Third Sunday after Easter – Thursday

Now if Christ be preached that He rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? – 1 Corinthians 15:12.

If, as was shown yesterday, this is the saving Gospel, that Christ, the crucified, rose from the dead, how dare anyone say that there is no resurrection from the dead, even such as profess to be Christians, yes, preachers and teachers of the Christian Church?  Do they know that thereby they overthrow the entire Gospel?  For “if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen” (I Corinthians 15:13).  And, if Christ be not risen, then was the preaching of the apostles vain, and all preaching that conforms to theirs is also vain, worthless; and then also your faith, dear Christian, is also in vain.  Yes, then the apostles are found to be false witnesses of God because they have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.

For let it be said once more: if there is no resurrection from the dead, then Christ is not raised, and if Christ be not raised, then He is not the true Savior sent by God, on whom you build your hope, O Christian, and your faith, therefore, is vain, worthless.  Then you are yet in your sins; then all they who are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.  If there is no resurrection from the dead, then we Christians would only, in this life, have hope in Christ, and even that would be a vain and futile hope, and we would of all men be most miserable. – Oh, Christian, look at the matter squarely, and let not the great and universal delusion of the present day beguile you!  “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first-fruits of them that slept” (I Corinthians 15:20).  Therefore, it is most certainly true that all who fall asleep in Christ follow Him in the resurrection unto life everlasting!

PRAYER – God, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of truth, who, by the mouth of the apostles, did cause the salutary death and triumphant resurrection of my Savior to be preached, I pray Thee to steel and strengthen my heart against all the specious seduction of false prophets, who withal clothe themselves with the name of Christ.  Grant that I may continue to cling fast and immovably to Thy Gospel, which proclaims to me a blessed resurrection and eternal life pledged me by the resurrection of my Savior.  Amen.

Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!

unto Christ, our heav’nly King; Alleluia!

who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!

sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!

—

But the pains which He endured, Alleluia!

our salvation have procured; Alleluia!

now above the the sky He’s King, Alleluia!

where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!

(Hymn 199, st. 2-3; TLH)