1 Corinthians 15 - What's At Stake If Jesus Did Not Rise From the Dead!
The Resurrection of Christ
15 Now, brothers and sisters, 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.
Paul frequently uses the word "gospel" in his letters. The word means "good news". Paul says it is "by the gospel" they received, taken their stand on, and are saved by. Obviously the "gospel" is at the heart of the Christian faith, and by believing in it we are saved.
So what is the gospel? The gospel is the Good News about Jesus, who came from heaven to earth to show us the way back to the Father. The gospel is the Good News that if we believe in Jesus, we will be forgiven of all of our sins. The gospel is the Good News that if we believe in Jesus, when we die we will be raised to eternal life. So often people fail to see the connection between the gospel and what Christians believe.
Oftentimes people will think that Christians focus on the bad news. The fact that we are sinners and if we don't repent we will go to hell. While that is true, it is not the good news. Most people know how sinful they are. What they need to know is that God loves them in spite of their sinful nature. God knew we needed a Savior to save us from our sin, so He sent His only Son to do that.
God's desire is that everyone would hear the gospel and understand it is Good News. How often to you share the Good News with others? Of course, doing good deeds and sharing the love of Christ is part of sharing the gospel. We are called to share the gospel in BOTH word and deed. But we also need to share why we do good deeds. It is reflection that we have received Jesus as our Savior.
3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: 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 Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters 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.
Jesus then summarizes the content of the gospel, which he had passed on to the Corinthians. Most importantly that Jesus died for their sins. Jesus died, was buried, but then was raised from the dead after three which the bible predicted and He did many times as well. He was raised from the dead three days after he died. There is a ton of proof both directly and indirectly that he raised from the dead.
The proof is that he appeared to his disciples. First to the apostle Peter, and then to the others. But he also appeared to 500 more of the early Christians. At the time the time of the writing of 1st Corinthians (about 55 A.D.) many were still alive to give eyewitness testimony. This is important because anyone could have easily dismissed Jesus' resurrection as false, if these eyewitnesses were discredited. They could easily have disproved the resurrection by producing a dead body. But they never could do either.
He also appeared to James, the other apostles, and even the apostle Paul. Paul says that he was one who was "abnormally" born. This is because Jesus appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, as he was going to round up Christians and bring them to prison. Jesus appeared to Paul and said, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me!" So Paul too was writing from personal experience.
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 is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.
Paul realized that he was lucky to become a disciple of Jesus, after all he had done to Jesus' followers. But this taught Paul about Jesus' grace, as he didn't get what he deserved. Jesus' grace was not lost on Paul, as he spent the rest of his life sharing the gospel of what Jesus had done for him. Paul concluded by saying it was not as important who preached the gospel, but that it was preached.
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 of all people most to be pitied.
Some were claiming that Jesus did not really rise from the dead. Some of the Corinthians were even saying this. But Paul points out that the resurrection is non-negotiable, and the linchpin of the Christian faith. The resurrection is so crucial to the gospel that Paul says if Jesus has not risen from the dead, our faith if futile. If Jesus has not been raised from the dead he is not truly God. If he is not truly God then he could not be the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Christianity stands or falls on the literal, historical resurrection of Jesus.
If Jesus was just a man, he would have had to die for his own sins on the cross. The resurrection proved Jesus was who he said he was. Jesus told the disciples on several occasions that though he would die and be raised from the dead. Therefore, if Jesus did not rise from the dead he was a liar and the truth was not in him. Jesus was not liar or lunatic. He was and is Lord!
The resurrection of Jesus proves Jesus was and is the Son of God. Fortunately there is a ton of proof that the resurrection is true. There is no religion where the main figure said they were the Son of God, would die, and be raised again from the dead. This essential aspect of our faith makes Christianity unique from any other religion.
Paul makes a bold comment, "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied."
I have a slightly different take. While I believe 100% that Jesus rose from the dead, even if he didn't I would have lived the life I've always wanted. I would have lived a life with a purpose greater than myself. I would have shown and known a love which much of the world has never experienced. I would have missed the opportunity as a pastor to care for people and be there at baptisms, confirmations, marriage, and especially when they died. I would have missed the opportunity to enjoy a Christian marriage and raising two wonderful kids to be followers of Jesus. Nope, I have already been given "eternal life" in many ways in my life on earth!
This is why I believe people who don't believe in Jesus have missed the opportunity of a lifetime. If you are reading this and even have doubts that Jesus rose from the dead, believe in what you know to be true and follow Jesus. As you apply the principles of his life in your life, you will see what He is the way, the truth, and the life. What I mean is that you don't have to answer every single question answered. before you make a decision to follow Jesus. More will come true as you follow and trust in him with your whole life.
This is a decision you will never regret in this life, and it will pay big dividends when you spend eternity with him and other Christ followers.
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 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.”[c] 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.
After asking the question, Paul answers it boldly. Paul says, "But Christ has indeed been raised form the dead!"
