raised, then our proclamation has been in vain, and your faith has been in vain.… If the dead are not raised.… If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Cor. 15:14–19). Gone is not only the hope of postmortal resurrection, but also apostolic preaching and Christian faith. Further, in Paul’s words, “You are still in your sins” (v. 17). If God’s work in us is not yet complete, it is like trying to guess the meaning of a half-finished picture or sculpture.