The resurrection matters because it proves Jesus is who he claimed to be, shows his death paid for sin, defeats death, and guarantees that everyone who trusts him will rise too. Paul says, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17, ESV). Easter is the foundation of Christian hope.
Key Takeaways
- Christianity stands or falls on the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
- The resurrection vindicates Jesus as Lord and Son of God (Romans 1:4).
- It shows the Father accepted his sacrifice for our sins (Romans 4:25).
- It’s the firstfruits guaranteeing our own resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20).
- The evidence includes the empty tomb, many eyewitnesses, and transformed disciples.
If Christ Has Not Been Raised
Some in the church at Corinth doubted that the dead rise. Paul answered by showing what’s at stake (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). If there’s no resurrection: – our preaching and faith are empty (v. 14), – the apostles are false witnesses (v. 15), – we are still guilty of our sins (v. 17), – believers who have died are lost (v. 18), – we deserve more pity than anyone (v. 19).
Then comes the great turn: Christ really has been raised, the first of the harvest of all who have died (v. 20).
Six Reasons the Resurrection Matters
1. It Proves Who Jesus Is
Jesus predicted he would rise (Mark 8:31). His resurrection declared him God’s Son with power (Romans 1:4). Thomas responded by calling him his Lord and his God (John 20:28).
2. It Shows Our Sins Are Paid For
Jesus was handed over to die for our sins and raised to make us right with God (Romans 4:25). The empty tomb is the Father’s receipt: Jesus’ cry that it is finished was true.
3. It Defeats Death
Paul celebrates that death has been swallowed up in victory and has lost its sting (1 Corinthians 15:54-55). Jesus called himself resurrection and life (John 11:25).
4. It Guarantees Our Resurrection
Jesus is the firstfruits, the first part of a harvest that guarantees the rest (1 Corinthians 15:20-23). Christian hope isn’t just souls floating in heaven but bodies raised and made new (Philippians 3:20-21).
5. It Gives New Life Now
Paul says we were buried with Christ through baptism so that, just as he was brought back from death, we too can live a new life (Romans 6:4). The same power is at work in believers (Ephesians 1:19-20).
6. It Makes Our Work Meaningful
Paul ends the chapter by urging believers to stand firm, never shaken, always giving themselves fully to the Lord’s work, because work done for the Lord is never wasted (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Did Jesus Really Rise? The Evidence
- Early testimony: 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 is an early summary Paul received and passed on, listing appearances to Peter, the Twelve, more than five hundred believers at once (most still alive when Paul wrote), James, and all the apostles. It was written within about 25 years of the events.
- The empty tomb: Even opponents didn’t produce a body; they claimed the disciples stole it (Matthew 28:11-15).
- Women as first witnesses: In that culture, women’s testimony carried little legal weight. No one inventing the story would have chosen them (John 20:1-18).
- Transformed disciples: Frightened men hiding behind locked doors (John 20:19) became bold witnesses willing to suffer and die.
- Skeptics converted: James, Jesus’ unbelieving brother (John 7:5), and Paul, a persecutor, both met the risen Jesus.
The Gospel Focus
Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on day three, just as the Scriptures foretold (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). That’s the gospel. Because he lives, forgiveness is real, death is defeated, and eternal life is offered to everyone who believes.
Application
- Read 1 Corinthians 15 slowly this week.
- Face death with hope. Grieve, but not like people who have no hope (1 Thessalonians 4:13).
- Live in newness of life. Ask what resurrection power looks like in your habits.
- Keep serving. Your labor in the Lord isn’t in vain.
- Share the evidence. Talk with a skeptical friend about the empty tomb.
To see how this fits the whole week from the triumphal entry to the empty tomb, read our walk through the Easter story in the Bible.
Related Bible studies
- Gospel Bible Studies: Free Gospel Bible studies on the life and teaching of Jesus: the Sermon on the Mount, the parables, His miracles, and the Great Commission, explained passage by passage.
- Bible Verses About Easter: Bible verses about Easter, grouped by theme with short explanations: the cross, the empty tomb, the risen Lord, and resurrection hope (ESV).
- Lazarus Raised From the Dead Meaning (John 11): Lazarus raised from the dead meaning: why Jesus waited, why he wept, and what Jesus’ claim to be resurrection and life means for us.
- What Does the Bible Say About Heaven? Jesus’ Answer: Explore Jesus’ own words in the Gospels about the Father’s house, paradise, eternal life, and how to get there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the resurrection of Jesus important?
Without it, Christianity collapses. Paul says that if Christ wasn’t raised, our faith is useless and we are still in our sins (1 Corinthians 15:17). The resurrection proves Jesus is God’s Son, confirms his death paid for sin, defeats death, and guarantees that all who trust him will be raised.
What is the evidence that Jesus rose from the dead?
Key evidence includes the empty tomb, which even opponents didn’t deny; the early list of eyewitnesses in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, including more than five hundred people at once; women as the first witnesses; the sudden boldness of frightened disciples; and the conversion of skeptics like James and Paul (ESV).
What does “firstfruits” mean in 1 Corinthians 15:20?
Firstfruits were the first part of the harvest offered to God, a pledge that the rest would follow. Paul says Christ is the harvest’s first portion of those who have died (1 Corinthians 15:20). His resurrection is the first of many and guarantees that believers will be raised too.
Was Jesus’ resurrection physical or spiritual?
It was bodily. The tomb was empty, Jesus invited Thomas to touch his wounds, and he ate fish in front of his disciples, pointing out that a ghost doesn’t have a body of flesh and bone like his (Luke 24:39). His body was also transformed and glorified, a preview of ours.
How does the resurrection affect my life today?
It means your sins can be truly forgiven, death isn’t the end, and God’s power works in you to live a new life (Romans 6:4). It also gives purpose: work done for the Lord is never wasted (1 Corinthians 15:58).
Prayer
Risen Lord Jesus, thank you that you’re alive. Because you rose, my faith isn’t in vain, my sins are forgiven, and death has lost its sting. Fill me with resurrection hope and power. Help me live steadfast and abounding in your work, until the day you raise me too. Amen.
Related: Devotional on Victory Over Death (devotional)
Related: read: Devotional on New Life in Christ
Related: read: Devotional on Doubting Thomas
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.