“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:14 ESV)
Paul makes the resurrection the very hinge of Christianity. If the tomb is not empty, there is no gospel, no hope, no faith. Preaching without the resurrection is empty talk, and faith without it is mere delusion. The apostles did not present a philosophy or a myth, but eyewitness testimony of a historical event. The truth of the resurrection is the linchpin of the faith. Without it, both preacher and hearer are left without hope. Yet Paul assured believers that “in fact Christ has been raised from the dead” (1 Cor. 15:20). His resurrection validates both preaching and faith. Without it, our faith is useless, but with it, our faith is unshakable.
At the core of our faith is the message of Christ’s resurrection. If Jesus were still in the grave, then Christianity would collapse like a house of cards. But the good news is this: the tomb is empty. Jesus truly died for our sins, was buried, and rose again on the third day. This is not wishful thinking—it is historical reality testified to by eyewitnesses. Therefore, our faith is not in vain. When doubts arise, we must return to this foundational truth: our Savior is alive. Because He lives, our preaching is not empty, and our faith is not futile. Whatever circumstances we face, we can hold firmly to this unshakable truth—the risen Christ gives meaning, hope, and power to our lives today.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we thank You that our faith rests on the historical reality of Christ’s resurrection. When doubts or discouragement threaten to shake us, remind us of the empty tomb. Let our words and our lives reflect the power of the risen Lord. Help us proclaim with confidence that because Jesus lives, we also shall live. We pray this in Jesus’ name, amen.