1 Corinthians 15: An Easter StudySample

What if There Was No Resurrection?

As I was processing my parents’ separation when I was 15, my counselor at the time wrote on a board all of the events and circumstances that led to why my parents drifted apart. Long story short, these events also led me to the Christian life.

Because my parents struggled with money, their relationship ended. Because their relationship ended and money was tight, I ended up going to the university I attended. Because I went to that university, I joined the campus ministry where I first experienced grace and decided to follow Jesus.

Sometimes, God works in mysterious ways.

In today’s reading, Paul unfolds what would happen if we didn’t have the Resurrection as the unmovable fuel for our ultimate hope. If we take the Resurrection out of the story of the gospel, the domino effect would be catastrophic. If Christ did not rise from the dead, the last 2,000 years of preaching from the Christian church would be a lie.

As you remember from yesterday’s reading, Jesus appeared to more than 500 people after His death and resurrection. Paul is telling us that if we believe Christ was resurrected, then logically, we ourselves are resurrected from the dead.

Remember the domino effect? If Christ did not come back to life, we could not be reconciled with God. This is because we would still be in our sins (verse 17). We also would lose the empowerment of the Holy Spirit changing us from the inside out. Forget about eternal hope, we would have our entire existence screaming against us that we have no hope against dealing with our sinful nature.

When I think about living in my sins, I get depressed, filled with shame and embarrassment. This is because I understand the depth of how evil my heart can be. I think about how my heart tends to objectify women, how selfish I am, how I try to shame and humiliate those who disagree with me.

But then I remember that Jesus “did in fact” rise from the dead. I can stop feeling horrible, and I can start rejoicing in the love He has given me. And because of who He says I am, I can love and care for others as He cares for me.

Because the Resurrection is true, it gives us confidence through real and trustworthy hope.