"Now if Christ is preached that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?"
Where have I said there is not resurrection of the dead?
Instead of quoting isolated verses out of context, what does this verse mean in context?
1 Corinthians 15:13-20 (KJV) But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
Those whom Paul is addressing, saying there is no resurrection from the dead, apparently did not believe Christ was risen. If that were true than those who had already fallen asleep (died) in Christ have perished. But they have not perished because NOW since Christ has risen from the dead, He is the firstfruits of them that already died.
How does Christ's being the first resurrection from the dead make Him the firstfruits of those who have already physically died?
1 Corinthians 15:21-26 (KJV) 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.
The dead in Christ have not perished, though all of humanity, being in Adam die, in Christ they are made alive. There is an order Christ the firstfruits of the dead (the first resurrection) afterward those of faith that are His at His coming. Those who die in Christ, Paul tells us will be resurrected to physical life when Christ returns. That will not be before the last enemy, that is death is destroyed.
Is Paul saying those who die in Christ are without life until they are physically resurrected from the graves? If he is then why would Christ repeatedly tell His faithful saints that death of our physical body cannot take the eternal life we have in Him? Eternal life means unending, perpetual etc. If Paul is telling us believers who die in Christ shall not live again until Christ come again, he is contradicting Christ and the promise He gives us. Contradiction of Scripture is the hallmark of error!
1 Corinthians 15:27-30 (KJV) 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. And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 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? And why stand we in jeopardy every hour?
Paul makes an interesting argument here. Paul asks why are we baptized for the dead (in the name of Christ) if the dead rise not at all? It makes no sense for us to be baptized into Christ, who is dead, if He is not risen. Paul questions why he would put his life at risk, proclaiming Christ if Christ is not NOW alive.
1 Corinthians 15:31-34 (KJV) I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 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. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
Paul rejoices in Christ, willing to daily give up his life because Christ has NOW risen. There would be no advantage for Paul fighting the good fight of faith if Christ has not risen from the dead. We may as well eat, drink and be merry for this life is all we have, for tomorrow we die and are no more. Paul admonishes us to awake to righteousness, because some will sin because they have not knowledge of God.
1 Corinthians 15:35-38 (KJV) But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body.
Paul now shows us just how the dead in Christ shall be raised up, showing them the two stage process of eternal life in Christ, the first resurrection from the dead. Some want to know how the dead shall be raised. If the body is dead what body will we be raised in? Paul says the body MUST die, but what is quickened (made alive) is not the same body that shall be raised. God will provide a body that pleases Him and to every seed his own body. What does Paul mean by "every seed his own body"?
1 Corinthians 15:39-41 (KJV) All flesh is not the same flesh: but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fishes, and another of birds. There are also celestial bodies, and bodies terrestrial: but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory.
To explain, Paul says that all flesh differs from men, beasts, fishes and birds. Also that there are celestial (heavenly/spiritual) bodies, and terrestrial (earthly/fleshly) but the glory of the celestial (heavenly/spiritual) is one and the glory of the terrestrial (earthly/fleshly) another. One glory of sun, another of moon and star from star differs in glory. All this detail that we might understand the difference between the body of flesh (earthly/of Adam) and the body of Christ (heavenly/spiritual of heaven). When mankind dies he dies being of the natural seed of Adam, earthly of mortal flesh & blood, or he dies being of the Seed of Christ, spiritual, heavenly. This is important information from Paul because every human spirit returns to God when our body dies (Ecc. 12:7).
Continued in the next reply