“THE LOGICAL IF” 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION 1 Corinthians deals a local church ladened with spiritual problems Religious division (CH1 – CH4) Immorality in the church (CH5) Brothers going to law against one another (CH6) Issues regarding marriage (CH7) He wore no clothes, did not live in a house, but in the tombs (graveyard)

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION 1 Corinthians deals a local church ladened with spiritual problems Eating of foods offered to idols (CH8 – CH10) Abuses related to the Lord’s Supper (CH11) Problems related to the distribution and use spiritual gifts (CH12 – CH14) He wore no clothes, did not live in a house, but in the tombs (graveyard)

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is compelled to deal with yet another problem False teaching about the resurrection Some among the Corinthians were teaching there is no resurrection of the dead He wore no clothes, did not live in a house, but in the tombs (graveyard)

BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION In our lesson today, we are going to consider the approach Paul used to refute this false doctrine in the context of 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 I describe Paul’s approach to refuting this false doctrine “The Logical If” Q: What exactly is meant by the phrase “The Logical If” He wore no clothes, did not live in a house, but in the tombs (graveyard)

Q: WHAT IS “THE LOGICAL IF”? In the context of 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul uses a number of “If” and “Then” statements “If” you take the position there is no resurrection of the dead,… “Then” here are some logical and inescapable conclusions you must also come to based on your position

Q: WHAT IS “THE LOGICAL IF”? In the context of 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul uses a number of “If” and “Then” statements Paul’s approach challenges these brethren to use a little common sense (logic) He challenges them to consider the consequences for both themselves and others if there is no resurrection of the dead None of those consequences are good

BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 V1: Paul begins this chapter by declaring the gospel to the Corinthians The very same gospel he preached to them years earlier when he stayed in Corinth for 18 months (Acts 18:11) The very same gospel they had previously believed (obeyed) and were now standing in

V2: The Corinthians were saved by the gospel, if they held fast to it BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 V2: The Corinthians were saved by the gospel, if they held fast to it A failure to hold fast would render their initial belief vain V3 & V4: Paul provides a brief synopsis (summary) of the gospel he previously delivered to the Corinthians Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day

BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 V5-V8: A chronological listing of witnesses who saw Jesus after He arose from the dead Cephas The Twelve (apostles) Over 500 brethren at once James All the apostles

Last of all, by Paul (as by one born out of due time) BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 V5-V8: A chronological listing of witnesses who saw Jesus after He arose from the dead Last of all, by Paul (as by one born out of due time) V9 & V10: Paul feels unworthy to be called an apostle because of his past Yet he labors diligently to fulfill the stewardship given to him by grace

BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 V11: Finally, Paul declares the gospel He and others had preached was believed and obeyed by the Corinthians A foundational principle of that gospel was that Jesus arose from the dead In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul will now build upon the foundation he established in V1-V11 to refute the false doctrine that there is no resurrection of the dead

A QUESTION IS ASKED (V12) Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?

Recall what Paul said about these Corinthian brethren in V1-V11 A QUESTION IS ASKED (V12) Note: Paul’s question indicates these false teachers were not actually denying the resurrection of Christ What they were denying was the future resurrection for everyone else (John 5:28,29) Recall what Paul said about these Corinthian brethren in V1-V11 They had accepted the gospel which declared that Christ rose from the dead on the third day

Wondering why they would even for a moment entertain such an idea A QUESTION IS ASKED (V12) It was not logical that some among the Corinthians were now saying there is no resurrection of the dead Paul must have been both amazed and perplexed by the conduct of these brethren (Galatians 1:6,7 – “I marvel…”) Wondering why they would even for a moment entertain such an idea They needed help apart from the revealed word of God to arrive at such an illogical conclusion

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #1 (V13) If there is no resurrection of the dead… Then Christ is not risen Apparently, those who denied the resurrection of the dead had not logically considered what their reasoning meant in regards to the resurrection of Christ Which recall, they had previously accepted

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #1 (V13) If there is no resurrection of the dead… Then Christ is not risen Paul on the other hand follows their reasoning to its only logical conclusion: If in truth there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ did not rise again the third day as was preached in the gospel Christ was still in the tomb (the grave)

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #1 (V13) If there is no resurrection of the dead… Then Christ is not risen The resurrection of Christ and the future resurrection of all mankind are not mutually exclusive events The resurrection of all mankind is connected to and dependent upon the resurrection of Christ If you reject one, you of necessity have to reject the other also

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #2 (V14) If Christ is not risen… Then our preaching is empty Empty preaching is preaching that has no real substance, purpose or value, the message is worthless (no foundation) It wastes the time of the preacher It wastes the time of the listeners It accomplishes nothing Without the resurrection of Christ, preaching has no foundation upon which to stand

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #2 (V14) If Christ is not risen… Then our preaching is empty The promises of God as proclaimed in the preaching of the gospel are empty (have no meaning) Forgiveness of sins, eternal life Entering the presence of God Justice & punishment of the wicked, etc.

