THE NECESSITY OF THE RESURRECTION

I. The Bodily Resurrection is certain (1 Cor 15:1-34)
 
In This section Paul tackles the question implicitly expressed in v.12.
Why believe in Resurrection? Paul answered this question basing his arguments on 4 categories:

1. History
2. Logic
3. Theology and
4. Experience.

 Let us look at each of them.

A). Historical argument 1 Cor 15:1-11
 
The Gospel – The good news Paul had preached in Corinth had not changed. However, though the Corinthians had accepted the gospel repented their sins and were rooted in it; after a while and especially after Paul had moved to preach to other cities the Corinthians kind of laxed in their ways preferring to pay lip service to the gospel through either unbelief or simply neglect. Paul feared about where this would lead. Not only was there a declension in church concerning the message of Christ’s crucifixion but more so concerning his resurrection. To reject the bodily resurrection eviscerated the gospel and made faith vain without cause or success. Unless one holds firmly, his belief is vain.

1 Cor 15: 3-5 Paul included himself in the company of those who received the truth of Christ’s death and resurrection on behalf of a sinful people. These verses are the heart of the gospel and are of 1st importance (paramount) that is Christ died for our sins and he was raised. The reality of this was verified by the scriptures. eg. Psalm 16:10; Isaiah 53:8-10 (read).

The fact Christ was buried verified his death and the fact he appeared to others verified his resurrection. Peter was the first male witness and was joined by the remaining disciples who composed the Lords inner circle.

A larger crowd of believers numbering more than 500 also witnessed the resurrected Christ. (They may be those gathered during the giving of the great commission Matt 28:18-20). Most of those were still alive when Paul wrote 1st Corinthians 25 years later
 1 Cor 15:7-8.

Some have sort of laughed of resurrection of Christ as a mere pious vision of believers seeing with eyes of faith. Yet the bible says Christ lived among the disciples for 40 days eating and fellowshipping with them, they even handled him and touched him. Can you imagine even one of them Thomas after he touched the Lord exclaimed “My Lord and my God!”

There were also at least two who were not there to see the resurrected Christ but he appeared to them Paul and James his half unbelieving brother.

1 Cor 15:9 Paul says he was like one born untimely and had been an opponent of the gospel. Yet he realized this was the back drop on which to display the Grace of God. Paul’s devotion to the Lord was great (9:19-29) and he worked harder, suffered more opposition and persecution, wrote more New Testament epistles and founded more churches. Resurrection faith at work.

In the final analysis it was the message and not the messenger.

B) Logical Argument 1 Cor 15:12-19 

 The scoffers claimed that no one dead could experience bodily resurrection. Paul pressed this tenet to its logical consequences.

1. To deny bodily resurrection was to deny the resurrection of Christ (v13).
2. To deny the resurrection of Christ tore out the heart of the gospel and left it lifeless-Just like any other religion (v14). Faith in Christ would therefore be useless and meaningless.
3. The apostles would have turned out to be liars and the propagators of lies because they affirmed Christ’s resurrection. (v15 -16).
4. Without the resurrection the Corinthians’ salvation would only be a false State of mind with no correspondence to reality. Their faith would be futile; there would be no certainty of atonement and the Corinthians would remain in a state of alienation and sin.
5. Without Christ’s resurrection those loved ones who died believing in Christ did not enter bliss but perdition. Without resurrection the sting of death would remain with everlasting painful consequences (v54–56).
6. If there was no resurrection then the pagans would be right about the foolishness of the cross 1:18. Then those who lived for pleasure of the moment would be right and the sacrifices of Christians would be cruel self inflicted jokes (v 32).

C) Theological argument 1 Cor 15: 20-28

 After Paul explored the logical negatives of bodily resurrection denials; he turned to theological tenet that binds the destiny of Christians to the destiny of Christ. Here Paul sets forth the positive consequences of union of Christians to Christ.

 That (1) Christ has indeed been raised from the dead and he is the first fruits (Exo 23:16, 19) or installment of both an example and guarantee of more to come.

1 Cor 15:21-22 Death came to those related to Adam by natural birth because of the disobedience of one man. Since Adam is the father of all mankind his sin has brought death to everyone. But because of obedience of another man resurrection is come to all related to him by spiritual birth. Those of us who are apart of the body of Christ 1 Cor 12:27 will one day follow the lead of our head. Note the sequence of events v23. Eventually Christ will deliver the kingdom to the father after all his enemies have been defeated, death being the last of these enemies v24.

