4. Its Preeminence in Salvation (Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain).

a. First Proposition. “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain?” (verse 12).

b. Second Proposition. “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain” (verse 13). If we are not to be raised from the dead, then Christ is not risen.

c. Third Proposition. “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain” (verse 14). If Christ is not risen, Christianity is a Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain.

d. Fourth Proposition. “Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not” (verse 15). If Christ be not raised, every evangelical preacher is a Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain.

e. Fifth Proposition. “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: and if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain” (verses 16 and 17). If He be not risen, He is still dead, and therefore cannot Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain us. The penalty paid for any crime is not fully paid until the one for whom it was paid is Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain. As long as Christ was in the tomb, the Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain was not paid; but His resurrection shows that the penalty has been paid. And, remember, this Scripture was written to those who were not in their sins.

f. Sixth Proposition. “Then they also which are Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain in Christ are perished” (verse 18). In other words, they have all gone like the beasts of the field, if Christ did not rise from the dead.

g. Seventh Proposition. “If Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain we have hope in Christ, we are of all men Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain” (verse 19). If all of our hope is staked upon the resurrection of Christ, and if He has not risen, then we are of all men most to be pitied. We have done nothing else to secure salvation, and if our Saviour be not risen, we have no Saviour. We had better look into some other religion.

h. Eighth Proposition. “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain” (verse 20). Praise the Lord, He is risen! He is alive! We are saved by a Christ not risenfallen asleepfirstfruits of them that sleptfraudfreehe raised up ChristI Cor. 15:12-20in this life onlyliving Redeemermost miserableno resurrection of the deadpenalty for our sinsredeemshamye are yet in your sinsyour faith is also vain. We, of all men, are the only sinners who are saved.