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"If in this life only we have hope in Christ..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:19

OUR HOPE IN CHRIST

Faith in Christ is a vital and precious entity. But there are aspects of faith that are best understood as “hope”. These aspects go beyond the present boundaries of life!

“Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ,
we are of all men the most pitiable.”
1 Corinthians 15:18-19

1. Even more repercussions

a) This is with reference to those who have died in faith.

b) The doctrine of the resurrection involves the dead in Christ.

c) The denial of the resurrection also affects those who died believing in Christ.

2. “Those who have fallen asleep”

a) This is a euphemism.

b) It is a reference to those who have died.

3. If there is no resurrection of the dead

a) Jesus had promised that He would resurrect those who died in faith in Him (John 11:25-26).

b) If there is no resurrection of the dead then the promise of Jesus would be in vain.

4. “Those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished”

a) The dead in Christ would have perished.

b) There is no hope for the dead in Christ to be resurrected.

5. “If in this life only we have hope in Christ”

a) Some had limited hope in Christ only to this present life on earth.

b) There is no hope beyond this life for there is no resurrection, so some taught.

c) Paul rejected this false teaching outright!

6. “We are of all men the most pitiable”

a) Why did he make this statement?

b) The following reasons may be presented?

i) The apostles had risked their lives because of their faith in Christ.

ii) They had not been afraid to lose their lives because they believed in the resurrection.

iii) If there is no resurrection, then all that they had risked would have been in vain.

iv) All that they had preached and stood for would have been found to be of no great significance if the doctrine of the resurrection is denied!