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Resurrection - 1 Cor. 15
Resurrection - 1 Corinthians 15
The first eleven verses of this chapter are one of the most concise statements of the main points of Christianity in the entire Bible.
First: the message itself is found in 1Cor. 15:3-5, 11:
- Christ died for Our sins
- He was buried and then raised on the 3rd day.
- This was in accordance with the Scriptures.
- He then appeared… many times to many people.
- This was preached and people believed (vs. 11).
Hence the introductory remarks about the Corinthians faith (1Cor. 15:1-2):
- The above is the gospel that Paul preached
- That is what the Corinthians hearing, believed, and were baptized (Acts 18:8).
- They now stand in this message.
- They are being saved by standing in this message.
- There is the danger of NOT holding fast to this and thus having believed in vain.
The gospel accounts of the story of Jesus conclude with this story of his resurrection. The book of Acts begins by reiterating this message of the resurrection and glory of Jesus. The apostles then bring this up again and again as they go preaching throughout the world. They bring it up constantly in their writing letters to believers with almost every letter in the New Testament specifically mentioning this. The book of Revelation ends with the promise of the resurrected Jesus coming again (Rev. 22:20-21).
Christianity is not just about 'theology' and 'philosophy of life' but about an act of history. All of the validity this messages rests upon this act: Jesus was raised from the dead. The evidence for believing this is bound up in the eye-witness accounts of those who saw, touched, and even ate with Him after He was raised from the dead. It is no wonder that the world has attacked the very veracity of this story. They have denied the historical account in many ways. Some who profess to BE Christians even deny the resurrection story.
This is understandable from the point of view that the truth of the resurrection of Jesus changes everything. There IS a God (has to be if there is one raised from the dead). Jesus is declared to be the Son of God by this resurrection (Romans 1:4). Paul declared that God "… has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead" (Acts 17:31). Thus, Jesus stated: "The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day" (John 12:48).
Many, not wanting to live by the teaching of Jesus, particularly on moral issues, have chosen to deny the resurrection. This allows their conscience to live by its own standard and not be saddled with the guilt of immorality. BUT, if they are wrong they will have forfeited eternal life. We on the other hand, believing the resurrection, have bound ourselves to hold fast to this gospel (1 Cor. 15:2). Thus we keep His commandments and abide in His word. Hugh DeLong
