If There Had Been No Easter

George Davis King, Jr.

Easter • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

1 Corinthians 15:12–20

Resurrection

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Introduction

Have you ever heard of a man named Harry Houdini? Many of you have. He died in October of 1926. But, his claim to fame was that he was a magician who specialized in spectacular escapes. As a matter of fact, he was said to have laughed at locks and to have sneered at fetters. They said of Harry that he had the flexibility of an eel; he had the lives of a cat. They did all kinds of things to try to incarcerate him. They would seal him in coffins—he would escape. They riveted him into a boiler—he escaped. They sewed him up in canvas bags—he escaped. They locked him in a milk can—he escaped. They sealed him in a beer barrel—he escaped. They put him in a maximum- security prison, and old Harry somehow got out. But then, in October 1926, Old Man Death laid his hands upon Harry Houdini, and put him in a grave; and, he has yet to escape. As a matter of fact, he told his wife, "If there is any way out, I will find it. If there is any way out, I'll make contact with you—and, we'll do it on the anniversary of my death." For 10 years, she kept a light burning over his portrait. At the end of 10 years, she turned out the light. Death had Harry, and he couldn't escape.

Death laid his hands on the Lord Jesus Christ, also. And, Death put Jesus in a rock- hewn tomb. And, there was a stone in the mouth of that tomb, and the seal of the Roman government was placed upon that tomb. But, on the third day, Jesus Christ stirred Himself. He rose from the sleep of death. And, He left those grave clothes that were wrapped around him like a butterfly would forsake a cocoon. And, Jesus Christ passed through the walls of that rock-hewn tomb. By the way, the stone wasn't rolled away to let Jesus out—it was rolled away to let the disciples in to see that Jesus had come back. And, Jesus Christ is alive. He is not behind us in a tomb; He is before us on a throne. We thank God for that. But, I want to ask you a question: Suppose that had not happened. Suppose Death still held Jesus, like it does Harry. Then, what? Suppose there had been no Easter. Well, the Apostle Paul talks about that, and I want you to see what he's talking about here in 1 Corinthians chapter 15:12-20. The Apostle Paul ask a question:

1 Corinthians 15:12–20 ESV

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 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. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

Now, the Apostle Paul mentions a thing unthinkable. The thing unthinkable is this: suppose there had been no Easter; suppose Jesus Christ is still in that grave. If that is true, he says there are six tragic things that you need to consider—if there is no Easter.

1 Corinthians 15:

I. Preaching Would Be Profitless

The very first of these is that preaching is profitless. Look, if you will, in

1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

1 Corinthians 14

Now, the word vain means, "empty; futile; with no purpose; a colossal waste of time." Listen. Ladies and gentlemen, if there is no Easter, then you and I are wasting our time by being here; I'm wasting my time by preaching, and you are wasting yours by listening, and we all ought to do something else. Our preaching is vain. It is futile. It is worthless. It is profitless. There is no profit in it, if Christ is still in the grave. Why is that? Because, ladies and gentlemen, the heart of the gospel is this—do you want me to tell you what the gospel is? You'll find it in the first few verses of 1 Corinthians chapter 15. It is that Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and that He was raised again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And, the Apostle Paul says, friend, this is the gospel. And, there is no preacher who can preach the gospel, unless he preaches the resurrection of Jesus. And, without that, preaching it's profitless; a man might as well not preach. We'll just close up shop and go home. One poor, misguided, benighted preacher stood in his pulpit and said, as some try to say today, that the body of Jesus Christ still lies in a nameless tomb grave, but His deathless spirit marches onward. Do you know what that man ought to do? He ought to get out of the pulpit and get an honest job. That's what he ought to do. If he doesn't believe that Jesus Christ came out of that grave, then his preaching is vain, vacuous, empty, meaningless, and futile. If Christ be not raised, then our preaching is vain.

