“What If There Was No Resurrection?”
1 Corinthians 15:12-22
There was a song written by John Lennon in 1971
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us, only sky
Imagine all the people
Sharing for today, ha, ah, ah
[Chorus]
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
Verse 2
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
No religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace, you
[Chorus]
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world, you
[Chorus]
You may say I'm a dreamer
But I'm not the only one
I hope someday you'll join us
And the world will live as one
On the evening of 8 December 1980, John Lennon, was shot and fatally wounded in the archway of his residence in New York City.
At the age of 40 the truth of eternity was realized by a man who chose to imagine there was no heaven or hell.
In our text this morning Paul asked a similar question; not to question the existence but to show the lost condition of man who chooses to imagine the world without Jesus the Christ.
Vs. 12 “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”
Preached - kerusso (kay-roos’-so) to publish, proclaim openly: something which has been done, used of the public proclamation of the gospel and matters pertaining to it.
How say some among you - with the evidence that has been seen by so many, how can you declare there is no resurrection?
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas (Peter), then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
If There Was No Resurrection Verses 13-19
The word “IF” is used six (6) times to make a point.
Vs. 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
If there be no resurrection of the dead
Then is Christ not risen
Vs. 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
If Christ be not risen
Our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
Vs. 15 Yea, and we are found 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.
If so be that the dead rise not
We are found false witnesses of God
Vs. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
If the dead rise not
Then is not Christ raised
Vs. 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
If Christ be not raised
Ye are yet in your sins.
Vs. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
Vs. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ
We are of all men most miserable
I am so glad Paul did not end his letter right there.
But now is Christ!
I love it when Christ "buts" in
Vs. 20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
But - conjunction; noting an addition to supply what is wanting to elaborate.
Christ became the “firstfuits” - Jesus Christ became the path maker, He set the standard, he alone blazed the path that we could not.
Of them that slept - We either have a mistake or we are seeing something very special.
Notice the word “that”? - when added to this phrase we see it in the past tense as if all that Christ did, for Him, was in the past.
2 Timothy 1:8-10 “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
9 Who hath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:”
Vs. 21 “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.”
Because of man “sin” entered in and now by man victory over death is made possible.
Vs. 22 “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”
Because of Adam death is a curse and now the curse can be broken because of Christ.
Conclusion:
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Victory over death is not in religion, it is in Christ
Our hope cannot lay in religion or religious activity, but must be in Christ alone.
Do you know Jesus who died, was buried and rose again?
