Today’s devotion is 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
“12 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? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
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It is difficult to read today’s Scripture. There are seven “if”s. There are such hopeless “then” consequences of these “if”s. There is the final summary consequence of “we are of all men most to be pitied.”
What is the purpose of today’s Scripture? We all know that Scripture clearly teaches that Christ “was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” as stated in the immediately prior section of Scripture. 1 Corinthians 15:4. We all know that Scripture so repeatedly teaches the resurrection of Christ and its meaning to us throughout the New Testament with prophecies in the Old Testament.
It seems to me that Paul does not want this part of the gospel to recede from the position of historical fact to just a belief. Paul knew that over a short amount of time the remaining eye-witnesses of Christ’s resurrection would die. Although “most of whom remain until now, … some have fallen asleep (died)”. 1 Corinthians 15:6. Paul knew the danger that there would not only be unbelievers who would be unbelieving, there would also be the danger that believers would be skeptical and hold to the resurrection of Christ as just a belief and not as a historical fact. Paul knew the danger that the resurrection of Christ would be considered less important than other things, such as the teachings of Christ.
How often have we heard: “All that matters is that we love our neighbor.”?!
Today’s Scripture shows the necessity of the resurrection of Christ to the gospel, our faith. Without the resurrection of Christ, our preaching is vain, our faith is vain, we are false witnesses of God, our faith is worthless, we are still in our sins, and “we are of all men most to be pitied”.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 