If in This Life Only
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
Listen to the "Verse by Verse" episode covering this scripture.
In 1 Corinthians 15, the apostle Paul defends the Christian teaching of the resurrections. The resurrection of Jesus Christ opened the way for human beings to also be resurrected to eternal life.
This incredible promise and great hope motivates Christians to live according to God’s law now, even when it is inconvenient, difficult or downright dangerous.
Paul pointed out to those who questioned the truth of the resurrection that without that hope, none of the sacrifices a Christian makes would make sense. Why give up enjoyment in this life if there is no afterlife?
But Paul proves here and elsewhere that this hope in Christ and the resurrection is not futile. It is sure. Christians are not to be pitied—their hope will become the deepest desire of all mankind.
For more about the truth of the resurrections, see “What Are the Resurrections?” and other articles in our section on “Life After Death.”
