Consequences of Denying the Resurrection

Topic: Resurrection
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:12–19

April 29, 2022

Commentary

This verse stands as a focal point around which the first nineteen verses revolve (v. 12). “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead” directs our attention to the first eleven verses. “How say some among you that there is no resurrection?” This question looks ahead to verses thirteen through nineteen. Paul has established first that resurrection is an essential fact of the gospel. He now tabulates the logical consequences of denying the resurrection. They thought the soul would enter some eternal state but not the body. Christianity, by contrast, affirms that the body and soul will be reunited after the resurrection. There were people in Corinth who were saying there was no resurrection. Paul presents four consequences of denying the resurrection:

 

1. If there is no resurrection, then Jesus Christ is still in the grave (v. 16). 

2. If He is not raised, there is not gospel to preach (v. 17). 

3. If there is not gospel, then you have believed in vain and you are still in your sins (v. 17). 

4. If there is not resurrection, then believers who have died have no hope (v. 18). 

 

If our hope in Christ does not take us beyond this life, then “we are of all men most miserable” (v. 19). Because we know that Christ did rise from the dead, we have the certainty that our sins have been forgiven and that He now lives in the presence of the Father and represents us to Him.

Application

If I do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the Bible teaches, my belief about everything else is meaningless. I serve a living Christ, not a dead Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (NET)

12 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. 15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Moody – The cross is only half the Gospel

D. L. Moody, the great evangelist of the nineteenth century, assigned some ministerial students to conduct evangelistic tent meetings throughout the city of Chicago. The students were to preach nightly sermons as a means of winning souls for Chris … Continue

Consequences of Denying the Resurrection

Topic: Resurrection
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:12–19

May 28, 2021

Commentary

This verse stands as a focal point around which the first nineteen verses revolve (v. 12). “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead” directs our attention to the first eleven verses. “How say some among you that there is no resurrection?” This question looks ahead to verses thirteen through nineteen. Paul has established first that resurrection is an essential fact of the gospel. He now tabulates the logical consequences of denying the resurrection. They thought the soul would enter some eternal state but not the body. Christianity, by contrast, affirms that the body and soul will be reunited after the resurrection. There were people in Corinth who were saying there was no resurrection. Paul presents four consequences of denying the resurrection:

 

1. If there is no resurrection, then Jesus Christ is still in the grave (v. 16). 

2. If He is not raised, there is not gospel to preach (v. 17). 

3. If there is not gospel, then you have believed in vain and you are still in your sins (v. 17). 

4. If there is not resurrection, then believers who have died have no hope (v. 18). 

 

If our hope in Christ does not take us beyond this life, then “we are of all men most miserable” (v. 19). Because we know that Christ did rise from the dead, we have the certainty that our sins have been forgiven and that He now lives in the presence of the Father and represents us to Him.

Application

If I do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the Bible teaches, my belief about everything else is meaningless. I serve a living Christ, not a dead Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (NET)

12 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. 15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Consequences of Denying the Resurrection

Topic: Resurrection
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:12–19

April 10, 2021

Commentary

This verse stands as a focal point around which the first nineteen verses revolve (v. 12). “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead” directs our attention to the first eleven verses. “How say some among you that there is no resurrection?” This question looks ahead to verses thirteen through nineteen. Paul has established first that resurrection is an essential fact of the gospel. He now tabulates the logical consequences of denying the resurrection. They thought the soul would enter some eternal state but not the body. Christianity, by contrast, affirms that the body and soul will be reunited after the resurrection. There were people in Corinth who were saying there was no resurrection. Paul presents four consequences of denying the resurrection:

 

1. If there is no resurrection, then Jesus Christ is still in the grave (v. 16). 

2. If He is not raised, there is not gospel to preach (v. 17). 

3. If there is not gospel, then you have believed in vain and you are still in your sins (v. 17). 

4. If there is not resurrection, then believers who have died have no hope (v. 18). 

 

If our hope in Christ does not take us beyond this life, then “we are of all men most miserable” (v. 19). Because we know that Christ did rise from the dead, we have the certainty that our sins have been forgiven and that He now lives in the presence of the Father and represents us to Him.

Application

If I do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the Bible teaches, my belief about everything else is meaningless. I serve a living Christ, not a dead Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (NET)

12 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. 15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Consequences of Denying the Resurrection

Topic: Resurrection
Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:12–19

September 29, 2020

Commentary

This verse stands as a focal point around which the first nineteen verses revolve (v. 12). “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead” directs our attention to the first eleven verses. “How say some among you that there is no resurrection?” This question looks ahead to verses thirteen through nineteen. Paul has established first that resurrection is an essential fact of the gospel. He now tabulates the logical consequences of denying the resurrection. They thought the soul would enter some eternal state but not the body. Christianity, by contrast, affirms that the body and soul will be reunited after the resurrection. There were people in Corinth who were saying there was no resurrection. Paul presents four consequences of denying the resurrection:

 

1. If there is no resurrection, then Jesus Christ is still in the grave (v. 16). 

2. If He is not raised, there is not gospel to preach (v. 17). 

3. If there is not gospel, then you have believed in vain and you are still in your sins (v. 17). 

4. If there is not resurrection, then believers who have died have no hope (v. 18). 

 

If our hope in Christ does not take us beyond this life, then “we are of all men most miserable” (v. 19). Because we know that Christ did rise from the dead, we have the certainty that our sins have been forgiven and that He now lives in the presence of the Father and represents us to Him.

Application

If I do not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ as the Bible teaches, my belief about everything else is meaningless. I serve a living Christ, not a dead Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (NET)

12 Now if Christ is being preached as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. 15 Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. 18 Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.