1 Corinthians 15:12-19

12: Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13: But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
14: and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
15: Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised.
16: For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
17: and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
18: Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19: If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

*** 

Paul showed the foolishness of believing there was no such thing as resurrection from the dead. If it were true, then not even Christ rose from the dead. And if He didn’t rise from the dead, then their faith was in vain. Their preaching was in vain. If there is no life after death, then faith is worthless. We are all to be pitied if life only exists of what we see here on earth, and then we die into nothingness. What would be the point of being saved from sin if there were no eternal consequence to it? If there were no eternal reward?

If Christ did not rise from the grave, then we are all still in our sins, preaching the gospel is a false witness, and all those who saw Him after His resurrection (and ascension) were lying or crazy. But Jesus did die for our sin, taking on Himself the consequence of it—eternal death. He defeated the devil and rose victorious over Him so all who believe in Him will be saved, in this life and the one to come. This is the good news of the gospel! There is no gospel without it.

Paul made it clear that this was not something that could be compromised. Christianity is pointless without resurrection, and especially the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He had to not only die for our sins, but rise from the grave victorious over them, conquering the enemy, for us to receive the ability to become sons and daughters of God—new creatures in Christ. Thank God He did!

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