If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead (Part 7)

Christians Gave up ALL…for NOTHING

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable” (1 Corinthians 15:19). One may think the apostles came up with this great scheme for monetary purposes but fail to consider one great thing. The apostles had nothing to lose and everything to gain. Uninspired historical documents show that every apostle (save John) suffered greatly during their lives. Paul even spoke of his own sufferings to those of Corinth (2 Corinthians 11:24-28). If these men had placed all of their hope in a lie, they would be the most miserable people on earth? Why? These men gave up everything for nothing in return. The same would count true for Christians! Christians must be willing to deny self, take up our crosses, and follow Christ (Mark 8:34). For what? If Christ is not risen from the dead, then:

1.      The Preaching of the Gospel is Worthless.

2.      The Faith of Christians is Meaningless.

3.      The Apostles are Liars.

4.      Man is Still in His Sins.

5.      There is Nothing After Death.

Surely, the Christian gave up EVERYTHING for nothing in return if Christ were still in the grave.

“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming” (1 Corinthians 15:20-23.) Paul concludes by saying that it is a fact that Christ rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:5-11) and is the first of many. Through Adam, death entered into the world but through Christ, the resurrection of the dead. The Christian can find comfort in these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead (Part 6)

There is Nothing After Death

“Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” (1 Corinthians 15:18). Think about that one for a moment. These Corinthians would at that moment think of loved ones, friends, and faithful brethren. If Christ is not risen from the grave, they would have perished. The Greek word means “to destroy fully.” If this is true, those who have died have been destroyed to the fullest degree. There is no hope for them. The Corinthians would then turn to self and realize that at death, they too would be fully destroyed. It would not matter that Paul told those of Thessalonica “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). The Lord would still be in the grave. He is a fraud after all. He wouldn’t be coming for anyone. Instead, those of Corinth (and Christians as a whole) would sorrow as those who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  If Christ is not risen from the dead, there is no hope for anything when this life is over.

If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead (Part 5)

Our Sins Have NOT Been Forgiven

This is another heavy thought for these Corinthians to consider. “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:16-17). If Christ is not risen, no one has been forgiven of their sins. This was another of the main messages of the Bible (Colossians 1:14; Hebrews 9:11-15). In looking at these verses, it is easy to see the gravity of the situation. If Christ is not risen from the dead, NO ONE has had their sins forgiven because the man who was hung on a cross was a fake. God would not have raised an imposter from the grave but the true article. Since man is made “dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” when he obeys from the heart (Romans 6:11, 17-18), what does that say about man’s condition now? If Christ is not risen from the dead, then man is still sinking deep in sin.

If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead (Part 4)

The Apostles are Liars

“Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not” (1 Corinthians 15:15). God chose preaching as the avenue by which man would be saved. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). What if those preaching the message were liars? Certainly, there have been counterfeits throughout the history of man (Jeremiah 14:14; Revelation 2:2). That’s what Paul calls himself and those who preached the message of Christ. The message of the apostles would have been contrary to God, therefore the apostles would have testified of (or against) God! On numerous occasions the apostles pointed to the resurrected Christ. “Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole” (Acts 4:10; cf. Acts 2:32; 3:15; 28:31; Romans 6:23). If Christ was not risen, then the apostles were found to be liars.

If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead (Part 3)

Faith in Christ is Meaningless

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14). If Christ is not risen from the dead, then the faith of Christians is meaningless! God always intended the message of the gospel to reach all mankind. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). “And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.” (Acts 15:7).  What is the basis of our belief? CHRIST! Our faith in Him also points to our faith in the resurrection. “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him” (1 Thessalonians 4:14; cf. 2 Timothy 2:11). So much of the Christian faith revolves around the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ If Christ is not risen, then Christians believe a lie.

If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead (Part 2)

The Preaching of the Gospel is Worthless

“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14). The word vain means “empty, worthless, meaningless.” Paul’s next argument is that if Christ is not risen from the dead, then the preaching of the apostles is without worth. The main focus behind the preaching of the apostles was Jesus Christ! Paul made it clear when he told the Corinthians that he only intended to give attention to Christ and Him crucified (1 Corinthians 2:2). “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.” (Colossians 1:18). What of the teaching of baptism in relation to the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:3-6)? One can even consider the Second Coming of Christ (Revelation 22:20). It wouldn’t matter if Jesus were still dead. Even consider what Paul wrote concerning Christ in the verses leading to this discussion. None of it would matter. Incidentally, this article would have very little use to anyone if Jesus were still in His tomb. The preaching of the gospel done by many individuals today would be all for nought. Why? The central theme of the church’s message today is, “Christ and Him crucified.”

If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead (Part 1)

If There Be No Resurrection of the Dead… (1 Corinthians 15:12-19).

The church at Corinth was a congregation of many problems. These problems are so well known amongst the church that it has been jokingly said, “Every preacher wants to go to Philippi but no one wants to go to Corinth.” That is to say preachers would like to go to a congregation where very few problems exist, like Philippi, rather than one with more issues than a magazine stand. Among these problems is one of which will be discussed over the course of the next few days. Chapter 15 of 1^st Corinthians is referred to the “Resurrection Chapter” because of the deal of time which Paul writes on the subject. Sadly, he is not writing to keep the brethren encouraged and reminded of the resurrection. One of the main reasons he is forced to write on this subject is because certain members of the congregation denied the resurrection. “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Corinthians 15:12). It was not that these did not believe Christ had not risen from the dead but that there was not going to be a resurrection of the dead. Paul uses an interesting method to combat this false doctrine called “logical implication.” It may sound complicated but implication is very easy. It works like this: If Jacob is older than Sally and Sally is older than Rena, it can be implies that Sally is older than Rena. Over the next few verses he will use multiple “if…then” statements to show the logical conclusions of this teaching.

Christ is Not Risen

Paul does not mince words at the beginning as he wrote: “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen” (1 Corinthians 15:13). These Corinthians did not deny the resurrection of Jesus but Paul states the resurrection of Jesus is impossible if there is no resurrection of the dead. This is the first and one of the strongest conclusions given by Paul considering the implications of Christ still being dead. This is also a heavy thought when one considers how important the resurrection is in the gospel (vv. 1-4) and that it was done “according to the scriptures.” Consider the relationship between Psalm 16:1-11 and Acts 2:24-32. One of the main reasons Jesus came to this earth was to pave the way for man’s resurrection through His own. Concerning Christ, the Hebrews writer stated: “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Hebrews 2:14). Mankind is flesh and blood and subject to death. One of the reasons that Christ came to this earth was to become flesh and dead and face death. This was done to destroy which power had over mankind. The only way it could be done was through His death AND resurrection. Furthermore, that would make the One who called Himself, the Christ, a fraud. “And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day” (Luke 24:46). He also promised man that whoever believed on Him would have eternal life (John 6:51). This would make Jesus a phony. If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus is still dead. Christians do not serve a risen Savior but a dead master.