The Corinthian Correspondence, Part 28: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34; "The Death of Jesus: Enough to Save us?"

The Corinthian Correspondence, Part 28, 1 Corinthians 15:12-34 The Death of Jesus: Enough to Save Us? Today, I want to ask and answer a question--the question I have used as the title to this message: Is the death of Christ enough to save us? How often do we hear the gospel like this, that I am a sinner. Christ is the Savior. Christ hung on the cross and died for my sin. So, if I receive Christ as my Lord and Savior, then I am saved. Following that line of reasoning, is the death of Christ enough to save me? I'm reminded of a song written by Eliza Hewitt, "My Faith has Found a Resting Place." The chorus of this song goes like this: "I need no other argument, I need no other plea. It is enough that Jesus died, and that he died for me." We will return to the question, and the answer Paul gives a bit later. So be awake! You probably will discover the answer before we get to the end of the message. Last time we were in 1 Corinthians we talked about the very heart of Christianity. It's what unifies all Christians. It is what can cure all the world's ills. It sets the record straight. It restores the world to where it was before sin entered it. What is it? The gospel. Paul told the Corinthians that he gave them what was of primary importance--the number 1 communication: Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to many. One thing I would say in addition: the gospel is more comprehensive than Christ's death, burial, resurrection and appearances. This is the heart to be sure. But there is "front side" and a "back side" to the gospel as found in Scripture, beginning with Jesus' own preaching. As we know very well, Jesus himself preached the gospel. But what did he mean when he preached it? Did he preach to the masses of his own death, burial resurrection and appearances? Now, there was a time when he did teach this. But when was that? It was when Jesus asked the disciples who they thought he was. Remember what Peter said? "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Jesus told him in Matthew 16:17, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven." It was after this that Jesus began to predict his rejection, torture, death and resurrection. How did Peter respond to these things? He rebuked Jesus. Can you imagine that, rebuking Jesus? But what did Jesus do in response? He rebuked Peter and called him Satan. My point here is that there was something else that Jesus meant when he preached the gospel. The gospel was not original with him. Jesus was quoting Scripture, for the gospel was found in what we call the Old Testament, Isaiah 52:7, 10: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, 'Your God reigns.'" "The LORD has bared his holy arm before the eyes of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God." Do you know what this means, my friends? That the precious gospel, as Paul presented it in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, also includes the reign of Christ! And we will see in our passage today Paul lay this truth out before the Corinthians. We will be able to feast our souls on it as well, for this is eternal, universal truth! But as Paul had to do so many times before with the Corinthians, he had to work hard to lead them to the truth. In vv.12-19, Paul will point out the absurd logic of the no resurrection idea. In vv.20-28, the apostle will tell the Corinthians, and us the truth about the resurrection and lay it out in logical fashion. And finally, Paul will show the Corinthians how practical the hope of the resurrection teaching is in vv.29-34. So, let's see Paul put down the absurd logic of the no resurrection idea: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19: 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. What I find tragically fascinating here is why Paul had to address this in the first place: that there were some attached to the church who actually denied the truth of the resurrection. They would tell you, "yes, I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe that Jesus died for my sins. But this resurrection thing? Not so much." In our day, if we were to hear someone say that Jesus is the Son of God and that he died for his or her sins, would we probe further or just conclude that the one saying this is a Christian? I believe there is an implicit warning here. We cannot say that a person who does good things, and believes part of the truth and actively denies other parts is a Christian. It is not enough to believe in the existence of Jesus. It is not enough to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, as in an inferior creation of God. It is not enough to follow WWJD, as in simply doing what Jesus would do. No, we need to believe in all who Jesus claimed to be and respond in the way Jesus told us to respond. We must fully trust in everything the Scripture plainly tells us he is, and respond in the way he told us to respond - that we must repent and believe the gospel in order to be saved. But let's look now at how decisively Paul dealt with the resurrection deniers. First, if there is no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised. Besides the historical fact of Jesus' resurrection, Paul will address how crucial it is for Christians to believe this a little later on in this passage. So we will return to it in a moment. Second, if Christ is not alive right now from the dead, then the fact they preached and the object of their faith was empty. Meaningless. It meant nothing. Basically Paul says, that if you only believe in some buried prophet, your faith has no real object. Third, if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then Paul and company can be rightly accused of bearing false witness about God, because they proclaimed that it was God who raised Jesus from death. Fourth, if God had not raised Christ from the dead, and let me remind us that it was a bodily resurrection, then they placed their faith in an object that cannot save. They have not been forgiven of their sins. And if they and we have not been forgiven of sin, then their loved ones who followed Christ who have gone on before are not forgiven of their sins either. They are eternally lost. Eternally dead. They are not enjoying the presence of God. Fifth, if Christ has not been raised, then there is in reality nothing but gloom and eternal destruction on the other side of the grave. If that is the case, and we believe in Christ anyway, then we deserve the pity of the world. In other words, if Christ only gives us a good life in the here and now, and dare I say it, our best life in this life, then we deserve the world's pity. Quite the indictment, don't you think? Let's sum up this very important section of this passage. Without the resurrection of Christ, the object of our faith is useless. Meaningless. