WAS THE RESURECTION OF JESUS REALLY NECESSARY?

. 12Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
 13But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15Yea, 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.
 16For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.
24Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Life is full of  "what ifs". ..... there are many examples.

"What if Christ had not rose?"  His resurection was absolutely necessary.

I. It is necessary for our preaching.
      vs. 14. And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain,...

II. It is neccesary for ouir faith. vs.14 ...and your faith is also vain.
   A.The whole Christian life from begining to end is one of faith.

 2Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

        1. We are saved by faith, We pray by faith. We claim the promises of God by faith.
        2. If christ did not rise then all our believing is useless.
   C. But Now because he lives we can face life.

III.It is necessary for our witnessing vs. 15.Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God;...

A. We are witnessing to something that didn't happen. We are giving out a false message..
What are we telling people?
 1. We tell people that they need to be saved. That they cannot go to Heaven without being saved..
2. We tell sinners there is only one way to get to Heaven.
 The only way to reach God is through Jesus  Christ.....
B. we pray for sinners, but all this is useless if Christ be not risen.

BUT NOW,      He is risen, therefore we can proclaim the message with all boldness.

The message we proclaim is Flawless!

IV. It is necessary for our Hope vs. 18-19

18Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

It is said that Thomas Jeferson believed in only certain parts of the Bible. He went so far as to have a
version called  "Thomas jeferson Bible"
It simply was a copy of our Bible with all the references to the miracles taken out. The last words of Jeferson's Bible were:
"There laid they Jesus, and rolled a stone to the mouth of the sepulchre and departed".

If that was the way our Bible ended we would have no hope.

The resurection of Christ is the assurance of our faith.

He said, "Because I live ye shall live also."