Overview:
1 Corinthians 15:12–57
Epitaphs are strange things! Some of them are profound. Most of them are brief. We’ve all read tragic epitaphs . . . and even a few that make us chuckle! In his immortal work on the martyrs done in the sixteenth century, John Fox listed some of the epitaphs that appeared in the catacombs beneath Rome. He found a few of them etched into the stones of Christians’ graves. Fox found other epitaphs on non-Christian graves. The difference is remarkable!
One Christian gravestone reads: “Here lies Marcia, put to rest in a dream of peace.” Another records, “Victorious in peace and in Christ.”
Some non-Christian epitaphs, more grim and depressing, read: “Live for the present hour, since we are sure of nothing else.” And another: “Traveler, curse me not as you pass, for I am in darkness and I cannot answer.”
So what accounts for the difference in these inscriptions? One word—resurrection!
Message Summary:
In “Christ Is Raised, but What about Me?” Pastor Chuck Swindoll explores the monumental importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. By comparing the starkly different epitaphs found on Christian and non-Christian graves in the Roman catacombs, Swindoll highlights that “resurrection” is the single word that transforms death from a hopeless end into a “dream of peace.” This message moves through the logical, historical, and biological arguments presented by the Apostle Paul to prove that because Christ was raised, the believer has a guaranteed future that defies the darkness of the grave.
Message Key Facts:
- The Tale of Two Epitaphs: Historical records from the catacombs reveal a contrast between the hopelessness of pagan inscriptions (“I am in darkness”) and the triumphant peace of Christian ones (“Victorious in Christ”).
- The Pivot Point of Faith: The resurrection is not an optional doctrine; if Christ has not been raised, the entire Christian faith collapses into futility.
- The Firstfruits Principle: Jesus’ resurrection is described as the “firstfruits,” a theological guarantee that the rest of the “harvest” (believers) will surely follow.
- The Mystery of the Body: Paul addresses the biological question of how the dead are raised, explaining the transition from a “perishable” natural body to an “imperishable” spiritual one.
- The Sting Removed: Because of the resurrection, death has lost its “sting” and the grave its victory, allowing the believer to live with steadfast confidence.
Message References:
1. The Grim Alternative (1 Corinthians 15:12–19)
Swindoll examines the devastating logical consequences if the resurrection were not true.
- Futility of Preaching and Faith: If there is no resurrection, the Gospel is a lie and our trust in God is empty.
- The Burden of Sin: Without a risen Savior, we remain “still in our sins,” as the sacrifice would have remained incomplete.
- Pitiable Existence: If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone else on earth.
2. The Historical Reality (1 Corinthians 15:20–23)
The message shifts from the hypothetical to the factual.
- But Now Christ Has Been Raised: Paul asserts the historical fact of the empty tomb.
- The Order of Resurrection: Just as death came through one man (Adam), life comes through one Man (Christ). He is the first to rise, making our resurrection a certainty.
3. The Biological Transformation (1 Corinthians 15:35–49)
Swindoll addresses the skeptical question: “How are the dead raised?”
- The Analogy of the Seed: A seed must “die” in the ground to be transformed into a plant. The resurrection body is not a resuscitation of the old, but a transformation into something better.
- From Corruption to Incorruption: Our current bodies are sown in weakness and dishonor; they will be raised in power and glory.
- The Image of the Heavenly: Just as we have borne the image of the earthy (Adam), we shall also bear the image of the heavenly (Christ).
4. The Triumphant Conclusion (1 Corinthians 15:50–57)
The message concludes with the victory song of the believer.
- The Mystery Revealed: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed in a “moment, in the twinkling of an eye.”
- Death Swallowed Up: The ultimate enemy, death, is defeated. The “sting of death” (sin) and the “power of sin” (the law) are overcome through the victory given by our Lord Jesus Christ.
