Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about 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, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. (1 Cor 15:12-19)
Paul is clear that without the resurrection the Christian faith is meaningless and Christians are the most sad of sad cases.
Fortunately for the Christian, Paul goes on to say "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep (1 Cor 15:20)". Indeed, there are good grounds to believe that Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead. William Lane Craig offers evidence for the resurrection here and John Stevens explains some of the implications of this glorious truth here.
There are plenty of reasons for the Christian to rejoice this Easter. Nevertheless, let the final word go to Peter:
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3-5)
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