Paul was clearly convinced of the importance of believing in the resurrection of the dead.
Listen to the challenges that Paul gives to the Corinthian Church (challenges he gives to us).
Don’t be fooled – Think carefully – Stop sinning – Know God
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (NLT)
29 If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead? Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
30 And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? 31 For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you. 32 And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead? And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!” 33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.” 34 Think carefully about what is right, and stop sinning. For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
Examine the scriptures:
1 Corinthians 15:29-34 (NLT)
29 If the dead will not be raised, what point is there in people being baptized for those who are dead?
There are numerous explanations for this verse.
We know that baptism will not save anyone. We also know that there is nothing we can do to save some who have died.
Paul may have been referring to a pagan practice or custom, or belief held by the Corinthian church, that he did not endorse, but simply used to support the importance in believing in the resurrection of the dead.
Acts 17:22-23 (NLT)
22 So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.
Paul’s arguments are logical, so this would have been a logical argument to support resurrection form the dead.
Why do it unless the dead will someday rise again?
30 And why should we ourselves risk our lives hour by hour? 31 For I swear, dear brothers and sisters, that I face death daily. This is as certain as my pride in what Christ Jesus our Lord has done in you.
Peter also writes about the Hope of Eternal Life.
1 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
32 And what value was there in fighting wild beasts—those people of Ephesus—if there will be no resurrection from the dead?
This may have been literally or figuratively.
Paul was so convinced of the Resurrection that he was willing so suffer physical abuse and even death for the hope he had for eternal life.
Taking risks to proclaim the Gospel makes no sense if there is no resurrection.
Paul was convinced of the hope of eternal life.
Note Paul’s challenges to the Corinthian Church (challenges for us).
And if there is no resurrection, “Let’s feast and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
1 Corinthians 15:19 NLT
And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.
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- Pity those whose hope in Christ is only for this life.
33 Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
A quotation from the Greek comedy Thais written by the Greek poet Menander, whose writings the Corinthians would know.
2 Corinthians 11:3-4 (NLT)
3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. 4 You happily put up with whatever anyone tells you, even if they preach a different Jesus than the one we preach, or a different kind of Spirit than the one you received, or a different kind of gospel than the one you believed.
Paul feared that the devotion of the Corinthian Church for Christ would be corrupted.
Don’t hang around those who say that there is no resurrection.
2 Peter 2:1-2 (NLT)
The Danger of False Teachers
1 But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered.
2 Timothy 4:3-4 (NLT)
3 For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
- Beware of false teachers in the church.
Proverbs 13:20 (NLT)
Walk with the wise and become wise;
associate with fools and get in trouble.
34 Think carefully about what is right,
Study the scriptures continually.
Joshua 1:8 (NLT)
8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Psalm 119:15 (NLT)
15 I will study your commandments
and reflect on your ways.
- Study the Scriptures continually.
Meditate on the scriptures.
Psalm 1:1-2 NLT
1 Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
2 But they delight in the law of the Lord,
meditating on it day and night.
- Meditate on the Scriptures day and night.
Think carefully about what is right.
Philippians 4:8 (NLT)
8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
- Think carefully about what is right.
Psalm 19:14 (NLT)
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 26:2 (NLT)
Put me on trial, Lord, and cross-examine me.
Test my motives and my heart.
and stop sinning.
Denying that there is a resurrection is sin.
1 John 2:15 (NLT)
Do Not Love This World
Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you.
Romans 12:2 (NLT)
2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
- Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world.
- Let God transform you into a new person.
Romans 6:1-2 (NLT)
Sin’s Power Is Broken
1 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it?
- Do not continue to live in sin.
Proverbs 8:13 (NLT)
All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
- Hate evil.
For to your shame I say that some of you don’t know God at all.
John 17:3 (NLT) Part of Jesus
And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you (God), the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
- Know God.
Ask God to open your eyes to spiritual truths.
Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
Open my eyes to see
the wonderful truths in your instructions.
Luke 24:45 (NLT) The two on the road to Emmaus.
Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.
Ephesians 1:18 (NLT)
I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.
- Ask God to open your eyes to spiritual truths.
Grow in the knowledge of God and Jesus.
2 Peter 3:18 (NLT)
Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- Grow in the knowledge of God and Jesus.
Spend time in the Word.
“We will… tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord…
so that they should set their hope in God.”
Don’t be fooled – Think carefully – Stop sinning – Know God
