The resurrection matters, and believing in the resurrection will give you a new hope, a new confidence, and a new purpose. But a “this life only” message will leave you without hope for at least three reasons.

1. Without the resurrection, your faith would be futile
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile” (15: 17). Dead men can teach you through their writings, inspire you with their example, and help you through their wisdom. But a dead man cannot save you. So, if you’ve trusted your life and future to a dead man, your faith is futile.

2. Without the resurrection, you would still be in your sins
“If Christ has not been raised... you are still in your sins” (15:17). Christ was the Lamb of God whose unique calling was to take away the sins of the world by carrying them Himself. “The LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6). If Jesus had remained in the tomb, He would have been unsuccessful in removing our sins. They would still be on us.

3. Without the resurrection, your believing loved ones would be lost
“Those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished” (15:18). If death still holds Jesus, then death holds our believing loved ones too. And if Jesus was unsuccessful in taking away their sins, they died in their sins, and they would perish. Without the resurrection, there would be no hope for them, and no hope for us. All would perish.

Thank God for the resurrection of Jesus and for this promise to all who believe in Him: “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27–28).