1 Corinthians 15

Thursday, 12 March 2015

Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 1 Corinthians 15:18

Paul has been noting the consequences which would exist if Christ is not risen. The list has been sobering –

1) Preaching the gospel is empty
2) The faith of the believer is also empty
3) The apostles are actually found to be false witnesses of God
4) The believer’s faith is futile
5) All remain in bondage to their sins

Now he notes another saddening consequence. If Christ hasn’t risen, “then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” If someone called on a dead “Lord,” then they are “in” that dead Lord. Because He is dead, when they die (Paul continues with the theme of “falling asleep” because his words are rhetorical), then they will “have perished.”

A dead “Lord” who is not raised can certainly not raise another! Therefore, it is the end of the line for those who followed him as Lord. The dreams of a future restoration were lost. The efforts they put forth for their trusted Lord were wasted. The things they taught their own family and friends were lies. And the stake they were burned at, or the bullet which ended their life as they called out “I am Yours, O Christ” was of no merit. If Christ is not risen, then all of the hopes, dreams, aspirations, tears of joy, tears of sorrow, heartfelt prayers, and longing desires for His return… it was all misguided waste.

Paul will show the final consequence of such a notion in the coming verse.

Life application: There are a jillion religions on earth and the adherents of those various religions all believe that they are pursuing the true avenue to spiritual healing. And yet, only one can be true if God is truly God. There is but one way to be restored to our Creator and it is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ. The resurrection proves this is so, and the resurrection is not a mere vain hope. Instead, it is the truth of God. Be confident that your faith in Christ will be rewarded with eternal life in His wondrous presence.

Lord God, as the seasons begin to change, I adapt according to them – always being prepared for what is coming. In the winter, I have different preparations than the summer. In the spring, I look for different pleasures than I do in the fall. I know the timing of the seasons and what to expect. How much more then should I be prepared for the changing seasons of my life! An early winter storm may be unexpected and I need to be equipped. And my last breath may come today – have I properly prepared? Give me wisdom to remember that my span is set by You and that I need to be prepared for that day. Help me to use my time rightly. Amen.

Wednesday, 11 March 2015

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! 1 Corinthians 15:17

Paul, just prior to this verse, noted that “if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.” The logical result of this would be the most terrifying of all news. The premise of the resurrection comes from the truth that “the wages of sin is death.” The Bible notes that “all have sinned and all fall short of the glory of God.” It is an all-inclusive statement because sin is not only some offense which has been actively committed, but it is also something that has been inherited by all people.

Because Adam who sinned at the beginning is our federal head, and all people are born from Adam’s line, then all people are born in a state of sin. As an infinitely holy God cannot have fellowship with fallen, sinful creatures, then all must be condemned. Christ came to undo this terrible state. The resurrection of Christ would imply that He was, in fact, sinless. If He was sinless, then His death could be a suitable offering for our sins. But “if Christ is not risen,” then our “faith is futile” because it would indicate that He died in sin.

Logically, if “the wages of sin is death,” and Christ remained dead, then He died in sin. The word “futile” is the Greek work mataia. It is a different word than that translated as “empty” in verse 14. It signifies something fruitless. It indicates a difference between “reality and result’ (Vincent’s Word Studies).

Therefore, His death could not be a sin-offering, our sins could not be forgiven, and thus Paul notes that “you are still in your sins!” There is nothing magical or mystical about the work of Christ. Rather, it is exactly what is needed to free fallen man from the guilt he bears. Christ came to do that. In the cross, the Christian finds release from his sin-debt only if Christ rose again. The resurrection proves the offering was accepted by God, it proves Christ’s sinless perfection, and it proves that those who call on Him are truly forgiven – once and for all.

Life application: The resurrection proves that the work of Christ at the cross was effective. If there is no literal, bodily resurrection of Christ, then there is no “Christian faith.” It would be the greatest of lies. Further, there would still be no hope of reconciliation with God. All humanity would still be in their sins and destined for hell. Therefore, if someone tries to teach you that Christ didn’t rise, or if they tell you that Christ didn’t rise bodily, then tell them, “Take a hike, heretic. I stand on the truth of the Bible. Christ is risen! I believe!”

O God, it is an amazing story! Adam sinned; I was born of Adam; and therefore, I bear Adam’s sin. As the wages of sin is death, I was destined for a terrifying place of eternal separation from You. But in Your great grace and mercy, You sent Your Son into the world. Because You are His Father, He bore none of Adam’s sin and was thus qualified to take Adam’s place as a perfect, sinless Substitute. As His life became a sin-offering for me, I am freed from Adam’s guilt. And to prove it is so, He came back from the dead – never to die again! I believe! The guilt is gone. Hallelujah to the Lamb of God who took away my sin. Hallelujah! I believe! Amen.

Tuesday, 10 March 2015

For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 1 Corinthians 15:16

Verse 13 and verse 16 are parallel lines of thought –

“But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen.” (verse 13)
“For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.” (verse 16)

Why has Paul repeated himself after such a short time? First, the answer is that if the claim is false (verse 13), then the witness of the resurrection was also untrue (verses 14-15). Now, repeating himself, he shows that if the claim is false (verse 16), then the logical effects of the resurrection in the life of believers would also be false (verses 17-18). In turn, the consequences of such a false premise would then be realized in the lives of such hopeless creatures (verse 19). It is a second reductio absurdum used to show the utter folly of a person claiming they are a Christian while denying that the resurrection of the body is true.

