Friday, April 21, 2006
1 Corinthians 15:19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
IF CHRIST IS NOT RISEN -- PART 5
Paul has just finished speaking about our hopelessness in death if Christ did not rise from the dead. If Christ is not risen, and our hope in the eternal glories of heaven is just an illusion, then all that we have is our life right here and right now. Paul continues in verse 19, "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." Obviously, as Paul has already stated, if Christ is not risen, and we have no hope after death, then our hope in Christ is only valuable in this life. But if this is all that our faith in Christ offers, then we are of all men the most pitiable.
Think for a moment about the Christian life: We take time out of our busy lives to go to church read our Bibles and witness our faith to others; we steer clear of the temptations which the world considers fun and exciting; we struggle with persecution brought on because of our faith, bearing our cross before the world. And after all that we have given up, we find out that our hope in Christ is just a dream? What fools we would be! Christianity without a risen Savior, and without the sure and certain hope of our resurrection from the grave, is worse than no religion at all! If Christ is not risen, then we are the biggest fools that have ever lived.
These are the result of believing that Christ did not rise from the dead. Let us not fall prey to this thought which is becoming more prevalent in our time that Christ did not bodily rise from the dead. Our entire faith rests on that fact, our preaching, our forgiveness, our life both now and after death rests upon the truth that Christ is Risen from the dead. Thanks be to God that Jesus did rise from the dead, and for all the blessings which we receive through His resurrection.
Had Christ who once was slain, not burst His three-day prison,
Our faith had been in vain:
But now is Christ arisen, arisen, arisen;
But now is Christ arisen!
(WS 733)
