New Body

In verses 35-58, Paul explains the benefits of resurrection.

Resurrect or Die

In verses 29-32, Paul emphasizes that if there is no resurrection, then we may as well party and die.

Over Death

In verses 20-28, we Paul writes that Christ’s resurrection defeated death.

Required

Paul explains in verses 13-19 that if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead, then Christians’ faith is worthless.

Resurrection Gospel

In verses 1-12, Paul lists the many people that saw Jesus after his resurrection.

Death v. Life

In verses 50-58, we learn that life will ultimately win over death.

It doesn’t feel that way when people I love have died. But I know this promise is true.

The power of resurrection is its victory over the apparent finality of death.

Heavenly Bodies

In verses 40-49, we learn that our current bodies are perishable. That’s not news.

But when we are resurrected, our bodies will be eternal. Entropy and decay will no longer be unnegotiable realities.

What an encouragement, especially a day after jamming my hand into a brick wall!

Seed

Our resurrected bodies are no similar to our current bodies than a plant is to its seed.

An acorn is nothing compared to an oak tree.

We’re just acorns, for now.

More 1 Corinthians 15

1. Peter saw Jesus after his resurrection
2. Then the apostles
3. Then over 500 other witnesses
4. Most of these eyewitnesses were still alive when 1 Corinthians was written
5. Then James
6. Then “all the apostles”
7. How are “all the apostles” different than the previous categories of eyewitnesses, esp. #14 & 15?

#1-12

1. Paul reminds his Corinthian readers of the gospel again
2. He warns that their belief is “in vain” if they don’t hold onto the message
3. This means that belief can be in vain
4. Belief does not always produce useful results
5. Belief can be misguided
6. Belief can be mistaken
7. Belief can get messed up
8. Belief itself is not what makes people right with God
9. Therefore, belief is not our ultimate goal
10. Paul then lists the most important elements of the gospel
11. Christ died for our sins
12. The Old Testament prophesied and foreshadowed this event