Without The Resurrection

Without The Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:12-20

Conspiracy theories are nothing new, but with the invention of the internet and social media these theories are more prevalent than ever. Some people believe a number of conspiracy theories concerning the JFK Assassination. Others believe there was a cover up after the terror attacks of 9/11/01. Some believe that certain secret societies control the world. There are a few who still believe that the moon landings were faked. Even after all of these years many people are convinced that Elvis Presley is still alive.

The actual truth behind these “theories” has no real impact on our daily lives. But there are some who allege that the Resurrection of Christ was faked and that is a subject that not only impacts our daily lives, it has serious implications concerning our eternity. I am glad that I do not have to be concerned about the validity of these allegations. I possess no doubt whatsoever that Jesus Christ is indeed risen!

The Bible tells us that Christ's resurrection was witnessed by Mary, several other women, Peter, the rest of the Apostles, and over 500 witnesses at one time. Later, He appeared to the Apostle Paul on the Road to Damascus, some years after that He appeared to John on the Isle of Patmos and 25 years ago He made His presence known in my own life. Many of you have a similar testimony concerning the risen Savior. Though we have not seen Jesus physically, we have seen Him with eyes of faith. We rest in the promise that one day our “faith will become sight”.

There was a time when certain members of the church in Corinth experienced some doubt concerning certain truths of the Christian faith. In I Corinthians 15, Paul addresses those doubts. Most Greeks did not believe in bodily resurrection of the dead. Their belief was that there was no immortality for one’s body, but the soul entered an eternal state. However, the Bible teaches that the body and soul will be united after resurrection. The church at Corinth was in the heart of Greek culture and the beliefs and teachings of the philosophers caused many of these young Christians to doubt the reality of a future bodily resurrection.

The bodily resurrection of Christ is the heart of the Christian faith. Jesus promised that He would suffer, die and then rise again. Because these things were fulfilled we are able to trust that He is God and we can believe every word that He ever said. Because He rose from the grave we can live with full assurance that our sins are forgiven. Furthermore, because He rose from the grave (thus) defeating death we can live with assurance that we too will be raised.

- In this passage, Paul paints a picture of what life would be like for the Christian without resurrection. I would like to examine this hypothetical scenario and preach on the subject “Without The Resurrection”. In this discourse, Paul presents several devastating realities for the Christian if Christ is not risen. In verses 12-13 he declares that:

WITHOUT THE RESURRECTION WE WOULD HAVE NO PURPOSE

v12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

Some in Corinth doubted the promise that believers would be raised from the dead. In response, Paul says that if this promise is not true then Jesus Himself did not rise from the grave. If Christ is not risen then everything we believe is pointless. If Jesus is not alive, we have no Comforter in times of trouble. If the scriptures are not trustworthy concerning Jesus’ resurrection then we cannot trust in the promise of His return. If we do not serve a risen Savior then we have no hope of eternal life. As Christians, everything that we believe hinges on the reality of the resurrection of Christ. Therefore if He is not risen our entire way of life is purposeless.

- In verse 14 Paul states that without the Resurrection:

A. OUR PREACHING WOULD BE POINTLESS

v14 “if Christ is not risen, then is our preaching is empty”

If Jesus is not risen then every preacher in history has wasted their time. If Jesus is not alive then every sermon you have ever heard was a lie. If Jesus did not rise on the third day then we might as well just dismiss and go home. Without the Resurrection, not only is our preaching pointless:

B. OUR FAITH WOULD BE FUTILE

v14b and your faith is also empty.