Daily Devotional · 1 Corinthians 15:17–20
If Christ Has Not Been Raised
Reflection
"And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." 1 Corinthians 15 is the most detailed treatment of the resurrection in the New Testament. Some Corinthians were claiming that there was no resurrection of the dead (v. 12). Paul treated this as the most serious doctrinal error imaginable — because everything else depends on it. He made the logic explicit: If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile. If Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins. If Christ has not been raised, those who have died believing are gone forever. If our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are the most pitiable people alive. The logic is ruthlessly honest. Christianity does not work as a philosophy or an ethical system without the resurrection. It is not a helpful metaphor for inner transformation. It either happened or the whole thing collapses. But Christ has indeed been raised. The "but" reverses everything. The list of ifs is replaced by the actual: not a metaphor, not a legend, not a spiritual experience — an historical event with witnesses, appearances, a transformed community, and a changed world. "The firstfruits" — the agricultural metaphor for the beginning of the harvest. Christ's resurrection is the beginning of the resurrection of all who belong to Him.
Background
1 Corinthians 15 is the earliest written account of the resurrection appearances (written around 54 AD, predating all the Gospels). Paul cited an early creed (vv. 3–5) that he received: Christ died, was buried, was raised on the third day, appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve, then to more than five hundred at once, then to James, then to all the apostles, then to Paul himself. The "more than five hundred at once, most of whom are still alive" (v. 6) was an appeal to verifiable living witnesses.
Truth
The resurrection is not a spiritual symbol — it is the load-bearing event of the entire Christian faith. Paul did not hedge: if it didn't happen, we are the most pitiable people alive. But it did happen. And because it happened, every sin is atoned for, every death is temporary, and Christ's resurrection is the guarantee of our own.
Application
Does the resurrection feel like a historical fact you believe or a living reality you inhabit? "But Christ has indeed been raised" — let that land today not as a doctrinal checkbox but as the most important true thing about your life. Because He was raised, your sins are covered. Because He was raised, your dead will rise. Because He was raised, you will rise. Live today as if that is the most important fact in the room.