The Resurrection of the Dead

 By: Dr. Dale Weckbacher

 

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

 

1 Corinthians 15:12

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

(ESV)

 

I once heard a pastor equate the celebration of Resurrection Sunday or Easter to the Super Bowl saying that the celebration was Super Bowl Sunday for Christians. In the text of 1 Corinthians 5:12-34, the Apostle Paul enters the disagreement between the Sadducees and Pharisees regarding the belief in the resurrection of the dead, bringing the resurrection of Jesus Christ into the discussion. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead is the foundational component of Christian theology with one unable to have this belief without a belief in the resurrection of the dead.

 

The text begins with Paul asking how one could proclaim Jesus arose from the dead and believe there is no resurrection of the dead, asking how Christ could resurrect from the dead if there is no resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:12-13). Since Paul’s preaching has the resurrection of Jesus as its foundation, belief in no resurrection of the dead would mean the preaching of the Gospel and faith in Christ for salvation are in vain (1 Corinthians 15:14-17). Lack of the resurrection of Christ would also mean those who have died in Christ have perished leaving one placing their hope in Christ with no hope (1 Corinthians 15:18-19).

 

Paul then states his belief Christ resurrected from the dead and is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep and will join Christ in the rapture (1 Corinthians 15:20; 1 Thessalonians 4:16). Through Adam death entered the world but Christ conquered death, bringing eternal life (1 Corinthians 15:21-22; John 3:16). Jesus is the first to experience resurrection from the dead with those who have died in Christ joining Him at the rapture of the Church (1 Corinthians 15:23). After this will come the destruction of the world order brought on through the enemy of Christ, Satan with all things put under subjection to Christ (1 Corinthians 15:24-28).

 

Now the Apostle Paul makes an unusual mention of baptism on behalf of the dead. This is not Paul condoning the practice of baptism for the dead for this does not align with Paul’s other teachings. However, this practice was prevalent in Greek culture and something that many in Corinth believed in. Therefore, Paul’s mention of the practice in this context is an illustration of the futility of this practice if there is no resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29). Paul then states he dies every day and is in constant danger due to his pride in the believers in Corinth (1 Corinthians 15:30-31). Why would Paul fight for the faith like he did in Ephesus if there was no resurrection of the dead and instead live life for the day and it’s pleasures because tomorrow, he may die (1 Corinthians 15:32). Paul then tells the Corinthians not to be deceived by false teachings like no resurrection of the dead and not to continue in sin believing death is the end with no resurrection of the dead (1 Corinthians 15:33-34).

 

If Jesus did not resurrect from the dead, then he cannot be God for God cannot die. It is the resurrection of Christ from the dead that makes Christianity different from other religions for Jesus is alive and sits at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for believers (Romans 8:34). In His death, Christ took the sins of those professing faith in Him to the grave and through His resurrection declared victory over sin and death (Isaiah 25:8; Romans 5:8). The Sadducees, who do not believe in the resurrection from the dead, had infiltrated the Corinthian Church causing some to deny their faith having no hope beyond what is in this life. This leads to one living their life here in sin so they can have some enjoyment until everything ends in death (1 Corinthians 15:32).

 

While most Christian churches and denominations do not deny the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, it is sadly not the main foundational truth taught from the pulpit. Instead, they are either legalistic or liberal in their theology. Legalistic churches do not deny the resurrection of Christ but have a works-based theology like that of the Judaizers who believed Gentile believers needed to adhere to Jewish law for salvation (Acts 15). Since the Jewish law existed before the birth of Christ, we must question the need for Jesus's coming since all one had to do for salvation was adhere to the Jewish law. In Ephesians 2:8-9 Scripture reminds us that salvation comes by God’s grace through faith and not according to ones works.

 

However, one must not abuse God’s grace by continuing to live in sin after accepting salvation through God’s grace. When the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery into the Temple Jesus confronted her accusers by writing something on the ground causing them to leave leaving Jesus alone with the woman. Jesus had challenged the Scribes and Pharisees to throw the first stone if they were without sin and they left (John 8:7-9). This left the woman with the only one without sin who could stone her but instead of stoning her, Jesus extended His mercy and grace to her but also told her to go and sin no more (John 8:10-11). God’s grace saves us, but we must not use God’s grace as an excuse to keep on sinning for when we accepted God’s gift of salvation, we placed our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 6:1-4). Salvation is by grace but came at a high price, the death of God’s Son who arose from the dead so we can walk in a newness of life, abandoning our life of sin.

 

If you are reading this and have not prayed for forgiveness of sin and to accept God’s gift of salvation through grace, I invite you to do so now by praying with me,

 

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

 

May God challenge, convict, and bless everyone reading this post.