“By which also you saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you – unless you believed in vain” (1 Cor. 15:2).

In the assemblyThe literal meaning is “called out”: • called out of "the darkness" (1. Pet 2:9)—this refers to the area where there is a lack of light about God Himself, His... More at Corinth false teachers had appeared who basically denied the possibility of the resurrection. Paul deals with this serious false teaching in 1 Corinthians 15. The Christian faith is based not only on the death, but also on the resurrection of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More. Whoever denies this cannot be a Christian in the sense of the Holy ScripturesIn the NT, the various parts of the OT are referred to as “the Scriptures”; these are the “sacred letters/writings” (2 Tim. 3:15). “Every Scripture is divinely inspired and profitable... More. Therefore Paul first of all cites witnesses to the resurrection of the Lord (v. 5–11). From verse 12 onwards he lists seven consequences of denying the resurrection. These include that our faith is vain or void (v. 14, 17). This means that only under the false assumption that there is no resurrection and therefore no resurrection of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More, one’s faith is in vain! We see that these verses are not about a futile struggle in faith, but about the consequence of a false doctrine.

If there is no resurrection of the dead then, first of all, ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More cannot be resurrected either (v.13)! But if ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More is not raised then, secondly, the preaching is meaningless, and accordingly, thirdly, so is the faith of those who have accepted it (v.14). The Corinthians were able to determine in their own hearts and lives whether they had believed a hollow and empty preaching, or whether by doing so they had experienced God’s power (cf. ch. 2:5). Fourth, the apostles would be false witnesses if they proclaimed the Lord’s resurrection when there was no resurrection at all (v.15). At this point Paul repeats his first conclusion from the assertion of the doubters that there is no resurrection of the dead: there is then also no resurrection of ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More either (v. 16)! Fifth, if ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More was not raised, then the Corinthians’ faith was meaningless and futile, and they would have no forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More of their sins (v.17). If, however, despite faith in the Lord, no forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More of sins is received, then sixthly, all those who had already “fallen asleep” in false certainty of faith were also eternally lost (v. 18)! As a seventh conclusion Paul then adds:

“If in this life only we have hope in ChristA title of the Lord Jesus, which is also used as an epithet; Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek) mean "anointed one". The title refers to the fact that Jesus is... More, we are the most miserable of all men” (v. 19).

So if there were no resurrection of the dead, Christianity would be limited to life before death. There would be no forgivenessIn Scripture, forgiveness is presented to us from two points of view. • The side of God: God’s thoughts towards the sinner whom he forgives. On the basis of Christ’s... More of sins, no peace with God and no hope for eternity – we would have nothing! Following an empty delusion, we would turn away from the worldThe word is used with different meanings. It can mean the whole of humanity (Gen 41:57) or the created world (Rom 1:20), but also a moral system that is opposed... More, only to possess nothing at the end. The biblical faith in the Lord Jesus would therefore be the greatest deception. It would indeed be a ‘futile’, a “vain” faith.