What if the resurrection never happened? (And how we can know that it did)

I have a question for you this morning and it is a trick question. So put your thinking caps on. Find your sermon buddy and ask them, “Can I borrow your thinking cap?” And as you’re putting your thinking caps on, let me tell you a little story that will prepare you for the question.

In 2007, Discovery Channel aired a documentary called “The Lost Tomb of Jesus.” The guy that produced claimed, “Hey, I found an ossuary — which is a box of bones — in Jerusalem and on that box was an inscription: ‘Jesus, son of Joseph.’” Another box contained the bones of someone named Mary and still another contained the bones of someone named “Judas, son of Jesus.”

So this guy said, “Hey, guess what? I have found the actual body of Jesus of Nazareth. So I guess that means he didn’t actually rise from the dead three days after his death. Take that, Christians!”

The interesting is that when the actual experts looked at the evidence, they found it unconvincing. To start with, all of those names - Judas, Jesus, Mary, Joseph - were extremely common names in the ancient world. So it would be like someone today saying “Hey, I found the bones of George Washington in my church’s cemetery.” Really? How do you know? “Well, because it says “Here lies George.”

The other thing is, the boxes didn’t actually contain the bones! Grave robbers had long since stolen the bones! Still, however, the media managed to make it into a story that might cause Christians to doubt the truthfulness of their faith, because here was a box that must have at one time contained the actual bones of Jesus, even if they weren’t there anymore.

So here’s the question for you:

If it were discovered that Jesus never rose from the dead, would you still believe in Him?

If the bones of Jesus of Nazareth had been discovered in an ossuary in Jerusalem, and this time it’s not a hoax, it’s real, and proven — if it was a historical, scientific certainty — with DNA confirmation, with Christian scholars agreeing — if it became abundantly clear to you that Jesus had not risen but in fact was dead,

...would you still believe in Jesus?

Now, here’s how this is going to work. I’m going to teach through this passage, and you’re going to use it to help you answer that question.

In our text this morning, the apostle Paul explores the very same question. What if the resurrection had not happened? What would that mean for our beliefs? And Paul was exploring that question not as an abstract exercise. This was real life. The church in the big city of Corinth had some folks there who were saying, “Look, resurrection? Really? How many times have you seen a dead body get up and come back to life? It just doesn’t happen.”

So what Paul does in these verses here is say, “Alright, Corinthians - you say there’s no such thing as a resurrection. Let’s take that logic all the way to the end of the road. What would that mean for you?” And he gives us five things that would be true if the resurrection were not true.

#1: If the resurrection never happened, your faith is of no value

So let’s start with verse 12. Bibles out, heads down, reading along with me in God’s word. “Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?”

“You heard us preach the resurrection, Corinthians. It’s part of the gospel message that we preached, it’s part of the gospel message that you heard and accepted. So why are you now questioning the resurrection? Why have some of you embraced this idea that resurrection is impossible? Have you thought about what that might mean?”

The Corinthians’ logic:

They said: “Resurrection doesn’t happen.”

Paul says: “Then Christ hasn’t been raised.”

Which means: “Your faith is in vain”

So in verse 13 he starts exploring the implications of their belief. Verse 13: “But if there is no resurrection from the dead” - as you claim to believe - “then not even Christ has been raised.” That’s fairly self-evident. Verse 14 is where it starts to mean something concrete: “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain” — more on that in a bit — “then out preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

Why is my faith in vain?

If Christ has not been raised...

Then I am believing in someone who isn’t real

Which means: My faith has no value

Why? Because the Christian faith is faith in a person who not only was crucified but risen from the dead. But if Jesus merely died and stayed dead, I’m believing in someone who is not real. I’m worshiping a false Messiah.

Because you seem, faith is only as good as its object. Your faith is only as valuable as the thing or person your faith is in. Faith in nothing - faith in faith - is worthless.

What is “vain” faith?

“Worthless” (CEV)

“Empty” (NKJV)

“Useless” (NIV)

If Christ is not risen, our faith is of no value

If Jesus hasn’t risen, your faith is of no value. My preaching is of no value, because I preach that Christ Jesus who died also was raised on the third day. If Jesus isn’t risen, the fact that you’re sitting here listening to it is a waste of time. If Jesus isn’t risen, it’s better to literally renounce your faith altogether, right here and right now. The resurrection is what all of this hinges on. If it didn’t happen, none of it can be true. So why are we here? Let’s just turn out the lights and go eat our Easter lunch. Which, actually, also has no meaning - if Jesus hasn’t risen from the dead.

