What's the Difference

I Corinthians 15:12-23

A relative of ours said they wanted a sealed steel casket and a concrete vault so God couldn’t get them out at the resurrection. Apparently they don’t think God is as smart as I am, because I could get them out of that. Many people don’t believe a resurrection is possible, because after you’re dead, there is a point where you can’t be revived.

Most people who call themselves Christians believe in a literal resurrection from the dead, although there is a lot of disagreement about how it will be accomplished and what it will be like afterward. There are some theologians who deny the literal resurrection however, saying that it is not real. Paul deals with this teaching in the next few verses.

“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 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. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” (I Corinthians 15:12-18)

If Christ was raised from the dead, then a resurrection is possible. If it is not, then he could not have risen from the dead. Since that is the foundational truth of Christianity, then everything Christians believe is founded on a lie and our religion is of no more value than any other moral system. Without the resurrection, all who believed before are lost, and it is all a fraud. There is no hope beyond this life.

“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.” (I Corinthians 15:19-23)

Praise God for the evidence given earlier in the chapter because we have proof that the resurrection is possible because Christ arose. Our hope goes beyond this life because he was resurrected. It doesn’t end at death. Through Jesus Christ, every believer will be made alive, at his proper time. Christ is the first fruits, the first one to be resurrected, but not the only one.

“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. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 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. 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.” (I Corinthians 15:24-28)

After the resurrection, and when all earthly government and powers have been done away with, God will be all in all. Death will have no more power, and Christ will be submit and be subject only to God the Father.

If this is not true, being baptized in the name of Christ is pointless because he died, and can no longer do anything for us. It is pointless even to bother being baptized if there is no resurrection, and Paul’s risking his life every day to preach the gospel, even to the point of being thrown into the arena to fight with animals because of his belief makes no sense. It is promoting a lie and cannot produce any benefit.

“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? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 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. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. ” (I Corinthians 15:29-34)

If Christ was not raised, then the worlds idea to eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die would be the only logical course. Association with those who hold such beliefs will weaken our faith. We are instructed repeatedly to take not of and avoid those who teach contrary to the word of God. The best you can get out of this life is the best you will ever have. Association with those who hold such beliefs will weaken our faith. We are instructed repeatedly to avoid those who teach contrary to the word of God. All those believers who died before us sacrificed earthly pleasures because They believed in something better than the world had to offer.

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Hebrews 11:13-16)

Our actions are determined primarily by what we actually believe. A genuine belief in God’s promises will impel us to do what he commanded. Failure to obey implies we really don’t believe or love him. God must really be ashamed of some who call themselves Christians because they have allowed others not to know of him.