Skip to main content

Seven “Ifs” and a BIG “but”!

And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain (1 Corinthians 15.14)

LAD“Is there life after death?” I tossed this question to twin teen girls just yesterday. Surprisingly they had different answers. These twins are the most identical I have ever seen. They do everything together and even “feel” when the other is sick or in pain! However, they had dissimilar responses to my question.

The banter between the two went something like this, “Some believe that there is and some don’t.” “How can we know?” “Well, somebody has to die and then communicate with us so that we’ll all know! You go first!” said Lara. “Not me! You go!!” said her sister Larissa with a giggle.

The Corinthian believers apparently had a similar question about life after death because Paul responded with an amazing paragraph (1 Corinthians 15.12-19). It contains seven “ifs”. Note them:

  1. if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
  2. if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen
  3. if Christ be not risen then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
  4. if so be that the dead rise not (we are found false witnesses of God)
  5. if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised
  6. if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
  7. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

My translation summary, “If Christ hasn’t risen from the dead then we are all TOAST!

However, at this very moment Paul burst from this desperate line of thinking with a huge “BUT”. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept (20).

Folks! Take a deep breath and rest easy. There IS hope because Christ really DID raise from the dead! There IS life after death. 

Once again the Bible makes stuff easy. It eliminates our “LAD" (Life After Death) doubts. We can know without having to send a scout on ahead of us as Lara (or was it Larissa?) suggested.

However, this brings in another horrible thought. Since we know that there is LAD then there must be DAD (Death After Death)! Eternal death is as sure as eternal life.

I left the girls thinking about this one. If you have never confronted these two questions be sure that they both exist whether or not you believe in them. Come to terms with what the Bible says and make your choice. Choose life not death! It is a “No-Brainer” really. BUT the choice is yours!

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

If this is the kingdom of God, do I really want it?

If this is Kingdom Living, Do I Want it? Matthew 5:3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. In a study of the Sermon on the Mount to this point we might be tempted to say, “I don’t want to be that happy!” If this is Kingdom living then I want to go to Disney World. This place is depressing.  What Jesus describes here seems to highlight all of the ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What? How?

 27 “But to you who are listening, I say:  Love your enemies,  do good to those who hate you, 28  bless those who curse you,  pray for those who mistreat you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek,  turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat,  do not withhold your shirt from them.  30 Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back.  31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.  32 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.  33 And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that.  34 And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.  35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back.  Then your reward will be gr...
Post a Comment
Read more

Life's Twists - Esther

The fascinating account that we call "Esther" has intrigue, love and mysterious purpose that highlights God's sovereign control over every aspect. In ten chapters, we meet the ruling King of Persia, his evil courtier Haman, Mordecai, a dignified and stubborn Jew and his niece Hadassa. Each player has an integral part in the tale. That story goes like this.  The King has a magnificent party that goes on for six months! Finally, in his desire to show off his lovely wife, he calls for her to come dressed in her crown. She refuses, usually a crime punishable by death, and is banished from the castle. The flustered King asks his men what he should do, and they decide he should seek a new bride. The process takes months, but finally, Ester is chosen. Her new position will be a critical part of the happy ending of this story.  Enter the villain Haman, who hates Mordecai so much that he eventually plans to kill him. Before that evil deed, however, he hatches an even more cruel ac...
Post a Comment
Read more