Conspiracy theories abound about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This can be confusing for a new believer or someone who is going through difficult times. Is the resurrection true? The Apostle Paul lays out his defense of the resurrection in 1 Corinthians 15.
1 Corinthians 15:14, 16-17
“and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith.” “For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.”
Answering the Doubts
There were some in Corinth who questioned the resurrection of Jesus. Several theories were floating around about what happened. Some said that He didn’t entirely die but passed out and then was revived when He was laid on the cold stone in the grave. Others claimed no one saw Him resurrected, so His body was stolen, and then His followers claimed he was resurrected. Paul refutes this by naming eyewitnesses to the resurrection.
Is It All Meaningless?
The resurrection is key to your faith. If it isn’t true, then your faith is meaningless, and all preaching is in vain. On the cross, Jesus had victory over sin, and with the resurrection, He had victory over death. Both of those are essential to your salvation. One makes you right in God’s eyes, and one promises you eternal life. To claim that the resurrection is false but to claim still, you have faith in God is foolishness.
Is the Resurrection True?
If Jesus didn’t rise from the grave, death has power over Him and has defeated Him. If death has power over Jesus, He is not God. If He is not God, He cannot offer forgiveness for your sins. If our sins are not paid for, then we will die in our sins, which means we cannot be saved. If we cannot be saved, then everything we do is futile. Thankfully Jesus was resurrected and had victory over death, and we can walk in confidence knowing that our sins are forgiven, and our destiny is Heaven.