Sermon Notes: Christus Victor: The Risen Lord, Easter Yr B

Christus Victor: The Risen Lord

Easter Day, Yr B, April 16, 2006
Fr. Aidan Jerry Hix, Vicar
St. Aidan’s Church, Antioch, CA
Tradition Care Funeral Chapel

Readings:
Acts 10. 34-43 or Is 25. 6-9
Ps. 118. 14-29
Col. 3.1-4; Mk. 16.1-8
RCL: 1Cor 15.1-11

Text: 1Cor 15.1-11
1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. 3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it was I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. 28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. 29 Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them? 30 And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31 I die every day--I mean that, brothers--just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." 33 Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." 34 Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God--I say this to your shame.

HOOK- Introduction
Steve Austin- The Bionic Man / 6 Million Dollar Man
“We can make him better than he was before...”

BOOK
This is the earliest tradition of the Resurrection of Christ in the NT (c. 50 AD)
Precedes by several decades the Gospel of Mark- the earliest Gospel
Paul’s Gospel of Christ’s Death & Resurrection preceded him:
“3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”
Delivered (paredoka) & received (parelabon)= transmission, handing down, of sacred tradition
Paul was “reminding” them of the Gospel (that he preached). Why? because:
1. It was the message they (& we) received
2. It is the basis on which they (& we) had there standing
3. Because some where questioning the Resurrection
“12 ....how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.
Paul’s Answer: The Gospel (the death & Resurrection) is the existential basis for the Christian Life
=The Center of Gravity for Christian Existence & Life-style
St Paul’s Bookends or Sentinels: Crucifixion (ch 1&2) & Resurrection (ch 15)
Crucifixion & Resurrection Guard the Gospel:
1 Cor 1: 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. 18 For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the cleverness of the clever I will thwart." 20 Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
Of Utmost Importance= “By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.”
Confessional Formula: “3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,”

LOOK (What does this mean for us?)
Resurrection Defined:
Anastasis: to raise or rise from the dead.
Vivification: reanimation:
God’s Way of demonstrating the defeat of death
The Redemptive Value of his death for others was made plain by his resurrection
The Event Revealed the Hidden Meaning of History
Christians understand the Crucifixion & Resurrection (one event) to be history’s most important event.
The Hallmark of Christian Testimony = “The Lord is risen indeed!” (Lk 24.34)
His Resurrection Raised Human Nature & Honored Humanity
vv. 20-23 “20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.”
St Athanasius: “God became Man, that Man might become God.”
= Deification or Theosis: through union with Christ our humanity is deified
Partakers of His Divine Nature (2 Pet 1.4)
“But we in faith become partakers of, participants in, or members of Christ’s own resurrected body. His resurrection points to what we are to become and makes possible the intended and fitting consummation of our humanity” (Oden, St Irenaeus)
His Resurrection Gives Us Hope
Rom 8.11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit which dwells in you.
The Final Consummation or Glorification

TOOK- APPLICATION: (What Are We Supposed to Do You?)
Realize The Gospel (Crucifixion & Resurrection) is Our Center of Gravity- Our Basis for Standing & Living
v. 11 “this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.”
Realize The Power of His Resurrection Raises the Potential of Our Humanity & Initiates the Process of Deification
Realize we Must Change Our Interior Perspective & Outward Behavior and Lifestyle:
(Col 3.1-4): 1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
1. Seek the Things That Are Above- to desire & strive for heavenly things, that our interests, goals, agendas, are centered on Christ
2. Set Your Minds on Things That Are Above- We must Set our Aim on the practical pursuits of a Christian Life. This deals with our inner motivations & dispositions; and our outer behavior & life style. The governing tendency of our thoughts & our wills is directed toward God.

Alleluia! Christ the Lord is Risen!
He is Risen Indeed. Alelluia!