Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:12-19
Theme: Resurrection: All or Nothing
Let’s take a look at the “All or Nothing” reality of resurrection:
• Negatively, if there is no future resurrection of the dead,
o Christ hasn’t been raised.
o Preaching and believing the Gospel is empty.
o Christian testimony lies about God.
o Faith in Christ is useless.
o Sin still reigns over us.
o Believers who have died are eternally lost.
o Everything about our existence has been a waste.
• Positively, if Christ has been raised from the dead,
o We will experience resurrection like him.
o Believers experience life after death.
o Sin has been defeated.
o Faith in Christ powerfully transforms us.
o We testify the truth about God’s work.
o Preaching and believing is essential.
o Our entire existence finds meaning in Christ.
Main Idea: As believers, Christ’s resurrection must control every facet of our existence.
Application Questions:
• Why do people deny the resurrection? Why would a supposed believer deny the resurrection of the dead (v. 12)? What proof do vv. 1–11 provide for the resurrection?
• Which of the negative corollaries stands out to you the most if there is no resurrection? Why so?
• Since there are people who believe in God apart from belief in the resurrection of Jesus, how and why is faith completely empty and useless if Christ hasn’t been raised?
• Is the main idea that “Christ’s resurrection must control every facet of our existence” too strong a statement? If not, what ramifications does that have for your life, and the decisions you are making, right now?
