If there is no resurrection

1st Corinthians 15 is the lengthiest discourse on the resurrection in the entire Bible. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul details the certainty of the future resurrection of the righteous. As strange as it may seem, there were some members of the church at Corinth who were denying there was a coming resurrection (15:12). Before we are too critical of their poor theological understanding, we must remember that we have a complete New Testament and they did not. Many of those early Corinthian Christians were allowing their pagan past to influence their perception of future events. In response to their misunderstanding, Paul writes this lengthy treatise, that we know of as 1st Corinthians 15. Written not only to defend the certainty of the resurrection, but also to explain (broadly) when it will happen and what our resurrected bodies will look like.

In verses 1-4, the Apostle declares the Scriptural affirmation of Christ’s resurrection. Verses 5-11 contain the historical confirmation of Jesus’ resurrection. Germane to our article today, are verses 12-20 in which Paul states the practical implications if indeed, Christ did not rise, and there is no future resurrection. He does so, by employing a number of parallel truths that make a reasoned argument that the resurrection of Christ guarantees the resurrection of all those who follow Christ. The writer makes several comparative comments, each of which include the little word ‘If.” That small, simple word makes a huge difference in the totality of this argument.

Simply put, if Christ did not rise from the dead and there is no future resurrection than Christianity is at best insignificant, if not altogether a complete farce.

The first consequence (if there is no resurrection) is found in verse 13 where Paul writes, “if there is no resurrection then is Christ not risen.” Readers, to deny the possibility of a resurrection in general, is to deny the veracity of Christ’s resurrection specifically. Paul says that without the resurrection the gospel message would then be groundless. The good news of Jesus dying for our sins and rising again, has no basis on which to stand, if there is no resurrection. If Jesus lived and died and remained that way, then we offer no greater Savior than any other religion.

Secondly, if Christ is not risen, verse 14 states our preaching is pointless. Here, Paul is not talking about the quality of preaching, but instead, its emptiness. If Jesus died and is still buried in a tomb in Israel, then we do not have a message of hope to proclaim to a lost world. If there is no resurrection, all of us who have devoted ourselves to the ministry have simply wasted our lives! Without the resurrection, every sermon ever preached was simply pointless.

Next, Paul states that if Christ is not risen, the Christian faith is vanity. If Jesus is no different than many other good moral men who have lived and died for a cause, then our faith in Him as Savior is simply useless.

The apostle also says, that if Christ is not risen from dead, we are all false witnesses. In other words, our word is worthless because we (those listed in verses 5-11) have all testified that Jesus is undeniably alive. To put it bluntly, Paul is saying those who deny the resurrection are calling us all liars, because we have born witness that Christ lives. It is no small matter to say the word of so many is worthless.

The writer then increases the severity of the consequences, if there is no resurrection, by saying in verse 17 that if Christ did not rise, that we are still “in our sins.” We have not been saved from our sins, but instead are still in our sins. Without the resurrection of Jesus, divine forgiveness is powerless! If Jesus did not rise from the dead, thereby justifying our faith in Him as the Promised Messiah, then no satisfactory atonement for sin has been made, and we are still lost.

Further yet, Paul says if there is no resurrection, all those who have “fallen asleep in Christ” (verse 18) are perished. What a sad and empty thought it is, indeed, to consider that our loved ones who have died, are simply gone and there is no hope for a brighter tomorrow! Without the resurrection, those friends and family who have died are simply lifeless.

But… But, Paul writes in verse 20, Christ is risen from the dead! Paul transitions from fiction to fact, from uncertainty to certainty! Boldly declaring from scriptural, historical, logical and experiential evidence that Jesus is alive forevermore! Every Sunday, Christians all over this globe gather to worship the living God!

The consequences are severe indeed, if there is no resurrection. But praise God; “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!”

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