Doubting The Resurrection Series

The resurrection is central to the Christian faith and without the resurrection of the dead, we have no hope. One of the many problems in the church at Corinth was the problem of believing in the resurrection of the dead. We would ask, is there life after death? A popular Greek belief 2000 years ago and today was/is when you die, that is all there is? The popular opinion is that at death, you disintegrate into nothing.

After all, we have been falsely taught for years we are the result of some cosmic accident. We evolved from the some primordial soup. A belief in a Creator and life after death, seems so archaic.

Life after death. The resurrection of the dead seemed un-believable. Not only today, but 2000 years ago as well. Chapter 15 of 1 Corinthians was Paul’s argument against that that mindset.

1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

But the good news is and our Christian Hope is:

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

In our passage today, Paul tells us about the mindset of those who have been given the gospel, who welcomed the good news, but were under the influence of false teachers, resulting in their doubting the resurrection of the dead. Paul continue to argue against doubt and unbelief and warnings are given about those who would lead them astray.

1 Corinthians 15:29–34

We are going to look at today’s passage in reverse.

The last line of today’s focal passage is

1 Corinthians 15:34c I speak this to your shame.

I imagine that did not sit well the Corinthians. This isn’t the first or the only time Paul says this to the Corinthians.

1 Corinthians 11:17 But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.

In context this was concerning the observance of the Lord’s Supper. Some were having a party while others were left hungry. It demonstrated their ignorance.

1 Corinthians 6:5 I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not among you one wise man who will be able to decide between his brethren,

In context, Paul was refuting those who took fellow believers to the civil court rather than exercise judgment among themselves within the church to solve their differences. Paul said:

1 Corinthians 15:34b “for some have no knowledge of God.”

By their very actions it was obvious they had no or very limited knowledge of God. We have folks who proudly proclaim, “I know all about God” and “I’ve read the whole Bible,” yet they live like the devil himself. Most show their lack of knowledge by their clear demonstration of their ignorance. They were acting ignorantly. As Paul had to remind them to:

1 Corinthians 15:34a Become sober-minded as you ought, and stop sinning.

You would think that that would go without saying, yet Paul had to say it. Yet as Christians we will be held accountable for our actions at the judgment seat of Christ (as described in 2 Corinthians 5:10). Paul was saying all these things to their shame. They knew better, yet there was a problem of those false teachers. Paul was warning them, again.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

Paul was repeating a well-known quote from the Greek poet, Menander. This closely parallels the saying: “You are known by the company you keep.”

As much as we need to evangelize the world, we need to be careful of those whose will drag us down. We are not to associate with them. The Bible is quite clear on those we call a “brother” of fellow believer. If they bring false teachings, we are not to associate with them.

2 Corinthians 6:14–15 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?

We often refer to this verse when we counsel those believers who desire to marry a non-believer. We warn them to not be “unequally yoked” (KJV). Whether in marriage or business partnership, we need to be joined to other believers. Yet these Corinthians believe the slick talkers and others who corrupted gospel that Paul had given to them.

Paul had explained the tragic consequences if there was no resurrection from the dead (verses 12-19). Yet there were those who claim to be Christian and doubt the resurrection.

Perhaps what was happening is that there were those who tried mixing some of the popular local pagan beliefs with Christianity. This happens today around the world and over the past centuries. We see this in many places in the world. We saw it Indonesia on the Island of Timor where the people claimed to be Christian but their beliefs had a mixture of Catholicism and local pagan animistic beliefs. We see this here with those in this postmodernism and post-Christianism culture with various Burger King, “Have it your way” beliefs. People will pick and choose from the various belief systems, the things they like and discard the things they do not like, then they pass their perverted beliefs on to others. Unfortunately, many of these people can be found inside the church. Paul makes the warning: “Do not be deceived.” One of the top battle grounds for the truth today is inside the church. Paul says earlier in this letter: