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"We have testified of God that He raised up Christ..."

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:15

THE TESTIMONY OF THE APOSTLES

One of the criteria for choosing a person to be an apostle was that he had seen the risen Saviour. Thus, they would be able to speak of being eye-witnesses!

“Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God,
because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ,
whom He did not raise up- if in fact the dead do not rise.
For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen.
And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile;
you are still in your sins!”
1 Corinthians 15:15-17

1. Further repercussions from denial of the doctrine of the resurrection

a) The apostles of Christ

i) They would be guilty of bearing false witness.

ii) They had testified that God had raised Christ up from the dead.

b) The ministry of the apostles

i) Their ministry would be in jeopardy.

ii) The credibility of the apostles could be called into question.

2. “If the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen”

a) Once again Paul raises this up (1 Corinthians 15:13).

b) The resurrection of the believers and the resurrection of Christ are closely-related.

c) One affects the other; if the dead do not rise, then Christ remained dead!

3. “And if Christ is not risen”

a) Paul had to belabour this point.

b) Christ’s resurrection had to be defended.

c) Doubts concerning His resurrection had to be dispelled.

4. “Your faith is futile”

a) The synonym for “empty” is “futile” (1 Corinthians 15:14,17)

b) “Empty” and “Futile” are ominous words.

5. “You are still in your sins”

a) Christ was raised according to the Scriptures.

b) If Christ did not rise from the dead then faith in Him would be in vain.

c) Then believers remain in their sins, instead of being set free by the Risen Saviour.