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“ THE LOGICAL IF ”

Paul uses logical reasoning to refute the false teaching of no resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, challenging the consequences and affirming the resurrection of Christ.

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“ THE LOGICAL IF ”

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  1. “THE LOGICAL IF” 1 Corinthians 15:12-19

  2. BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION • 1 Corinthians deals a local church ladened with spiritual problems • Religious division (CH1 – CH4) • Immorality in the church (CH5) • Brothers going to law against one another (CH6) • Issues regarding marriage (CH7)

  3. BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION • 1 Corinthians deals a local church ladened with spiritual problems • Eating of foods offered to idols (CH8 – CH10) • Abuses related to the Lord’s Supper (CH11) • Problems related to the distribution and use spiritual gifts (CH12 – CH14)

  4. BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION • In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul is compelled to deal with yet another problem • False teaching about the resurrection • Some among the Corinthians were teaching there is no resurrection of the dead

  5. BACKGROUND & INTRODUCTION • In our lesson today, we are going to consider the approach Paul used to refute this false doctrine in the context of 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 • I describe Paul’s approach to refuting this false doctrine “The Logical If” • Q: What exactly is meant by the phrase “The Logical If”

  6. Q: WHAT IS “THE LOGICAL IF”? • In the context of 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul uses a number of “If” and “Then” statements • “If” you take the position there is no resurrection of the dead,… • “Then” here are some logical and inescapable conclusions you must also come to based on your position

  7. Q: WHAT IS “THE LOGICAL IF”? • In the context of 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul uses a number of “If” and “Then” statements • Paul’s approach challenges these brethren to use a little common sense (logic) • He challenges them to consider the consequences for both themselves and others if there is no resurrection of the dead • None of those consequences are good

  8. BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 • V1: Paul begins this chapter by declaring the gospel to the Corinthians • The very same gospel he preached to them years earlier when he stayed in Corinth for 18 months (Acts 18:11) • The very same gospel they had previously believed (obeyed) and were now standing in

  9. BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 • V2: The Corinthians were saved by the gospel, if they held fast to it • A failure to hold fast would render their initial belief vain • V3 & V4: Paul provides a brief synopsis (summary) of the gospel he previously delivered to the Corinthians • Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again the third day

  10. BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 • V5-V8: A chronological listing of witnesses who saw Jesus after He arose from the dead • Cephas • The Twelve (apostles) • Over 500 brethren at once • James • All the apostles

  11. BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 • V5-V8: A chronological listing of witnesses who saw Jesus after He arose from the dead • Last of all, by Paul (as by one born out of due time) • V9 & V10: Paul feels unworthy to be called an apostle because of his past • Yet he labors diligently to fulfill the stewardship given to him by grace

  12. BRIEF SUMMARY OF CH15:1-11 • V11: Finally, Paul declares the gospel He and others had preached was believed and obeyed by the Corinthians • A foundational principleof that gospel was that Jesus arose from the dead • In 1 Corinthians 15:12-19, Paul will now build upon the foundation he established in V1-V11 to refute the false doctrine that there is no resurrection of the dead

  13. A QUESTION IS ASKED (V12) • 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?

  14. A QUESTION IS ASKED (V12) • Note: Paul’s question indicates these false teachers were not actually denying the resurrection of Christ • What they were denying was the future resurrection for everyone else (John 5:28,29) • Recall what Paul said about these Corinthian brethren in V1-V11 • They had accepted the gospel which declared that Christ rose from the dead on the third day

  15. A QUESTION IS ASKED (V12) • It was not logical that some among the Corinthians were now saying there is no resurrection of the dead • Paul must have been both amazed and perplexed by the conduct of these brethren (Galatians 1:6,7 – “I marvel…”) • Wondering why they would even for a moment entertain such an idea • They needed help apart from the revealed word of God to arrive at such an illogical conclusion

  16. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #1 (V13) • If there is no resurrection of the dead… • Then Christ is not risen • Apparently, those who denied the resurrection of the dead had not logically considered what their reasoning meant in regards to the resurrection of Christ • Which recall, they had previously accepted

  17. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #1 (V13) • If there is no resurrection of the dead… • Then Christ is not risen • Paul on the other hand follows their reasoning to its only logical conclusion: • If in truth there is no resurrection of the dead, Christ did not rise again the third day as was preached in the gospel • Christ was still in the tomb (the grave)

  18. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #1 (V13) • If there is no resurrection of the dead… • Then Christ is not risen • The resurrection of Christ and the future resurrection of all mankind are not mutually exclusive events • The resurrection of all mankind is connected to and dependent upon the resurrection of Christ • If you reject one, you of necessity have to reject the other also

  19. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #2 (V14) • If Christ is not risen… • Then our preaching is empty • Empty preaching is preaching that has no real substance, purpose or value, the message is worthless (no foundation) • It wastes the time of the preacher • It wastes the time of the listeners • It accomplishes nothing

  20. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #2 (V14) • If Christ is not risen… • Then our preaching is empty • The promises of God as proclaimed in the preaching of the gospel are empty (have no meaning) • Forgiveness of sins, eternal life • Entering the presence of God • Justice & punishment of the wicked, etc.

