I want to bring us to 1 Corinthians 15 for this week’s thoughts. This chapter focuses in on the resurrection, but not only on the resurrection of Christ, but also the future resurrection of the dead. Paul starts the chapter in verses 3-8 by reminding the Corinthians, and the reader, of death, burial and resurrection of Christ. He then goes on to show the importance of the resurrection. Verses 16-17 say, “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” Paul from here argues that if we are wrong and Christ has not been raised then we should be pitied more than anyone.

When reading this one has to appreciate Paul’s logic and bluntness. Our faith does hinge on the resurrection, and whether or not it truly happened. One thing in this passage that I believe should reassure the believer is that Paul lists out by name many eye witnesses to the resurrection and then also brings up the 500 others that witnessed the resurrected Christ. It should comfort us to know that there were many witnesses, and that our faith is based in a historical event witnessed by many.

Paul continues on hitting various other aspects of the resurrection of Christ and the one to come. It will be a great day when Christ comes back again and those who have fallen asleep in Him will be raised to live with Him in eternity, but until that day we must be diligent in our teaching and sharing of the gospel. The resurrection, although it may seem foolish to some, is what our faith hinges on, without it we are still stuck in our sin. When sharing the gospel remember that Christ not only died for our sins, but that he defeated death through the resurrection! “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:54-55 CSB).

-Pastor Josh