Did Christ Die in Vain?

I Cor. 15:12-20

Introduction
I. More than 50,000 die in vain every year on the highways.

II. Thousands die in vain every year from alcohol and drugs.

III. Nearly 2,000 years ago Christ died outside the walls of Jerusalem.
A. If he did not accomplish his purpose, then he died in vain.
Text: 12 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some
among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no
resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then
is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false
witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ:
whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not,
then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are
yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
B. There are several things to of which to take note regarding Christ's death on the cross:

Body
I. IF THE LAW IS STILL BINDING, CHRIST DIED IN VAIN.

A. Christ came to fulfil the law. Matt 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
B. The purpose of the law is explained in the letter to the Galatians.
Gal 3:19, “Wherefore then [serveth] the law? It was added because of
transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was
made; [and it was] ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”

(16, 23-25) 16“Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith
not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which
should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring
us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we
are no longer under a schoolmaster.”
1. The law was taken out of the way. Col 2:14 "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which
was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;"
Rom 7:4 "Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by
the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is
raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God."
2. All of the law was removed.
II Cor. 3:7-11 “But if the ministration of death, written [and] engraven in
stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold
the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which [glory] was to be
done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious?
For if the ministration of condemnation [be] glory, much more doth the
ministration of righteousness exceed in glory. For even that which was made
glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth.
For if that which is done away [was] glorious, much more that which
remaineth [is] glorious.”
Rom 7:6-7 "But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead
wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in
the oldness of the letter. v.7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God
forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust,
except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
C. Christ redeemed those under the law.
Gal 4:4-5 "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the
law, that we might receive the adoption of sons."
D. Christ brought grace and truth.
John 1:17 "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by
Jesus Christ."
E. The new covenant was given. Heb. 8:7-13 ( R E A D )
F. The blood of Christ dedicated the new covenant. Heb. 9:13-18 ( R E A D )
If righteousness is by the law, then Christ died in vain. Gal 2:21 "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law,
then Christ is dead in vain."
II. IF THE CHURCH IS NON-ESSENTIAL OR NOT IMPORTANT, CHRIST DIED IN VAIN.

A. Some want Christ but not his church.
B. Some facts about the church:
1. The church was promised.
Matt 16:18 "And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and
upon this rock I will build my church..."
2. It was established. Acts 2:41, ``Then they that gladly received were baptized and the same day
there were added unto them about 3000 souls"
v.47 "Praising God and having favor with all the people and the Lord added
to the church daily such as should be saved."
3. The church was purchased by the blood of Christ.
Acts 20:28 "Take heed therefore unto yourselves..."
4. Christ promised to save the church.
Eph 5:23 "For the husband is the head of the wife, even as
Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body."
Eph. 5:25 "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved
the church, and gave himself for it;"
Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from
all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of
good works."
C. Do people read and understand these passages (which teach that you
cannot have Christ but not his church)?

It is clear: If the church is un-necessary, Christ died in vain.

III. IF RELIGIOUS DIVISION IS RIGHT, CHRIST DIED IN VAIN.

A. Many thank God in their prayers for division.
1. But Christ prayed for unity.
John 17:20-21 - “Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which
shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou,
Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the
world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
2. Paul condemned division and pleaded for unity.
I Cor. 1:10-13 - “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and [that] there be no divisions
among you; but [that] ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in
the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by
them [which are of the house] of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and
I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or
were ye baptized in the name of Paul?”
3. Paul gave the charter for unity.
Eph. 4:4-6 - “There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope of your calling;5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and
Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all.”
B. Christ died to reconcile Jew and Gentile in one body.
Eph 2:16 - "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"
If division is right, Christ died in vain.

IV. IF THERE IS NO RESURRECTION, CHRIST DIED IN VAIN.

A. Some have always denied the resurrection.
Matt 22:23 "The same day came to him the Sadducees, which say that
there is no resurrection. . . . .”
I Cor 15:12 "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead,
how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?"
II Tim 2:17-18 "And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is
Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the
resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some."
B. Christ is described as the resurrection.
John 11:25 (Martha) "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and
the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:"
Col 1:18 "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have
the preeminence."
(I Cor 15:20, 23) 20 “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and
become the firstfruits of them that slept.” 23 “But every man in his own
order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming."
C. Faith in the resurrection brings comfort.
I Thess 4:18 "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."
If there is no resurrection, Christ died in vain. I Cor. 15:13-19

V. IF MAN IS LOST, CHRIST DIED IN VAIN.

A. God wants all to be saved.
I Tim 2:4 "Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the
knowledge of the truth."
B. Christ's mission was to save.
Matt 1:21 - "And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his
name JESUS: for he shall save his people from..."
Luke 19:10 "For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which
was lost."
C. Christ shed his blood for remission of sins.
Matt 26:28 "For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed
for many for the remission of sins."
Heb 9:22 "And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and
without shedding of blood is no remission."
D. Remission of sins was received when Christ died.
1. The gospel was preached in its fullness on Pentecost. Acts 2:38
2. Through his blood. Rom. 6:3-4 - “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ
were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into
death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father,
even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
F. Reconciliation is by the cross.
Eph 2:16 "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by
the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:"
G. The lost will suffer eternal punishment.
Matt 25:46 - "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but
the righteous into life eternal."
II Thess 1:9 - "Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from
the presence of the Lord, and from the glory...”
H. Christ is the way to life.
John 10:10 - "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to
destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it
more abundantly."
John 14:6 - "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
CONCLUSION:
I. Christ accomplished what he came to do.
II. His death was not in vain.
III. His death is important to our world.
IV. Those who will benefit from what he did for us (you and I) have to
make the decision to be his disciple and obey his teachings.
V. Invitation:
Do not let what Christ did be in vain as far as you are concerned.

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