1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
The Greek word for “resurrection” is anastasis. It means: raising up, rising (e.g. from a seat); a rising from the dead; that of Christ; that of all men at the end of this present age. –Strong’s Concordance
The resurrection of Jesus is the power of God. The resurrection validates and authenticates Christ’s death on the cross which is the payment for sin.
So what if Jesus was not raised from the dead? What’s the big deal about the resurrection? Who cares? Scripture states twice in the below verses, we are wasting our time with Christianity and the Bible if the resurrection is not true. Without the resurrection, we physically die and our bodies are eternally buried. We are dirt and worm food. Job 21:26 Together they lie down in the dust, and worms cover them. Our bodies become the byproduct of worm digestion…
1 Corinthians 15:14b …your faith is also in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
1 Corinthians 15:17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
Without Jesus’ resurrection, our faith is described as “vain” and “worthless”.
The Greek word for “vain” is kenos. It means: empty, devoid of truth; contains nothing; empty handed; without a gift; fruitless; no purpose.
The Greek word for “worthless” is mataios. It means: devoid of force, truth, success, result; useless, of no purpose.
This is our faith without the resurrection of Christ. Without Jesus’ resurrection, there is no hope for our bodies. We are dead and buried, a corrupt, sinful mess.
If we are not resurrected in the future, then Christ’s resurrection did not occur. That’s the security and truth of the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
Adam introduced sin to humanity. The result of sin was bodily death. Genesis 2:17 but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.
As believers in Christ, our soul and spirit are separated from the body at the point of physical death.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
1 Corinthians 15:54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory.” The Apostle Paul is quoting Isaiah 25:8.
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? –Hosea 13:14
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
1 Corinthians 15:57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Greek word for “victory” is nikos. This is the word for the brand name Nike. Jesus’ resurrection is the power over death and sin. Christ is without sin (1 Peter 2:22, Hebrews 4:15, 1 John 3:5). He fulfilled the law (Matthew 5:17, Romans 10:4). He is the victory.
The promise of the resurrection is glorification, the reconnection of our body, soul, and spirit.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
