What if the dead are not raised?

(1 Corinthian 15:12-20)

                In this New Year 2015, our Korean Ministry already had two funeral services for two beloved church members.  One sister in Christ named Pun Nam Yi passed away in January and another sister in Christ Bong Hee Lim passed away last few weeks ago.  These two sisters really loved our church.  So until their health allowed, they came to our church and worshiped God together.  One grandma had a chance to go to another church but she never did.  She only wanted to come to our church.  Another grandma, she really served our church very hard.  One grandma, when she was in the hospital ICU, we had deathbed worship before she passed away.  And after the service, when I told her “I love you” she nodded her head to me.  Another grandma, I remembered kissing her forehead couple of times when she was in the convalescent home.  When I was leading her graveyard service, I mentioned 1 Corinthians 15:19: If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.”  Base on this Scripture, I told her family members and those mourners that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then we the Christians are the most pitied people.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.  Why? 

The first reason is because if the dead are not raised then Christ has not been raised either.

Look at 1 Corinthians 15:13, 16 – “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.  …  For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.”  Do you really believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried and was raised on the third day according to the Scripture?  This is what the Bible 1 Corinthians  15:3-4 says: “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”.  The Scripture clearly says “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”(vv.3-4).  And we believe this truth.  Since we believe Jesus arose from the dead, we cannot but believe that we will arise as well.  It is because Jesus’ resurrection is our resurrection.  Look at Romans 8:11 – “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you”.  The Bible clearly says that the Spirit of God who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you and he will also give life to our mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in us.  And we believe this truth.  This is what Jesus is saying to us today in John 11:25-26: “I am the resurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.  Do you believe this?"

The second reason is because if the dead are not raised then our preaching and our faith is useless.

Look at 1 Corinthians 15:14, 17a – “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.  …  And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile.”  We believe that the gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  And that gospel is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures”(vv.3-4).  And we proclaim this gospel to other people.  But if the dead are not raised, then even Christ has not been raised.  Then our preaching and faith is futile.  How can we preach that Jesus arose from the dead when he is not?  Is our preaching and faith useless?  This is useless witness and faith.  In another word, we are found to be false witnesses about God (v.15).  But Jesus whom we believe is “the resurrection and the life”(Jn. 11:26).  After he died on the cross and was buried, in third day Jesus arose from the dead.  We who believe Jesus’ death and resurrection are the true witnesses of God who proclaim the true gospel of Jesus Christ.  Look at what Acts 1:8 says: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  We are the witnesses of Jesus Christ.  We proclaim the gospel – the death and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Our preaching and our faith is true because God raised Jesus from the dead by his Spirit.  So let us go into the world and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The third reason is because if the dead are not raised then we are still in our sins.

Look at 1 Corinthians 15:17b – “you are still in your sins.”  Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (v.3).  In other words, he bored all our sins and died on the cross in order to forgive all our sins.  This is what Romans 4:25 says: “He who was delivered up because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”  We were forgiven because of Jesus’ death on the cross.  And we are justified because of Jesus’ resurrection.  But if there is no resurrection of Jesus, that means that we are not justified by God – we are still in our sins.”  Then, as Jesus said in John 8:21, we will all die in our sin.”  If Christ was not raised, then we are still dead in trespasses and sins and will forever remain spiritually dead and sinful.  If Christ was not raised, then He did not bring forgiveness of sins or salvation or reconciliation or spiritual life, either for now or for eternity.  But we are no longer under sin.  It is because of Jesus was died on the cross and arose from the dead, we are justified.  God declared that we have no sin.  Look at Romans 5:9 – “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!” 

The fourth reason is because if the dead are not raised then those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost also.

            Look at 1 Corinthians 15:18 – “Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.”  What does it mean?  It means that if there is no resurrection of the dead, then all the Old Testament saints were damned.  Their faith would have been in vain, their sins would have been unforgiven, and their destiny would be damnation (MacArthur).  They will be delivered up to eternal misery.  But Jesus Christ arose from the dead.  Therefore, there is no eternal damnation for those who died in Christ.  There will be no eternal misery for them.  Instead, they are with the Lord in heaven and live there eternally for God has given them what he promised – eternal life (Jn. 10:28).

But this is what the Scripture 1 Corinthians 15:20 says: “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.”  As the Scripture said, Jesus Christ arose from the dead.  God raised him from the dead through his Spirit.  The same Spirit dwells in us now.  At the last day, God will raise those who are sleeping through the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:11).  Certainly we will be raised!  At the last trumpet, we will be raised.  We shall all be changed (1 Cor.15:51-52).  We will no longer wear a weak body, perishable body, the body that commits sins against God.  When the last trumpet will sound, we will be suddenly changed.  We will wear the spiritual body, strong body, the body that will not perishable, glorious body.  On the last day, those who fell asleep in the Lord will be resurrected and will wear the glorious spiritual body.  And we will all go up to heaven and will be with the Lord forever (1 Thess. 4:17).  With this resurrection and eternal hope in the Lord, let us walk by faith and not by sight!

With hope of resurrection,

James Kim