For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  

The resurrection isn’t a trivial, take-it-or-leave-it issue; it’s the bedrock of Christianity. In this supernatural event lies the key to the fulfillment of all God’s plans and promises. As Paul writes later in chapter 15, it’s the moment when “death is swallowed up in victory” (verse 54).  

Unlike other religions, Christianity isn’t based on one self-proclaimed prophet’s claims of private revelation. Jesus wasn’t some kind of apparition who appeared to a single person or even to a select handful of people. The resurrection of Christ is a historical event. Hundreds of people saw the risen Jesus. Those people could not ignore what they had witnessed, and through the empowerment of God’s Spirit, they spread the good news far and wide in spite of intense persecution.  

Paul spends much of chapter 15 explaining how Christ’s resurrection secured new and eternal life for all his followers. He asserts that Christ’s death and resurrection are of first importance because these historical events are the foundation of our future hope. This future hope is what directs our present convictions, efforts, and ambitions.

In agreement with Paul about the primacy of Christ’s resurrection, Professor Sean McDowell calls this tenant of our faith “more important than any other piece of knowledge in history, science, psychology, or religion.” McDowell backs up this claim with three points that demonstrate the logical conclusions of belief in the resurrection.

“First, if Jesus has risen, we know that God exists. The resurrection of Jesus is clearly a miracle…Thus, it follows that the natural world is not all there is. There is a cosmic Being with power over life and death.”

“Second, if Jesus has risen, we know which religion is true. Jesus is the only major religious figure who claimed to be God and who corroborated that claim by resurrecting. If this account is true, then we know that Christianity is uniquely true among all religions.”

“Third, if Jesus has risen, we know there is life after death. If Jesus really died for three days and came back, then we know that life continues after the grave. This life is not all there is. Thus, we should live our lives in light of eternity.”

This last point mirrors the charge Paul gave the Corinthians in the chapter’s final verse.  Paul concluded his discussion of the theology of the resurrection with this encouragement: “Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). The truth of the resurrection is what empowers us to stand firm in our faith and live obedient and fruitful lives.

Christians have much to look forward to. I know when I am really looking forward to something coming up in the future, it has tangible effects on my life in the present. A few examples that come to mind are anticipating a family vacation or the birth of a child. Leading up to such events, I work hard with minimal complaints, because I know my efforts will be well worth it. I’m also eager to tell my friends and sometimes even strangers about what’s coming up! And, while I wait, my joy is evident to those around me.  

So, I have to ask myself, during these short years I have on Earth as I await the future glory God has promised and provided for through Christ’s resurrection, am I working diligently and without complaining? Am I telling other people what I’m looking forward to? Am I characterized by joy that is firmly rooted in hope? As Paul put it, am I “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord”?

Father, thank you for the plans you’ve had since the beginning–plans to redeem and restore humanity, plans to resurrect me. Thank you, Jesus, for enduring the cross and for rising and conquering death. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for the resurrection power that lives in me now and gives me hope for eternal life. Please help me to better grasp the glory of this future hope and to live full of purpose and joy as a result. In your mighty name, amen.