John Calvin Commentary 1 Corinthians 15:14

"and if Christ hath not been raised, then is our preaching vain, your faith also is vain." — 1 Corinthians 15:14 (ASV)

Then is our preaching vain — not simply as having some mixture of falsehood, but as being altogether an empty fallacy. For what remains if Christ has been swallowed up by death — if he has become extinct — if he has been overwhelmed by the curse of sin — if, in short, he has been overcome by Satan?

In short, if that fundamental article is subverted, all that remains will be of no importance. For the same reason he adds, that their faith will be vain, for what firmness of faith will there be, where no hope of life can be seen? But in the death of Christ, considered by itself, there is seen nothing but reason for despair, for he cannot be the author of salvation to others, who has been altogether conquered by death.

Let us therefore bear in mind that the entire gospel consists mainly in the death and resurrection of Christ, so that we must direct our chief attention to this if we would desire, in a right and orderly manner, to make progress in the gospel — indeed, if we would not remain barren and unfruitful. (2 Peter 1:8)