II. Faith Would Be Foolish

And then, he mentions something else, in verse 14: Not only is preaching profitless, but faith is foolish, if Christ is still in the grave. Notice he goes on to say, in verse 14:

1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

1 cor

That is, you're trusting something that doesn't deserve your trust. I mean, who wants to put his faith in Jesus, if Jesus is dead? It's not enough to believe that Christ died for your sins, if you don't believe that God raised Him, also, from the dead. Your faith is vain. The Bible says,

Romans 10:9 NIV

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

But, if you don't believe that God raised Him from the dead, then your faith is foolish. You see, this is the difference between Jesus Christ and the other founders of the other religions: They lived; they died; they are dead. Jesus lived; He died; and, He rose again. Friend, there is no need to follow a loser. Jesus has escaped death. And, the Bible says—the Apostle Paul said it in

Romans 1:4 ESV

and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Romans 1:4

How do I know He is the Son of God? How do I know that He can save me? How do I know the Bible is true? How do I know the promises of God are yea and amen in Jesus Christ

2 Corinthians 1:20 ESV

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory.

()? I'll tell you how: God brought Him from the dead, and that was God's stamp of approval on all that He said, and did, and taught. He was shown to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. We don't serve a dead Savior. A dead Savior is nobody's Savior. A little boy was in the classroom, and the teacher gave this assignment: Write an essay on the world's greatest living man. Some wrote about the President. Others wrote about members of Congress. Some wrote about people in the entertainment world. Some wrote about people in the sports world. Some wrote about scientists and philosophers. But, one little boy—this little boy—wrote about Jesus Christ, an essay on Jesus Christ. When the teacher received the paper, she said," Son, that's a nice paper, but you misunderstood the assignment—I said the world's greatest living man." He said, "But teacher, He is alive." He is alive. We don't serve a dead Savior. But, listen. If Christ be not raised, then preaching is profitless. If Christ be not raised, then faith is foolish—to trust somebody who is dead and can do nothing for you.

I'll tell you how: God brought Him from the dead, and that was God's stamp of approval on all that He said, and did, and taught. He was shown to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. We don't serve a dead Savior. A dead Savior is nobody's Savior.

A little boy was in the classroom, and the teacher gave this assignment: Write an essay on the world's greatest living man. Some wrote about the President. Others wrote about members of Congress. Some wrote about people in the entertainment world. Some wrote about people in the sports world. Some wrote about scientists and philosophers. But, one little boy—this little boy—wrote about Jesus Christ, an essay on Jesus Christ. When the teacher received the paper, she said," Son, that's a nice paper, but you misunderstood the assignment—I said the world's greatest living man." He said, "But teacher, He is alive."

He is alive. We don't serve a dead Savior. But, listen. If Christ be not raised, then preaching is profitless. If Christ be not raised, then faith is foolish—to trust somebody who is dead and can do nothing for you.

III. The Disciples Would Be Deceivers

The third thing I want to say is, friend, that, if Christ be not raised, then the disciples are deceivers. Look, if you will please, in this passage of Scripture, as we continue to read in verse 15—Paul says:

1 Corinthians 15:15 ESV

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, I want you to catch the gist of Paul's argument. Paul is not saying that, if Christ is still in the grave, then we were mistaken. That's not what he says. He has said that. If Christ has not been raised, then we are false witnesses. Do you know what a false witness is? That's somebody who gets in a courtroom, and knowingly, willingly, deliberately perjures himself, and becomes a liar. A liar! He commits perjury. He tells a lie. He is a false witness. He knows better. Now, friend, I want you to understand what Paul is saying. Paul is saying we have testified that Jesus Christ is alive. We have seen Him. Many of the disciples talked with Him; they ate with Him; they fellowshipped with Him; they touched Him; they handled Him—all after His resurrection. "Well," you say, "Pastor, how do you know they didn't just make it up? How do you know that they didn't just boast up a good story about Jesus Christ, to save face?" I'll tell you how I know. Friend, most of these disciples paid with their very lives—blood—for their testimony and for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They suffered; they bled; they died—because they believed in Jesus Christ.

