The Purpose Of Resurrection. 1 Cor. (15:29-34) Series

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This sermon ‘The purpose of Resurrection’ details how a man has to live since the resurrection of the dead is a reality. Man’s response to the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:29-34 29Now 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? 30And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? 31I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. 32If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 33Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.” 34Come back to your senses as you ought, and stop sinning; for there are some who are ignorant of God—I say this to your shame.

Open your Bibles to 1 Corinthians 15. The first 28 verses in this chapter says since Christ rose from the grave we will also rise up with glorified bodies in the trumpet call of God. Resurrection was the confidence of the saints throughout the Scripture. Job who suffered so greatly, endured that suffering, never had his faith falter. He said: Job 15:13 Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him.

Job 19:26 And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God.

We know that when Jesus went on the Mount of Transfiguration, Moses and Elijah appeared with him. It was a declaration by God about those men after they had died physically; but God was still their God because they were still alive in His presence.

It was the resurrection hope that caused Stephen to offer himself to be stoned to death. Acts 7:59 While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” It was the resurrection hope by which Andrew was martyred by being tied to a cross and left for days to die, Peter crucified upside-down, and James beheaded.

Now religion promises life after death. The terrorists are living in the delusion that if they kill infidels, and in the process, take their own life, they’re going to end up with seventy-two virgins in some special place in heaven where all the virgins will be waiting for them on green pillows to satisfy them forever. A lie right out of hell, by the way, but a lie for which many gives their lives.

The truth is only in Christ. We can live our lives in anticipation of resurrection. We know that we are promised personal rewards. We know there is a crown of life, a crown of righteousness, a crown of rejoicing, that’ll be granted to us personally. So, there is a resurrection and there is hope for the believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

How to live in light of the resurrection?

Now, in 1 Corinthians 15:29-34, Paul gives us 3 motivations because of the resurrection.

1. To be Saved.

1 Corinthians 15:29 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?

The first motivation is that we are baptized because of the resurrection. I am saved and I am baptized because I hope that I will be raised again in the trumpet call of God. The act of proclaiming one’s union with Christ done in response to saving faith, the believer who has put his trust in Christ goes through an immersion as the symbol of His death, burial and resurrection in Christ. This is so synonymous with Christianity that baptism actually became a synonym for salvation.

In the Great Commission at the end of the gospel of Matthew our Lord says this: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.” That is the evangelistic effort. it assumes faith in Christ. Baptism was so inseparable from saving faith that it is spoken of in its place.

The same thing happens in Ephesians 4:5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism. So we’re talking about Christian baptism here, the baptism of believers. Since there is a resurrection, we get baptized to join the Kingdom of God.

And what does it mean that believers are baptized for the dead? This means: “What will those do who are baptized because of the dead?” Why would anybody be baptized because of a dead person?

There are plenty of people who came to faith in Christ by reading something written by someone who is dead, or by recalling a testimony given by someone who is now dead – a parent, a friend – or even by the influence of the testimony of someone dying who is now dead.