But it’s gets better. Or shall we say it gets worse?

#2: If the resurrection never happened, you have been lying about God

Look at verse 15: “We are even found - found out, caught - misrepresenting God.”

Have you ever been caught in the act, found out, doing something you weren’t supposed to do?

I was once. When I was 16, I skipped school one day. How many of you in the room are 16? Do as I say, not as I do! My friends and I were having an early breakfast at McDonald’s and my friend Josh said, “Let’s skip.” Okay. And do what? “Go somewhere.” Okay. go where? “Let’s go to Boone.” So we went.

Boone is about an hour from my high school in Morganton. We would miss first and second period and be there for third and fourth period. You know, looking back, we really had no brains at all. You know what didn’t take into account? Attendance was taken during second period. And if you were absent, your name went on a call list for that evening. “Dear parent, your son or daughter was absent from school today.”

At home that night, I’m unloading the dishwasher. And my mom says, “So Dustin, how was biology today?” “Ummm…pretty good?” Then says, “No really, how was biology today?” Caught! Found out! Discovered! And, grounded for three months. Now that I’m a parent, I would do the same thing.

Point is, getting caught in a lie by your parents is embarrassing. But getting caught telling lies about God is more than embarrassing. And yet that is exactly what Paul says is happening every time you and I talk about Jesus being risen, if in fact He was not risen.

Why is this so serious? Because, you see, we haven’t just gotten it wrong. We didn’t mess up on the details. We’re telling blatant lies. Look back at the second part of verse 15: “because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised”. When we say Jesus is risen or talk about Him being risen, if He is not risen, we are accusing God of doing something He did not do.

It is impossible to overstate how serious this is. God is the God of truth. We are made in His image. As people made in His image, we are to reflect Him to others truthfully. Our lives and our speech should reflect who God truly is and what He truly has done.

If the resurrection never happened, your faith has no value and you are telling lies about God.

But there’s more: if the resurrection never happened, you are not forgiven and God’s wrath abides on you.

#3: If the resurrection never happened, you are not forgiven and God’s wrath abides on you

Where do I get that from? Don’t take my word for it. Check me to see if I’ right. Read along with me, verses 16-17: “For if the dead are not raise, not even Christ has been raised.” Restating the thesis. “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.”

What does “in your sins” mean?

If Jesus is dead, not alive:

His death did not atone for our sins

We are still guilty and unforgiven

As a result, God’s wrath rests on us

What does “still in your sins” mean?

Imagine for a moment that you’ve been sick, you go to the doctor, they run some tests, the test results come back. The doctor says, “You’ve got an infection, and it’s a really serious infection. This infection at one time had a mortality rate of about 90%. Everyone who got sick with it died. But there’s a special antibiotic developed just for this infection.

So you’re doctor says, “I’m going to admit you to the hospital for three days so you can continuous IV infusions of this antibiotic. After three days, you’ll be cured.”

So you go into the hospital and you’re hooked up to the IV and you’re there for three days. All the while you’re receiving IV fluids that you think are killing that infection. You can’t wait to get well and get out of the hospital.

You go home on the third day and by the fourth day you’re still not better. You go back to the doctor. The doctor does some investigating and turns out, you were not given that special antibiotic. You were just given saline, just hydration. You thought you were getting a life-saving antibiotic. You thought it was in your body doing its work. Now you find out that it isn’t, and by now, it’s too late.

That’s kind of the sense here. The Bible says that apart from Christ, we are born into sins, that by nature we are dead in our sins. And as a result the wrath of God is upon us. We’re told, though, that Jesus has died for those sins and risen again to prove that His sacrifice for your sins was effective. You place your faith in Him, and you believe that you have been forgiven. And if the resurrection is true, you are forgiven.

But if Jesus has not been raised, that means He’s not God. And if He’s not God, He’s just another dead man. Well, no man can save another person, especially not a dead man. He can’t die for anyone else’s sins. And if He didn’t die for your sins, you’re still in them. You’re enslaved to them. Their guilt rests upon you. And the wrath of a holy God is drawn to your guilt.

John 3:36 ESV

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

John 3:36 says “whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but” - notice this - “the wrath of God abides on him.” But if Christ hasn’t been raised, not even those who believe in the Son have eternal life, because if He’s not risen, He’s not the Son of God. God’s wrath abides, rests, settles down upon us because the one in whom we have believed is not risen, is not alive, is in fact dead, and cannot do for us what he promised he could.

