Hypothetical Bad News
Not in Vain • Sermon • Submitted
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· 13 viewsIf a part of the gospel is missing, then we no longer have good news.
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Hypothetical Bad News - 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Hypothetical Bad News - 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that 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 in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 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. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Hypothetical Bad News - 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Hypothetical Bad News - 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Every now and then, we enjoy to play out hypothetical situations:
and if you don’t know what I mean by this, these hypothetical situations aren’t based on fact, reality, or truth, but on imagined scenarios
So for example, a hypothetical scenario might sound something like this:
What would happen if there was a zombi apocalypse - clearly the imagination of a person who plays too many games or watches too many movies.
If you had ten million dollars, and you only had twenty four hours to spend it before you lost the money what would you buy?
Now none of these scenarios are actually true, but they can be fun to walk through… or even scary to think about
If an astroid was predicted to hit the earth, what we do?
If the sun stoped stopped giving off heat what would happen?
Obviously, none of these are true, but they would make for thrilling movies, or interesting conversation. Or as in tonights Scripture, it is through a hypothetical scenario that Paul will show how important the doctrine of the resurrection is in order to maintain the truth of the gospel.
Last week we looked at the crucial doctrine of the gospel…
Jesus died for our sins
He was buried
and he rose on the third day from the grave
Paul said that this is the gospel that he preached to the Corinthians
And that this was gospel that the Corinthians recieved and believed.
Furthermore, the good news of the gospel
is of first importance
Meaning that there is nothing else in this life that is more important
It’s more important that school
more important than your family
yes it’s even more important than living a moral life…
For if you live a moral life, but do not receive the gospel, you are still dead in your
Furthermore, Paul showed us that the gospel is objective truth
Jesus really lived, really died, and really rose from the grave…
and there were over 500 witnesses who saw the risen Jesus
So what Jesus accomplished is not a matter of debate. Which means
The gospel is good news, it’s important news, and it’s reliable news… but the problem is that though the message of the gospel is not up for debate, the gospel is often changed by people who do not cling to the gospel as it has been recorded in the Scripture…
This is what happened in the Corinthian church that Paul is writing to:
After reminding the Corinthians of the the gospel
11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
Notice they believed the message of the gospel…
that Jesus died for their sins
He was buried
and he rose on the third day from the grave
But the problem in v 12
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
they are denying the resurrection of the dead…
now they aren’t denying that Jesus rose from the dead,
but the Corinthians are denying that every Christian will be raised from the dead.
There is a problem with this kind of thinking… because if we won’t be resurrected, then the gospel fails to be good news.
and to this effect Paul writes at the end of tonight’s passage
19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
that is, if our hope is only in this life, because we won’t be resurrected, then Christians are the saddest, most unfortunate people in the world…
In other words, if there is no resurrection, then the gospel is not good news.
1) If a part of the gospel is missing, then we no longer have good news.
1) If a part of the gospel is missing, then we no longer have good news.
If you take away any doctrine of the gospel, then the rest of the gospel comes crumbling down.
If we remove the doctrine of the resurrection, (or any other doctrine in the gospel), then the gospel becomes less stable than a house of cards.
But the sad reality is this: The doctrines of the gospel are often twisted, because because we have a real enemy… the devil. and he is a tempter, he is subtle and crafty, and he will do all that he can to destroy your faith.
And one of the easiest ways to do this is by twisting the gospel that you have recieved
There are examples of Satan doing this throughout the Scriptures, and they often happen today just as it happened in the Corinthian Church back in Paul’s day…
but the best way to be sure that we don’t fall into the schemes of the devil is by knowing the true gospel…
Tonight, we are going to focus on this one subtle way that the devil ensnared the Corinthians, by deceiving them to believe that there was no resurrection.
And Paul is going to play the hypothetical scenario - that is this the lie that the dead will not be resurrected - andto show us that if that is true, the the gospel is bad news.
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Let’s just take that first part of 13…
if there is no resurrection of the dead.
Paul begins to embark on this hypothetical scenario in v 13
Paul is letting this the Corinthians see how the whole gospel comes crumbling down if they omit the resurrection of the dead.
But bear with me, as we look at tonight’s text, know that v 13-19 is all
This hypothetical argument is summed up in the word “IF”
if there was a zombie apocalypse - not fact, but hypothetical
if there was an astroid about to hit the earth - not fact, but hypothetical
13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
Again, this is not a fact, but a hypothetical scenario
Paul goes on to show them the error in their thinking
v 13 if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.
What Paul is doing is showing the Corinthians, and us, how if one part of the gospel is omitted, then the rest of the gospel comes crashing down.
If there is no resurrection of the dead, then even Christ’s resurrection that they believe in is not true.
2. If there is no resurrection:
2. If there is no resurrection:
A. then Christ is not even raised.
A. then Christ is not even raised.
Stop there already… and notice the problem
Last week we saw… 1 cor 15.3-5
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
and v 11
11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
The Corinthians believed in the Jesus resurrection…
This is the reason Paul is so confounded by the Corinthian’s ignorance in v.12
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
it makes no sense?!
for it is an essential part of the gospel!
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
According to v 11… the Corinthians do believe this… EXCEPT THEY DON’T REALLY! Because they are rejecting that Jesus will raise them just as he too was risen.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Just watch the cascading consequences of rejecting the resurrection
14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
In the hypothetical situation that there is no resurrection, Paul draws out that his preaching is useless, and the faith of the Christinas is useless…
v. 14 is an overview of the futility of such thinking, but Paul will develop these two ideas even further
15 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.
16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
Notice v 16 repeats Pauls thesis argument from v 13…
but go back to v 15
15 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.
