Previous lesson:
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
Today’s lesson:
The Resurrection of the Dead
No Resurrection, No Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (NLT)
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? 13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your faith is useless. 15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. 16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. 18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! 19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
Examine the scriptures:
The Resurrection of the Dead
No Resurrection, No Gospel
1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (NLT)
12 But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead,
why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead?
- Christians must believe in the resurrection of Jesus.
It was hard for some Corinthians to understand and accept the concept of people being resurrected from the dead.
- Some Corinthians doubted that people could be resurrected from the dead.
The Corinthians were not the only people who struggled with the concept of resurrection from the dead.
Paul preaches in Athens
Acts 17:32 (NLT)
When they heard Paul speak about the resurrection of the dead, some laughed in contempt, but others said, “We want to hear more about this later.”
Sadducces
Acts 23:8 (NLT)
for the Sadducees say there is no resurrection
Mary Magdalene
John 20:1-2 (NLT)
1 Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 2 She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
The Corinthians needed help overcoming disbelief.
Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
Mark 9:22-24 (NLT)
22 … Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”
23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
- Paul took the doubts of some of the Corinthians very seriously.
- Take the doubts of immature Christians seriously.
- Treat infants in Christ with age appropriate treatments.
1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (NLT)
1 Dear brothers and sisters, when I was with you I couldn’t talk to you as I would to spiritual people. I had to talk as though you belonged to this world or as though you were infants in Christ. 2 I had to feed you with milk, not with solid food, because you weren’t ready for anything stronger. And you still aren’t ready,
Paul addressed this issue head-on.
Paul used a logical argument to support his position on the resurrection of the dead.
13 For if there is no resurrection of the dead,
then Christ has not been raised either. 14
Six logical consequences for no resurrection.
One
And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless,
Preaching the gospel would be senseless.
The resurrection of Christ is the heart of the Gospel.
- The Apostles preaching would be useless.
Two
and your faith is useless.
Faith in a dead man would be useless.
- Faith in Jesus Christ would be useless.
Three
15 And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead.
- The Apostles would be lying about God.
Four
16 And if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins.
- If Christ has not been raised we would all still be guilty of our sins.
Romans 6:23 (NLT)
For the wages of sin is death,
Five
18 In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost!
- All who died believing in Christ are lost.
Six
19 And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
- If our hope in Christ is only for this life here on earth, then people should feel sorrier for us than for anyone else.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT)
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
If Christ was not resurrected from the dead, the message of the cross really would be foolish.
Summary
- Take the doubts of immature Christians seriously.
- Treat infants in Christ with age appropriate treatments.
- Address spiritual doubts with scripture.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 4:2 (NLT)
Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.