How about the next one: if the resurrection never happened, you are separated from your believing loved ones forever.

#4: If the resurrection never happened, you are separated from your believing loved ones forever

[PAUSE]

This is one is hard, isn’t it? Even just exploring the question, even though we know Jesus is risen, it’s still hard. For those of you who are grieving a loss, I know this one hits closer to home than the others.

After all, some of you are still fresh in the grieving process. Ashley Wray, Broadus Bell, Stephanie Mayhew, Ashley Wray, Alex Jameson, Coleman Wilson, Bill Eaton, Elleree Bolin, Edward Irvin, Don Hoyle, Charles Willis, Linda Williams, Marie Hoyle, Roger Wray.

Those were just the last two years. We put this list together carefully so please forgive me if we missed anyone. I don’t think we did.

For sure, they died as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ! The Bible says that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. They are at home with the Lord.

We know, praise God, they are not dead, since Jesus is risen; they’re only sleeping. In reality, they’re more alive than ever. We are not separated from them forever. We will see them again. What hope and joy that brings!

[PAUSE]

But what if the case were different? What if, as Paul says here in verse 18, that if Christ is not risen, “those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished?” What would that mean? We know that would mean. We shudder at the thought. Eternally separated. Lost forever. It’s an eternity of suffering, in hell, away from the presence of God forever. We may not like that truth, but the Bible clearly teaches it.

I think the Lord is asking us to consider this:How would not having the assurance of eternal life for them change how you go through each day? It’s almost like the Lord is pressing on our wounds here in this verse, isn’t it? Why do we need to be reminded of the alternative? Why do we need to be reminded of what is already true of those who did not die in the Lord? Why is Jesus here gently asking us to go where it hurts?

I think because He wants us to have the absolutely, rock solid, steadfast hope and joy that come from knowing that He is risen, and what that means for our loved ones who died in the Lord.

The following illustration I have permission to share from my daughter and the family of Stephanie Mayhew. When Stephanie went to be with the Lord just about a year ago, our church was devastated. It was one of the hardest funerals I’ve ever preached. And Steve and Tammy, Jessica, Carly, David — you all have been through the fire the last year.

My daughter, Abigail, made a card for them. This is what the card said. “Dear Mr. and Mrs. Mayhew, God is always with you every step of the way and your daughter is in the hands of the Lord. We love you! We are praying for you.”

But the top half of the card contained a picture that Abigail drew. The picture is of heaven and earth sort of displayed close together. On the earth part, Steve and Tammy are standing side by side. And beside them is a message, a question: “You guys, ever get the feeling you’re being watched?” But above them, in heaven, on a cloud, is a male stick figure wearing a crown and a female stick figure. One is God and the other is Stephanie, and they’re holding hands.

If the resurrection didn’t happen, our loved ones who were believes are lost forever. But it did, and they aren’t. And for that we praise God.

#5: If the resurrection never happened, we have made fools of ourselves

Here’s how the apostle Paul puts it in verse 19: “If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

In other words, if all we have is

On one hand, this simply puts us in the same boat as everyone else. Non-believers and believers alike - there’s no difference. If Jesus isn’t risen, there is no hope of eternal life, and consequently, this life is all there is.

But on the other hand, while in one sense it puts us in the same boat as everyone else, it also makes us worse off than anyone else. Why? Because we have laid down our lives for a future that will never materialize. We have forsaken sin for Christ. We have staked our hope of being right with God on His sacrifice on the cross. We have banked our hope of heaven on His resurrection. If Jesus isn’t risen, we have built our life on a lie.

How many Christians have given their lives, how many have been martyred, how many have been stoned and drowned and burned alive for Jesus? You see what I’m saying here? Not only are we in the same boat as everyone else; if the resurrection didn’t happen, we are worse off than everyone else; we are laughingstocks in the eyes of the world. If the resurrection of Jesus didn’t happen, if He died and is dead still, we have gambled it all on a fraud.

Does that sound irreverent? Ungodly? Unbelieving? Look at what Paul himself says in the same passage, just a few verses down:

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.

If the resurrection didn’t happen, your faith is of no value; you have been lying about God; you are not forgiven; you are separated from your believing loved ones forever; and we have made fools of ourselves.

So let’s go back to our question: if you became convinced the resurrection never happened, would you still believe in Jesus? I’ll let you answer that for yourself.

But do you know how I think the apostle Paul would have answered that question? I think it would be no. “If the dead are not raised,” Paul said, “let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” (1Cor. 15:32 ESV).

