The Apostle Paul, in discussing the resurrection of the dead, came to the simple and valid conclusion: βIf there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risenβ (1 Cor. 15:13).
But the Apostle does not stop here. Hear him as he presses a further argument home: βAnd if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vainβ (1 Cor. 15:14). And this leads to yet another conclusion: βIf Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perishedβ (1 Cor. 15:17,18).
These are frank words about stern realities. If there is no such thing as the bodily resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised from the dead, and if such is the case we have no living Savior.
But granting all this, can we believe in what is palpably impossible? Ah, but is resurrection palpably impossible? Paul answers this question quite simply in this same discussion, in I Corinthians 15:
βBut some man will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?β (1 Cor. 15:35).
Mark well, this is not an interested inquiry, but a challenge, meant to prove that resurrection is impossible, and the Apostle answers it as such:
βThou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened except it dieβ (1 Cor. 15:36).
What a devastating reply! We may point out all the reasons why resurrection is βimpossible,β but after all is said and done we are still surrounded by overwhelming evidence that it is a fact. Every blade of grass, every ear of corn, every beautiful flower bears witness to the fact that Christ has risen from the dead.Β source
[β¦] there were also long range results, for our Lordβs resurrection is a warning to [β¦]
[β¦] how βbout you? Do you testify to the Lordβs resurrection? The testimony of those 500 brethren now lies silent in the grave. If you donβt witness that [β¦]