What If There Was No Resurrection?

“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.