WAS THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST NECESSARY?

I Corinthians 15:12-28
“Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the first fruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.” KJV

The resurrection of Christ was necessary. Why was the resurrection necessary for the Christian faith?
1- It guarantees the gospel as the sweetest news
2- It announces and guarantees our own future resurrection.
Paul presented this message to the believers in Corinth because of the non-Christian teachings from radicals against the resurrection of the death. We see in I Corinthians 15:1-8 as Paul tells them that this is good news and that Christ showed himself to many people after his death including him who was the last of all who saw Him.
Christ’s resurrection was good news that has to be told because no founder of other religions has been resurrected from the death. Christ’s resurrection was necessary to guarantee our future. If we do not believe that he resurrected, then we are missing in our faith. We as Christians will resurrect in like manner with Christ. There are so many reasons why we have to believe that we as Christians shall resurrect in like manner:
1) In verse 13 of our chapter Paul says if we say that we shall not resurrect then we are saying that Christ did not resurrect.
2) Then our faith or believe is in vain.
3) Then the preachers have lied against God that he resurrected Christ
4) If our faith and believe is in vain, then our sins are not forgiven
5) Then those believers who are asleep (death) in the Lord are perished
6) And if there is no resurrection of the death then we are saying that Christ can only save us in this life
7) If we have hope in Christ only in this life then we Christians are to be pitied amongst all people on earth. We are to be the must miserable on earth
The fact is that Christ was raised from the death and so we are not miserable at all. Our faith is not for nothing. It is a fact that Christ was raised as we see in I Corinthians 15:20. He was not just raised but he is the first born; the first fruit of the death. The Bible insists that he is the first fruit and so we shall follow after his resurrection. It is a guarantee for Christians. So, one day we shall stand and look back at death and say “Oh death where is your strength?” Christ conquered death and so we Christians shall rise with him in the same way. That is why a Christian does not die; we say they are asleep in the Lord because they die a physical death but live spiritually for eternity because of the resurrection that is guaranteed to Christians. He who dies in the Lord (Christ) is asleep. He who dies without Christ is dead indeed. He has perished because there is no repentance after death.
Christ is the second and the last Adam. The first Adam brought sin and caused death, Christ has come as the second and the last and he offered the atonement for our sins by his death on the cross. He has then given us the assurance of eternal life in his resurrection. Through one man death came to us and through one man the resurrection of the death comes. Vs 21-22. This is a guarantee to those who are with Christ; Christians and not to non-Christians. Vs 23. Those who are in Christ shall resurrect in His coming.
Satan and his followers conquered and the Kingdom of God shall be delivered to God. Christ shall take the Kingdom to God the father even though he has been given authority over all things. We usually quote Philippians 2:10-11 “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord” BUT we forget the essential end of this text which says to the Glory of God the father.
“That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
It is to the glory of God the father. Everything shall be under Christ but Christ Himself shall be under God the father so that God the father will be all in all. This just shows that the Trinity which is three persons in one God, have one nature but different functions. God the father now has the power over all including his son Jesus Christ our Lord and savior as well as God the Holy spirit.Our resurrection is guaranteed in Christ’s resurrection. Jesus Christ is alive! Hallelujah!

Agape!