09.06.2014 New Testament: 1Co 15.12–19

To read the Bible in a year, read First Corinthians 15.1–32 on September 6, In the year of our Lord 2014

By Don Ruhl

If a teaching implies a false teaching, then the original teaching is itself false. Paul used this argument with those in Corinth who taught that there is no resurrection. They had not thought that through, because it created dangerous implications,

Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable (1 Corinthians 15.12–19). 

• If you deny the resurrection, that implies that Christ has not risen from the dead.
• That in turn implies that the preaching of the Gospel is empty.
• That would also imply that your faith, created by hearing the preaching of the Gospel, is empty.
• If Christ has not risen from the dead, that implies that the apostles bore false witness.
• If your faith is futile, that implies you are still in your sins.
• If you are still in your sins, that implies that you have no hope in Christ.