But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

1 Corinthians 15: 13-19

It’s unusual to see people dressed up in suits at a high school on a Thursday night, but that’s what I saw tonight as I dropped off my oldest grandson at his football practice. I asked one of them men what was going on and he replied that his church had rented the school since their church couldn’t contain the crowd for their services. I must say it was impressive to see so many people dressed in their Sunday best on a Thursday evening.

In contrast to those attending services this evening, some time ago I read a newspaper article questioning the resurrection of Christ. The writer could not believe in the literal, physical resurrection and instead chose to believe in a symbolic resurrection. In the same way, the church at Corinth had wandered off course and needed to be corrected in their belief about the literal resurrection. Evidently, at least some of them held to a belief that there was “no resurrection of the dead.” In response, Paul reminds them of this reality – “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

Why pity us? Without the Resurrection the Gospel is false and you are wasting your time reading the words of another person to be pitied.

The resurrection is key, isn’t it? Knowing that you believe in the resurrection of Christ may be a tipping point in your life, but knowing why you believe takes you to a deeper level and a more effective light in our culture today.