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, God has not forgiven any of us of our sins after all. Also, those who preach the resurrection of Christ can be rightly accused of bearing false witness against God. If the dead are not raised, then Christ is still in the ground. Somewhere. So, what, according to Paul is the golden cord that binds the truths of God's forgiveness and his faithfulness together? The bodily resurrection of Christ! And now we will see the ultimate reason for the resurrection of our Lord from the dead in vv.20-28: But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For "God has put all things in subjection under his-Christ's 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. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him-to the Father who put all things in subjection under him-Christ, that God may be all in all. What an amazing, breathtaking portion of holy Scripture! Paul begins this by affirming the truth of Christ's resurrection. He calls his rising from the dead, "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." What does Paul mean by this? Firstfruits in Scripture, as in the Old Testament, is a term of an offering. All firstborn animals and the very first and best part of the grain belonged to God and the people were to offer them to the Lord, in thanksgiving for more to come. Indeed, as one author put it, the firstfruits was a foretaste of more to come. In this case, as Paul told the Corinthians, and us, that all who die following Christ, or fall asleep in Christ will be made alive. In other words, Christ resurrection guarantees the resurrection of his people! "in Christ shall all be made alive" to enjoy life forever with the King! However, Paul says, there is a certain order, a certain timing to all this. Look again at v.23: Christ the firstfruits, which already happened, then those who belong to Christ will be made alive. Because Christ was raised bodily from the grave, when Christ returns, then we who belong to Christ will be raised from the grave. In our way of saying it, people who die as Christians will be bodily raised from their tombs, or from the sea, or from the ashes if one has been cremated, wherever. God will take our bones, our ashes, and will unite them with our spirit when we return with Christ. That is called glorification. Isn't that amazing! Because Christ was raised, we shall be raised as well. But that is not all. Far from it. When Christ returns, he will destroy his enemies--every one of them. Listen once again to how John sees Christ's return: Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. And when Christ is seated on his throne in Jerusalem, what then? Listen to how the Psalmists tell it: Psalm 2:7-12: I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 110:1-2: The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool." The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Then in Psalm 110:5-6 we read: The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. This will go on for 1,000 years. Perfect justice for the earth. Imagine! No more Marxist regimes. No more fake news. No more abortions. Men will be men. Women will be women. And the moment people rebel, they become his enemy and he dashes them to pieces. John writes: And when the thousand years are ended, Satan will be released from his prison and will come out to deceive the nations that are at the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them for battle; their number is like the sand of the sea. And they marched up over the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire came down from heaven and consumed them, and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. No wonder the Psalmist writes: Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. The Lord Jesus, resurrected from the dead, will return to rule and judge the nations. He will subdue all his enemies under his feet. Then he will offer up the kingdom--as in the earth--to God the Father. Then in v.28, Paul writes that Jesus himself will be subjected to the Father, so that God may be all in all. Here's the foundational point Paul is making. Bodily resurrection is absolutely essential. If there is no resurrection, there is no Millennial reign of Christ. There is no subduing of nations. There is no final judgment. And there is no ultimate justice in the earth. But how can that be if one of God's attributes is perfect justice? So, what can we say about this? Hallelujah, if you and I are one of his. If you not one of his, if you are not a member of his forever family, tragically you will be one of his enemies. Please don't be the enemy of Jesus. In this day or the next. He will be glorified in his saints. Or he will be glorified in the exercise of his justice. Finally, let's take a look at how practical the hope of the teaching, the doctrine of the resurrection is in vv.29-34: Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." Do not be deceived: "Bad company ruins good morals." Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame. In v.29, we come across a peculiar idea: baptism for the dead. This was a pagan practice or one done by what we call cults in the 2nd century. And it is even done by Mormons today. You may have heard that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints has the largest genealogy databank in the world. That is so they can actually practice baptism for the dead, hoping that the ones they get baptized for will have a chance at eternal life. Wouldn't things just be better if they would repent and believe the gospel and become true Christians? But Paul's point here is that resurrection is something even pagans believe in, for why would they baptize for the dead if that were not so? Paul's own testimony speaks of hope in his future resurrection. In vv.30 and 31, he says, in effect that putting his temporal physical life on the line now is no big deal--the resurrection of his body is a future reality! And on that side of the grave there is no more death. So, Paul would say, "regardless of what happens to me, it is nothing compared to what awaits me." And if Paul were to somehow visit us I'm sure he would say something about covid and the Marxist uprisings in our country. I can imagine him telling us to stay the course. Live righteously. We are not to fear covid or the BLM movement. Because a resurrection is coming that death will not be a thing any longer! We are not to fear what anybody can do to our bodies. We are only to fear the one who can cast both body and soul into hell, as Jesus told us in Matthew 10:28. That's one of the reasons Paul was so fearless, and that's why he was such a servant even to those who were not so nice to him. But now, look at how Paul made it personal to the Corinthians at the end of vv.32. If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die." Indeed. If we are only worm food after we flatline and are placed into the ground, then it would be a crying shame to not live life to the fullest--with everything the world has to offer. But what kind of "enjoyment" does the world have to offer that does not clash with God-given guilt? The fact is, as John tells us, the world lies in the lap of the evil one. And that is the warning Paul puts out to the Corinthians in vv.33-34. Good, godly advice here. We will indeed become like those who we choose to hang around. Some Corinthian church-goers need to morally wake up for they are living life drunk on the world--staggering around in the house of God. Paul here reminds the Corinthians that sinning is not how God's people are to live. He told them over and over that those who practice sinning demonstrate that, even though they are attached to the Corinthian church organization they are not a part of church, the ekklesia of Christ. He finishes this section by reinforcing the truth--those who deny the resurrection and those who continue in their lifestyles of sin have no knowledge of God. Remember what Jesus said eternal life is in John 17:3: And this is eternal life that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. What is eternal life? Intimate, relational knowledge of God. So, when Paul says that some of them have no knowledge of God, it's another way of saying, "come to Christ, mere Corinthian church-goers." So what do we do with this glorious, and most sobering passage of Scripture? First, be convinced in the teaching of the resurrection of the body. This is a gospel issue. It was believed from the earliest days. All throughout church history, Christians crystalized what they believed into statements of faith. We at Grace United have a statement of faith, but it is long and drawn out. It is the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. If I were to ask us who are members to recite it, we would be here for the next 15 minutes just spouting it off! But one of the earliest statements of faith is called the Apostle's creed. Notice how we did not begin our time of prayer with a corporate prayer. That's because I wanted us to recite the Apostle's creed together. As we do, I'm sure you will see how it relates to the doctrine of the resurrection. I have "modernized" it a bit because we don't speak Old English. So let's recite it together: "I believe in God the Father Almighty. And in Jesus Christ His only (begotten) Son our Lord, who was born of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary; crucified under Pontius Pilate, and buried; the third day He rose from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father, from there He shall come to judge the living and the dead. And I believe in the Holy Spirit; the holy Church; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body and life everlasting." The resurrection is one of the main teachings of the gospel going back to the earliest creedal statement in the church. And if the earliest Christians believed it, we need to as well. Second, let's answer the question I posed at the beginning: Is the death of Christ enough to save us? Paul would say no. If Christ be not raised, then we are still in our sins. Why? Because if Christ is not raised, then death is stronger than Christ. If Christ is still in the ground then all hope of overcoming death is still in the ground. But because Christ has been raised, sin is not our ultimate enemy. Christ has defeated death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel! We have true hope for the life hereafter and the power to live life pleasing to God in the here and now as well. Praise Him! Third, in light of who Christ is, let's spend a little time in prayer. He is the one who conquered death. He is the soon coming King. He will rule all nations with perfect justice and righteousness as he reigns for 1,000 years. Then he will sit on his glorious, Great White throne. And we will all give an account of our lives to him on that day. I invite us to spend a moment at his throne, either thanking him for the gracious offer of salvation he has given you, or spending a moment receiving salvation. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that the Lord is right now on a search and rescue mission. He is seeking and saving the lost. It is his will that no one perish but all come to repentance. He holds out his hand and offer of salvation. Will you take it? Will you repent of your sin and believe the gospel? If you have never responded to Jesus' gracious and merciful offer of salvation, I'm going to ask you to do something courageous. I'm going to ask you to stand right where you are. No music. No coming forward. A simple standing where you are and telling the Lord that you are turning from your sin and that you believe the gospel-Jesus is the King. As King, he died for your sin. And you are grateful for his sacrifice for your sin. And in gratitude, you pledge now to follow him the rest of your days. As we take a few moments, I will leave this invitation open. And you who are tuning in on FB live, I give you the same invitation. If you are able, take a stand. Then share your commitment with someone. Today. If you have repented of your sin and have believed the gospel of Christ, spend a moment thanking him for the indescribable gift he has given you. Now take this gift and live your life like you are grateful.