1 Cor 15:25-26 Death is personified as Christ’s ultimate and last opponent (v55 & Hebrews 2:14) who will be defeated (nullified).

1 Cor 15:27-28 why would Christ deliver the kingdom to the father. It is by the power of God. That the incarnate Christ victoriously mediates his authority (Phil 3:21) this work of the son will find ultimate completion in the glory of the father cf John 17:4-5.

D) Experiential Argument 1 Cor 15:29-34

1. Corinthian practice of those who deny resurrection in that part of the world they would wash in sea water a purification rite without which those who do not will not hope to experience bliss in the life hereafter. This religion was landed by Homer and Cicero who was also one of the initiated. Paul was not saying this was right he was just giving an example which was familiar to his reader.
2. 1 Cor 15:30-32 In contrast to v29 Paul mentioned his own lifestyle as a forceful statement of his conviction about the certainty of resurrection. (a) Many times his life was in peril (I die every day ref 2 Cor 6:4-5; 11:23-28) at least once he thought he would 2 Cor1:8-9, he referred to his fight with wild beasts at Ephesus. This must be reference to those who opposed the gospel everywhere especially in Ephesus for Paul. Why would anyone go through the troubles Paul did if the resurrection is just a figment of imagination. The Epicureans and less philosophical men before them (Isa 22:13) would be right pursue pleasure and avoid pain at all costs. Paul new there was more and his life testified to the fact 1 Cor 9:24-27.

1 Cor 15:33-34 concluding his counsel like to those immoral people of chapter 5 do not associate with them. Here he quoted pagan writer Menander, Bad company corrupts good character (That is what I remind my handsome son always!).
False teachers (and that is not your math and history teacher) should be avoided. They may claim great knowledge while in fact they are ignorant of God!! Cf 1 Cor 8:2.

Look at 1 Cor 15:42-45 our present bodies are perishing or perishable and prone to decay “Corruption”. Our resurrection bodies will be transformed. These spiritual bodies will not be limited by laws of nature. This does not mean we shall be super people, but our bodies will be different from and more capable than our present earthly bodies. Our spiritual bodies will never be weak, will never get sick and will never die v45. “The last Adam” refers to Christ because Christ rose from the dead; he is life giving spirit. Just like Adam’s natural body was suited for earthly life the spiritual body that God has designed for us will be suited for eternal life.

In Conclusion an earthly natural body is fallen and so temporal, imperfect and weak. (100 meter ….). A heavenly body is spiritual body and will be eternal, perfect and powerful 2 Cor 5:1-4.

CONCLUSION:

You probably are saying I still do not see what’s the big deal about the resurrection, why is the resurrection such a big deal? It is a big deal because Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. It authenticated Christ as the son of God. Who had come into the world to save sinners of whom you and I are one. It also vindicated his claims and teachings.

Jesus claimed:
1. He and the father are one (according to the Jews making himself equal with God).
2. Before Abraham was ever born he was existing Jn 8:58 (proving he was greater than Abe.)
3. He told the Jews destroy this temple (meaning his body) and I will build it in three days and he did.
4. He said:
1. I am the Bread of life Jn 6:35
2. I am the Light of the world Jn 8:12
3. I am the Gate of the sheep Jn 10:7 cf v9
4. I am the Good Shepherd Jn 10:11,14
5. I am the Resurrection and the Life Jn 11:25
6. I am the Way the Truth and the Life Jn 14:6
7. I am the True Vine Jn 15:1 cf v5

If Christ was not who he claimed to be that would be hogwash. Those are pretty mighty claims in fact listen to what C.S. Lewis a British philosopher and theologian said;

“I am here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about him (Jesus). I am ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept his claim to be God”. That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher, he would either be a lunatic….. Or else the devil of hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was and is the son of God or else a madman or something worse…..
You can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God, but let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intent to” (Mere Christianity pg 52).

A couple of more things about resurrection:

I. It authenticated and vindicated the scriptures and the prophets.
 a. Moses said God would raise a prophet like him
 b. Job said I know my redeemer lives and one day he will stand on earth.
 c. Isaiah said he was wounded for our transgressions Isa 53:5-6.
 d. In Luke we learn he was conceived of a virgin.
 e. The disciples and others testified he was truly the son of God.

What about you? Would you testify and accept him for whom he really is - the son of the living God who loves you and wants to be your friend? Do you know he has promised whatever you do in his name because you belong to him is not in vain, that he will reward you greatly 1 Cor 15:58.