The Sure Hope Of Our Resurrection Series

Last week we read how Paul reiterated the message of the Gospel and the certainty of Christ’s resurrection.

• He has to re-emphasize that because among the Corinthians was a group of believers who denied the resurrection of the dead.

• They were the arrogant troublemakers who were immature but think of themselves as super-spiritual and better than the rest.

• They believed that they have already attained the spiritual life in the here and now and there is no need for any future resurrection.

• It was for this reason that Paul has to write this chapter.

Paul set the stage for countering such a false assumption by stating, at the start of this chapter - that which is “of first importance” (3) – is that Jesus Christ has been raised.

• He appealed to the traditions of the church, to the many eyewitnesses and his own encounter with the risen Christ.

• We have ample historical evidence of the resurrection of Christ and hence, “How can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?” (12)

1 Cor 15:12-28 ESV – THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD

12Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15We 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. 16For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27For “God has put all things in subjection under his 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. 28When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.

There are two parts to Paul’s argument here:

• 12-19: “If Christ Has Not Been Raised” (14)… and Its Implications

• 20-28: “But Christ Has Been Raised” (20)… and Its Implications

“If Christ Has Not Been Raised” (14) and Its Implications (12-19)

This group of proud Corinthians were not questioning Christ’s resurrection but the resurrection of the dead.

• They believe that they will have some kind of “spiritual” existence after death rather than a bodily resurrection like Christ.

• Influenced by Greek philosophy, they think of the body as a prison that traps the soul and at death, we are delivered.

Paul argues that we cannot believe in Christ’s resurrection and not the resurrection of the dead. We cannot separate the two.

• We either have both or none. The resurrection is not a good-to-have but an integral part of the Gospel.

13But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

• To deny the resurrection is to deny the resurrection of Christ too.

• It is logically impossible to believe in the resurrection of Christ and yet not ours. We cannot have one without the other.

• To believe that He rose on the third day would mean the dead in Christ would be raised as well. Christ’s resurrection guarantees ours.

Since God has provided undeniable proof for Christ’s resurrection (last week’s message) – seen by Cephas, the twelve, more than 500 witnesses, and Paul himself – then there would be the resurrection of the dead.

• The implication of denying the resurrection of the dead is the denial of Christ’s resurrection.

• For on what basis can we believe in the resurrection of Christ when there is no resurrection of the dead?