The Resurrection Of The Dead
Lessons From 1 Corinthians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings…
We continue today looking at the powerful and doctrine filled book of 1 Corinthians which is an answer to the questions asked of him by the church there.
As I mentioned last week, Paul shifts his attention to a new topic in chapter 15, from spiritual gifts to the resurrection of Christians.
There are two specific issues Paul is going to address in this chapter, the first being the fact that there is going to be a resurrection and the second being that there will be a bodily resurrection.
In our text today we are going to focus on the first answer to the question of whether or not we will be raised from the dead as it is obvious that some did not believe this to be the case.
1 Corinthians 15:12 (ESV)
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
To prove that there will be a resurrection of the dead Paul first pointed out in 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 that Christ did in fact rise from the grave as it testified by over 500 witnesses.
Then, after proving Christ was raised from the dead he then sets out to validate “The Resurrection Of The Dead.”
He begins by pointing out…
Consequences Of No Resurrection
Consequences Of No Resurrection
Christ Was Never Raised.
Christ Was Never Raised.
Paul had just spent the first eleven verses pointing out that Jesus was in fact raised from the dead and that there are people alive at that time who were witnesses to such and had testified to such.
As we discussed last week there is not only sufficient internal evidence for Jesus’ resurrection but external as well.
However, if there is no resurrection of the dead then logically speaking there can be no resurrection of Christ either.
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Now this is perfectly sound logic as one cannot have it both ways.
One cannot say “the resurrection of the dead is not possible” while also saying “the resurrection of Christ” is possible.
Either resurrection of the dead is possible or it is not.
Now before we are too hard on the church here let us not forget that people make illogical conclusions all the time wherein God’s word is concerned and other aspects of life.
Denominationalism and even our own brethren from time to time have fallen victim to the highly illogical “that’s just your interpretation” theology.
“Well, you have your interpretation. I have my interpretation. Somebody else has their interpretation. We all have our different interpretations, and in spite of the fact that they don’t agree, that all right. That produces peace.”
Therefore, logically Paul says that a consequence of believing that there is no resurrection is that Christ could not have been resurrected.
Another consequence of no resurrection is that…
Preachers Are Liars.
Preachers Are Liars.
Paul, a gospel preacher who had a hand in teaching many of those in the church at Corinth the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) points out that if there is no resurrection he is a liar.
1 Corinthians 15:14–15 (ESV)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised.
Now there have always been those charlatan preachers who lie for any number of reasons.
Often it is a love of money over truth.
10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.
Sometimes it a love for this world and all it offers over the eternity.
2 Timothy 4:10 (ESV)
10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me…
No gospel preacher wants to be found a liar concerning their preaching however.
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Yet, this is what those professing such actually accusing Paul of doing because he had taught them the gospel of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (1 Corinthians 15:1-4).
If there is no resurrection of the dead than all those that have preached that in the past are liars and false teachers.
Paul then points out something about the faith of those that believe such a doctrine, their…
Faith Is Futile.
Faith Is Futile.
We read again Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17.
1 Corinthians 15:14 (ESV)
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:17 (ESV)
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
Faith at its most basic foundation is trust.
Everything about faith in God starts and ends with trust in God and if there is no resurrection then our faith is futile because God has said there will be a resurrection.
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.”
Lastly, Paul points that the consequence of there being no resurrection of the dead.
If there is no resurrection of the dead…
There Is No Afterlife.
There Is No Afterlife.
Paul concludes this argument by writing in 1 Corinthians 15:18-19…
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
What a miserable life we would have if we actually believed that there is nothing after this life and yet Paul makes clear if there is no resurrection of the dead then when someone dies they simply perish away.
These people, are as Paul said, ones without any hope.
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Summary
Summary
The consequences of there not being a resurrection are horrifying.
There is no greater condemnation of a doctrine I can remember then what Paul points out concerning this false doctrine.
Thankfully, there is a resurrection and so Paul then begins to point out the…
Consequences Of A Resurrection
Consequences Of A Resurrection
Christ Was Raised From The Dead.
Christ Was Raised From The Dead.
Because Christ has been raised from the dead we know we will one day be raised from the dead as well.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
In fact when that time comes we will be in order, Christ will return then we who belong to him will rise.
14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
How awesome that day will be for those faithful in Christ.
Paul also points out another consequence of there being a resurrection of the dead…
There Is An Afterlife For Us.
There Is An Afterlife For Us.
Notice 1 Corinthians 15:24…
1 Corinthians 15:24 (NKJV)
24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power.
We are in the “kingdom of Christ” now.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Therefore, when it is delivered to God the Father we are being delivered to God the Father.
And when that happens we will witness the final consequence of a resurrection of the dead…
Christ Will Destroy Sin & Death.
Christ Will Destroy Sin & Death.
Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:25-28…
1 Corinthians 15:25–28 (ESV)
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 “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.
18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
When Christ was raised from the dead he provided that which conquered sin and eternal death, his blood.
And at the resurrection of the dead, during his second coming, he will had the kingdom over to the Father having fully destroyed both.
Summary
Summary
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Conclusion
Conclusion
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Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.