In Christ shall all be made alive

 

(1 Corinthians 15:21-27)For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under him, it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him.

This is the content that the Apostle Paul clarifies the basis and process of the resurrection to the Corinthians and encourages them to live like people who will be resurrected in the future. Because of the resurrection, Paul affirms that he can die every day, and tells his congregation to stay awake. The main text can be divided into four main categories. That is, one man Adam and Christ, the turn of the resurrection, the benefits of the resurrection, and the boundary against unbelief.

『Every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.』

This means that the resurrection takes place in several stages. The first step is the resurrection of Christ, the first fruit of the resurrection. The second step is the resurrection of those who belong to Jesus Christ, the saints, when Jesus Christ comes. Regarding the word advent, most people accept it as the Second Coming, but when the Holy Spirit comes, it means that those who die with Jesus are recreated with Jesus as a new creation. When you become a dead person (old man) on this earth, it tells you that there is a present resurrection. After that, the Bible tells us that there will be a final resurrection. In other words, there is a resurrection of the dead. Those who are united with Jesus Christ will have a resurrection of life, and those who have not been in Christ will have a resurrection of judgment (second death). In John 5:29, “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.

『Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.』

This world is a world ruled by Satan. However, because Jesus Christ died on the cross and was resurrected, believers in the resurrection were freed from Satan in Christ. Those who are in Jesus Christ can fulfill the kingdom of God on earth. When Jesus comes again, there will be a final judgment.

『For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.』

Hebrews 2:8 『Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet his. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.』In Ephesians 4:9-10, the reason the Lord descended and ascended to heaven was to fill all things, but all things are not yet obedient to him. Because you are not repenting. Christ is the head of the church over all things. So, the saints fight for the fullness of all things in all things as the body of Christ.

『Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead?』

Resurrection does not mean that the body to be destroyed is revived, but it means that although the body is physical, it is recreated as the body of the spirit. The resurrected body of Jesus is a spirit body, different from the body before his death. The former body has disappeared and has been resurrected as a spirit body. Likewise, those who do not believe in resurrection have a dead spirit. Those who died above mean those whose spirits are dead. So, for those baptized who believe in the resurrection, if there is no resurrection, what will the baptism mean to those whose spirit is dead?

『If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; "for to morrow we die." does not mean that Paul actually fought a beast, but that he was persecuted and persecuted by the wicked. If there is no resurrection, what will be the benefit? For Christians, the resurrection is more precious than life. Because if there is no resurrection, there is no salvation, no need for faith, and no eternal life.