How does 1 Corinthians 15:21 explain the origin of death and resurrection? The Text at the Center “For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.” (1 Corinthians 15:21) Setting the Stage • Paul is writing to believers in Corinth, clarifying misunderstandings about bodily resurrection. • He anchors his argument in two historical figures—Adam and Jesus—showing how each affects every human being. Death’s Entry Through One Man • Genesis 2:17—God’s clear warning: “for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.” • Genesis 3:6—Adam’s disobedience brings spiritual and physical death into the human experience. • Romans 5:12—“Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin… so death spread to all men.” • Key truth: death is not natural or incidental; it is a direct consequence of Adam’s historic fall. Resurrection’s Arrival Through One Man • 1 Corinthians 15:22—“For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” • Hebrews 2:14—Jesus took on flesh “so that by His death He might destroy him who holds the power of death.” • John 11:25—“I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies.” • Jesus’ bodily resurrection is the firstfruits (1 Corinthians 15:20), pledging that believers will likewise rise. Linked Realities Adam → sin → death Christ → atonement → resurrection The contrast underscores a single storyline: what the first man ruined, the second Man restores. Why It Matters Today • Assurance: Because Christ rose, death is defeated; believers possess a sure future (1 Peter 1:3–4). • Purpose: Life now has eternal significance—“your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). • Hope: Revelation 21:4 points to the ultimate removal of death, sorrow, and pain. Key Takeaways • Death has a historical, moral origin—not evolutionary fate. • Resurrection is likewise historical, secured by Christ’s empty tomb. • Every person stands in one of two realities: in Adam or in Christ. • Faith unites us to the second Man, guaranteeing victory over the grave (Romans 6:23). |
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