"If Christ Did Not Rise, Then What?"

1 Corinthians 15:12–20 CSB

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact 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 worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone. But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

The RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ is the CORNERSTONE of the GOSPEL!

BECAUSE OF THAT, it is attacked, ignored, denied & explained away!

If Christianity is to be destroyed, THIS is the place where it must be abolished—the RESURRECTION!

· According to Barna Research Online, the numbers of identifying as born-again held views contrary to Bible teaching was astonishing. Among the most surprising outcomes were those who believed the Bible teaches that God helps those who help themselves (68%); that the Holy Spirit does not exist (53%); that Satan does not exist (47%); that a good person can earn his/her way into heaven (31%); that Jesus Christ died but was not resurrected [physically] (30%); and that Jesus committed sins (24%).

The simple fact is, you cannot be saved unless you believe in the resurrection!

Romans 10:9 CSB

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

· The PROBLEM in Corinth was not disbelief in the resurrection of Christ, but confusion about their own!

· Paul was not trying to convince them that Jesus rose from the dead, but that they would be raised with Him!

In our passage this morning, it seems that Paul is saying, “Let’s assume, for a few moments, that the critics are right and that there was and is no resurrection from the dead—WHAT THEN?

If there is no resurrection, then…

I. Christ is Still DEAD and BURIED! - (15:13, 16)

The Son of God is still BOUND BY DEATH!

· But, according to eyewitness accounts, that is simply NOT TRUE – (Luke 24:33-43)

II. All Gospel Preaching is VAIN! – (15:14a)

If Christ DIDN’T rise, then all we have to tell of is a DEAD RABBI who tried His best to change men’s lives and ULTIMATELY FAILED.

Acts 4:12 CSB

There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people by which we must be saved.”

There is salvation in no one else!

· If Jesus didn’t rise—then we are without hope and preaching is “empty.”

Romans 1:3–4 CSB

concerning his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who was a descendant of David according to the flesh and was appointed to be the powerful Son of God according to the Spirit of holiness by the resurrection of the dead.

Romans 14:9 CSB

Christ died and returned to life for this: that he might be Lord over both the dead and the living.

If Jesus didn’t rise, then the Father didn’t approve of His work and His sacrifice was not enough and we have nothing to talk about!

III. Faith is VAIN and/or WORTHLESS! – (15:14b, 17)

Preaching is useless & YOUR RESPONSE is in vain!

· Saving faith is not believing “in Jesus” (Pilate did that)!

· Saving faith believes God raised Him from the dead!

Your faith is that CHRIST IS ALIVE & that God WILL RAISE US AS WELL!

IV. The Apostles were False Witnesses!– (15:15)

They were either telling the TRUTH, or they were LIARS!

· Don’t believe for a minute the liberal based thinking that said they were good religious men writing about their personal experiences but were not always right!

· Good, religious men don’t say they saw Jesus with their own eyes UNLESS IT WAS TRUE!

(1 Corinthians 15:5-11)

Acts 1:22 CSB

beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”

You couldn’t be an apostle unless you were an eye-witness to the RESURRECTION!

V. Sin’s Power is UNBROKEN! – (15:17)

If Christ is not raised, then we are all damned!

Christ came to save us from sin, and If He did not rise, then the blood never made it to the mercy seat!

Hebrews 9:12 CSB

he entered the most holy place once for all time, not by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

Hebrews 7:22–25 CSB

Because of this oath, Jesus has also become the guarantee of a better covenant. Now many have become Levitical priests, since they are prevented by death from remaining in office. But because he remains forever, he holds his priesthood permanently. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, since he always lives to intercede for them.

The reason we KNOW Christ paid the full penalty of sin is the APPROVAL OF GOD in RAISING JESUS FROM THE DEAD

Romans 4:25 CSB

He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

Romans 5:10 CSB

For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life.

Romans 6:4–9 CSB

Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be rendered powerless so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, since a person who has died is freed from sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him, because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, will not die again. Death no longer rules over him.

VI. The Dead in Christ Are Perished! – (15:18)

Think about it…Peter, James, John Paul, Stephen, Phillip, Mary, Cornelius, Augustine, Luther, D.L. Moody, C.S. Lewis, and every other Saint of God simply ceased to exist!

Their lives were without meaning and purpose and they are just GONE!

VII. Christians Are the World’s Most Pitiful People – (15:19)

If Christ is not raised, Christians are the biggest buffoons ever!

The “Hall of Faith” in Hebrews 11 is the “Hall of the Foolish.”

CONCLUSION – (15:20)

1. Christ HAS risen!

2. The Gospel IS POWERFUL!

3. Faith is NOT WORTHLESS!

4. The Apostles TOLD THE TRUTH!

5. Sin’s power IS BROKEN!

6. The dead in Christ ARE ALIVE WITH HIM!

7. Christians ARE THE MOST GLORIOUS PEOPLE!

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 CSB

What I am saying, brothers and sisters, is this: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor can corruption inherit incorruption. Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.