This sermon covers Paul’s making known to the Corinthian church the ground of the gospel which he had preached to them, which is the bodily resurrection of Christ. This material is a bold, clear and forceful apologetic for the gospel itself as grounded in the appearances of the bodily raised Christ appearing to witnesses, including His apostles.

Paul claims that Christ was raised “according to the Scriptures.” He lays out the necessary facts of the gospel which had been “delivered” to him and preached. We find out that the reason Paul speaks to forcefully to the Corinthians on this is that some there were saying that there was no resurrection of the dead. If that were the case, then Christ was not raised and their faith was vain (literally ‘empty’).

The resurrected Christ had appeared to over 500 witnesses before His ascension to heaven to the right hand of God. Many were still alive when Paul wrote to the Corinthians. Christ also appeared to Paul, after His ascension, “last of all” as one untimely born. In the sermon we explain the significance of these words and the implication that Paul is the last, authoritative apostle. Paul was an enemy of Christ who was dramatically converted when Christ confronted him on the road to Damascus.

Paul attributed everything about his calling, ministry, and life serving Christ as by God’s grace alone. He did work hard, but even that was the grace of God with him. We make a strong case for the gospel itself and the need to repent and trust in Christ for forgiveness of sins. The historicity of the person and work of Christ is objective truth and makes all people accountable to believe in Him.