"Yea, and we are found"—now underscore this—"false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not" (). Now, I want you to catch the gist of Paul's argument. Paul is not saying that, if Christ is still in the grave, then we were mistaken. That's not what he says. He has said that. If Christ has not been raised, then we are false witnesses. Do you know what a false witness is? That's somebody who gets in a courtroom, and knowingly, willingly, deliberately perjures himself, and becomes a liar. A liar! He commits perjury. He tells a lie. He is a false witness. He knows better. Now, friend, I want you to understand what Paul is saying. Paul is saying we have testified that Jesus Christ is alive. We have seen Him. Many of the disciples talked with Him; they ate with Him; they fellowshipped with Him; they touched Him; they handled Him—all after His resurrection. "Well," you say, "Pastor, how do you know they didn't just make it up? How do you know that they didn't just boast up a good story about Jesus Christ, to save face?" I'll tell you how I know. Friend, most of these disciples paid with their very lives—blood—for their testimony and for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. They suffered; they bled; they died—because they believed in Jesus Christ. Now, listen to me. Hypocrites and martyrs are not made of the same stuff. A man may live for a lie, but few will die for a lie. But, these people testified. They said, "He's alive; we know He's alive." And, they sealed their testimony—many of them—with their lives. But, you're faced with this conclusion: that, if Jesus Christ is still in that grave, then those disciples were liars, and fakes, and frauds, and con artists. Are you going to tell me the Apostle Paul was a knave? Are you going to tell me that Peter was a rascal? Are you going to tell me that John was a liar, and that these people have pawned off onto the world a colossal fraud? Common sense says no. But, you'll have to accept that as the conclusion, if Christ is still in the grave.

Now, listen to me. Hypocrites and martyrs are not made of the same stuff. A man may live for a lie, but few will die for a lie. But, these people testified. They said, "He's alive; we know He's alive." And, they sealed their testimony—many of them—with their lives.

But, you're faced with this conclusion: that, if Jesus Christ is still in that grave, then those disciples were liars, and fakes, and frauds, and con artists. Are you going to tell me the Apostle Paul was a knave? Are you going to tell me that Peter was a rascal? Are you going to tell me that John was a liar, and that these people have pawned off onto the world a colossal fraud? Common sense says no. But, you'll have to accept that as the conclusion, if Christ is still in the grave.

IV. Sin Would Be Sovereign

But now watch. Fourthly, if there be no Easter, if Christ is still in that grave, here's another tragic affect: Sin is sovereign, if Christ is still in the grave. Look in verse 17,

1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

1 Cor

What does that mean? That means, ladies and gentlemen, that, if Christ is still in the grave, then God did not accept the payment for your sin. Because, you see, when God raised Him up, that was the proof positive that full payment had been made. That's the reason the Apostle Paul said, in

Romans 4:25 ESV

who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Now, what that means is that He died for our sins, but that was incomplete until God raised Him from the dead—"delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ , I wouldn't give you half a hallelujah for your hope of Heaven. The fact that He died for you is not important, unless He also rose from the dead, which was the stamp of approval and authenticity upon the full payment for your sins. No resurrection—no Savior. No Savior—no forgiveness. No forgiveness—no justification. No justification—no cleansing. No cleansing—the penalty of your sin is upon you. If the penalty of your sin is still upon you, then you are destined for death and Hell, and you're still in your sins.

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely forever; One day He's coming—O glorious day! (J. Wilburn Chapman)

Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified freely forever; One day He's coming—O glorious day! (J. Wilburn Chapman)

Buried, He carried my sins far away;

Rising, He justified freely forever;

One day He's coming—O glorious day! (J. Wilburn Chapman)

Thank God that we're no longer in our sins, because we have a risen Savior who has paid the price for our sins. The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection - The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – Sermons.

