Thoughts: How can Paul possibly say that "if there is no resurrection then...our preaching is useless and so is your faith?" Certainly people have had faith before the resurrection. People have also had faith without believing in the resurrection. But what Paul means is that the resurrection adds so much hope and meaning to our faith- that to take it away would leave a tremendous vacuum. The resurrection of Christ is a deposit- a little taste- of our own eternal life. His resurrection means that there really is life after this one.
But the other side is that the uniqueness of Christianity is wiped out if there is no resurrection. With no resurrection, the claims of divinity for Jesus are in doubt. The Christian leader becomes just another philosopher or religious advocate. The Christian hope and faith are in doubt too. What distinguishes Christianity from other religions is also gone. So the preaching and faith is in vain.
There are those who are comfortable watering down the faith to be just one among several good ethical, moral, and philosophical systems. The Romans had no problem with saying Jesus is Lord. Their problem came when Christians refused to call Caesar "lord." The Romans would have welcomed Christianity into their pantheon of gods. But Christians made a unique, narrow-is-the-path claim. The resurrection is the peak of the Christians claim and Paul sees and says that here.
So what do you really believe about the resurrection? What you believe will deeply effect the rest of your faith, your life, and your hope. I would say, if we really believe that Christ rose from the dead, it will change us and change the world.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for the hope that is found in your resurrection. Thank you that you came not just to set a moral example, but a hopeful life-death-and resurrection!
Tomb of Jesus in Church of Holy Sepulchre
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