There is only one way to defeat death, and that is through life.

In writing to a group of persecuted Christians, the apostle Peter offers this encouragement:  “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.”  

Peter instructs that part of honoring Christ as holy entails that we should always be prepared to make a defense (a case) for the reason of the hope in us. What is the hope that Peter describes here? Is it wishful thinking; as in, “Wouldn’t it be nice if money grew on trees?” Is it akin to our dreams for something we desire to come true; as in, “I hope I get to be an astronaut someday?” or “I hope my team advances in the NCAA basketball tournament?” No, this is a different hope. It is the hope found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.In an impactful passage in 1 Corinthians, the apostle Paul unashamedly states,

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 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.

17And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

Paul’s claim is striking, because he does not convey wishful thinking or a desire for something to come true. Rather, Paul makes an objective truth claim: either Christ rose from the dead or Christ did not rise from the dead. If Christ did not rise from the dead, notice Paul says that our hope is indeed in this life only and we, therefore, are to be pitied most of all. We are to be pitied because we have believed in this great hope that Christ conquered the consequence of evil, death, through the defeat of death in resurrection. He not only paid for, but reversed the ultimate end of all our sin, which is death and destruction. There is only one way to defeat death, and that is through life. Jesus resurrects to life. And this is grounding for hope.

Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates to us that death and destruction is not our ultimate end. All the pain and suffering resulting from evil will be put aright. The good creation that has gone horribly awry will be redeemed because it is worthy of redemption. (Genesis 1:31)

Without an actual resurrected Jesus, Paul conveys what would ensue as, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” (1 Corinthians 15:32) Without a real redemption of the creation, we are indeed lost in our pain and suffering, and in the evil we do to one another. As atheist Julian Baginni states, “we are faced with the reality of “no salvation, no redemption, no second chances. Lives can go terribly wrong in ways that can never be put right.” And this is grounding for hopelessness.

Surely we could use wishful thinking or a positive outlook that our dreams may one day come true, but in the end, these attitudes would be without grounding. Mankind hurts one another, and there is no ultimate recourse for his actions.

Yet, Paul concludes, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (1 Corinthians 15:20) This actual resurrection of Jesus is what secures the grounding of our hope, eternal. Jesus is the firstfruit or the example of the resurrection to come. Indeed we will see resurrection and the end of evil…

“The last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26)