V. Death Would Have Dominion

Now, I want to mention another consequence if there be no Easter: If Christ is still in the grave, then not only is sin sovereign, but, my dear friend, death also has dominion. Look, if you will please, in verse 18: "Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished" (). Your mother, your father, your children, and your loved ones—they are dead and gone. You'll never see them again. They are in the grave to rot—to decay. That's it—it's over; it's ended. Death has won, and life is a colossal bad dream. Are you going to ask me to believe that the Intelligence that created this universe intends for it all to run down into the grave—that we are born crying, live complaining, and die disappointed? That's it? I mean, all we can hope for—any of us—is to get sicker, and sicker, and sicker, until we die; and, it all just ends in a veil of tears, and we rot and decay in the ground—that's it? I'm supposed to believe that? That some great grand scheme of things—that made an entire universe and created something called man—is to cause us all just to die? And Death is a monster that has dominion? No friend, I can't believe that. I can't accept that.

Yesterday, I went out to a home, because one of the members of our church—his wife of many, many years died suddenly this past week. And, I went out to put my arms around that good and godly man to pray for him. And, I want to tell you, though I saw sorrow on his face, I saw the light and the hope of Heaven in his eyes, as we prayed and talked. We talked about that grand reunion there on the other shore.

I'm so everlastingly glad that I have that kind of a gospel to preach. I'm so glad that it doesn't all just end in a veil of tears, as we say goodbye—never, never, never, never to meet again—and our loved ones have perished, and that's it. Oh no, my friend.

In Rome, the Christians were persecuted—in the Colosseum, and in the Roman Circus—and were made sport of—put to death—so that they had to move underground. Many times, they met under the ground in the catacombs. There are miles and miles of tunnels dug underneath the surface of the city of Rome, and these catacombs are about four-, seven-, or eight-feet wide, and about eight-feet tall. I've walked through many of them. I've walked close to a mile in the catacombs. On the walls of the catacombs are niches, dug out, where they buried their dead. Not only did the Christians bury their dead there, but the pagans also buried their dead there. And, read the inscriptions on those tombs—oh my, dear friend—then you're going to find out the difference between hope and hopelessness. Listen to what some of those pagans said when they put inscriptions upon the tombs of those dead, departed loved ones. One said," Live for the present hour, since we're sure of nothing else." Another: "I will lift up my hands against the gods who took me away at the age of 20, though I had done no harm." Another: "Once I was not, and now I am not." Here's another: "Traveler, curse me if you pass, for I am in darkness and cannot answer." How different from the words placed upon the tombs of the Christians—words like this: "Here lies Marcy, put to rest in a dream of peace." Or, here's another: "Lawrence, to his sweetest son, carried away by the angels." Here's another: "He went away in peace." And another: "Victorious in peace, and in Christ."

What a difference it makes! What a difference—because Christ has been raised!

A seminary professor lost his wife when she was a young woman. She died an untimely death. He had a little preschool boy with him. He went to take that preschool boy to the funeral home to see the body of his beloved wife. They had embalmed her beautifully. She was there—almost lifelike. The little boy looked at his mother, and the dad tried to explain to him this inexplicable thing called death, and tried to tell the little boy that they would not see Mommy again, until they saw Mommy in Heaven. The little boy couldn't understand death; he wasn't familiar with death. He said, "No, Daddy; you're wrong. Mommy is just asleep. I've seen her like that plenty of times. She's asleep. She can wake up." And then, he began to say, "Wake up, Mommy! Wake up, Mommy! Mommy, wake up! Wake up, mommy!" And, with tears, that professor put his hand on the shoulder of that little preschool boy, and said, "Son, you can't wake her up, but when Jesus comes, He'll wake her up."

Friend, He will—He will.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 ESV

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. 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.

VI. The Future Would Be Futile

"The dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds," dear friend, "to meet the Lord in the air" (). The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection - The Adrian Rogers Legacy Collection – Sermons.

