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- Preaching the Living WORD through
the Written WORD - 2 Tim 4;:2 - |
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DOCTRINAL ISSUES IN THE CHURCH (CH. 15) COUNSEL CONCERNING THE RESURRECTION 1Co 15:12-20 (3/7/12) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I. THE CERTAINTY OF BODILY RESURRECTION
(15:1-34) A. Historical Argument (15:1-11) 1. Explanation of the Gospel and the
Resurrection(1Co 15:1-4) 2. Evidence by Witnesses of the Resurrection
(1Co 15:5-11) B. Logical Argument (15:12-20) 1. Reductio Argument a) Having shown the biblical and historical
proof for the resurrection of Christ, Paul now masterfully argues the case
for the resurrection. He uses what is called a “reductio” argument.
“Reductio” is a form of argument in which propositions are disproved by following
its implications logically to a baseless
conclusion. Technically it is called, “Reductio ad
absurdum,” a Latin phrase which means, "reduction to the absurd." 2. Some Deny the Resurrection (12) a) The Corinthians themselves did not deny
the resurrection, but Jewish Sects (Sadducees, Mat 22:23, Pagan Philosophies
(Dualism, i.e. material was evil), and some false teachers did. b) Such teaching, as is most often the case,
troubled “some among” (tines en umi,n) the Corinthians to the point that Paul
had to reaffirm this most important apostolic preaching (kęr,ussō) and dogma. c) Resurrection is the Greek word ana,stasis
which literally means
to “stand” (hi,stęmi) “up” (ana), and used in the biblical sense for
coming back to life as in reference to Christ’s resurrection (Joh 11:25; 1Pe
1:3) and the believer’s (Joh 11:24; Rev 20:6). 3. If
No Resurrection of the Dead, then Christ was not Raised (13) a) Paul, for
the sake of argument, follows the line of thinking that there is no
resurrection. So it becomes a series of conditional clauses, “if there is no
resurrection of the dead”… then such and such is the ramification.” If Christ
did not raise from the dead, then ….etc. b) The ultimate ramification of there being
no resurrection is the supposed fact that Christ was not raised (perf pass
ind - egei,rō - raise up, “has not raised and continues not to be raised”) from the dead. All other ramifications proceed
from the fact of Christ’s resurrection. In other words, everything hangs on
the balances of the reality of Christ’s resurrection. 4. If
Christ has not been Raised, then Preaching is in Vain (14) a) If Christ has not been raised then
preaching is in “vain” (keno,s - empty, futile, to no purpose). What would be the sense in preaching
especially when the gospel message includes the resurrection (1Co 15:4)? What
“good news” would there be when all of Christianity hinges on the truth of
the reality of the resurrection. b) In that same thought, the Corinthians’ (humę,n - plural pronoun, lit. “faith of you all”) faith in Christ would be in “vain” (keno,s). What “good message” could be
received? 5. If
Christ has not been Raised, then the Apostles were False Witnesses
(15) a) Furthermore, not only would preaching and
faith be in vain, but the apostles themselves would be liars and perjurers. A
“false witness” (pseudo,martus) give false testimony and in this case
it would be the apostles who claim that they have witnessed the resurrected
Christ (cf. 1Co 15:5-11) when in reality they did not. b) The implication is that if Christ was not
raised, then God did not raise Him and the apostles commit perjury against
God. 6. If
No Resurrection of the Dead, then Christ was not Raised (16) a) Paul essentially states in vs. 16 the same
proposition as in vs. 13 that denied the concept of resurrection at all.
However, vs. 16 would carry the implication that if God is not in the
business of raising the dead, then not even (emphatic use of oude)
Christ has been or can be raised. b) Reducing this to it absurdity, it would
also imply that God was a perjurer for He promised in His Word (Psa 16:10-11;
Isa 53:10-12) to raise Christ but failed. 7. If
Christ has not been Raised, then Sinners are still in their Sin (17) a) Either way, Christ, for the sake of
argument, was not raised from the dead bringing monumental and disastrous
ramifications upon Christians. b) The theological implications would be the
believer’s faith would be “worthless” (ma,taios - not what something appears to be,
ineffectual or worthless, cp. 1Co 3:12) because they would still be in their sins. The question would
still remain concerning an acceptable atonement for man’s sin. Christ’s
resurrection was the proof that He was the Son of God (Rom 1:4) and that He
made a perfect atonement through His death (Heb 9:12). If His resurrection
was a fallacy, then man still needs a solution for the removal of his sins. 8. If
Christ has not been Raised, then Deceased Believers have Perished (18) a) Carrying this train of thought even
further, believers in Christ, who have “fallen asleep” (a beautiful
metaphor for deceased believers waiting for the future bodily resurrection,
Mat 27:52. This expression was used by Paul to comfort living believers that
they would be reunited with believer’s who had passed, 1Th 4:13-18) are
lost. b) In fact, Paul uses the strong word apo,llumi which means to destroy or perish away. Here it would refer to
perishing and not gaining eternal life. 9. If
Christ has not been Raised, then Believers are to be Pitied (19) a) Believers who have put their hope in
Christ’s death and resurrection will only amount to a superficial hope “in
this life only.” b) Believers are to be “pitied” (eleeino,s - looked upon as most pitiful) because they are dupes, easily
deceived and cheated. The world would view Christians as pitiful because they
know better than Christians but there was no hope of convincing them. 10. But now Christ has been raised from the Dead
(20a) a) Paul’s next statement is the bright and
shining star of truth. Christ has been raised indeed! This truth overturns
all the attempts of reducing it to a mere vain hope. b) All of the helpless and hopeless
ramifications of no resurrection have been demolished. All of the hopes are
proved truth by the incredible fact of Christ’s resurrection. In one
statement, “Christ has been raised from the dead,” all of the following is
true… (1) There is a future resurrection. (2) Preaching is not in vain. (3) The believer’s faith is not in vain. (4) The apostles were not false witnesses. (5) God kept His promise and raised Christ. (6) The believer is not in his sins. (7) Deceased believers have eternal life and a
future bodily resurrection. (8) The believer is not to be pitied but
admired. II. OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A. The Easter tradition over in Greece is the
battle cry of 1Co 15 and for all believers. One believer will say to another,
“Christo,s ane,stę” and the other will reply, “alęthōs
ane,stę” (He is risen….He is risen indeed!). B. No one can glibly remove the resurrection
without major ramifications to Christianity or to their own soul. C. His resurrection was the proof that His
death was the sufficient atonement to remove our sins and promise us
resurrection with other believers in Christ’s presence forever. Hallelujah! D. Just because false teachers make a claim,
teach, or refused to be convinced does not reduce God’s truth to absurdity.
Rather it reduces them to absurdity, the definition of which the Bible refers
to as “fools.” |
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