No Resurrection, No Hope

In this Sunday's reading from 1 Corinthians 15:12-20, St. Paul stresses the importance of the Resurrection of Jesus, and its meaning that we too shall be raised,

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith has been in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified of God that he raised Christ—whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have died in Christ have perished. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died.

We affirm Paul's claim when we say each Sunday, 

Christ has died

Christ is risen

Christ will come again!

The resurrection of Jesus changed his followers into true apostles. If we believe in the Resurrection, then we believe in an all powerful God who can rescue us from our sins, and who promises us eternal life. 

If we do not believe in the Resurrection, then what do we have to hope for?