How does 1 Corinthians 15:14 connect to Romans 10:9 about confessing Christ's resurrection? The Core Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:14 “And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is worthless, and so is your faith.” God’s Non-Negotiable: Christ Must Be Raised • Paul does not leave room for a “spiritual” or merely symbolic resurrection. • The entire gospel message—and every sermon ever preached—stands or falls on the historical, bodily resurrection of Jesus. • If the resurrection is false, faith collapses; if it is true, faith is unshakable. Romans 10:9 Echoes the Same Emphasis “that if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” • Salvation is tied to two inseparable actions: – Open confession that Jesus is Lord (public allegiance). – Heartfelt belief that God literally raised Him from the dead (personal conviction). • The resurrection is not an optional add-on; it is the heartbeat of saving faith. How the Two Passages Fit Together 1. 1 Corinthians 15:14 declares the resurrection indispensable; Romans 10:9 makes it the required content of saving belief. 2. Paul moves from the corporate realm (preaching and church faith) in Corinthians to the individual level (personal confession and belief) in Romans. 3. Together they establish a two-way flow: • No resurrection ➔ no valid preaching ➔ no true faith. • True faith ➔ sincere belief in the resurrection ➔ bold confession of Jesus as Lord. 4. The same logic drives both letters: remove the resurrection and everything—pulpit, pew, and personal walk—crumbles. Related Scriptures That Strengthen the Connection • Acts 2:32 – “God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.” • Ephesians 1:19-20 – God’s power “exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead.” • 1 Peter 1:3 – We are “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” • John 11:25 – Jesus: “I am the resurrection and the life.” All reiterate that resurrection power is both the proof of Christ’s lordship and the source of our new life. Implications for Our Daily Witness • Preaching, teaching, and personal testimony must highlight the resurrection as historical fact. • Assurance of salvation rests on believing what God has done, not on feelings or self-effort. • Bold confession flows from settled conviction: Christ is alive, so we speak. • Doubt about the resurrection undercuts mission; confidence fuels it. Taking It to Heart Because Christ is risen: • Our faith has substance. • Our message has authority. • Our salvation is secure. 1 Corinthians 15:14 tells us why the resurrection matters; Romans 10:9 shows us how to respond—by believing it deeply and declaring it openly. |
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