How does 1 Corinthians 15:13 challenge you to share the gospel message? Setting the Scene 1 Corinthians 15:13: “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.” Paul is writing to believers who are wavering on core doctrine. He pulls no punches: deny resurrection, and the whole gospel collapses. That stark either/or jolts us as well. The Heart of the Verse • Resurrection is not optional theology; it is the backbone of the gospel. • If Christ is not raised, sins are not forgiven, faith is pointless, hope evaporates (vv. 14–19). • By making the stakes crystal clear, Paul exposes silence about the resurrection as spiritual malpractice. Why Resurrection Matters • Validates Jesus’ deity (Romans 1:4). • Guarantees our future resurrection (John 11:25–26). • Confirms victory over sin and death (2 Timothy 1:10). • Proves the gospel’s power here and now (Ephesians 1:19–20). Implications for Our Witness 1. Certainty fuels boldness – Because the resurrection really happened in time and space (Acts 2:32), we share with confidence, not conjecture. 2. Urgency replaces complacency – If eternal life hinges on Christ’s rising, people without Him face eternal loss (John 3:18). That fact cannot leave us passive. 3. Focus guards clarity – Social issues, moral debates, church programs all matter, but Paul centers on the resurrection; so should our conversations. 4. Joy attracts listeners – A Savior alive today produces living hope (1 Peter 1:3). Joyful witnesses are magnetic. Practical Ways to Share • Tell your own resurrection story – How Christ’s life raised you from spiritual death (Ephesians 2:4–6). • Use Scripture that spotlights the empty tomb – Luke 24, Acts 3:15, 1 Peter 1:21. • Celebrate Easter year-round – Integrate “Christ is risen” into everyday speech and testimony. • Anchor comfort in resurrection truth – When friends face grief, gently point to 1 Thessalonians 4:14. • Invite others to study 1 Corinthians 15 with you – Let Paul’s logic confront and convince. Encouragement from Other Scriptures • Matthew 28:6 – “He is not here; He has risen!” • Romans 10:9 – Confession of the risen Lord brings salvation. • Acts 17:30–31 – God commands repentance because He “has set a day to judge the world… by the Man He has appointed,” proven by raising Him from the dead. • Revelation 1:17–18 – Jesus holds “the keys of Death and Hades.” Living It Out The empty tomb leaves no room for half-hearted Christianity. 1 Corinthians 15:13 drives us to open our mouths, certain that a risen Christ still saves, still transforms, still calls people from death to life—through the gospel words we speak today. |
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