What if there were no resurrection?
This very question is asked and answered in 1 Corinthians 15. If there were no resurrection:
- “our preaching is in vain” (v. 14)
- “your faith is in vain” (v. 14)
- “we are misrepresenting God” (v. 15)
- “your faith is futile” (v. 17)
- “you are still in your sins” (v. 17)
- “those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (v. 18)
- “we are of all people most to be pitied” (v. 19)
“But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead” (v. 20)!
And because of that, we will be raised, too, in glory (v. 43), in power (v. 43), and in victory (v. 57). Because He lives, we have comfort in what lies ahead and an “imperishable” (v. 42), “spiritual body” (v. 44) to look forward to.
But the resurrection of Christ blesses us NOW, too. The book of Ephesians is filled with reassuring promises for those who are in Christ (His church). By my count, there are more than 20! For example, because He lives:
- We enjoy every spiritual blessing (1:3).
- We have redemption and forgiveness (1:7).
- We have an inheritance (1:11).
- We have His power (1:19).
- We have been made alive (2:5).
- We have been saved through faith (2:8).
- We live with purpose (2:10).
- We are members of the household of God (2:19).
- We have boldness and confident access (3:11-12).
- We have strength through His Spirit (3:16).
“These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places” (Eph. 1:19-20).
It seems like each one of these would be enough on its own. But our Christ “blesses and blesses again” as the old hymn says. An awareness of this will help us live gratefully and faithfully here until we are raised with Him there (1 Cor. 15:58)!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Pet. 1:3)