Christianity's Most Critical Doctrine

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The resurrection of Christ from the dead guarantees the believer's ultimate victory over sin and death.

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1 Corinthians 15:12 – 23
1 Corinthians 15:12–23 (NLT)
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?
13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.
16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
​
INTRODUCTION:
A- There is one doctrine upon which the Christian faith rises and falls.
1- It is the doctrine of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
a. From a biblical perspective:
The resurrection provides proof that Jesus is the Son of God. (Romans 1:4)
Romans 1:4 (NLT)
4 and he was shown to be the Son of God when he was raised from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is Jesus Christ our Lord.
The resurrection provides the basis for our hope in the future. (1 Peter 1:3)
1 Peter 1:3 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation,
B- Background:
1- There were some in Corinth who were teaching that there will be no resurrection from the dead.
a- In our text, Paul points out the absurdity of teaching that there will be no resurrection.
b- He points out two truths that nail down “Christianity’s Most Critical Doctrine.”
​

I- WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION, CHRISTIANITY IS EMPTY. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-19)

(1 Corinthians 15:12 – 19).
1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (NLT)
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?
13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.
16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

A- Without the resurrection, there is no gospel to preach. (1 Corinthians 15:14).

1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT)
And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
14 εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, κενὸν ἄρα τὸ κήρυγμα ἡμῶν, κενὴ καὶ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν,
1- There is no gospel without the resurrection
a- κενὸν ἄρα τὸ κήρυγμα ἡμῶν = “Our preaching is empty” (literally without substance and merit, empty of anything of worth.)
(I Corinthians 15:1 – 4).
1 Corinthians 15:1–4 (NLT)
1 Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it.
2 It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
b- Notice the substance of the Good News:
Christ died for our sins (ὅτι Χριστὸς ἀπέθανεν ὑπὲρ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν ἡμῶν)
Christ was buried (καὶ ὅτι ἐτάφη,)
Christ arose from the dead on the third day. (ὅτι ἐγήγερται τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ τρίτῃ κατὰ τὰς γραφάς)

B- Without the resurrection, your faith is empty. (1 Corinthians 15:14).

1 Corinthians 15:14 (NLT)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
14 εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, κενὸν ἄρα τὸ κήρυγμα ἡμῶν, κενὴ καὶ ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν,
1-Because our faith in Christ is based upon his resurrection.
(Romans 10:9 – 10, 13)
Romans 10:9–10 (NLT)
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
Romans 10:13 (NLT)
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

C- Without the resurrection, we are all false witnesses (1 Corinthians 15:15).

1 Corinthians 15:15 (NLT)
15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.
15 εὑρισκόμεθα δὲ καὶ ψευδομάρτυρες τοῦ θεοῦ, ὅτι ἐμαρτυρήσαμεν κατὰ τοῦ θεοῦ ὅτι ἤγειρεν τὸν Χριστόν, ὃν οὐκ ἤγειρεν εἴπερ ἄρα νεκροὶ οὐκ ἐγείρονται.
ψευδομάρτυρες τοῦ θεοῦ = false witnesses of God (a contradiction of terms)
1- Because we proclaim Christ to be alive when he would be dead.
a- note the witness of the apostles:
(Acts 2:29–32; 3:14–15; 4:10; 10:38–40; 13:28–30, 31–37)
Acts 2:29–32 (NLT)
29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us.
30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne.
31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.
32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.”

D- Without the resurrection, you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17) (Acts 4:12).

1 Corinthians 15:17 (NLT)
17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
17 εἰ δὲ Χριστὸς οὐκ ἐγήγερται, ματαία ἡ πίστις ὑμῶν, ἔτι ἐστὲ ἐν ταῖς ἁμαρτίαις ὑμῶν.
Acts 4:12 (NLT)
12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”
1- Because you have trusted one who is not really the Christ.

E- Without the resurrection, those who have died in Christ have perished. (1 Corinthians 15:18).

1 Corinthians 15:18 (NLT)
18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!
18 ἄρα καὶ οἱ κοιμηθέντες ἐν Χριστῷ ἀπώλοντο.
1- Because they trusted their soul to one who could not save them.

F- Without the resurrection, we are of all men most to be pitied. (1 Corinthians 15:19).

1 Corinthians 15:19 (NLT)
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
19 εἰ ἐν τῇ ζωῇ ταύτῃ ἐν Χριστῷ ἠλπικότες ἐσμὲν μόνον, ἐλεεινότεροι πάντων ἀνθρώπων ἐσμέν.
1- Because we are living lives to please someone who is dead.
​

II- BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION, THE BELIEVER HAS ASSURANCE. (1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-26)

(1 Corinthians 15:20).
1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLT)
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

A- The resurrection of Jesus provides the believer with absolute certainty. (1 Corinthians 15:20).

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLT)
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
20 Νυνὶ δὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἀπαρχὴ τῶν κεκοιμημένων.
1- The evidence for the resurrection is overwhelming.
a- Jesus died by crucifixion.
(1) Recorded by scripture and by secular sources.
(2) Roman soldiers examined him to make sure.
(3) Preparation for burial insured death (John 19:39)
John 19:39 (NLT)
39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes.
b- Jesus received an honorable burial by Joseph of Arimathea.
c- Jesus’s tomb was found empty on the 3rd day.
d- Jesus’s followers experienced multiple instances of his presence over a period of 40 days following his crucifixion.
(1 Corinthians 15:3 – 8).
1 Corinthians 15:3–8 (NLT)
3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.
4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve.
6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.
7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.
8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.
e- Jesus appeared to at least 2 recorded skeptics, who became ardent followers of Jesus (James and Saul).
f- Jesus’s followers were transformed from being fearful, cowering individuals, into bold proclaimers of a risen Christ… Who were willing to die for the truth of their proclamation.

