTORY
📖 1 Corinthians 15:14
“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”
The resurrection is not a decorative addition to Christianity.
Without the resurrection, Paul's Gospel collapses.
A. RESURRECTION CONFIRMS THE SAVIOUR
📖 Romans 1:3–4
Christ was:
“…declared to be the Son of God with power… by the resurrection from the dead.”
The tomb could not hold Him.
B. RESURRECTION CONNECTS WITH JUSTIFICATION
📖 Romans 4:25
“Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
The cross and resurrection belong together in God's saving work.
Christ was delivered because of our offences and raised in connection with our justification.
C. RESURRECTION CREATES OUR HOPE
📖 1 Corinthians 15:17–20
Paul makes the consequence unmistakable:
If Christ were not risen, faith would be vain and believers would still be in their sins.
But Paul declares:
“But now is Christ risen from the dead…”
Because our Head lives, the Body of Christ has resurrection hope.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:51–53
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
AN EMPTY TOMB MEANS OUR SAVIOUR IS ALIVE, OUR GOSPEL IS NOT VAIN, AND OUR HOPE EXTENDS BEYOND THE GRAVE.
5️⃣ PERSONAL RESPONSE — FAITH
📖 Romans 4:5
Knowing facts about Christ is not the same as trusting Christ for salvation.
A person can know about Christianity, attend church, own a Bible, and perform religious activities while depending upon himself rather than Christ.
A. ABANDON SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS
📖 Philippians 3:9
Paul desired to be found in Christ:
“…not having mine own righteousness…”
Your morality cannot become your Saviour.
Your church cannot become your Saviour.
Your works cannot become your Saviour.
B. ACCEPT GOD'S GRACE BY FAITH
📖 Ephesians 2:8–9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith…”
Grace means salvation is God's gift rather than man's achievement.
C. ASSURE YOUR HEART IN CHRIST
📖 Ephesians 1:13–14
After hearing and believing the Gospel of salvation, the believer is:
“sealed with that holy Spirit of promise.”
Our confidence rests not in our ability to hold onto Christ, but in what God has accomplished for us in Christ.
🔥 PREACHING TRUTH:
DON'T TRUST YOUR RELIGION TO SAVE YOU. TRUST THE CHRIST WHO DIED FOR YOU AND ROSE AGAIN.
📣 CALL TO ACTION — THREE “B's”
1. BELIEVE THE GOSPEL
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
Stop depending upon personal merit.
Believe that Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose again.
2. BOAST IN CHRIST
📖 Galatians 6:14
“But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…”
Our boast is not:
“My religion is better than yours.”
Our boast is:
“CHRIST IS MY SAVIOUR.”
3. BROADCAST THE MESSAGE
📖 2 Corinthians 5:20
We are ambassadors for Christ.
Take the Gospel to people of every culture, nationality, and religious background—not with hatred or mockery, but with truth, clarity, grace, and love.
📖 Colossians 4:6
🏁 CONCLUSION — NOT RELIGION, BUT REDEMPTION
The strongest message we can take from the poster is not merely that other religious figures died.
The distinctly Christian proclamation is:
JESUS CHRIST DIED—BUT JESUS CHRIST ROSE AGAIN!
Yet even that statement must be connected to the Gospel.
Why did He die?
📖 “Christ died for our sins.”
What happened next?
📖 “He was buried.”
Did death defeat Him?
📖 “He rose again the third day.”
Therefore our message is not:
“Choose Christianity because it is one religion among thousands.”
Our message is:
“BELIEVE ON THE RISEN CHRIST AND REST IN HIS FINISHED WORK.”
💭 FINAL THOUGHTS
1️⃣ PROBLEM OF MAN — We are sinners who cannot save ourselves.
📖 Romans 3:23
2️⃣ PROVISION OF CHRIST — Christ died in our place and paid for our sins.
📖 Romans 5:8
3️⃣ PROCLAMATION OF PAUL — Christ died, was buried, and rose again.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:1–4
4️⃣ POWER OF THE RESURRECTION — Our faith is not vain because Christ is risen.
📖 1 Corinthians 15:17, 20
5️⃣ PERSONAL RESPONSE — Stop trusting yourself and believe the Gospel of Grace.
📖 Ephesians 2:8–9
✝️ THE CROSS PAID THE PRICE.
🪦 THE BURIAL CONFIRMED HIS DEATH.
🌅 THE RESURRECTION PROCLAIMED HIS VICTORY.
❤️ GRACE OFFERS SALVATION FREELY.
🙏 FAITH RESTS COMPLETELY IN CHRIST.
OUR MESSAGE IS NOT “COME TO OUR RELIGION.”
OUR MESSAGE IS “CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS, WAS BURIED, AND ROSE AGAIN.”
1 CORINTHIANS 15:1–4 KJV
