The Christian Certainty

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Message for Sunday morning February 17, 2008

The Christian Certainty

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

24 Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith, all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.

32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

Three Points:

I. Cost of Denial (12-19)

II. Christian Hope (20-23)

III. Complete Victory (24-34)

I. Cost of Denial

Last week we discussed Paul’s outstanding defense of the resurrection. You will remember Paul said that the Corinthians had accepted the Gospel which he had preached to them which included the death, burial and the bodily resurrection of Christ. This in a nut shell is the Gospel.

Paul then proceeded to present eyewitness testimony to the bodily resurrection of Christ. Paul stated that Jesus was seen by Peter, the twelve, then more then 500, then to James and finally to all the apostles.

Then Paul stated that he too had seen the Risen Savior face-to-face. He made it plain that they, speaking of the Corinthians, had accepted the Gospel, all of the Gospel, including the resurrection by faith.

Yet now Paul was compelled by the Holy Spirit to continue in his defense against the false teaching which had invaded the church at Corinth. And may I add that is still prevalent today.

He begins by saying, “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”

The word now connects the two parts of this chapter together. This means Paul is telling his readers, “after all that I have told you how can you say there is no resurrection?”

The idea of no resurrection was not a new thought. You might remember the Sadducees: Matt 22:23, The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that there is no resurrection, and asked him.

The idea of no bodily resurrection was also a part of the Greek background of the Gentile converts to Christianity in Corinth as well as in other pagan areas. That belief was in the immorality of the soul, but not the resurrection of the body. To these pagan people, their belief was that the body was the source of man’s weakness and sin. They believed that death was a welcomed means by which the soul was liberated from the body. In their particular thinking the resurrection of the body would once again enslave the soul. They did not understand about the new glorified body of the believer.

And we will not discuss the new glorified body this week because Paul talks about that point later in this chapter of 1 Corinthians, which Lord willing we will discuss next week.

It is suffice to say that the false teachers were being heard and taken to heart by Paul’s readers. And once again I will remind you that even today there are those who continue to teach that there will be no bodily resurrection. Again the problem is that of false teachers creeping into the local assembly and attempting to destroy the truth of God’s Word.

Once again Paul begins his defense in a systematic manner.

But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

Remember Paul has already presented the fact of Jesus’ bodily resurrection. He even made the Gospel clear to them in verses 3-4, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

Then he pointed to all the eyewitnesses of the resurrection. So now Paul tells them point blank, “if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen.”

How can you believe the Gospel and not the resurrection?

The answer is that you cannot!

To believe Christ arose and then to believe that all believers will not be resurrected makes absolutely no sense. The Scripture tells us plainly in 1Thes 4:14, For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

You see Jesus died and rose again and them which sleep (euphemism for the dead) in Jesus (believers, more specifically the church saints) will God bring with him.

This of course is part of the Rapture passage of 1 Thess. were we are told this most important fact: 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1Thes 4:15-17 Notice what happens the dead in Christ shall rise: this means a literal bodily resurrection of the body. There is no doubt of the bodily resurrection of the saints.

So Paul makes 3 points to defend the truth of the bodily resurrection.

(1) If the bodily resurrection is not true then the preaching of the Gospel is a lie. Paul says, And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

Why would Paul go through all the things he went through if he knew the Gospel was a lie? Why would the Holy Spirit compel him to write these things if they were not true? If Paul preached that Christ actually rose bodily from the grave when in fact He did not then he would have been proclaiming a dreadful and terrible lie on the world.

Paul goes on to say to them with this idea of no resurrection in verse 16, “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised.” By denying their own hope of a bodily resurrection they state in fact that Jesus did not rise. You can see the lack of faith and the turning to the false teachings of others, or of the falling back into the false traditions of their pagan backgrounds.

(2) If there is no resurrection then the Christian faith is without meaningful content. 1 Cor 15:17, And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

If the resurrection is not true then the entire Gospel is meaningless and worthless. Remember the Gospel is that Jesus died, was buried and rose again. If there is no resurrection then there is no Gospel.

Our faith would be as useless as the other world religions who can take you to the tomb of their founders. And inside those tombs are the bodily remains on a human. That leader’s remains are dead and will be remaining dead until the time of their resurrection. And if they were not believers, and chances are they were not since they were teaching something other than the truth of God, then their resurrection will be at the Great White Throne Judgment. And if this is the case with Christ then your faith is vain or better a lie and you are still in your sins.

If the resurrection is not true then you are still lost and on your way to hell. There is no nice way to say it, but if the resurrection is false then your faith is false and your eternal destiny is hell and separation from God forever.

(3) And Paul says that if the resurrection is not true then we are hopeless concerning our prospects for the future. Look at what Paul writes to them in verses 18-19: Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. As we have already discussed last week Paul understands the entire Gospel is needed for salvation. The death of Christ is not sufficient. For all men die. Anyone can die. There is nothing special about dying. Only the perfect sacrifice could be acceptable. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice, sinless and perfect. Yet His death alone would not save us.

