There are two words used for the concept of “resurrection”. Here is how the words can be translated from the original Greek. The first example is in the verse below.
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 αναστασισ/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 second example is “raised”.
1 Corinthians 15:4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…
The Greek word for “raised” is εγειρο/egeiro”. It means: to awake, to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life. -Strong’s Concordance
With the resurrection of Christ, Psalm 16:10 was prophetically fulfilled.
Psalm 16:10 For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.
With His death, Jesus did not stay in Sheol or Hades or the grave (see Ephesians 8-10). There was no decomposition of His body.
Acts 2:31 Foreseeing this, David spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that He was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His body see decay.
Without Jesus’ resurrection, our faith is described as “vain” and “worthless”.
1 Corinthians 15:14b …your faith is also in vain.
1 Corinthians 15:17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
The Greek word for “vain” is κενοσ/kenos. It means: empty, devoid of truth; contains nothing; empty handed; without a gift; fruitless; no purpose.
The Greek word for “worthless” is ματαιοσ/mataios. It means: devoid of force, truth, success, result; useless, of no purpose. -Definitions per Strong’s Concordance
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 and purposeless mess, an empty shell.
If we are not resurrected in the future, then Christ’s resurrection in the past did not occur. We have historical proof of Jesus overcoming death with hundreds of witnesses. We know what happened to Jesus. This observation is stated at least twice by Paul. That’s the security and truth of our future resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised…
1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;
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. The resurrection is dominance over death. It proved Jesus was Deity. Jesus was literally raised out of, from among the dead. He is the first of the resurrection. Without the Jesus’ resurrection, there is no hope for our bodies. He is the guarantee our resurrection. Without it, our faith is pointless. The promise of the resurrection is the re-connection of our body, soul, and spirit into a glorified body.
God the Father will judge the world through His Son Jesus. Based on what, the fact of the resurrection.
Acts 17:31 because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.”
I see a lot of my friends struggling with which path to take & the right choices to make. For whatever reason, we sometimes have a hard time giving it to God & choosing His path. That’s because we choose to do it our own way so often, without going to Him for guidance. Go to God in prayer always & ask for direction. He will take you where you need to be. His way is always better!
