April 17, 2005

HOW SAY SOME OF YOU?

1 Corinthians 15:12-34

 

   That there is no resurrection of the dead?” (1 Cor. 15:12). We expect such statements from a world of skeptics, but not from the saved who confess faith in the gospel. A serious problem, but what is the remedy? Why did not local saints “nip this one in the bud”?

   These also are serious questions. The situation savors of keeping company with Jewish Sadducees and Gentile mythologists. Certainly “evil companions corrupt good character.” So Paul explored this issue from the negative and the positive sides.

   Since the resurrection of the dead is inseparably connected with the resurrection of Christ, everything hangs on Him. Paul had presented all the evidence. He had provided far more than just “two or three witnesses” as required by Moses' law. Jews, Gentiles, and skeptics of every stripe should have been overwhelmed by the multitude of eyewitnesses! The obvious conclusions are: “If there be no resurrection of dead men, then is Christ not risen.” They should resume searching for the bones! “So we preached” yet their preaching is empty! “So you believed” yet your faith is just as empty! The chosen apostles and selected witnesses of the risen Christ are all “found to be false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ; Whom He raised not, 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 to no purpose; you are yet in your sins (unforgiven)”! (15:14-17). Most discouraging for the living yet damning for the dead, “Those fallen asleep..are perished,” exactly what John 3:16 says can only happen to the unbeliever! “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are...the most to be pitied.” We have “denied ungodliness and worldly lusts,” yet there was nothing better. We missed out on these things, yet the “next life” isn't next!

   “But now IS Christ risen from the dead, the firstfruits of them that slept.” There are no firstfruits if there is no crop to harvest, there-fore, “afterwards they that are Christ's at His coming”! “For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive... Then comes the end when He shall have delivered the kingdom to God” (20-24).

 

Ivan L. Burgener