The Impact of the Ressurection

1 Corinthians 15:12–34 ESV

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We 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. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “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. When 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. Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

Foundation of our faith

1 Corinthians 15:12–14 ESV

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.

Paul says that everything hinges on the Resurrection

without the Resurrection preaching is pointless as is your faith.

No reason to go to church no reason to sit here and listen to sermons no need to study the word after all if Christ is a fraud what hope do we have?

None Paul makes that argument clear in Romans. All have sinned and because of our sins we deserve death and eternal separation from God.

Yet he says The Resurrection is true and Christ is alive thus we can have faith. Let us look then at 3 impacts of the Resurrection

Christ’s Resurrection brings forgiveness

1 Corinthians 15:17 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

Now what does the resurrection do for our sins after all does not the Ephesians 1:7 say

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

and again in Hebrews 9:22

Hebrews 9:22 ESV

Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.

Thus Scripture clearly teaches forgiveness of sins comes from the shedding of blood specifically through the shed blood of Christ so then why does Paul say without the Resurrection our faith would be futile and we would still be lost in our sins

let us consider two implications of the Resurrected Sacrifice.

first in the Resurrection Jesus was vindicated and proven innocent of any sin. The Resurrection proves Jesus was innocent and worthy to be the sacrifice for our sins, because only God has the power to raise people from the dead. He alone is the source of life and without him nothing lives. Thus for the dead Christ to be raised would mean God must have done it and why would he have raised someone who deserved death. Understand God said this is the punishment for sin the wages of sin is death. Thus when Jesus suffered death having not sinned God repealed the punishment. That which was dead now lived.

Second Jesus through the Resurrection overcame death and payed the penalty for sin. Because he was innocent and deserved not the death his death then could be applied to our account. Thus allowing for our sin debt to be paid but without the Resurrection to prove his innocence their would be no forgiveness.

Christ’s Resurrection Brings our Own

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 ESV

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.

Christ is the first fruits he is like the first pepper growing on my habenero plants the first tomato of the season the first onion and the first cayenne. Anyone thinking salsa yet? You see when we see those first fruits coming we know that more are on the way the harvest will soon come that first fruit is not the only one but rather the first of many.

In the same way God says Christ was the first of many who would follow after. he was raised from the dead and so will all those who follow him be raised from the dead when he comes back for them.

The Resurrection of Christ is proof of his ability to raise us. He has promised to do so and he provides his own death as proof of his love and the ressurection as proof of his power.

Christ’s Resurrection Proves His Supremacy

1 Corinthians 15:24–28 ESV

Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For “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. When 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.

Christ has all authority and power and the Resurrection proves that Satan death the grave all the powers of hell together were no match for him. He rose from the dead showing he was superior to them all. He is God almighty and ruler of all and He is in complete control.

One day he will end all rebellion to his reign and satan the demons and even death itself

will be destroyed and the resurrection stands as proof of his power over these things. Thus it is our hope of eternal life because He is able to overcome any and all who strive against Him.

The Resurrection Empowers us with Boldness

You ever wonder why Paul, the Apostles and so many others have been willing to go through such pain and agony even to die for their faith it was because of the Resurrection.

Look at what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:30-34

1 Corinthians 15:30–34 ESV

Why are we in danger every hour? I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die every day! What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.” Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.

He claims the reason he goes through all his struggles ultimately the reason he dies is for Christ everything he does is for the sake of Christ.

Paul is willing to go through great suffering and loss in this life for the sake of the next. If this life was all there is he says let us eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die. This is the way of the world but it is not the way of the Christian because be believe in the next life the eternal life that this life is but a crude mirror of what we should be yet one day by the power of the resurrection we shall be rewarded for our obedience and service. Thus we must strive to do what is right so that we might strive to obtain rewards for the next life. We are not saved that we might continue in sin but rather to do what is right. Let us wake up and do right in light of the power of the resurrection. For the sake of the rewards we might earn in the next life.