VI. The Future Would Be Futile

But, I'm telling you, dear friend, if there be no Easter, then Death has dominion—Death has conquered. I'll tell you something else—here's the next tragic result if there be no Easter: not only does Death have dominion, but also, the future is futile. Notice, in verse 19, what the Apostle Paul has to say:

1 Corinthians 15:19 ESV

If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

1 cor

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable" (). What does that mean? That means, folks, that, if this is all there is, then it is just bad news. The good times are but for a moment, and it's going to get worse. You're going to get sicker. You're going to have problems. You're going to get infirm. Some greedy malady—some disease—is going to begin to gnaw away at your body. One by one, you will see your loved ones stripped away by death. Ernest Hemingway said, "It's as though we are a colony of ants living on one end of a burning log." I mean, you think about the people who are without Jesus: I mean, what do they look forward to—a hole in the ground? I don't believe you ought to drink and get drunk. But friend, if I didn't know Jesus, then I think I might get drunk and stay drunk. I'm not recommending that. I'm recommending that you know Jesus. I am recommending that you come to Christ. Listen. Without Christ, "we are of all men most miserable." This whole thing of time and space is a bad joke. It makes no sense, and it's chaotic, if Christ be not raised. The future is fearful and futile, if Christ be not raised. But friend, I want to tell you, He has been raised. Notice verse 20: "But now is Christ risen from the dead" (). And, because He is, preaching is profitable; faith is feasible; the disciples are dependable; sin is subdued; death is defeated; and, the future is fabulous—because Christ has been raised from the dead. He has taken the sting out of sin. He has taken the gloom out of the grave. He has taken the dread out of death. And, He has given to us a hope that is steadfast and sure.

What does that mean? That means, folks, that, if this is all there is, then it is just bad news. The good times are but for a moment, and it's going to get worse. You're going to get sicker. You're going to have problems. You're going to get infirm. Some greedy malady—some disease—is going to begin to gnaw away at your body. One by one, you will see your loved ones stripped away by death.

Ernest Hemingway said, "It's as though we are a colony of ants living on one end of a burning log." I mean, you think about the people who are without Jesus: I mean, what do they look forward to—a hole in the ground? I don't believe you ought to drink and get drunk. But friend, if I didn't know Jesus, then I think I might get drunk and stay drunk.

I'm not recommending that. I'm recommending that you know Jesus. I am recommending that you come to Christ. Listen. Without Christ, "we are of all men most miserable." This whole thing of time and space is a bad joke. It makes no sense, and it's chaotic, if Christ be not raised. The future is fearful and futile, if Christ be not raised. But friend, I want to tell you, He has been raised. Notice verse 20:

1 Corinthians 15:20 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 cor

And, because He is, preaching is profitable; faith is feasible; the disciples are dependable; sin is subdued; death is defeated; and, the future is fabulous—because Christ has been raised from the dead. He has taken the sting out of sin. He has taken the gloom out of the grave. He has taken the dread out of death. And, He has given to us a hope that is steadfast and sure.

Conclusion

Years ago, I heard a fable about a spider who saw a great massive lion go into a cave. The spider was envious of the great King of the Jungle, and the spider said to himself, "I will imprison that lion—that beast—in this cave." So, while the lion was asleep in the cave, the spider began to spin a web across the mouth of that cave. Back and forth, and up and down, he spun, and spun, and spun, until he almost spun himself away. And then, the little spider sat down by the side of the tomb—by the side of that cave, as it was—and said, "Now, the mighty beast is my prisoner. No longer will he seek his prey in the dark of the night in the jungle. No longer will he bask in the golden sunlight. Now, I have taken him captive. He is my slave." But, the old lion awoke from his nap, shook the dust from his mane, gave a yawn, stretched himself, and then let out a roar that echoed through the valley and over the hill. Then, he walked out of that cave and never even knew that the spider's web was there.

Infidelity and hate wove a web of unbelief across the tomb of our Savior Jesus Christ. But, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah has risen from the dead, and He's never even known that the devil's flimsy web was there. Jesus is alive. He's alive, and He lives in my heart.

Living, He loved me; dying, He saved me; Buried, He carried my sins far away; Rising, He justified, freely forever; One day He's coming—O glorious day! (J. Wilburn Chapman)

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