  21. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #2 (V14) • If Christ is not risen… • Then your faith is also empty • Preaching of the gospel is designed to instill faith and hope in the hearer • Faith based upon empty (vain) preaching is also empty (vain) • If Christ is still in the grave, our faith in Him has no value • There is no true basis for hope

  22. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #3 (V15) • If Christ is not risen… • Then we are found false witnesses of (about) God • False witnesses because they were guilty of misrepresenting God • Affirming in their teaching God did something that in reality He did not do • Raise Christ from the dead

  23. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #3 (V15) • If Christ is not risen… • Then we are found false witnesses of (about) God • God does not look favorably upon false witnesses (Proverbs 6:16-19, 19:5,9) • A false witness is a liar destined for the lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Revelation 21:8) • This is what awaited Paul, if he was truly a false witness of (about) God

  24. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #4 (V16) • If the dead do not rise… • Then Christ is not risen • Here, Paul repeats a statement he made earlier in V13 • However, he adds additional noteworthy thoughts as recorded in V17

  25. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #5 (V17) • If Christ is not risen… • Then your faith is futile • Futile faith has no positive outcome • Recall 1 Peter 1:9, “Receiving the end of your faith – the salvation of your souls” • Futile faith is worthless and therefore will not result in salvation • Faith in a dead Savior is a waste of time

  26. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #5 (V17) • If Christ is not risen… • Then you are still in your sins • It required both the death of Christ and His resurrection to cleanse us from sins • If we are still in our sins, we are still separated from God (Isaiah 59:1,2) • We are not children of God, but children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) • We are not heirs of God and have no home in heaven (Romans 8:17)

  27. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #6 (V18) • If Christ is not risen… • Then all those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished • Those who have fallen asleep is a reference to those who had died • Perished: They are forever lost • Just like Christ, they will never arise from the grave which results in sorrow without hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13,14)

  28. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) • If in this life only we have hope in Christ… • Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) • Pitiable: Deserving pity (sadness) or sympathy • Not only are we to be pitied, but pitied more than all other men (that would include those of the world). Q: Why?

  29. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) • If in this life only we have hope in Christ… • Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) • Consider the negative consequences already discussed (V14,V15,V17,V18) • Our service and sacrifice to God are meaningless • We labor for an eternal reward in heaven when in reality there is none

  30. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) • If in this life only we have hope in Christ… • Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) • We proclaim a message of hope to the world when there is no hope • Trials, persecutions and injustices endured for the cause of Christ will not be punished and the sufferer will not be rewarded (2 Thessalonians 1:3-10)

  31. LOGICAL IF STATEMENT #7 (V19) • If in this life only we have hope in Christ… • Then we are of all men the most pitiable (miserable, KJV) • Basically, living as a Christian would amount to a pretty miserable existence • Notice what Paul said about his own situation in this regard in V30-V32 • Eat and drink, for tomorrow we die

  32. THE RESURRECTION IS REAL (V20) • But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep • Because Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, He is our surety (guarantee) that we too will some future day experience the resurrection • Our task is to prepare for that day so we are numbered with the righteous (John 5:28-29)

  33. OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS • If denominationalism is acceptable… • Then religious unity is not really important to God and Jesus (John 17:20,21; 1 Corinthians 1:10) • Then there are numerous ways to come to the Father • Men can dictate their own terms of salvation • Recall John 14:6

  34. OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS • If one is saved by faith alone… • Then he can remain saved by faith alone • He would never have to obey any other command of God (Hebrews 5:8,9; 2 Thessalonians 1:8)

  35. OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS • If once saved, always saved is true… • Then man need not concern himself with purging sin from his life and keeping himself unspotted from the world • Live as you please for there are no eternal consequences for your sinful conduct • Recall 1 Peter 1:15,16; 1 John 3:2,3; James 1:27; Romans 6:23

  36. OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS • If God predestined some to be saved and others to be lost… • Then God shows partiality (Acts 10:34) • Jesus did not die for all (2 Cor 5:14,15) • Men cannot choose to obey the gospel and serve God (Matthew 7:13,14) • Those who teach this doctrine and think they are saved, may in reality be predestined to be lost

  37. OTHER LOGICAL IF ARGUMENTS • If all men inherit the sins of Adam and are born in sin… • Then Jesus would have been born a sinner (1 Peter 2:22) • IfJesus was a sinner… • Then the blood of Jesus could not take away our sins • Then we would still be lost in sin and without hope

  38. IN CONCLUSION • Today we studied Paul’s approach in refuting false doctrine at Corinth, that… • There is no resurrection of the dead • Paul refuted this error with multiple “If”/“Then” arguments, appealing to logic • Clearly demonstrating if this doctrine was true, it would lead to conclusions contrary to the revealed word of God

  39. IN CONCLUSION • We briefly applied Paul’s “If”/“Then” logic to some popular doctrines espoused by men in the religious world today • We saw how these doctrines, if true, would then lead to the conclusion God is a liar and His word cannot be trusted • On the contrary, it is the doctrines of men that cannot be trusted • Romans 3:4, “Let God be true but every man a liar”

  40. LET US GUARD AGAINST THE EVER PRESENT THREAT OF FALSE DOCTRINE

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