What difference does it really make whether Jesus rose from the dead or not?  Find out as we examine the apostle Paul’s masterful teaching on the implications of Christ’s resurrection.

Teaching Notes:

What If Jesus Didn’t Rise?

1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Intro:  2 weeks ago we discussed the Gospel of Grace:  its content (death and resurrection of Christ) and its power (both in the Corinthians’ and in Paul’s life). During vs.1-11, Paul mentions the Resurrection of Christ as one of the key components of the gospel that we preach. In doing so, he has set the stage for the rest of the chapter. From vs.12-58, Paul takes up the theme of the resurrection of the dead and gives a detailed teaching on it.

Notice 1Cor.15:12.  Evidently there were some in Corinth teaching that there is no resurrection of the dead. No doubt this teaching was heavily influenced by the Greek philosophy of the day. Plato taught a form of dualism: all physical was evil while all spiritual was good. Those who believed this teaching could not conceive of a bodily resurrection. When Paul was preaching in Athens and mentioned the resurrection, some sneered (Acts 17:32).

Paul, here, is going to show those who did not believe in a resurrection of the dead, the logical implications of that teaching.  First, it means that Jesus did not rise. If the dead are not raised, then Jesus was not raised. Well, so what? Does it really matter if Jesus was raised or not? Absolutely!  If Jesus was not raised, there are 6 logical implications:

1.  Our Preaching Would Be Vain:  vs.14

Paul has already stated that the heart of the gospel he preached was the death and resurrection of Jesus. If you strip Jesus of His resurrection, all you have left is a dead Messiah. We would have no assurance that His death was accepted as payment for our sins. Further, we would have no confidence that Christ defeated sin, death, and hell. There would be no point in preaching a gospel that spoke of a resurrected Savior, if in fact, this Savior did not rise!

2.   Our Faith Would Be Worthless: vs.14,17

Vs. 14 says our faith would be vain; vs.17 says it would be worthless. Faith in a risen Savior who did not rise would be worthless. You see, it doesn’t matter how much you believe something if what you believe is not true. Just believing something hard enough will never make it true. We have faith healers who tell their hearers that they will be healed if they just believe they are already healed. They base this on a misinterpretation of 1Pet.2:24 “by his wounds you were healed.” Now it is useless to try to obtain your physical healing by just believing hard enough that you were already healed. Why? Because that text does not promise physical healing to all because of the wounds of Christ. The context declares that it is our spiritual healing that was provided through Christ’s wounds (dying to sin and living to righteousness). For faith to be worthy something, it must be in Truth. Thus, if Jesus was not risen, our faith in a risen Savior would be worthless!

3.   Our Testimony Would Be A Lie:  vs.15

All of us who witness and testify to others that Jesus is risen from the dead would be liars. Further, all the apostles who were martyred would be fools, because they would allow themselves to be put to death for a lie!  We would be testifying against God, because we would be speaking a lie, while God is a God of truth.

4.   We Would Still Be In Our Sins:  vs.17

The reason for this is obvious. If Christ did not rise, He did not defeat, sin, death, Satan, or hell. He was overcome by death, which is the consequence of sin. If he could not triumph over death, then He did not triumph over sin. Thus, we are all still in our sins, condemned, and stand under the wrath of Almighty God.

5.   Those Who Fell Asleep In Christ Would Have Perished:  vs.18

By the expression “fell asleep in Christ”, Paul means those who have died trusting in Christ. If Jesus did not rise, then those people who trusted in Christ for their eternal salvation were horribly deceived. Instead of being saved from the wrath of God, they perished. They fell into the arms of God’s inflexible justice and burning wrath. Instead of going to heaven, they entered hell.

6.   We Would Be Of All Men Most To Be Pitied:  vs.19

Why? Because we devoted our lives to spreading the message of the resurrection which was a delusion. We were willing to be maligned, persecuted, and even killed for this “truth.” We denied ourselves many earthly pleasures and enjoyments because we had fixed our hope on Christ, our Eternal Treasure. But if Christ did not rise, we should be pitied. We denied ourselves, and endured suffering and shame. For what? For nothing! For a lie!

Life Application:

Look at vs.20 “But now Christ has been raised from the dead!” Paul has given us the logical implications if Jesus did not rise. But He did rise! So what are the logical implications of that?

1.  Our preaching is not vain. Rather, we have the most important and glorious message this world will ever hear! It is a powerful, life-transforming message because Jesus is alive! Never be ashamed of the gospel. It is the power of God to salvation.

2.  Our faith is not worthless. Rather, it is the most precious thing you possess.  You have a living faith in a living Lord. Your faith rests on the Truth – the Person of Jesus Christ. He who believes in Him will not be disappointed! Treasure your faith – it has come to you as the precious gift of God.

3.  We are not liars. When Paul spoke of Jesus’ resurrection to Festus in Acts 26:24, Festus said Paul was out of his mind. Paul’s response was, “I am not out of my mind, most excellent Festus, but I utter words of sober truth.” We are the only ones that have this saving, gospel Truth. We must be the ones to share and proclaim it!

4.  We are not still in our sins. Rather, we have been forgiven of every sin. We have been justified by faith. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. Jesus has absorbed all of God’s wrath that was due us. We are free!

5.  Those who have fallen asleep in Christ have not perished. Rather, they are present with the Lord, enjoying His glory at this very moment! They will never perish. They will never be separated from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Their eternal future is one of Joy, Love, Fellowship, Enjoyment, and Happiness. They will never suffer the torments of hell, but will enjoy the blessedness of heaven forever.

6.  We are not of all men most to be pitied. Rather, if the truth were known, we are of all men most to be envied!  Those who do not have our hope in Christ are of all men most to be pitied. Why? Because their eternal future is the lake of fire! For the believer, this life is as bad as it ever gets. For the unbeliever, this life is as good as it ever gets.

Revel in the truth that Jesus is Risen! He is alive! He has put away our sins, given us new life, given us His truth to proclaim, given us faith in His gospel, and we will enjoy Him forever!

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