20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 24 Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. 28 When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all. – 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 ESV
Whether or not some of the Corinthians wanted to believe in the possibility of the resurrection of the dead, Paul was unequivocally certain that Jesus had done just that. As far as he was concerned, it was a non-contestable fact, and he had firsthand knowledge of its reality. Paul had personally encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus, and it had radically changed his life (Acts 9:1-7).
As Paul stated earlier, after Jesus was resurrected, He appeared to hundreds of individuals and, “Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (1 Corinthians 15:8-9 ESV. When Mary Magdalene and Mary visited Jesus’ burial site that fateful Sunday morning, they found the stone had been rolled away and the tomb empty. But their shock and dismay was quited by the words of the angel.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.” – Matthew 28:5-7 NLT
As far as Paul was concerned, this was not a point open to discussion or debate; it was a fact, and one for which Paul was willing to give his life.
It was the resurrection of Jesus that made it possible for sinful men and women to be restored to a right relationship with a holy God. His resurrection proved that His sacrifice had been accepted by God, and because God was satisfied with His Son's payment, He was able to justify sinful men and women, forgive their sins, and declare them righteous in His eyes. The resurrection of Jesus is essential to the gospel message.
The first Adam, through his sin, brought death into the world, but Jesus came to rectify that problem. Paul clarifies the difference between Adam and Jesus in his letter to the Romans.
For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. – Romans 5:17-19 ESV
Adam brought sin and condemnation to humanity; his transgression resulted in death for all. But Jesus, through His death, made possible new life and forgiveness of sins. But had He not risen from the dead, none of that would have been possible. He would have been nothing more than a martyr, not the Messiah and Savior of the world. But Jesus was physically resurrected from the dead. The tomb was empty. He had a physical body and was seen and recognized by many who talked with Him and even shared a meal with Him. He was not a spirit without a body. However, His body, in its resurrected state, was different than before. But He ate with the disciples and could be touched by them. He had a tangible, corporeal body.
Paul’s point is that we will one day experience the very same thing when we receive our new resurrected bodies. Will our bodies appear just as they did at the point of our death? If I die at 80, will I be eternally an octogenarian in heaven? If a child dies at seven, will he or she bear that likeness throughout eternity? The Scriptures don’t answer these questions. But we are told that we will receive new bodies.
Later in the same chapter, Paul elaborates on the idea of our new, resurrected bodies. He wants to address the confusion and concerns the Corinthians have over the whole idea of dead bodies being given new life.
But someone may ask, “How will the dead be raised? What kind of bodies will they have?” What a foolish question! When you put a seed into the ground, it doesn’t grow into a plant unless it dies first. And what you put in the ground is not the plant that will grow, but only a bare seed of wheat or whatever you are planting. – 1 Corinthians 15:35-37 NLT
The point is that there is a body made for this earth and a body that God has intended for eternity. Our earthly bodies are designed to wear out, die, and decompose. But our heavenly bodies will be eternal and indestructible. He goes on to explain the difference.
Our earthly bodies are planted in the ground when we die, but they will be raised to live forever. Our bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies. For just as there are natural bodies, there are also spiritual bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:43-44 NLT
The designated day on which we will receive our heavenly bodies is at the resurrection of the dead, an event that has yet to take place. It is on that occasion that God will consummate His redemptive plan. Paul states that the “last enemy to be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26 ESV). With the resurrection of our bodies, we will no longer be susceptible to death. We will experience eternal life, free from all fear of death, physical or spiritual.
In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul offered them hope regarding the reality of the resurrection of the dead.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died.
We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words. –
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NLT
When Paul refers to the dead believers rising from their graves, he is talking about their newly resurrected bodies, not their souls. Their souls have been with God in heaven since their death. But they, along with all those who are alive when the Lord returns, will be given their newly glorified bodies that are imperishable and incorruptible.
For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. – 1 Corinthians 15:53 NLT
The truth is, there will be a resurrection from the dead, and Jesus was the firstfruits, “the first of a great harvest of all who have died” (1 Corinthians 15:20 NLT). His resurrection gives us confidence and hope that we, too, will share that same fate. We will experience resurrection just as He did, and that will take place when He returns for His church at the rapture. Paul described the scene in his first letter to the Thessalonians.
…we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. – 1 Thessalonians 4:17 NLT
This will be followed by the seven years of the Tribulation, which will culminate with the second coming of Christ. Then the millennial Kingdom of Christ will begin, when He will rule for a thousand years on earth, bringing everyone and everything under His subjection. At the end of that period of time, He will turn over all power and authority to God the Father. Satan will be defeated once and for all, and the reign of sin and death will end.
That is the truth, and it should bring us hope, joy, and confidence in the future. God’s will will be done. Christ’s mission will be completed. And we will be resurrected.
Father, Paul said that “in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2 BSB). He’s right. The older I get, the more I realize that my earthly body is nothing more than a temporary vessel that houses my eternal soul. It isn’t meant to last and that becomes increasingly clear with each passing birthday. Sickness, injury, disease, and death are constant realities. But You have another reality in store for those of us who have placed our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of Your Son. We will experience the same miraculous resurrection and glorification that He did. He was the first, but we will be part of the countless host of faithful followers who will be as He is. “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own” (Philippians 3:21 NLT). Thank You for the assurance and hope we have in Jesus because You raised Him from the dead and one day He is coming back. Amen
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.