Thomas Jefferson, one of the great men of history, could not accept the miraculous elements in the Bible. He edited his own special version of the Bible in which all references to the supernatural were deleted. Jefferson, in editing the Gospels, confined himself solely to the moral teachings of Jesus. The closing words in Jefferson’s Bible are these: “There laid they Jesus and rolled a great stone at the mouth of the sepulchre and departed.” Thank God that is not the way the story really ends! —I.U. 164:9 Christ arose! We have a living Saviour.

But what if Jefferson was right? What if Christ is still dead? Would it really change anything?

Transition

I want us to see from our text the four consequences that will follow if this question were true.

Faith in God would be of No Value (v.17)

  1. Faith in Christ would be useless
    1. The word “vain” means useless, without purpose, unproductive, empty, pointless, and worthless.
    2. Faith in Christ would get you nothing. It would be an empty dream. You might as well place your hope in a rabbit’s foot.
  2. Christ would be a fake and a liar.
    1. He claimed to be the Saviour (Luke 2:11).
    2. He said he alone could give eternal life (John 10:28).
    3. He claimed to be the “Resurrection and the Life” (John 11:25).
    4. He clearly declared that he would rise again.
      ☆ (Mark 9:31) For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day.
  3. Christ would not be able to raise us from the dead.
    1. If Christ could not raise Himself from the dead, then He could never raise us.
    2. A dead man cannot offer anyone hope of eternal life.

We could not be cleansed from our sin (v.17)

  1. What is sin?
    1. Is sin just an act that breaks a social taboo? If so, then sin is different in every society, every culture, and in every country. Some cultures allow polygamy. If it is right for them should it is wrong in our culture. Can social taboos be a true standard for sin? No, social taboos are too changeable to define sin.
    2. Some say, “Let your conscience be your guide.” If your conscience determines sin, you could not condemn the man who said his conscience allowed him to steal your car or harm your child. No, this is not the definition of sin.
      ² “A man consulted a psychiatrist. He complained, ‘I’ve been misbehaving, Doc, and my conscience is troubling me.’ The doctor asked, ‘And you want something that will strengthen your willpower?’ The fellow replied, ‘Well, no, I was thinking of something that would weaken my conscience.’” —I.U. 122:3
    3. The Bible describes sin as any thought or deed that is contrary to God’s holiness. The best-known biblical laws are the Ten Commandments (e.g. God, idols, swear, Sabbath, parents, steal, adultery, kill, lie, covet).
      ☆ (Ecclesiastes 7:20) For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
    4. We have all sinned. We may not be murders, but we have lied, dishonoured our parents, and failed to put God first. Being holy, God must punish sin. Our greatest need is forgiveness.
  2. If Christ is dead, he cannot forgive our sin.
    1. If Christ is not alive, He cannot wash away our sins. We have no hope of forgiveness.
    2. This directly contradicts scripture.
      ☆ (Romans 4:25) “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
    3. Christ died to pay for our sin and RAISED from the dead to apply the payment to repentant sinners. Yes, forgiveness is man’s greatest need and God’s highest achievement.

When we die we will all perish in hell (v.18)

If faith is vain and there is no cleansing from sin, then the just result is to perish in the lake of fire forever.

  1. If Christ is dead, believers will perish.
    1. The phrase “asleep in Christ” refers to Christians who have already died. Today the term “Christian” is used to describe a broad group from the cults to Catholics. In the Bible, the name “Christian” describes only those who were Christ-like because Christ changed their lives after they placed their faith entirely in Him for salvation from hell. That is the TRUE meaning of the term “Christian.”
    2. If Christ is dead, that means every Christian who has died went to hell. That will be our fate as well.
  2. There is no way to avoid hell.
    1. We have all sinned against God.
      ☆ (Romans 3:10) “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:”
      ☆ (Romans 3:23) “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
    2. We cannot possibly be good enough to avoid hell.
      ☆ (Titus 3:5) “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
    3. Our sin condemns us.
      ☆ (Revelation 21:8) “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

Living the Christian life is foolish (v.19)

  1. Our hope in Christ is limited to this life
    1. If Christ is dead, a good life right now is the only thing for which we can hope. The only benefits we will ever enjoy are the ones we experience in this life.
    2. If Christ is dead, we have no hope after death. There is no eternal life. There is no hope of seeing dead Christian loved ones again. When we die we are done. We are wasting our time coming to church, reading the Bible, giving to the Lord, and trying to live godly.
      ² “If our hope is limited to this life, we have denied ourselves what people call pleasures and have no happiness beyond.” RWP
  2. If Christians have no hope, they need pity.
    1. The primary meaning of the word translated “miserable” is to be pitied.
    2. Christians who lived their lives for Christ and now have died were fools. The philosophy, “eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die” is the better way to live.

BUT, Christ is Alive! (v.20)

  1. He rose from the dead. He is still living!
    1. The soldiers guarding His tomb witnessed it (Mt 28:11).
    2. Mary when visiting the tomb saw Christ (Jn 20:16).
    3. The disciples saw and touched Christ.
      ☆ (Luke 24:39) “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”
    4. Christ was seen by over 500 people at once (1Co 15:6).
  2. Biblical Christianity is not foolishness.
    1. Christians will be raised to eternal life as Christ was.
    2. If you admit that you are a guilty sinner heading for an eternal hell, believe that Christ paid your debt, and ask him to save you and make you his child, He will give you eternal life.
    3. There IS victory over death through Christ (v.58).

Conclusion

My friend, Jesus is not dead. He is alive. Because He is alive, you can have your sins forgiven and washed clean. You can escape hell. You can have hope of eternal life in heaven. You can be saved, if you will see your great need and receive Christ’s payment for your sin. Only the risen Lord can save you from you sins. Won’t you come to him for cleansing today?

Song: Come to the Saviour – 254
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What if Christ is Still Dead?
5 April 2015 am – 1Corinthians 15:17-20– Scott Childs