There were many problems in the Corinthian Church. Members of the church were taking each other to court, appointing judges from the world, and there were divisions in the church. The Apostle Paul tried to instruct the church.
1 Corinthians 15:12
Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Paul was confused and asked the church a question: How can such a thing happen among you? Many people were interested in the question of resurrection. When Paul appealed to Caesar and appeared before the local rulers, he addressed them with these words:
Acts 26:8
Why should it be thought a thing incredible with you, that God should raise the dead
Why are people surprised that Almighty God can raise the dead? Not believing in the resurrection of Christ destroys faith in all other promises. Christ once told a parable about a grain that fell into the ground and, when it dies, produces fruit.
1 Corinthians 15:14
And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
And if there is no resurrection, then what is the fruit? Does everything turn out to be emptiness? But:
1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures
If it were not for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, faith would have no meaning because there would be no future. Let us remember the names of the heroes of faith listed in Scripture. How naive they would have been if they had died for nothing.
1 Corinthians 15:15
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
The disciple of Jesus Christ, John, testifies in his First Epistle about the events connected with Christ and His resurrection, which he himself experienced. And the Apostle Paul writes to Timothy that all Scripture is useful so that the man of God may become complete. But if there had been no resurrection of Christ, would not all their teaching have turned out to be deception? Let us remember the lives of the Apostles and how much they endured for the testimony of Christ. But people do not want to suffer and die for something false. Through falsehood, people achieve evil goals. Let us remember Queen Jezebel from the Old Testament: using lies, she took Naboth's vineyard by destroying him. But there are no evil goals in the teaching of the Apostles.
1 Corinthians 15:17
Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
If Christ had not risen, all humanity would face sad consequences.
1 Corinthians 15:18
Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
Whether someone wants to acknowledge it or not, sin reigns on this earth unto death. But there is such a concept as mercy — when a guilty person is forgiven. But where is this mercy? It is with Jesus Christ. And how can one obtain mercy? A person must acknowledge that they are a sinner and ask Christ for forgiveness.
1 Corinthians 15:19
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
What is the problem for people who hope in Christ only in this life? Peter once said to Christ: "We have left everything and followed You, so what will we have?" When Christ was crucified, the plans of people who were counting on earthly things collapsed. Let us also remember the condition of the disciples. They were hiding, possibly not only out of fear of the Jews. But at the same time, they were also in a depressed state because their journey had not ended in success. But Christ changed this state! Christ says:
John 14:19
because I live, ye shall live also.
May our faith in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ also be unwavering!