Preaching Christ crucified is going to be foolishness to those who are living in unbelief, but it will always be life and power to us who are being saved. So, we testify about Jesus that His death and resurrection indeed does have the power to transform lives (Philippians 3:21), heal broken hearts (Psalm 147:3), and make us completely new creations (Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 5:14, Galatians 2:20).
Finally, we next want to note that the preaching of the cross is valid and real because of the resurrection of Jesus.
“And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.” 1 Corinthians 15:14-15
Can you see, from verse 14, how the resurrection of Jesus gives validity to the preaching of the cross? If Christ wasn’t raised, then His death on the cross was identical to the thief’s death who died next to Him, merely human and natural, and we are still in our sins. But because Jesus was raised from the dead, we can understand that the cross was the primary purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth, and His death was as our Substitute that our sins might be pardoned and removed and that we might have life.
If the dead are not raised, we would be considered “false witnesses” because, in our preaching and teaching, we are “testifying about God” that He raised Christ from the dead. Now consider the impact on the church worldwide regarding these passages. The fact that Christ has been raised from the dead means when we preach Christ and Him crucified, we are found to be “true witnesses” of the gospel, the sufferings of Christ, and His resurrection power for the church.
Friend, in our preaching, we are testifying about Christ. This great and powerful message of the cross is the life-saving message that Jesus sent the church into the world to proclaim. The gospel is the message of “first importance” and life (1 Corinthians 15:3), peace, and hope (Romans 5:1-2) that removes hearts of stone and replaces them with hearts of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).
“For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15:16-17
Question 4. According to 1 Corinthians 15:16-17 if Christ has not been raised…