Resurrection

(I Corinthians 15:12-22)

"Resurrection" means "a standing up again". It is the last of the three parts of the Gospel which consists of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is pictured in baptism, which is complete immersion of a believer under water followed by the "standing up" out of the water. The resurrection of Christ is absolutely essential to the Christian faith. God teaches us in his word that all people will resurrect from death.

One of the churches to which the Apostle Paul ministered was the church in Corinth. This church was spiritually immature in many ways and as a result, some of the church members did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. The Apostle Paul addresses this problem in the following verses. As is common with Paul, he builds a case by adding one truth upon another until the conclusion is unavoidable.

12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.