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #2 (V14) If Christ is not risen… Then your faith is also empty Preaching of the gospel is designed to instill faith and hope in the hearer Faith based upon empty (vain) preaching is also empty (vain) If Christ is still in the grave, our faith in Him has no value There is no true basis for hope If the preaching has no firm foundation upon which to stand, any faith produced by that preaching is without foundation as well

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #3 (V15) If Christ is not risen… Then we are found false witnesses of (about) God False witnesses because they were guilty of misrepresenting God Affirming in their teaching God did something that in reality He did not do Raise Christ from the dead

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #3 (V15) If Christ is not risen… Then we are found false witnesses of (about) God God does not look favorably upon false witnesses (Proverbs 6:16-19, 19:5,9) A false witness is a liar destined for the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8) This is what awaited Paul, if he was truly a false witness of (about) God

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #4 (V16) If the dead do not rise… Then Christ is not risen Here, Paul repeats a statement he made earlier in V13 However, he adds additional noteworthy thoughts as recorded in V17

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #5 (V17) If Christ is not risen… Then your faith is futile Futile faith has no positive outcome Recall 1 Peter 1:9, “Receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls” Futile faith is worthless and therefore will not result in salvation Faith in a dead Savior is a waste of time

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #5 (V17) If Christ is not risen… Then you are still in your sins It required both the death of Christ and His resurrection to cleanse us from sins If we are still in our sins, we are still separated from God (Isaiah 59:1,2) We are not children of God, but children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) We are not heirs of God and have no home in heaven (Romans 8:17) Still in our sins = Spiritually Dead

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #6 (V18) If Christ is not risen… Then all those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished Those who have fallen asleep is a reference to those who had died Perished: They are forever lost Just like Christ, they will never arise from the grave which results in sorrow without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13,14)

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ… Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) Pitiable: Deserving pity (sadness) or sympathy Not only are we to be pitied, but pitied more than all other men (that would include those of the world). Q: Why?

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ… Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) Consider the negative consequences already discussed (V14,V15,V17,V18) Our service and sacrifice to God are meaningless We labor for an eternal reward in heaven when in reality there is none

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ… Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) We proclaim a message of hope to the world when there is no hope Trials, persecutions and injustices endured for the cause of Christ will not be punished and the sufferer will not be rewarded (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10)

LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) If in this life only we have hope in Christ… Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) Basically, living as a Christian would amount to a pretty miserable existence Notice what Paul said about his own situation in this regard in V30-V32 Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die

THE RESURRECTION IS REAL (V20) But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep Because Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, He is our surety (guarantee) that we too will some future day experience the resurrection Our task is to prepare for that day so we are numbered with the righteous (John 5:28-29)

OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS If denominationalism is acceptable… Then religious unity is not really important to God and Jesus (John 17:20,21; 1 Corinthians 1:10) Then there are numerous ways to come to the Father Men can dictate their own terms of salvation Recall John 14:6

OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS If one is saved by faith alone… Then he can remain saved by faith alone He would never have to obey any other command of God (Hebrews 5:8,9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8)

OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS If once saved, always saved is true… Then man need not concern himself with purging sin from his life and keeping himself unspotted from the world Live as you please for there are no eternal consequences for your sinful conduct Recall 1 Peter 1:15,16; 1 John 3:2,3; James 1:27; Romans 6:23

OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS If God predestined some to be saved and others to be lost… Then God shows partiality (Acts 10:34) Jesus did not die for all (2 Cor 5:14,15) Men cannot choose to obey the gospel and serve God (Matthew 7:13,14) Those who teach this doctrine and think they are saved, may in reality be predestined to be lost

OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS If all men inherit the sins of Adam and are born in sin… Then Jesus would have been born a sinner (1 Peter 2:22) If Jesus was a sinner… Then the blood of Jesus could not take away our sins Then we would still be lost in sin and without hope

There is no resurrection of the dead IN CONCLUSION Today we studied Paul’s approach in refuting false doctrine at Corinth, that… There is no resurrection of the dead Paul refuted this error with multiple “If”/“Then” arguments, appealing to logic Clearly demonstrating if this doctrine was true, it would lead to conclusions contrary to the revealed word of God

On the contrary, it is the doctrines of men that cannot be trusted IN CONCLUSION We briefly applied Paul’s “If”/“Then” logic to some popular doctrines espoused by men in the religious world today We saw how these doctrines, if true, would then lead to the conclusion God is a liar and His word cannot be trusted On the contrary, it is the doctrines of men that cannot be trusted Romans 3:4, “Let God be true but every man a liar”

LET US GUARD AGAINST THE EVER PRESENT THREAT OF FALSE DOCTRINE