Viewed from either angle, without a literal resurrection of Christ, there is only futility and folly in claiming to be a Christian. Everything about the faith either stands or falls on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Life application: If you have a problem with one of the principle doctrines of the faith, take time to think them through to their logical conclusion. Inevitably, if you fail to accept the truth of these principle doctrines, you should probably question your faith and thus your salvation. Stand firm on the truth of Christ as presented in the Bible.

Lord, I am so glad that Christ Jesus came as a Man, died for my sins, and was resurrected in a literal body. Should any of these things not have happened, there would be no hope for the sons of Adam. But in Your great love and care for us, You stepped out of the eternal realm and did these things to restore us to You. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, and I can only stand back in awe of Your great and majestic work! Wondrous are Your ways, O God.  Amen.

Monday, 9 March 2015

Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 1 Corinthians 15:15

Not only would the preaching of the apostles be found empty, which would in turn mean that the faith of those who heard and believed be found empty, but moreover it would demonstrate something even deeper and more sinister – that the apostles “are found false witnesses of God.” The word for “found” implies “proven to be.” It would not be a mistake in their preaching and teaching, but rather a proof-positive that there was an intentional hand of deceit involved. Why? Because Paul has already claimed in the preceding verses that all of the apostles had seen the risen Christ.

Thus, should someone have checked his story (for example, by searching out some of the 500 mentioned in verse 6), and determined they were lying, then it would be proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they had “testified of God that He was raised up, whom He did not raise up.” Imagine the severity of the charge! This isn’t just a lie about who ate the cake that was being saved for dessert. Rather, this would be a lie about the truth of God himself. The severity of the charge would be against not just Paul, but all of the apostles. It would show an intricate conspiracy that went to establish the heretical cult-worship of a false god.

This would be punishable by death if proven true, and it would also bring about the highest disgrace upon the name they were trying to exalt. Everything about the matter would be exposed and then soon forgotten by the world, leaving nothing but a legacy of miscreants bringing dishonor upon the true God they claimed to serve.

All of this is tied up in the notion of what Paul is showing “if in fact the dead do not rise.” Everything about the Christian faith, and every person who has given life or limb for it, has its basis in the resurrection of Christ. Without that event, it would be nothing but a hopeless system based on an intricately detailed web of lies.

Life application: If you do not believe in the literal, bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ, your hope of eternal life is in vain and you should well-question your salvation. Calling on a dead Lord is about as stupid as driving a large nail into your forehead.

Lord God, if the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not true, then it is the most intricately woven web of lies ever constructed. Over 40 prophets, writing over a 1500-year period would have had to have jointly conspired together to falsify the record of Christ. The other innumerable witnesses recorded in the Bible would have been involved in the lie too. And after that, 2000 years of faithful scholars would also be involved in hiding the truth of what would otherwise be so easily proven false. It is too far-fetched to even consider! Rather, I am as certain about the resurrection of my Lord as I am about anything I know. I place my trust, my hope, and my eternal soul in His capable hands. Thank You for the surety of my faith! Amen.

Sunday, 8 March 2015

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 1 Corinthians 15:14

In the next few verses, Paul will state explicit consequences for us if Christ didn’t actually rise. If He did, there is one result, but if not there is another. His coming words are to be taken soberly. And they must also make us question the sanity of those who sit in churches and yet deny that Jesus did, in fact, rise.

What he will say then is a reductio ad absurdum, or an “argument to absurdity.” “If Christ is not risen” begins the thought. “What if this is the case?” “What would be the result of such a truth?” “Where would that leave the apostles?” “Where would that leave you?” The answers will flow from his pen with almost a sense of mourning at the state of despair which would then result. “If Christ is not risen, then…” The word “then” is intended as a forceful statement of irony which conveys the idea of “such it would be” or “after all.”

If so, “then our preaching is empty.” All of the effort of the apostles, any hope or comfort they have imparted, any trials they have faced in spreading the word about Jesus, and so much more… all of it is vanity and without any substance. If the words of the apostles could be seen as they came forth from their mouths, those same words would melt in the air as they were uttered, disappearing back into nothingness. This is the result of Christ not having risen. The words would have no value whatsoever.

But more than just the apostles’ words, the believers’ “faith is also empty.” It would mean that the entire story presented was pointless. Who cares at all if a person named “Jesus” lived in the land of Israel and went around doing good stuff? Who cares if such a person healed others, told interesting stories, and claimed to be the Son of God? And so what if this person was nailed to a cross? If there is no resurrection, then all that was accomplished is just another story of man, like any other story of a man who has existed.

There is no hope in man. Every great leader who ever lived eventually died, and with him went everything that he was – right back to the dust. If Christ did not rise again, then the dust would have reclaimed him as well. Think it through! Why would anyone go to church, even once, if the resurrection isn’t true?

Life application: Jesus Christ did rise and our hope is not in vain. We look to a blood stained cross, but an empty grave. Because of Jesus, it is literally impossible that His followers could remain in the grave. It is more certain that we will be resurrected than it is that the law of gravity would suddenly cease to exist.

Where is your hope, my dear friend when your life will come to its end? Will the money you possess keep you from the grave? Will life’s good deeds, your only soul save? All is vanity and fading away, unless your hope is grounded in truth. And so to you I will proclaim today, of Christ’s resurrection there is the surest proof. In Him eternal life is a guarantee; and because of Him, God’s radiance you can see. Trust Him and follow Him with all of your heart, and at that moment will your eternal life start. Thank You, O God, for such a hope – perfect and sure. Thank You, O God, for my hope in Christ – perfect and pure. Hallelujah and Amen.