His burial would also not save us. People are buried each and every day. If you go to visit a cemetery it is filled with the earthly remains of people, both saved and unsaved.

But with the resurrection of Christ we have the stamp of approval of God the Father that the sacrifice of Christ was indeed acceptable and sufficient for our salvation.

Without the resurrection we would be hopeless.

We would have no hope whatsoever for the future, our eternal future. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. Listen to the words of Scripture from 2 Tim 3:12, Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

How miserable would it be for you to face severe persecution for your faith in Christ and then because of the false teaching of the resurrection you went through all this for nothing?

Why go through the persecution of this world if there is nothing more in your eternal future? So Paul laid out the consequences for denying the resurrection. How sad to be robbed of your joy in this life. This is what Satan attempts to do to the believer, steal you joy.

If he, Satan, can convince you there is no bodily resurrection then he can convince you of another false teaching and another until you Christian hope is gone and with it your witness to others.

II. Christian Hope

Paul at this point changes directions from the defensive to the offensive. He is now going to focus on the Christian hope.

I will remind you that when I speak of hope in regard to the promises of Scripture I do not mean wishful thinking but the absolute expectation of it happening.

Here the hope is the bodily resurrection of the believers. As was written by the Apostle Peter in his epistle1 Pet 1:3, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

Peter calls his expectation a lively hope.That is to say a living anticipation of what is surely to come to pass.

Paul begins by saying, “But now is Christ risen from the dead.” Actually he is saying now that we have the fact of the bodily resurrection of Christ established as a fact we can move on to the hope of the believer. Paul states this as an absolute fact, Christ is risen form the dead. And He is now become the firstfruits of them that slept.

You will find the requirements for Israel regarding the feast of Firstfruits in Lev. 23:10-14. It was to be held on the day after the Passover Sabbath or the first Sunday following the first Sabbath of the Feast of Unleavened bread. This was of course the day Jesus was resurrected from the dead, the feats of Firstfruits.

Firstfruits was a festival in which a portion of the early spring harvest was brought forth and waved before the Lord in anticipation of the greater harvest to happen later in the year.

Christ as the firstfruits was a type of the early offering with the anticipation of the greater harvest to come, the believers in Jesus Christ. So the picture of Christ as the Firstfruits should have brought to mind to his readers and to us the fact that all believers would surely follow Him in a bodily resurrection.

The reason for this is Paul says is that because by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

What man caused, man could not cure.

In verse 22 we read “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Verses 21-22 taken together give us the picture of our state. Because of the disobedience of our father Adam death entered the world because of his sin. While we remain in Adam we die, “For in Adam all die” Without the intervention of God we are all dead!

But the good news, and that is the meaning of the word Gospel, is by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

This is a reference to the Second Adam, Jesus Christ. 1 Cor 15:45, ,font color=#0033CC>And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

And more good news, even though in Adam all men die, “even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” This being made alive, here is referring to the resurrection of all believers in Christ. This is not to say that believers are not going to die physically. Unless the Lord returns for His church in our lifetime, and I truly believe he is coming soon, we are all going to die physically, but will live forever with the Lord.

You see in Adam all men died physically and spiritually. All men die physically but not all will remain spiritually dead. When we come to Christ for salvation we are quickened from the dead spiritually and when we do die physically we know that we will be raised in a new physical body.

That is why at this point Paul begins to explain about the time of the resurrection of the believers. Notice what he writes under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, “But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”

Two very important facts are given in the beginning of this verse.

First is establishing the fact of Christ being the Firstfruits is established.

And secondly that with God there is order. God is not a God of confusion. Quite the contrary. 1 Cor 14:33, For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

James writes to us in 3:16, For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

Confusion is of the Devil.

So in order we see God’s plan unfold. The Church saints will be resurrected.

How do I know this is the church saints? The answer is found in the Scripture: They that are Christ’s at his coming. These are all the believers in the Lord Jesus from Pentecost to the last member of the Body of Christ at the Rapture.

This is the event spoken of in 1Thes 4:15-17, For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

Then Paul explains that there will be others resurrected saints as well but does not go into all of them in this particular passage. We know from other places in Scripture there will be a resurrection of the two witnesses in Jerusalem during the Tribulation. Rev 11:11-12, And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 12 And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

There will be a resurrection of the O.T. saints even though Paul does not mention it here. This will occur prior to the Kingdom. Dan 12:1, And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble (the Tribulation), such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time (end of the Tribulation period) thy people (Israel) shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book. (Those who believed the Word of God).

Also the resurrection of the Tribulation saints will take place here. Rev 20:4-6, And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Notice here that John says that these Tribulation saints are part of the first resurrection.

The first resurrection happens in different stages, but it is a reference to the resurrection of the believers of every dispensation.

The second resurrection is the resurrection of the unbelievers or the wicked dead and it happens at the conclusion of the Millennial Kingdom. Rev 20:11-14, And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

We know that this is following the Kingdom because the earth and the heaven fled away.

