Useful Bible Studies > 1 Corinthians Commentary > chapter 15
The Bible often refers to life that never ends. For example, John 3:16; John 6:58; Revelation 21:4. Whether or not a person has that kind of life depends on the person’s relationship with two men: Adam and Christ.
Adam was the first man; all people belong to his family. We read about his kind of life in Genesis 2:7, which Paul refers to. When God created Adam, Adam became a living soul. In other words, he had his own life. He could choose whether or not to obey God. He decided not to obey God, and because of that decision, death entered the world (Genesis 3:19).
Because all people come from Adam’s family, we all have that same kind of natural life. Our bodies are alive for a temporary period, and then they are certain to die. That is the nature of life when a person is separate from God. The Bible teaches that sin (evil deeds) separate people from God (Isaiah 59:2). We are all guilty (Romans 3:23).
In 1 Corinthians 15:45, Paul calls Christ ‘the last Adam’. He means that we can become members of his (Christ’s) family (John 1:12-13; 1 Corinthians 15:48-49; Hebrews 2:11-13). If we invite Christ into our lives, we are born again into his family (John 3:3-17). Then we will receive the same kind of life that Christ received (15:49).
When Christ became alive again after his death, he had a new kind of life. Paul describes that kind of life in 1 Corinthians 15:42-44. Christ could never die again; God gave him honour and power. The life in Christ’s spirit filled his body too. He defeated death in his own body and, in the same way, he will defeat death for all God’s people. They all will receive that same kind of life: life that never ends (15:51-54).
Next part: Natural life, and life from heaven (1 Corinthians 15:46-49)
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© 2014, Keith Simons.