1 Corinthians 15:12

1 Corinthians 15:12 says, Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?  The resurrection of Christ from the dead, thereby defeating death for all time, is a basic element of salvation.  As Paul asked those at the church at Corinth then, we must ask ourselves today how we can deny the resurrection from the dead when Christ Himself both spoke of it and made it an accomplished fact.  Verse thirteen adds, But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  We need only to look to Christ to confirm the resurrection from the dead.  As Paul said in the previous verses, the resurrection of Christ was not just a debatable fact, but it was one recognized by hundreds of people.  Though we may not have seen the physical resurrection, we today as followers of Christ have witnessed the same fact by faith.  The resurrection of Christ is also an essential element for salvation.  Verse fourteen continues, And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Paul said that without the resurrection of Christ that preaching amounted to nothing, as would our faith.  If Christ did not defeat the power of death, if He did not rise again, then what we preach as the gospel would be based on a lie, and our faith in that gospel would indeed be in vain.  Salvation without the resurrection of Christ would be an impossibility.  Verse fifteen declares, 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.  Paul tells us that we would be false witnesses if Christ was not raised from the dead, since His resurrection is the key element of salvation.  Many people have died for their faith, but only One, Jesus Christ, defeated death for all time. We cannot personally defeat death of our own ability but can only claim victory through Christ.  If the resurrection of Christ is not a reality, then we believe in vain.  Verse sixteen adds, For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:  Resurrection is not just something that we hope will happen, but through Christ it is an accomplished fact.  When we put our faith in Christ and the salvation that He gives us, we are His forever, not by our power or abilities, but by His.  Verse seventeen continues, And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.  Paul tells us that our hope for salvation rests in the resurrection of Christ.  If Jesus Christ is not Who He said He was and didn't do what He said He did, then we are still bound by sin.  We cannot be saved by believing that Jesus existed and was a good prophet and that was all.  Jesus Christ is either the only begotten Son of God Who paid the price of our sins on the cross and arose that we might have life, or we are hopelessly doomed to everlasting separation from God.  Verse eighteen says, Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. Paul tells us that if Christ didn't rise from the dead, then those who had died believing in Him had perished without hope.  Verse nineteen adds, If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  I hear people say occasionally that even if there is no resurrection, no everlasting life, that they would still live their lives dedicated to Christ.  Paul, one of the great men of faith, said that without the resurrection of Christ, which assures our resurrection, then we of all men are most miserable.  If this life is all there is, then it would make no sense to live for the benefit of others.  Verse twenty continues, But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. Paul tells us that we don't have to be the most miserable of people, because Christ did arise defeating death, that everlasting separation from God, for all time.  Even if this old body dies physically, we know that is not the end.  Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, and more importantly His resurrection from the dead, we have everlasting life if we put our faith in Him.  Verse twenty-one states, For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.  We know that Adam and Eve sinned against God and were cut off from the tree of life, but I believe we can take this a step further.  By our own sins, we are doomed to everlasting separation from God, unless we have a Mediator in Christ.  Verse twenty-two adds,  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.  Death came to the world through the sin of Adam, the rebellion against God, and through mankind's continued rebellion, but through faith in Christ we can have everlasting life with God.   Verse twenty-three continues, But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.  Paul said that everyone would be resurrected in their own order, with Jesus Christ being the first.  If we are a follower of Christ, then our resurrection is assured in God's time.