2. If there is no resurrection:
2. If there is no resurrection:
B. then our preaching is in vain and we are guilty of misrepresenting God.
B. then our preaching is in vain and we are guilty of misrepresenting God.
the consequences that follow denying the resurrection means that Paul and the rest of the apostles and all those who preach the gospel are guilty of misrepresenting God…
That means the gospel from v 3-4
that Jesus died for our sins
he was buried
and he rose again from the grave
Isn’t true
If one part of the gospel fails, then the rest of it comes crashing down
and if there is no resurrection, then Jesus did not raise from the dead…
is that and essential part of the Gospel that Paul preached?
And if you cant trust the apostles, then you can’t even trust the rest of the Bible that testifies to the resurrection of Jesus…
and if you can’t trust the Bible, you certainly cannot trust anyone who preaches from the Bible
Because every Pastor who makes preaching their aim is following what Paul said:
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
God is going to judge the living and the dead, and if we not found in Christ, then you will be cast into eternal judgment…
So I preach and I pray with the desire that you would hear and believe so that you would be saved by the grace of God…
but if there is no resurrection of the dead… Paul says our preaching is in vain.... why? Because your faith is also in vain
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
2. If there is no resurrection:
2. If there is no resurrection:
C. then your faith is in vain and you are still dead in sin.
C. then your faith is in vain and you are still dead in sin.
Again, if get rid of the resurrection and you should notice all the damage that is dealt to the good news of the gospel....
The Christian faith is a resurrection faith…
this is what we believe in, and this is where our hope rests.
But if preaching is in vain… so is your faith, for
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
We often talk about sin and the consequences of sin…
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
But if there is no resurrection, then there is no eternal life, and if there is no eternal life, then we are still dead in our sins…
Again go back to v 3 from last week
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
Christ died for sins…
What does this mean… Jesus died in the place of sinners and took into himself the full penalty of sin, namely death
But how do we know that all of our sin has been paid for in the death of Jesus? The way we know this is because Jesus rose again on the third day…
But if there is no resurrection, and Jesus too did not raise again from the dead, then we are still dead in our sins.
And if we are still dead in our sins, so were all those who have died before us who put their faith in Jesus
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
- this term “fallen asleep in Christ” is used by Paul to describe the dead…
but notice he he compares their death to sleep, because they will wake up in the resurrection…
So death is more like sleep than it is like death…
But if there is no resurrection, then those who have fallen asleep are in fact dead and they have perished once and for all.
And if it is true that there is no resurrection from the dead, then this life is only tragic, for every life will end in death.
So if there is no resurrection, then there is no good news, and if there is no gospel, then all we will ever receive is BAD NEWS.
and it’s with this in mind that Paul writes:
19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
2. d. if there is no resurrection: then there is no hope past this life
2. d. if there is no resurrection: then there is no hope past this life
Is this actually true, that we are worse off?
Surely that is an over-exaggeration… right?
You tell me:
22 and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
if there is no resurrection, then we will not be saved, and if we are not saved we will simply be hated…
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Does that sound like a life that is good?
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
There is a reason many do not follow Jesus…
for one, they do not believe the good news of the Kingdom of Heaven…
But furthermore, the life in Christ is one of suffering…
So if there is no resurrection, but only suffering, what would be the point of following Jesus?
If there is no good news in the gospel, then why believe it at all.
And if there is in fact no resurrection, then all we have to look forward to is the pleasures that we have in this life…
but the christian is to deny himself and take up his cross and follow Jesus in his death because we desire a greater treasure than anything this life has to offer…
but if that treasure, entering intoGod’s kingdom, through Christ and his resurrection is not true Paul says
19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But all this bad news, is only hypothetical… for Paul goes on
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
The resurrection of Christ is a fact… and the gospel is objective truth… which means all the benefits found in the gospel are also facts and objective truths that are from God that we can depend on…
Because Jesus Christ is alive, those who have confessed their sins and follow Jesus are forgiven.
Because Jesus Christ is alive, our faith is not in vain
Because Jesus Christ is alive, our preaching is not in vain
Because Jesus Christ is alive, the dead shall be raised
Because Jesus Christ is alive, the gospel is good news
And because Jesus Christ is alive, there is no reason to pity anyone who is in Christ
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.
1. When Paul writes about the resurrection not being true, Josh said Paul was being hypothetical. What does this mean?
2. What all is lost in the gospel if every Christian wasn’t resurrected from the dead?
3. How do we know that Jesus’ death paid for our sins?
4. Since Jesus was resurrected on the third day, what else is true?
5. Why is it important for us to know the gospel?
1. When Paul writes about the resurrection not being true, Josh said Paul was being hypothetical. What does this mean?
It means that Paul is playing out what the Corinthians believe simply to show them the futility of their thinking. Paul makes it clear in 1 Cor. 15:20 that the resurrection is true for both Jesus and for those who are in Christ.
2. What all is lost in the gospel if every Christian wasn’t resurrected from the dead?
Everything: if we won’t be raised, the Christ hasn’t been raised, and if Jesus hasn’t been raised, then preaching is in vain, faith is in vain, we are still in our sins, and death has the final word for all who die. In short, the gospel fails to be good news, and Christians are the most to be pitied of all people.
3. How do we know that Jesus’ death paid for our sins?
Jesus’ resurrection is the Father’s ‘amen’ to Jesus’ ‘it is finished’. In other words, the resurrection is the proof that Jesus’ death on the cross paid the full price for all those who believe in him.
4. Since Jesus was resurrected on the third day, what else is true?
We are forgiven from sins, our faith in not in vain, preaching is not in vain, the dead will be raised, the gospel is good news, and those who believe in the gospel are the most blessed of all people.
5. Why is it important for us to know the gospel?
Because if a part of the gospel is missing, the entirety of the gospel comes crashing down and fails to be good news. (There are a lot of other answers as well but this is what we are focusing on tonight)
