"In Christ all shall be made alive" (I Cor. 15:22)
One thing is for sure, all of us have an appointment with death (Heb. 9:27). Our life is like a "vapor" that appears for a little while and poof it "vanishes away" (James 4:14). There's just no way to cheat it. Scripture states, death entered the world through one man's (disobedience) sin, Adam and because of him, death spreads to all men, because all of us, like Adam our father, are sinners (I Cor. 15:21; Rom. 5:12). The "grave" and "sting of death" are morbid thoughts....Our bodies will be separated from life and be buried in the ground. Death is an ending of life and then we must face God's judgement.
Paul begins with the gospel...The Good News!! "Christ died for our sins (on the cross) according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He arose again (came back to life) the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Cor. 15:1-4). Then he states that Christ was "seen" alive by Peter, James , the Apostles, and over five hundred believers at one time. Last of all, Paul exclaims, "He was seen by me" (I Cor. 15: 5-8). This is what we believed and have placed our trust in, the gospel (I Cor. 15:11; Rom. 10:9).
Imagine all the preaching over the years and all those who have professed faith in Christ and have died with the hope of eternal life. If all the stories of Jesus and His resurrection are a total fabrication..."Our preaching (of the gospel) is vain and your faith is also vain (nothing to stand on). Those who have fallen asleep (with a false hope) in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have (this made up) hope in Christ (that He is alive), we are of all men the most miserable and pitable" (I Cor. 15: 14,18-19).
But the fact is, Paul says, "Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits" of those who have died believing in this Hope of Resurrection. This is our hope, all who have placed their trust "in Christ" shall be made to live again (I Cor. 15:22). Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed (transformed)—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Cor. 15: 51-54).
One thing is for sure, all of us have an appointment with death (Heb. 9:27). Our life is like a "vapor" that appears for a little while and poof it "vanishes away" (James 4:14). There's just no way to cheat it. Scripture states, death entered the world through one man's (disobedience) sin, Adam and because of him, death spreads to all men, because all of us, like Adam our father, are sinners (I Cor. 15:21; Rom. 5:12). The "grave" and "sting of death" are morbid thoughts....Our bodies will be separated from life and be buried in the ground. Death is an ending of life and then we must face God's judgement.
Paul begins with the gospel...The Good News!! "Christ died for our sins (on the cross) according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried and that He arose again (came back to life) the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Cor. 15:1-4). Then he states that Christ was "seen" alive by Peter, James , the Apostles, and over five hundred believers at one time. Last of all, Paul exclaims, "He was seen by me" (I Cor. 15: 5-8). This is what we believed and have placed our trust in, the gospel (I Cor. 15:11; Rom. 10:9).
Imagine all the preaching over the years and all those who have professed faith in Christ and have died with the hope of eternal life. If all the stories of Jesus and His resurrection are a total fabrication..."Our preaching (of the gospel) is vain and your faith is also vain (nothing to stand on). Those who have fallen asleep (with a false hope) in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have (this made up) hope in Christ (that He is alive), we are of all men the most miserable and pitable" (I Cor. 15: 14,18-19).
But the fact is, Paul says, "Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits" of those who have died believing in this Hope of Resurrection. This is our hope, all who have placed their trust "in Christ" shall be made to live again (I Cor. 15:22). Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep (die), but we shall all be changed (transformed)—in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Cor. 15: 51-54).
