IS THERE LIFE AFTER DEATH?
JOB 14:13–14
If a man dies, will he live again?
(Job 14:14).
In his day the Apostle Paul confronted the same question Job had asked centuries before. There were some in the Corinthian church who wanted to be Christians, but who also wanted to deny life after death. Paul wrote to them and said, “If it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised” (1 Corinthians 15:12–13).
Paul’s argument
Paul calls on his readers to think through this issue. If there is no resurrection at all, then could Christ be raised? Obviously not. But if Christ has been raised, then there must be a resurrection.
Then Paul urges them to consider the implications: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). If you are preaching about a living Jesus, and that Jesus is dead, then your preaching is futile. If you’ve put your trust in Christ and His resurrection, and there is no resurrection, then your faith is useless.
More consequences
“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” (1 Corinthians 15:15). In other words, Christians who say that God raised Jesus from the dead when in fact there is no resurrection are liars. If there is no resurrection, Paul says, Christians are guilty of slandering God.
Moreover, Paul continues, “you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17). That is, we haven’t been justified. Christ was raised for our justification (Romans 4:25), and if Christ was not raised, then we are still in our sins. Finally, “those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost” (1 Corinthians 15:18). In other words, our dead Christian friends and relatives are gone forever. People foolish enough to believe such a contradictory religion, says Paul, “are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Corinthians 15:19).
Paul’s logic is impeccable. The historical fact of Christ’s resurrection gives us confidence that we too will be raised.
CORAM DEO
We do not live as those who have no hope. Write in the margin a list of God’s promises which bring you comfort in the midst of present difficulties and sorrows.
TABLETALK
from ligonier ministries and teaching and encouraging believers • april 1989
PLEASING GOD
Daily Studies From The Teaching Fellowship Of R. C. Sproul
publisher Ligonier Ministries executive editor Ralph D. Veerman editor Robert F. Ingram
marketing/production W. David Fox; David K. Freeland; Gretchen Suskovic; Melissa Prichard
circulation Gwen Weber writer Sharon Anderson
THE LIGONIER MISSION
To teach biblical truth to adult Christians and to encourage them to achieve a world and life view that will yield mature, obedient godliness, thereby contributing to a reformation of the church and culture.
Published by Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, Inc. under license granted by Ligonier Ministries, Inc. © 1989 Ligonier Ministries, Inc. This Bible study is based upon teaching material by Dr. R. C. Sproul unless noted, all Scripture quotations in this publication are from the Holy Bible, New International Version. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers.
On The Cover: “Moses Carrying the Tablets of the Law,” by Guido Reni (Giraudon/Art Resources, NY).
coram deo • robert ingram
Genuinely Pleasing God
It’s a good question and it deserves an answer: Why is Moses delivering the Law pictured on the cover of a magazine whose theme is “Pleasing God”? There are two reasons.
First, R. C. wanted it that way, and I like my job.
Second, and more to the point, it provokes people to ask if maybe there isn’t something more to the law of God than they had previously thought. In fact, there is considerably more to the law than most believers have ever realized.
The concept of pleasing God is generally recognized as an evangelical doctrine which triumphs the role of faith. One passage that captures this so well is located in the honor role of faith in Hebrews 11. There, in a series of God-given epitaphs. Enoch is spoken of as one who by faith pleased God. What is extolled about him as an individual is universalized for all believers when the Scriptures immediately go on to say, “And without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:5–6a).
If, then, faith is the key to pleasing God, why highlight the law, which many consider to be the opposite of faith? It is true that the law is impotent to save and compels us to flee to Christ and embrace Him by faith. But the law is also intended to teach us what is pleasing to the Law-Giver.
Another reason for highlighting the law is that Jesus Himself taught, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” We are under a moral imperative to be obedient, and again the law proves useful and necessary to instruct our obedience.
This month we are suggesting that pleasing God is part of the “big idea” of Christianity. As you seek to live your life Coram Deo, before the face of God, in acute awareness of His presence, we are confident that the articles and daily Bible studies of this month’s Tabletalk will better enable you to live in a way that genuinely pleases Him.
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