Paul ASKS the QUESTION: IF WE PREACH that CHRIST ROSE
from the dead THEN WHY are there those among YOU who SAY that there is NO RESURRECTION of the dead? (I Corinthians 15:12)
Modern day LIBERAL THEOLOGIANS PERVERT the WORD OF GOD
THROUGH PAUL when they "SPIRITITUALIZE" the believer's PHYSICAL IDENTIFICATION with Christ (Ephesians 2:5-6; Colossians 3:1-4)
Paul DECLARES that IF there be NO RESURRECTION THEN CHRIST
is NOT RISEN and, THEREFORE, HIS PREACHING and THEIR FAITH are BOTH VAIN (EMPTY) (I Corinthians 15:13-14)
Paul CHARGED TWO INDIVIDUALS BY NAME WITH UNGODLINESS
(II Timothy 2:16-17) "WHO concerning the truth have ERRED, SAYING that the RESURRECTION
is PAST ALREADY", and OVERTHROW THE FAITH of some" (II Timothy 2:18)
The GNOSTIC PHILOSOPHERS who CHALLENGED the EARLY CHURCH
- TAUGHT that DEITY could NOT be CIRCUMSCRIBED BY a PHYSICAL BODY and so they DENIED the TRUTH - "IN HIM (CHRIST)
dwelleth ALL the FULNESS of the GODHEAD BODILY" (Colossians 2:9 cf.John 1:1,14)
Thus, this PAGAN PHILOSOPHY TAUGHT that it was the SPIRIT
that was RAISED at ENLIGHTENMENT and NOT that the BODY will be RAISED and GLORIFIED and, thus, OVERTHREW THE FAITH
of its followers BY CONTRADICTING the WORD OF GOD THROUGH PAUL concerning the FUTURE PHYSICAL RESURRECTION of the
believer (Ephesians 1:13-14 cf.Romans 8:22-23)
when the believer will receive a GLORIFIED ETERNAL BODY (Philippians 3:20-21 cf.II Corinthians 5:1-2)
Paul DECLARES that IF there is NO RESURRECTION of the
dead THEN it follows rhat PAUL is a FALSE WITNESS concerning his PREACHING of CHRIST'S RESURRECTION (I Corinthians 15:15-16)
Israel's RELIGIOUS LEADERS in their FAILED attempt to
CONDEMN CHRIST found NO CORROBORATING WITNESS TESTIMONY (Mark 14:55-64)
Thus, the SIGNIFICANCE of the VOLUME of WITNESS TESTIMONY
concerning CHRIST'S RESURRECTION - 500+ EYE WITNESSES to seeing CHRIST ALIVE (I Corinthians 15:6) in "a MOUNTAIN where Jesus had APPOINTED them" (Matthew 28:10,16)
It was also in "a MOUNTAIN" where He taught
the MULTITUDES (Matthew 5:1-2)
Paul DECLARES that IF CHRIST be NOT RAISED THEN it follows
that THEIR FAITH is VAIN (EMPTY), i.e. OF NO EFFECT, because they are STILL IN THEIR SINS and the DEAD are PERISHED
(I Corinthians 15:17-18)
The GOSPEL is that "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS"
and that "HE ROSE AGAIN" (I Corinthians 15:3-4), i.e. CHRIST "WAS DELIVERED FOR (ON ACCOUNT OF) OUR SINS"
and that HE "WAS RAISED AGAIN FOR (ON ACCOUNT OF) OUR JUSTIFICATION" (Romans 4:25)
The Lord told Adam that "IN THE DAY that thou eatest
thereof thou shalt SURELY DIE" (Genesis 2:17), i.e. IMMEDIATELY KILLED IF DISOBEDIENT (Genesis 20:7)
Adam was NOT IMMEDIATELY KILLED for he LIVED ANOTHER 930
YEARS (Genesis 5:5),
BUT "the LAMB SLAIN from the FOUNDATION (OVERTHROW) of the WORLD" (Revelation 13:8) was IMMEDIATELY KILLED INSTEAD OF ADAM and God CLOTHED them (Adam
and his wife) with "COATS of SKINS" (Genesis 3:21) from that FIRST SACRIFICE as a TOKEN of His REDEMPTION PROMISE (Genesis 3:15)
CHRIST'S RESURRECTION is the PLEDGE of the BELIEVER'S
RESURRECTION (I Peter 1:3)
Hence, IF there is NO RESURRECTION THEN we will most assuredly
SORROW as did the two disciples (on the road to Emmaus) having NO HOPE OF REDEMPTION (Luke 24:12-24)
These disciples BELIEVED and REJOICED only after having
SEEN the RISEN CHRIST (Luke 24:25-34)
Paul QUESTIONS what should be done for they who are "BAPTIZED
FOR (ON ACCOUNT OF) THE DEAD" IF "THE DEAD RISE NOT AT ALL" (I Corinthians 15:29)
Peter preached BAPTISM "in the Name of Jesus Christ
for the REMISSION OF SINS" (Acts 2:38),
i.e. in the Name of the One "Whom God hath RAISED UP, having LOOSED the PAINS OF DEATH: because it was NOT
POSSIBLE that He should be HOLDEN OF IT" (Acts 2:24)
IF there is NO RESURRECTION THEN Peter's preaching of
BAPTISM in the Name of the RISEN ONE for the REMISSION OF SINS is MEANINGLESS - "WHY are they then BAPTIZED
FOR (ON ACCOUNT OF) the DEAD (ONE)?" (I Corinthians 15:29)