Yet in our sins?
Q:
Can you explain this verse please, "And if Christ be not raised, your faith is in vain; ye are yet in your sins" (1 Cor. 15:17)? My question is, how could we be yet in our sins? Did not Christ take away our sins when He died?
A:
The resurrection of Christ is the essence of Christianity. Without it, all things are done and believed in vain (1 Cor. 15:12-19). It is profitable for all of us to look in the scriptures and learn the various truths and blessings that came about in the resurrection of Christ.
Specifically, we learn in 1 Cor. 15:3-4 of,
- The death of Christ - He took upon Himself the penalty of our sins.
- The burial of Christ - He has removed our sins, which were offensive to God, and now they can not be found. (Ps. 103:12, Jer. 50:20)
- The resurrection of Christ - That he was raised speaks of God’s stamp of approval as to the work of Christ.
So when you come to v. 17, we understand that if God was not satisfied with the work of Christ and therefore did not raise Him, then we must still be in our sins because His death and burial were in vain. Far be the thought! (Eph. 1:20-23).
Much love in Christ,
J. A.