Make no mistake: this is the attitude of the world around us. “Celebrate we will, ‘cause life is short but sweet for certain”. That’s from the Dave Matthews band. How about “Everybody Hurts” by REM? “When your day is night alone, if you feel like letting go, if you think you’ve had too much...” What? Look to Jesus? Know that He’s risen and put your faith in Him? No. The world cannot give that comfort. So the song goes on to say that the comfort we can find when we hurt is in the mere fact that everybody hurts.

But the resurrection DID happen!

The documentary got it wrong about the bones of Jesus. One thing they did get right, though? If the body of Jesus was actually discovered and it was proven, Christianity does not have a leg to stand on.

I heard someone say one time that books don’t change lives; sentences change lives. Verse 20 is one of those sentences. “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1Cor. 15:20 ESV). Because if Jesus really is risen, literally everything changes. It means Jesus really is who He said He is; He really is the Son of God. It means everything Jesus promised will come true. It means everything Jesus says He will do for us in saving us, He will in fact do in response to our faith.

It means God is real; it means He really has intervened in the disaster of human history. It means God is for us and is active within us for our good and His glory. It means heaven is real. It also means hell is real. It means eternal life is something we can have not just when we die but now, if we trust in Him.

And if He really is risen from the dead, then Jesus can be trusted. And He must be trusted.

So, how can we know He’s risen? The Bible says so, of course. But do we have to take it on blind faith? We are doubters like Thomas. But Jesus went to Thomas so He could physically prove that He was risen. Has God given us reasons to believe as well?

He has indeed.

Are you ready? Turn to your sermon buddy and ask them “are you ready?”

But first, you need to know something. These 12 facts are historical facts that no reputable historian denies, Christian or non Christian. Every single reputable history scholar says, “Yes, these things happened.” No credible historian says, “No, they never happened.”

So what are they?

12 Verifiable Historical Facts

1. Jesus died by crucifixion

2. Jesus was buried soon after

3. As a result, His disciples lost hope

4. His tomb was later empty

5. The disciples had real experiences that they believed were appearances of the risen Christ

6. The disciples were radically changed by these experiences

7. The message of His resurrection was the message of the early church

8. This message was proclaimed in Jerusalem, where Jesus had died and been buried

9. The preaching of the resurrection created the church

10. The early church was mostly Jewish, but the day of worship changed from Sat. to Sun.

11. James the brother of Jesus was skeptical but later became His disciple

12. Later, Paul became a disciple of Jesus due to an experience of the risen Christ

Every single reputable history scholar says, “Yes, these things happened.” No credible historian says, “No, they never happened.”

Now, the question is: Which explanation best accounts for these facts?

The resurrection! Jesus is risen!

Conclusion and call for response

“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”

Jesus is risen, church! He appeared to His disciples and a crowd of at least 500 witnesses. He gathered his disciples and gave them and us a commission to take the message of the crucified and risen Christ to every nation and people of the world. Then in glory He was taken up to heaven. Now, today, this moment, the risen Jesus sits at the right hand of God, reigning and ruling over all things. No corner of this universe or any other universe that may exist lies outside of His sovereign power and control. Every king and ruler and president will stand before Him at the judgment. And so will we. The Bible says that one day every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

The only response we can give that is appropriate is wholehearted trust. Enthusiastic worship. Complete obedience.

Have you trusted in Jesus for your salvation? Are you leaning on Him, resting on His sacrifice on the cross to forgive you of your sins?

Do you give Him the worship He deserves? On Sunday morning. Sunday night. Wednesday night.

Have you ever considered that Jesus’ resurrection places an obligation upon you to gather with His people at every opportunity? If Jesus is risen, He is Lord and God. His teachings are not suggestions or helpful advice that we can take or leave. They are commands, demands, from one who is supremely worthy of all that we are.

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9:24-25). If Jesus is risen, you have to be all in, all hands on deck! No other response than that is worthy of Jesus, our risen Savior.

This morning as our musicians come, we are going to end this service a little differently. We felt today, Resurrection Sunday, was an appropriate time for us to end our service with a song of celebration and worship.

This will be a little different than our usual invitation. But you can still pray and respond to God’s word and what He’s shown you this morning. If you have questions, if you want to rededicate your life to Jesus, if you want to join our church — if you’ve never trusted in Jesus and been born again and you’d like to know more about how you can have a relationship with Him, I am available after the service, Pastor Shawn is, our deacons are as well.