If Christ Had Not Risen From The Dead : The Importance Of The Resurrection

IF CHRIST HAD NOT RISEN FROM THE DEAD : UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

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OUTLINE

1. THERE WOULD BE NO GOSPEL TO PREACH

2. OUR FAITH WOULD BE IN VAIN

3. ALL THOSE WHO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL WOULD BE LIARS

4. THERE WOULD BE NO SALVATION FOR OUR SOULS

5. ALL THOSE WHO DIED IN CHRIST ARE LOST

6. BELEIVERS WOULD BE THE MOST PITIABLE PEOPLE ON EARTH

7. THERE WOULD BE NO NEWNESS OF LIFE AND OUR BAPTISM WOULD BE MEANINGLESS

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

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1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-19, 29-32

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.

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

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized for them?

And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour?

I die every day—I mean that, brothers—just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

THE MESSAGE

IF CHRIST HAD NOT RISEN FROM THE DEAD : UNDERSTANDING THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION

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1. THERE WOULD BE NO GOSPEL TO PREACH

If Christ had not risen from the dead ,there would no gospel to preach. All our preaching would be useless as we cannot preach the gospel of salvation and healing and deliverance and blessing without a living Christ. A dead Christ cannot help suffering humanity.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

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1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-14 , 16

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.

2. OUR FAITH WOULD BE IN VAIN

If Christ had not risen from the dead , then all our faith would be in vain . There would be no basis for our faith and confidence. We cannot trust in a dead Christ to be with us in our time of trouble to deliver us.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

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1 CORINTHIANS 15:14

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.

1 PETER 1:21

Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

HEBREWS 13:5-6

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."

So we say with confidence, "The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?"

3. ALL THOSE WHO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL WOULD BE LIARS

If Christ had not risen from the dead , all those who proclaim the gospel would be liars. Even the great apostles would become liars , because they preached the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We cannot go to all nations and boldly preach the gospel if Christ was dead. It is the presence of the living Christ who has all authority in heaven and earth which enables us to proclaim the gospel with confidence to the ends of the earth.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

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1 CORINTHIANS 15:15

More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.

MATTHEW 28:18-20

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.