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? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 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. 16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
The central theme of the Christian faith is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is the one thing that separates Christianity from any other religion. All others can be traced back to a man whose bones are buried in the earth. Christians have the singular joy of celebrating an empty tomb.
Paul testifies that the resurrected Christ was seen by the twelve disciples, then by as many as 500 others and finally himself. Josephus, the secular historian even gives testimony in his writings as to the resurrection of Christ. All but one of the original Apostles were martyred for their faith in the risen Savior. People have died for many causes over the centuries, but no one lays down his life for what he believes to be a lie.
Even Jesus Himself prophesied that He would rise from the dead. He said, "tear down this temple (His body) and I will raise it up in three days". Yes, if Christ is not raised from the dead, our faith is vain, we are still dead in our sins and we are of all people most miserable.
Living He loved us, dying He saved us, buried He carried our sins far away. Rising, He justified us freely forever. Someday, He's coming oh glorious day
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