1Corinthians 15:12-19 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; you are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
‘Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?’ Some false apostles at Corinth denied the resurrection of the dead, that of Christ which was fully proven by these eyewitnesses and the first resurrection of the dead which takes place at the rapture (11:13-15;). Most believers today believes in Christ’s resurrection but has no idea what the first resurrection is and that refers to the rapture (15:35-58). There are many proofs of the resurrection: from Scripture (15:1-4; Job 19:25; Ps. 16:10; Dan. 12:2; Matt. 28:1-20; Mark 16:1-20; Luke 24:1-53; John 20-21; Acts 2:27); from fact (15:5-8; John 21:14; Eph. 1:20; Rev. 1:12-18); proved by the absurdity of unbelief in the resurrection (15:12-19); proved by declaration of fact (15:20-22); proved by prediction (15:23-56); proved by the inconsistency of those who deny it (15:29); proved by faith and consecration in sacrificing all for it (15:30-34); proved by nature (15:33-49); proved by the absolute necessity of immortality of body in order to inherit the kingdom and other promises (15:50-54); proved by fulfillment of prophecy in the final victory over death (15:54-57). ‘And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.’ Twelve calamities “if Christ be not risen”: We have no guarantee of the resurrection [rapture] (15:12-13, 20-23); our gospel is then in vain (15:14). our faith is then in vain (15:14, 17); the apostles then were false witnesses because they have preached such a doctrine (15:15); we are then all yet in our sins (15:17); all the dead are then perished (15:18); we then have no hope (15:19); we are then most miserable (15:19); we are then plain fools (15:30-32); nature is then a farce (15:35-49); all promises are then lies (15:50-54), and all prophecies are then false (15:55-56).
Living the Word 