Did Jesus Christ Overcome Death by Being Resurrected?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to 1 Corinthians 14-16 in a lesson titled “God Is Not the Author of Confusion, but of Peace.” This counsel preceded the lesson: “Record your impressions while you read 1 Corinthians 14-16. Pray about what the Spirit has taught you, and ask Heavenly Father if there is more He would like you to learn.” The lesson was introduced as follows. 

Because the Church and its doctrines were relatively new in Corinth, it is understandable that Corinthian Saints encountered confusion. Paul had previously taught them the fundamental truth of the gospel: “That Christ died for our sins … and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). But some members soon began teaching that “there is no resurrection of the dead” (1 Corinthians 15:12). Paul implored them to “keep in memory” the truths they had been taught (1 Corinthians 15:2). When we encounter conflicting opinions about gospel truths, it is good to remember that “God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Corinthians 14:33). Listening to the Lord’s appointed servants and holding to the simple truths they repeatedly teach can help us find peace and “stand fast in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

The above paragraph reminds me of the statement: “The gospel of Jesus Christ is beautifully simple and simply beautiful.” The principle that I have chosen to discuss in this post is from 1 Corinthians 15:1-34, 53-58: “Jesus Christ gained victory over death.”

The lesson stated, “The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is so fundamental to Christianity, one might say that without it there is no Christianity – to use Paul’s words, ‘then is our preaching vain and your faith is also vain’ (1 Corinthians 15:14).” The Saints in Corinth had been taught about Jesus Christ and His Resurrection, but they were teaching, according to 1 Corinthians 15:12, that there would be “no resurrection of the dead. Paul gives several conditions that would result if Jesus Christ were not resurrected.

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?

13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:

14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.

15 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.

16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.

19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.

21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Paul taught that our preaching and our faith would be in vain IF Christ were not resurrected. In addition, we would still be full of sin, without hope, and miserable. Then Paul testified that Christ did rise from the dead. Therefore, all humanity will die because of the sin of Adam, but all humankind will live after death because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.