Christ, Died for Our Sins and Has Risen from the Dead
Truth Taught- Absolutely everything in the Christian life is contingent on the resurrection of Christ
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Last time we saw Paul lay out the Gospel for us.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (ESV)
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
As he shows us the components of the Gospel, he includes the fact that Christ died and His death was an atoning death, it was for our sins. We saw that Jesus was buried and was raised on the third day. We also saw that all of this was written down in the OT Scriptures.
We further saw last time that there were various eyewitness accounts of Jesus alive and well post crucifixion. Many credible witnesses verified the fact of the resurrection.
So, the proof of the resurrection has been established by Paul as a verifiable fact…it really did take place. Jesus really died for our sins and really rose on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
Now after establishing the fact of the resurrection of Christ, he will teach that to deny the resurrection of the dead, our own resurrection, which is also a fact is to deny the resurrection of Christ which is proven by Scripture, Eyewitnesses, Effect of the Gospel and verified by Paul, himself. Beloved we stand on rock solid ground with no legitimate doubt or argument.
1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (ESV)
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
1. If There is No Resurrection of the Dead, Then Even Christ has Not Been Raised (15:12-13)
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
When he tells us that Christ is preached as being raised from the dead, this takes in all he has previously taught. All the proofs are in mind and even one more which is that Paul being an apostle has preached that Christ has risen from the dead.
To deny the resurrection of the dead is to also deny Christ’s resurrection which has already been proven. Both Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection rise and fall together. If one is true, both are true, if one is false both are false.
Salvation, then depends on the resurrection of Christ and our resurrection one day as well. All these things are tied together. Faith, justification, atonement and resurrection. They are tied together because we are called by God to believe these things and then our belief is credited to us as righteousness.
Speaking of Abraham Paul writes,
Romans 4:20–25 (ESV)
20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 That is why his faith was “counted to him as righteousness.” 23 But the words “it was counted to him” were not written for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
Jesus died for our sin and was raised for our justification…to believe is to receive complete salvation, soul and body. This is what Paul teaches us today.
When Jesus saved us by faith, He not only redeemed our souls but also redeemed our bodies as well. He saved our whole person. That’s why the application of redemption will not be completed until one day our glorified bodies and our redeemed souls are reunited at Christ’s return. The application of redemption will not be complete until our bodies are entirely set free from all the effects of the fall and brought into the state of perfection for which God created them.
Romans 8:22–23 (ESV)
22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
The stage in the application of redemption when we receive resurrection bodies is called glorification. Referring to that future day Paul says that we will be glorified with him (Rom. 8:17). Moreover, when Paul traces the steps in the application of redemption, the last one he names is glorification:
Romans 8:28–30 (ESV)
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
I pray we see together that one day and it’s as good as already done that’s why Paul uses the past tense for glorified. Just as surely as Jesus rose from the dead with a new glorified body, we too will one day rise from the dead and be given a similar body…we will be glorified as surely as we were foreknown, predestined, called, and justified.
I can’t imagine living in a realm where there is no sin and no signs or effects of sin. Everything will be as it was with Adam and Eve only better. God will receive the glory due Him when in glorified bodies we truly see what He has saved us from and what He has done to make it a reality. Our glorification is worth waiting for.
2. Six Tragic Consequences of a Christianity Without Resurrection (15:14-19)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Here Paul creates a hypothetical argument showing the utter tragedy of the Christian faith without resurrection. So, if Christ has not been raised then…
A. Preaching and Faith are Empty (15:14)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
The central content of Paul’s preaching was the death and resurrection of Christ. If there is no resurrection then the preaching that brought the message of the Gospel to them was empty, void, without power or meaning at all. The word vain here means empty and without basis.
This helps to further solidify the fact that there is a resurrection. Because Paul being an Apostle only preached the message God gave him to preach.
1 Corinthians 1:1a
1 Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus
We have shown to us Paul’s authority as an Apostle. We see Paul was called by God to be an Apostle. It was God who wanted Paul to engage in this ministry and so he was saved for that very purpose. In other words, it was not Paul’s idea by God’s will.
However, if there is no resurrection as they were teaching then Paul’s preaching becomes empty and void of truth which then their faith also is empty because their faith had been founded on the message Paul preached the death and resurrection of Christ. Their faith then is of no value at all.
B. All the Apostles Become False Prophets (15:15)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then…
15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
If there is no resurrection then all the Apostles are liars and false prophets. God did not really call them or give them His message to preach. All the Apostles, their preaching and even their writings are fraud. Your Bible is a book of lies and every page then is misrepresenting God. if it is true that the dead are not raised.
C. Even Christ Then, Has Not Been Raised (15:16)
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
Since Christ’s resurrection is not His own doing but God’s vindication of the work of the Son, that means that a denial of the resurrection of the dead leads ultimately to a denial of the Gospel altogether and levels accusations even against God Himself that He did not do what, in fact, He did do.
If there is no resurrection there is no Gospel because the Father did not accept the Son’s death as payment for others…Jesus is still dead if there is no resurrection of the dead.
D. Believers are Still in Their Sins (15:17)
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
Everything the Bible tells us about believers is wrong if there is no resurrection. No calling, no predestined to life, no justification, and no glorification. Nothing basically that the Bible tells us is true.
There is no…and such were some of you…
1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)
11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
This verse is not true. No one is washed, sanctified or justified…it should read and such are all of you. If there is no resurrection then we are all still in our sins.
E. Believers Who Have Died Have Sunk Into Eternal Ruin (15:18)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then …18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
Here, as in other places, the phrase fallen asleep is used for death of a believer. If there is no resurrection then the believers who had died have eternally perished, they have not fallen asleep. They are ruined and have entered into eternal punishment because their sins are placed not on Christ but on themselves. They have no future hope but remain dead and in eternal torment.
If the Corinthians are right on this then every aspect of the Christian life, past present and future is all gone and means nothing.
F. Christians are To Be the Most Pitied of All People (15:19)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then …19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
The terrible conclusion to a Christianity with no resurrection is that Christians are to be most pitied of all people.
Here is why…Christians have forsaken much in this present life for the life to come. We lay up treasure in heaven rather than on earth only to discover without the resurrection there is no heaven. We forsake the present in many ways looking to the future which is only a future of suffering and torment for our sin because Jesus did not die for our sin, He died for His sin and remains dead if there is no resurrection.
What a terrible life we live, if there is no resurrection…
BUT GOD!
1 Corinthians 15:20 (ESV)
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
But in fact…
Christ has been raised from the dead.
There is a resurrection of the dead
We are awaiting our glorified bodies
Preaching is not in vain
Our faith is not in vain
Paul and the other Apostles are speaking God’s Word
Christ died for us
We who believe are not in our sins
The dead in Christ have not perished
We are not a pitied people
We have all the hope in the world because Jesus has been raised and so we will be.
Matthew 28:5–10 (ESV)
5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
John 11:21–27 (ESV)
21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Believe the Gospel and be saved.
Resources Used:
1 Corinthians by Gordon Fee
Systematic Theology by Grudem
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