Daily Bread 2011 - 1 Corinthians 15
Daily Bread 2011
The Resurrection of the Dead
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.
What Does This Mean? Apparently there were some in the church in Paul’s day that were saying Jesus wasn’t really raised from the dead. Like today as sometimes happens they may have said this was a spiritual metaphor, but didn’t really “literally” happen. Paul meets this false teaching head on and says that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus hasn’t been raised and our faith is in vain. Now that sounds pretty dramatic, but Paul is dead serious that if Jesus hasn’t been raised from the dead, then everything we hold dear as Christians is in jeopardy.
Why? First of all Jesus said he would be literally raised from the dead after three days. (Mark 8:31, Luke 24:6-8) Second of all, it was prophesied in the OT Jesus would die and be raised from the dead as proof He was the Messiah. (Zechariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:10-12). Also, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves His victory over sin and opens the door to eternal life, which is our hope as believers in Him. As Paul says if Christ is not risen, we are still in our sins! Meaning part of Jesus’ resurrection is His victory over sin and death. Finally, Jesus’ resurrection proves He is more than a prophet. His resurrection proves He is and was the true Son of God, for death could not keep its grip on Him.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Simply everything! It means that we have hope that even though we will one day die, yet shall we live. It means that the same Spirit that brought Jesus back to life, will also give life to our mortal bodies. It means that as we live in the power of the resurrection, we can overcome sin, death, and the power of the devil. It is the resurrection power that the Holy Spirit comes to bring in and to us as we live in the power of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
So hopefully if someone were to come to you and say, “Well it is really no big deal if Jesus “really” rose from the dead”; you might be able to help them realize that actually it is a very big deal. Many call the literal resurrection of Jesus the linchpin of Christianity (including the apostle Paul), and I happen to agree with them! This is why Easter is the center of the liturgical Church year, and yet every day we can wake up and say, “Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!!!”
Jesus, we give thanks that your literal resurrection gives us hope that even though we die, yet shall we live. Thank you that our faith is based on a historical fact that has never been refuted because is it true, Jesus is alive!! Now help us to live in the power of His resurrection becoming like him in death and experience the new life he brings both now and forever, Amen.
The Resurrection of the Dead
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.
What Does This Mean? Apparently there were some in the church in Paul’s day that were saying Jesus wasn’t really raised from the dead. Like today as sometimes happens they may have said this was a spiritual metaphor, but didn’t really “literally” happen. Paul meets this false teaching head on and says that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Jesus hasn’t been raised and our faith is in vain. Now that sounds pretty dramatic, but Paul is dead serious that if Jesus hasn’t been raised from the dead, then everything we hold dear as Christians is in jeopardy.
Why? First of all Jesus said he would be literally raised from the dead after three days. (Mark 8:31, Luke 24:6-8) Second of all, it was prophesied in the OT Jesus would die and be raised from the dead as proof He was the Messiah. (Zechariah 12:10, Isaiah 53:10-12). Also, Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves His victory over sin and opens the door to eternal life, which is our hope as believers in Him. As Paul says if Christ is not risen, we are still in our sins! Meaning part of Jesus’ resurrection is His victory over sin and death. Finally, Jesus’ resurrection proves He is more than a prophet. His resurrection proves He is and was the true Son of God, for death could not keep its grip on Him.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Simply everything! It means that we have hope that even though we will one day die, yet shall we live. It means that the same Spirit that brought Jesus back to life, will also give life to our mortal bodies. It means that as we live in the power of the resurrection, we can overcome sin, death, and the power of the devil. It is the resurrection power that the Holy Spirit comes to bring in and to us as we live in the power of the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.
So hopefully if someone were to come to you and say, “Well it is really no big deal if Jesus “really” rose from the dead”; you might be able to help them realize that actually it is a very big deal. Many call the literal resurrection of Jesus the linchpin of Christianity (including the apostle Paul), and I happen to agree with them! This is why Easter is the center of the liturgical Church year, and yet every day we can wake up and say, “Christ is Risen, He is Risen Indeed!!!”
Jesus, we give thanks that your literal resurrection gives us hope that even though we die, yet shall we live. Thank you that our faith is based on a historical fact that has never been refuted because is it true, Jesus is alive!! Now help us to live in the power of His resurrection becoming like him in death and experience the new life he brings both now and forever, Amen.
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