The Festival of the Resurrection
1 Corinthians 15:1–11
Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Grand Marais, MN
April 5, 2026
Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen.
P: Christos Anisti, Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
Paul says,
I delivered to you… what I also received
The Truth. The Christian church teaches the truth. It isn’t Paul’s ideas, or a made-up theology. It wasn’t invented by the church. Paul says he delivers what he received. All of Christianity hinges on that idea. The Resurrection of Jesus is the truth.
You are not saved by what you invent—you are saved by what was delivered to you. Through the Word that is preached. The Word that strikes your ears. The Word passed down from generation to generation.
Paul makes it very clear. He proclaims the simple Gospel. Christ Jesus died for our sins. He hung upon the cross. He was buried in a tomb. He was as dead as could be. On the third day he rose again to life. It is simple, clear and unmistakable.
If it is true, it means everything for you and me.
And it is true.
It is not advice or inspiration. These are simple irrefutable facts. People have gone out to disprove them and come back believing the truth. We know that we are sinners. We know the consequences of our sin. Your sin requires death. Jesus died and rose again.
There is no separating Good Friday, Jesus death on the cross, from Easter. Jesus’ resurrection is proof of everything he did. All his preaching, all his miracles, all his actions, all his claims about himself.
He said he would die and rise again. His claims are made true in the Resurrection. The resurrection stands as proof that he accomplished all that he became human to do.
Christ did not almost die.
He did not spiritually rise.
He actually did both.
And Paul emphasizes the truth of it. He called on the Corinthian church to seek out the truth. There were plenty of witnesses. Cephas, the Twelve, 500, James, all the apostles, Paul, himself.
What happened to Jesus, his preaching, his death, burial and resurrection, were public event. Verifiable and proclaimed. Our faith stands strong on events in history. They are not just ideas in your heart.
While we want faith to be private and unprovable, subjective; God anchors your salvation outside of you, in real history, real happening, a real person, a real death, a real resurrection.
The Gospel is not something you discover—it is something delivered to you. Given through the proclamation of Jesus Christ.
And the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just victory—it is mercy for real sinners.
Paul points to himself.
I am the least… unworthy…
He names his sin plainly: persecutor of the Church.
Then he sets the contrast of God’s grace.
By the grace of God I am what I am.
What he is saying is that if the Gospel reaches the persecutor of the church, it reaches you. God’s grace is that no one is too far gone. No sin outruns the risen Christ.
Paul makes it clear and simple.
By this Gospel you are saved.
You are saved by this Gospel. This Gospel. The accounts of Jesus preaching, death, burial and resurrection.
Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Your salvation does not rest on your faith—it rests on Christ’s resurrection. You have salvation when you have faith in that resurrection, your sins forgiven, trust in Jesus.
The resurrection is not optional. It is the beating heart of the whole thing. It is the line between life and death. All of Christianity hinges on this fact.
If Jesus Christ is not raised, you are still in your sins and lost.
But he has risen from death.
And because of that you are made right with God.
Christ is risen—and that means your sin is forgiven and your death is finished. Amen.
P: Christos Anisti, Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
The peace of God that passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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