There remains then only one big promise that will be fulfilled either in our lifetime, or in the generation to come. Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead, but when he returns all those who belong to him will be raised from the dead. Finally, Jesus will destroy all the principalities and powers in this world which currently ruled by Satan. He will destroy sin, death, and the power of the devil. What a glorious day that will be.
This is Jesus' final act of submission to God the Father. Jesus will return to the right hand of the Father and reign with him and with us forever.
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 face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32 If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, 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.
Paul's belief in the resurrection is so great that he faces death every day because of it. And not only him, but his disciples, which is why he says, "And as for us". Paul concludes that if Jesus didn't rise from the dead, we should go out and "eat and drink for tomorrow we die!" I think he is being sarcastic but you get the point.
Apparently this is how some of the Corinthians were living their lives. They were dabbling in sinful behaviors like sexual immorality. Some of this was based on who they were associating with. We all know that we often take on the behaviors of those we choose to hang out with. It is just human nature. This is why it is good to keep "good company". Other Christians who inspire you, pray for you, and will speak the truth in love to you if you are not living a life worthy of your calling.
I have had many friends like this over the years and I am forever grateful for them.
The Resurrection Body
35 But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?” 36 How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 37 When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. 39 Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. 41 The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
Another question the Corinthians had was, "What kind of body will we have in heaven?" The short answer is that our heavenly bodies will be nothing like our earthly bodies. Just like the sun, moon, and stars are different in splendor, so will our heavenly bodies be as different than the ones we inherited when we were born.
The bottom line is the type of body we will inherit in heaven is so different than our earthly body that it can't be described in earthly terms. All Paul can give is earthly analogies, which all fall short in describe our future reality.
If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 45 So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”[f]; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. 46 The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. 48 As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we[g] bear the image of the heavenly man.
In this life we bore the image of God but also in the form of an "earthly man". In the next life we will bear the image of the "heavenly man".
“There is nothing more uncomely, unlovely, and loathsome than a dead body; but it will not be so when it shall be raised again, then it shall be a beautiful, comely body. We shall rise in a full and perfect age, (as is generally thought) and without those defects and deformities which may here make our bodies appear unlovely.” (Poole)
Since we will bear the image of the heavenly Man, the best example we have of what a resurrection body will be like is to see what Jesus’ resurrection body was like. The resurrection body of Jesus was material and could eat (Luke 24:39-43), yet it was not bound by the laws of nature (Luke 24:31, 24:36-37). (Guzik)
50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[h] 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”[i] 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
These are verses I often read at funerals (aka celebrations of life). There are quotes in here from the Old Testament prophets, Isaiah and Hosea. When the end comes a trumpet will be sound and all will be changed in the snap of a finger. The victory is a victory over sin. The sin we inherited as human beings. The sin that came into the world through one man's rebellion. As Paul says on Romans 6:23, "The wagers of sin is death." Not only physical death, but spiritual death.
But death as been "swallowed up in victory!" This is what makes a Christian funeral different from any other funeral. This is why Christian funerals are appropriately called, "Celebrations of Life." Having just officiated at my Father's funeral in May, and two close friends in August, you cannot put a price on this truth we can possess and proclaim when someone we love dies.
This victory over sin can also be realized as we live our life on earth. Though we will struggle with our sinful nature until we die, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us the same power that raised Jesus from the dead. As we live in the power of the Holy Spirit, we can overcome our sinful nature which we lived in bondage to before we became a Christian.
"So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh." Galatians 5:16
Many Christians live defeated lives. The get stuck in sinful patterns and stay in the clutches of the evil one. But it doesn't have to be this way. Though there will be a victory over sin, death, and the power of the devil when Jesus returns, we can live in that victory now.
Would you say you are experiencing the victory over the sinful nature in Christ? What choices are you making which bring you back to the bondage of the sinful nature? If bad company corrupts good morals, what does your company look like?
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
This is a great memory verse. It summarizes everything Paul is exhorting the Corinthians to be about. It is more relevant today than every. As believers we need to, "Stand firm and let nothing move us." The world in everything in it is trying to get us to conform to its norms and standards. Many Christians have caved to the world's values in areas like sexuality. As someone said,
"Unless you stand for something, you will fall for anything!" - Alexander Hamilton, American founding father.
Finally, Paul says, "Always giving yourself to the work of the Lord knowing that you labor is not in vain."
There are some rewards on earth that are worth pursuing but none will compare to the reward we will receive in heaven, as we are faithful to the assignments we have been given on earth by the Lord. Nothing we do for the Lord will be in vain. There is no assignment the Lord gives us which is not worthy of our best effort.
Does your life reflect the type of life Paul is describing here? If not, there is always time to bring life in alignment with God's perfect plan for your life. Maybe it is getting back involved in church? Maybe it is leading a bible study, or volunteering in an area the church needs you? Maybe it is surrendering a habit that is keeping you from enjoying the life you've always wanted and God wants for you.
Don't wait. Life is short as I just experienced two of my friends, my age, die (58 and 61). One day you will realize that it will be worth it all!
Comments
Post a Comment