B- The resurrection of Jesus provides assurance that there is more to come for the believer. (1 Corinthians 15:20).

1 Corinthians 15:20 (NLT)
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
20 Νυνὶ δὲ Χριστὸς ἐγήγερται ἐκ νεκρῶν, ἀπαρχὴ τῶν κεκοιμημένων.
1- Jesus was only the first to rise from the dead.
2- Every believer in Jesus Christ will be resurrected from the dead.
(II Corinthians 4:14).
2 Corinthians 4:14 (NLT)
14 We know that God, who raised the Lord Jesus, will also raise us with Jesus and present us to himself together with you.

C- The resurrection of Jesus provides assurance that the believer will be raised from the dead. (1 Corinthians 15:21-22)

1 Corinthians 15:21–22 (NLT)
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
21 ἐπειδὴ γὰρ διʼ ἀνθρώπου θάνατος, καὶ διʼ ἀνθρώπου ἀνάστασις νεκρῶν·
22 ὥσπερ γὰρ ἐν τῷ Ἀδὰμ πάντες ἀποθνῄσκουσιν, οὕτως καὶ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ πάντες ζῳοποιηθήσονται.
1- Resurrection is promised to the believer.
οὕτως καὶ ἐν τῷ Χριστῷ πάντες ζῳοποιηθήσονται. = “Those who are in Christ will be made alive again.”
(Romans 8:11)
Romans 8:11 (NLT)
11 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
(1 Corinthians 6:14)
1 Corinthians 6:14 (NLT)
14 And God will raise us from the dead by his power, just as he raised our Lord from the dead.
2- It is a resurrection to an eternity of joy.
(1 Corinthians 2:9)
1 Corinthians 2:9 (NLT)
9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”
(Matthew 25:23)
Matthew 25:23 (NLT)
23 “The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’

D- The resurrection of Jesus provides assurance that all believers will be resurrected when he returns. (1 Corinthians 15:23).

1 Corinthians 15:23 (NLT)
23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
23 ἕκαστος δὲ ἐν τῷ ἰδίῳ τάγματι· ἀπαρχὴ Χριστός, ἔπειτα οἱ τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐν τῇ παρουσίᾳ αὐτοῦ·
1- First, the dead in Christ will be resurrected; then we who are alive and know Christ will be resurrected.
(1 Thessalonians 4:13 – 17)
1 Thessalonians 4:13–17 (NLT)
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.
17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.
(1 Corinthians 15:51 – 52)
1 Corinthians 15:51–52 (NLT)
51 But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.

E- The resurrection of Jesus provides assurance of ultimate victory over the all enemies. (1 Corinthians 15:24-26).

1 Corinthians 15:24–26 (NLT)
24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.
25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.
26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
24 εἶτα τὸ τέλος, ὅταν παραδιδῷ τὴν βασιλείαν τῷ θεῷ καὶ πατρί, ὅταν καταργήσῃ πᾶσαν ἀρχὴν καὶ πᾶσαν ἐξουσίαν καὶ δύναμιν,
25 δεῖ γὰρ αὐτὸν βασιλεύειν ἄχρι οὗ θῇ πάντας τοὺς ἐχθροὺς ὑπὸ τοὺς πόδας αὐτοῦ.
26 ἔσχατος ἐχθρὸς καταργεῖται ὁ θάνατος,
1- The rule of rebellious mankind will come to an end.
(Revelation 19:11 – 16)
Revelation 19:11–16 (NLT)
11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war.
12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself.
13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God.
14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses.
15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress.
16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
2- The rule of Satan will come to an end.
(Revelation 20:9 – 10)
Revelation 20:9–10 (NLT)
9 And I saw them as they went up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded God’s people and the beloved city. But fire from heaven came down on the attacking armies and consumed them.
10 Then the devil, who had deceived them, was thrown into the fiery lake of burning sulfur, joining the beast and the false prophet. There they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
3- Man’s bitterest enemy, death, has already been defeated by Jesus. (1 Corinthians 15:26).
1 Corinthians 15:26 (NLT)
26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
(1 Corinthians 15:54 – 57)
1 Corinthians 15:54–57 (NLT)
54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: “Death is swallowed up in victory.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
a- When Jesus returns, death will be completely destroyed for all eternity.
(Revelation 21:4)
Revelation 21:4 (NLT)
4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”
​
Conclusion:
A- Christianity’s Most Critical Doctrine is the doctrine of Christ’s resurrection from the dead.
1- Without Christ, there is only bad news!
1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (NLT)
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?
13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either.
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless.
15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.
16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised.
17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
2- But thankfully, because Christ HAS risen from the dead, there is good news!
(1 Corinthians 15:20-26)
1 Corinthians 15:20–26 (NLT)
20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.
21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man.
22 Just as everyone dies because we all belong to Adam, everyone who belongs to Christ will be given new life.
23 But there is an order to this resurrection: Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.
24 After that the end will come, when he will turn the Kingdom over to God the Father, having destroyed every ruler and authority and power.
25 For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.
26 And the last enemy to be destroyed is death.
B- The songwriters put it this way:
Illustration:
“Because He Lives”
by Gloria Gaither and William J. Gaither
God sent His son, they called Him Jesus; He came to love, heal and forgive; He lived and died to buy my pardon, An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives! How sweet to hold a newborn baby, And feel the pride and joy he gives; But greater still the calm assurance: This child can face uncertain days because He Lives! And then one day, I'll cross the river, I'll fight life's final war with pain; And then, as death gives way to victory, I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives! Chorus Because He lives, I can face tomorrow, Because He lives, all fear is gone; Because I know He holds the future, And life is worth the living, Just because He lives!
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