"IF CHRIST IS NOT RISEN"

Introduction:
    	A. What would be the consequences in our own lives if the resurrection was a
 	     Jewish fraud perpetrated and maintained by the apostate Church?
        		1. What if the resurrection in scripture was just one side of the story?
    	B. Dr. Schonfield's "Passover Plot"
        		1. Jesus had delusions of grandeur; believed himself to be the Messiah.
        		2. Judas was his scheming agent who set up the miracles for profit; when
 			    Jesus caught on and displeased Judas' crowds, he sold him out.
        		3. Jesus did not die, but fell into a deep swoon.
    	C. Other theories...
        		1. He was a charlatan, a madman, a prophet idolized by his followers.
        		2. His resurrection was metaphorical; he lived on in their hearts.
        		3. Grieving people often see the dead in their imagination.
    	D. The empty tomb is explained away.
        		1. An impostor was substituted for the appearances or the crucifixion.
        		2. Desire to see Him; power of His suggestion of resurrection.
        		3. Disciples stole His body.
        		4. Women who prepared His body for burial stole it.
        		5. Roman soldiers' practical joke.
        		6. Event never happened... an allegory of the apostate church.
    	E. Suppose for the sake of argument that one of these theories is correct; Paul did.
        		1. 1Corinthians 15:12-20

I. "IF CHRIST IS NOT RISEN..."
    	A. "Our preaching is vain..."
        		1. Look at the consequences.
        		2. Stephen - Acts 7:51-60
            		a. What man would lie, knowing full well he would be killed?
        		3. Paul, the world's most tragic dupe - 2Cor. 11:23-28; 1Cor. 15:30-32.
            		a. Look what he lost in order to follow Jesus - Phil. 3:4-7.
        		4. Last September 16th marked my 26th year of preaching on a weekly
 			    basis; 21 years full time; 3320 sermons to date; about 370 here.
        		5. If Christ is not risen, it was as big a waste of time as watching television.
    	B. "Your faith is vain..."
        		1. Revelation 2:13, 14:13 – Faith equals foolishness, if Christ is not risen.
        		2. Acts 4:32-35 – the gospel is a socialist scam, if Christ is not risen.
        		3. What of your own service: attendance, contribution, testimony self-control,
	 		    if Christ is not risen?
        		4. "Mike Davis, Evangelist... because of a cross"
        		5. Heb. 11, "faith's hall of fame," becomes a catalogue of monumental fools.
        		6. If Christ is not risen, then the materialists are right about religion.
            		a. Karl Marx - "The opiate of the masses."



    	C. "We are found false witnesses..."
        		1. Gal. 1:20 - If Christ is not risen, then the Gospel is the most cynical lie
 			    ever foisted on this world.
        		2. It does not matter how sincere, well intentioned, or how strongly they
 			    believed in it, the apostles were false teachers if Christ is not risen.
        		3. Antithecal and anathematic to men who devoted themselves to the truth.
        		4. Disheartening to seekers of truth.
    	D. "You are still in your sins..."
        		1. Every thing you have ever done wrong remains unforgiven.
        		2. Acts 4:12 - If He is not risen, there is no salvation, and He is not the Son
	 		    of God; the resurrection is His proof.
        		3. We are still under the law of Moses; better seek out the Hassidic Jews,
 			    become a proselyte and start offering sacrifices.
        		4. If Christ is not risen, then we are still waiting for the Messiah.
    	E. Those who died following Christ died without hope.
        		1. Those who lived as faithful Christians died in their sins and are presently
	 		    in torments awaiting eternal perdition, if Christ is not risen.
        		2. 1Thes. 4:13-18; what a lie, if there is no resurrection.
        		3. 1Cor. 15:19 - How sad a life it would be, if after spending it serving a hoax
	 		    that we believe to be absolute truth, to pass from it into oblivion, or worse.
    	F. Are you aware of how much of what you are and what you hope for depends on
 	     the resurrection of Jesus Christ?!

Conclusion:  IF CHRIST IS RISEN, THEN YOU WILL RISE, TOO.
    	A. 1Cor. 15:12-13, 20-26
    	B. We are not pitiable; we serve a risen Savior; we are the children of the all
	     powerful God.
        		1. We will see Him some day!
    	C. Do not lose heart to the skeptics and scoffers.
        		1. The fire waits hungrily for them.
    	D. 2Thes. 1:7-10; 2Peter 3:3-11