“But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” When Paul said, “indeed,” it means that Christ’s resurrection is a fact, not a philosophical idea, and his resurrection has now changed everything. Now there is hope for the future, now there is a reason to believe, now there is a reason to preach, now there is forgiveness of sins, now there is a reason to follow Jesus and suffer for him. Now there is a reason to rejoice in all things, because Christ has been raised from the dead.