What You Believe Determines How You Live
Truth Taught- Denial of biblical truth greatly affects how you live in this world
1 Corinthians 15:29-34
In this short section, we are shown that the resurrection of the dead or we might say the resurrection of all true believers not only shows us our future and gives us so many wonderful promises but it also gives us purpose in this life.
I pray we see that the truths taught in the Bible are not to just be learned but must also be lived. The doctrines must shape our behavior.
During the days of Jesus’ earthly ministry, there was a group of people called the Sadducees who among other things denied the reality of the resurrection of the dead. This denial of truth greatly impacted their lives.
Matthew 22:23–33 (ESV)
23 The same day Sadducees came to him, who say that there is no resurrection, and they asked him a question, 24 saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies having no children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother.’ 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first married and died, and having no offspring left his wife to his brother. 26 So too the second and third, down to the seventh. 27 After them all, the woman died. 28 In the resurrection, therefore, of the seven, whose wife will she be? For they all had her.”
29 But Jesus answered them, “You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 31 And as for the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what was said to you by God: 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not God of the dead, but of the living.” 33 And when the crowd heard it, they were astonished at his teaching.
There is a resurrection, there is life after death. So, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are not dead. Their souls are alive with God and they are waiting for the resurrection of their bodies.
This denial of truth had greatly impacted their lives. They had many things wrong and worst of all did not see Christ when He stood right in front of them. Their lives were greatly affected in a negative way because they did not believe the truths of Scripture.
We must be quick to believe the Bible and quick to live out those truths. The faster the Holy Spirit applies truth to your heart, the faster truth begins to take effect and it becomes a part of who you are. Truth not acted upon is often lost.
Please Stand…
1 Corinthians 15:29–34 (ESV)
29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
1. The Resurrection of the Dead Gives Us Hope (15:29)
29 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf?
This passage is one that is often misunderstood. It does not teach that we can be baptized for a dead person and that is credited to them. It does not teach Purgatory and that we can somehow do an act that will benefit the dead who are in Purgatory.
What it does most likely refer to is someone who becomes a Christian due to a loved one who has died but while alive perhaps has shared the Gospel with them. The beginning of salvation could come about due to the prompting of a loved one. It could even extend to the hope of a blessed reunion with a loved one in the presence of Christ.
It could be like a dying mother’s appeal for her son to come to Christ. The Holy Spirit uses that appeal and saves the son.
This view is the one that best fits the context of the entire Chapter and this specific section.
Throughout the NT we do see a very close connection between salvation and baptism. Baptism is the outward testimony of salvation. It is an important part of the Great Commission…Go and make disciples, baptizing them…
This connection is seen here. Because the Church should be careful to only baptize believers, baptism is the mark of salvation. To say someone is baptized is very much like saying that person is saved.
So, we see that belief in the resurrection imparts hope in this life. Why would someone come to faith in Christ in hopes to be one day reunited with their deceased loved one if there is no resurrection of the dead?
There are those whose faith has been impacted by believers who have fallen asleep and may come to faith and may even be baptized because of them and their witness.
2. The Resurrection of the Dead Causes Us to Live Courageously (15:30-32a)
30 Why are we in danger every hour? 31 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! 32 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus?
Do you see the point here? If there is no resurrection of the dead, why in the world would believers live lives of hardship for the sake of the Gospel?
2 Corinthians 11:22–28 (ESV)
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. 28 And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
Why would anyone endure such things? The point is, no one would if this life is the only life there is. It would be crazy to endure such hostility for Christ if when we die, it’s all over.
If there is no resurrection of the dead it makes no sense to expose one’s self to danger in propagating Christianity. We see the Apostle uses his own experience to make his point. His entire life was lived in danger and constant trials which were entirely brought on by the fact that he believed in the Gospel, the resurrection of Christ and the resurrection of the dead. He believed the Gospel and was obedient to his calling to be the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Belief in the resurrection causes us to be courageous in the face of danger from those that oppose the message.
Do you see how what we believe determines how we live?
So, you can take a look at your own life and ask am I doing bold things for Christ? When I say bold things, I mean things that take you out of your comfort zone or things you would not do otherwise.
Hebrews Chapter 11 is full of great examples of OT believers who were willing to sacrifice everything to follow Christ.
Hebrews 11:24–26 (ESV)
24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward.
Moses was also living by faith and suffering along with God’s people because he knew this life is not all there is. He was looking ahead to his reward. Like Paul, Moses considered that being mistreated with Christ as a greater reward than all the wealth of Egypt.
I pray that our committed belief in the resurrection of the dead will encourage us to live bold lives for the sake of Christ. If the time comes, we will not cower in fear but step up and be determined to honor Christ no matter what the costs are.
Beloved are you prepared to suffer for the sake of Christ?
We can also look at Jesus’ motivation for suffering. He understood that He would be raised from the dead and this greatly impacted His ongoing suffering and then ultimately His suffering on the cross.
Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3. Resurrection of the Dead Greatly Encourages Sanctification (15:32b-34)
If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” 34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
As we look forward to our resurrection one day, we should be encouraged to live godly lives now. We see very clearly what Paul is getting at here…
If there is no resurrection then morality is a scam. We might as well get all we can in this life because there is no life to come if there is no resurrection.
If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
But in fact, there is a resurrection so it does matter what we do in this life.
Then in verse 34 we have Paul’s caution…do not be deceived. This world is out to deceive you. Stand firm in the truth and don’t be deceived.
Christians in Corinth were listening to and associating with false teachers. They were being taught damning heresies. So, Paul gives them this warning…33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
When we associate with false teachers, we are affected by what they teach. These Corinthian believers were associating with lost people who claimed to be teachers and their theology was not accurate which led to laxed morals.
What we believe affects how we live.
Some in Corinth who claimed to be teachers had no true knowledge of God. They had no knowledge of the truth and therefore no Christian morals. Bad theology always leads to bad behavior.
Their unbelief was like being drunk. They were not thinking clearly…
34 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
The knowledge of Christ’s resurrection and in turn, our resurrection will change us and how we live. There is no longer eat drink and be merry because tomorrow we die as Christians. Rather we live by God’s commands because there is a better place, there is a resurrection of the dead, there is a life and world to come and what we do in this life impacts the life to come.
1 John 3:2–3 (ESV)
2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
I want to conclude this by saying since what you believe affects how you live then your life should be a reality check for your faith. What I mean is that we should be able to look at our lives and determine what we believe.
Paul said be imitators of me as I am of Christ. Are we are living lives that show others that we truly are Christians because what we say we believe we really do believe and that truth really affects how we live.
Or as we examine our lives there is little hope, little courage, and little sanctification.
Are you very hope filled even through trials? Are you bold for Christ? Are you being changed into His image through sanctification?
Believe the truth and let the truth set you free…
Resources Used:
1 Corinthians by Gordon Fee
1 Corinthians by John MacArthur
1 Corinthians by Vaughn and Lee
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