The Risen Christ, Faith’s Reality(A)

15 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel (B)which I preached to you, which also you received and (C)in which you stand, (D)by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless (E)you believed in vain.

For (F)I delivered to you first of all that (G)which I also received: that Christ died for our sins (H)according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day (I)according to the Scriptures, (J)and that He was seen by [a]Cephas, then (K)by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have [b]fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then (L)by all the apostles. (M)Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

For I am (N)the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because (O)I persecuted the church of God. 10 But (P)by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, (Q)yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

The Risen Christ, Our Hope(R)

12 Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, (S)then Christ is not risen. 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because (T)we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. 16 For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. 17 And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; (U)you are still in your sins! 18 Then also those who have [c]fallen (V)asleep in Christ have perished. 19 (W)If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

The Last Enemy Destroyed

20 But now (X)Christ is risen from the dead, and has become (Y)the firstfruits of those who have [d]fallen asleep.

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Our Final Victory

50 Now this I say, brethren, that (A)flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a [a]mystery: (B)We shall not all sleep, (C)but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. (D)For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and (E)this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: (F)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

55 “O(G)[b] Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and (H)the strength of sin is the law. 57 (I)But thanks be to God, who gives us (J)the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 (K)Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing (L)that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:51 hidden truth
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:55 NU O Death, where is your victory? O Death, where is your sting?

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