This is what happens following the Kingdom as we enter eternity. 2 Pet 3:10, But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

The result of the teaching of the bodily resurrection allows the believer to see the complete victory of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

III. Complete Victory

Following the resurrections of the saints of all ages, Paul tells us, “then cometh the end.” This end is not a conclusion of all things for the saved but the beginning of eternity for us.

We see that he (Jesus) shall have delivered up the kingdom of God, even the Father:”

This in no way implies that the Son is inferior to the Father, but when the last enemy, which is death, is conquered at the end of the Millennium, then all things will be under the administration of the Triune God.

Also notice that all rule and all authority and power have been put down.

This verse always makes me think of Psalm 110:1, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

This is a wonderful verse about the Messiah. It literally reads Yehovah (Jehovah) said unto Adoni (sovereign, Lord and Master) sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. The Father speaking to the Son.

And this passage fits perfectly with what Paul writes in verse 25, For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.

Again the hope we have in the Word of God: it will come to pass just as God says.

And the last enemy to be destroyed in death. This is a quite a statement concerning our eternal state in our glorified bodies. No longer will the aspect of death cast a shadow over us. It will be a word that will disappear from our vocabulary. And many other words will also disappear also: words such as cancer, doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, operations, medicines, funerals and so on.

What a victory we see awaiting us!

All things are put under our Lord. We will have One who is just and righteous and loving and caring to rule forever. No more corrupt government officials. No more injustice or evil or crime. We will be under the direct rule of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To the point that Paul says, that God may be all in all. A return to the way man was intended to be, a lover of God from the heart. Living in a perfect world, free from sin and evil. Living in relationship like Adam before the Fall. Able to walk face-to-face with the Lord.

I included verse 29 in today’s message because it is so often misunderstood and misused. Let us read verse 29 together once again: Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?

There are many false teachers, and false religions, which claim that this verse sanctions being baptized vicariously for another in order to assure him a place in heaven. This view is absolutely heretical. And this view is totally contrary to Scripture and therefore is known to be false.

A second interpretation is that it refers to those who were baptized because of the testimony of those who had already died. This does have some merit but I believe what Paul is saying is this:

I believe it means being baptized in the place of those who had died, that is, new believers taking the place of those who had died and gone on to be with the Lord. Paul is referring to the continual growth of the Church. These are the new believers accepting the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ just as those believers who had already died.

His point is clear, unless one believes in the resurrection of the dead, rather than the Greek’s idea of “immortality”, what’s the point of such a practice. Remember the picture shown in baptism. Baptism represents the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord, and it is a beautiful picture, isn’t it?

Then Paul makes a very interesting point. Verse 30, And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?

Why would the believers go through the persecution of this world if the resurrection was not true? Who in their right mind would be beaten, imprisoned or killed for a lie? And because of the Gospel those believers were in jeopardy every hour. Today we would say they were in danger 24/7.

Paul goes on to say, “I die daily.” This is not an overstatement on Paul’s behalf. He was exposed to so many physical dangers and to such violent attacks on himself and on his teachings that “daily” is not an exaggeration.

You may recall what Paul wrote to the church in Rome: Rom 8:36, As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.

Then once again Paul makes the point of without the resurrection what good did it do him to fight the beasts in Ephesus?

Then Paul makes a statement which is used so often but in the wrong context. Let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die.

Paul is quoting from Isaiah 22:13, And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for to morrow we shall die. Isaiah was speaking of those in their sins going about their daily lives and enjoying the pleasures of this world with no hope.

This is the same point Paul is making. If there is no resurrection then we might as well enjoy what we have here because this is it, and there is no more.

But Paul informs us not to be deceived.

Evil communications corrupt good manners.

Be not deceived is the same Greek phrase which occurs in Gal 6:7, Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

And in James 1:16 where it is translated Do not err, my beloved brethren.

Interestingly enough the phrase “be not deceived” is a Greek proverb.

Do not be deceived by false teachers who attempt to destroy the Word of God.

Do not be deceived by false teachings which strip away you joy in Christ. Be not deceived, God is not mocked.

All of these false teachers who attempt to destroy will also find out that whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.

Finally the complete victory compels us to “Awake to righteousness, and sin not: for some have not the knowledge of God:” Literally this means, “Come to your right mind.” Get yourself away from the false teaching of those who have no knowledge of God. Come to your right mind and quit your sinning. Your have been deceived by these false teachers

These false teachers will, whether or not they believe it or teach it, will be resurrected. As unbelievers they will be resurrected to stand at the Great White Throne.

And Paul finishes this portion of his letter with these words, “I speak this to your shame.”

Shame on you for falling away from the truth.

Shame on you for not following the Hoy Spirit’s perfect guiding in your life.

Shame on you for your poor witness.

Shame on you for denying the completed work of Christ in His resurrection from the dead.

Shame on you for your weakness.

Shame on you.

This morning I ask you to “Awake to righteousness.”





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