If Christ Is Not Raised, Everything Collapses | 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

We are about to begin our next study, and we are moving to the Old Testament. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea exposes spiritual adultery in ways most churches avoid. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you in the mail.

Our shout-out today goes to Jeremy Moritz from Trempealeau, WI. Thanks for your partnership in Project23.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. — 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

If the resurrection didn’t happen, what exactly are you believing in?

Paul, in this text, turns logical. Some in Corinth were saying there is no resurrection of the dead.

So Paul follows the thread.

If there is no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, preaching is empty. Faith is empty. The apostles are liars. And here is the punch: you are still in your sins.

Those who have died in Christ are lost. And Christians are to be pitied more than anyone.

This is not a theological subtlety. Paul is not defending a side doctrine. He is protecting the structure of the faith.

Remove bodily resurrection, and the cross loses its power. Sin remains. Death wins. Hope evaporates.

The resurrection is not inspirational optimism. It's more than just a nice idea the church believes in on a Sunday, once a year. It is a hard reality. It is the verdict of God that sin was paid for, and death was defeated.

If Christ is not raised, you have no Savior.

But if he is raised?

Then everything changes, including you. And your very life, the redeeming of your mind, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the change in your life are evidence of his resurrection. And you should live like it was a real historical event and others should see the visible evidence of this in your life.

DO THIS:

Finish this sentence in writing: If Christ is not raised, then ________. Then rewrite it: Because Christ is raised, therefore ________.

ASK THIS:

1. Do I see how central resurrection is to forgiveness?
2. Would my faith survive if the resurrection were removed?
3. Am I building my life on historical fact—or religious feeling?

PRAY THIS:

Lord, deepen my understanding of the resurrection. Guard me from treating it as secondary. Anchor my confidence in the risen Christ who defeated sin and death. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Living Hope"