For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
Since one man Adam brought death to all by transgression and fall, one man Jesus Christ as the second Adam brings resurrection, life and immortality to all. Only the Son of God who created man could make atonement, for the law could not be changed to meet man fallen and even an angel's life could not suffice. As King of glory He stood in Adam's place, took fallen nature, passed over the same ground where Adam fell and overcame the foe who had triumphed over Adam. Where Adam surrendered on appetite and brought disgrace, Christ resisted every temptation in the wilderness and vanquished the enemy at every point, opening the way for all who believe to overcome through His merits and grace. He gave His life and fell into the ground like wheat to rise as firstfruits of a great harvest, and His resurrection is the sample, pattern, pledge and assurance that at His return He will call all who sleep in Him to immortal life with identity preserved and bodies glorified and healed.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
Death came by man through Adam's fall and transgression from perfect happiness into misery, wretchedness and sin, bringing a heavy curse upon the whole human race with death as the portion of all. That disobedience cut off access to the tree of life and made death and reconciliation with God necessary. Resurrection and restoration come by man through Jesus Christ as the second man and the second Adam, bringing life, immortality, redemption and reconciliation with God through His own death. As death came by Adam, resurrection from the dead comes by Christ in Adam's place.
The man who brings the resurrection is the Son of God who created man, and only He could make atonement for transgression. The law of Jehovah is the foundation of His government in heaven as well as upon earth, and not one precept could be abrogated or changed to meet man in his fallen condition. Even the life of an angel could not be accepted as a sacrifice. As King of glory He humbled Himself to fallen humanity, stood in Adam's place, placed His feet in Adam's steps, took man's fallen nature, passed over the same ground where Adam fell, and met the strong foe who triumphed over Adam and overcame him.
Adam brought death and disgrace to the race by failure and surrender on the point of appetite. Christ as Prince of Life and Captain of salvation redeemed that failure by meeting temptation in the wilderness and gaining the victory Adam failed to gain, resisting every temptation on appetite where Adam fell and vanquishing the fallen foe at every point. There would be no salvation if Christ had been as weak in moral power as man. By that firm victory He opened the way for all who believe on Him to be redeemed from the disgrace of Adam's failure and fall. By that victory He placed the human family on vantage ground with God, making it possible for each person to overcome in his own behalf through the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour, with divine grace and strength through His name.
This hope of life and immortality through Jesus the promised Redeemer was taught to Adam, repeated by Seth, and fully exemplified by Enoch, clearing away darkness and gloom. It was given lest men become discouraged and ask what profit there is in keeping God's ordinances and walking mournfully before Him when death is the portion of all. Christ died for the ungodly to work out the plan of salvation, and He was as much the Saviour of Abraham and all the patriarchs and prophets as He is now. There was no hope for them any more than now except by believing in Him as the Lamb slain for the sins of the whole world.
Christ's Resurrection as Firstfruits Pattern
Jesus had to give up his life and fall into the ground like a kernel of wheat in order not to abide alone, but to rise again as the first-fruits of a great harvest. Risen from the dead, he is the antitype of the sheaf of the first fruits come forth from the grave, a living Saviour no longer to be mourned as dead. His death makes possible the gathering of the Gentiles and of all nations, tongues, and people.
Christ died and rose as the first-fruits, and as Life-giver he will call from their graves all the dead who are united with him by faith. That calling will produce a glorious harvest of ripe grain for the heavenly garner. In the gospel of his death and resurrection and of the resurrection of the dead, life and immortality are brought to light and the kingdom of heaven is opened to all believers.
His personal resurrection answers the death that came through humanity, for death came by the first man and resurrection from the dead comes by the second man, the second Adam. The devil held the power of death, but Christ met him on his own territory in death and the grave, himself felt the pangs of death, and conquered him by rising. By experiencing death and rising from the grave he defeated Satan's power and rose to sit at the right hand of the Father with all power in heaven and on earth. Therefore death is robbed of its stinging despair and terror for the Christian.
At his resurrection he shook the prison-house of the enemy to its foundations and brought up a company of the sleeping dead as spoils and trophies of his victory. Those raised were an earnest of the resurrection to come. His resurrection is the sample, pattern, pledge, and assurance of the final resurrection of the righteous dead who sleep in him at his second coming and return. At his return God's voice will reach the graves, and Christ will call the righteous dead to immortal life. That resurrection is the final conquest of death, the last enemy, and completes the work of redemption.
As the risen Saviour kept his familiar appearance, body, manner, deportment, voice, and accents of speech so his followers knew him, so those who sleep in Jesus will rise again in like manner. Their individual identity will be perfectly preserved, and friends will know each other even as the disciples knew Jesus, recognizing the features of those they love. They will recognize loved ones and be recognized, with faces radiant with light shining from the face of Jesus. Though mortal bodies may have been deformed, diseased, or disfigured, the resurrected bodies will be glorified, restored, and healed of all deformity, disease, and disfigurement of this mortal life. Identity does not require the same matter composing the mortal body, for identity lies in organization, not in identical particles.
His raising from the dead establishes him as the True Witness sent from God to reveal the Father and proves the resurrection of everyone who believes in Jesus. His words must therefore be believed and revered as verity and truth because he is divine and speaks what he knows, not because they harmonize with preconceived opinions. His resurrection and ascension assure the saints' triumph over death and the grave. He represents the human race before the Father, and his ascent is a pledge that heaven is open to those who have washed their characters clean in the blood of the Lamb.
Hope Doctrine and Restoration
The verse belongs to Paul's teaching on the literal resurrection of the dead, a doctrine central to Christian hope. That hope has been obscured by the belief that the righteous receive full glory at death, which makes preaching the resurrection seem unnecessary. The resurrection argument is joined to the question of what body the dead will have, for the matter composing the mortal body does not have to be the same matter composing the immortal body, since identity lies in organization and not in identical particles.
His resurrection is the greatest message ever given to the world, glad tidings on which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend. He is risen as the antitype of the sheaf of the first fruits come forth from the grave, a living Saviour no longer to be mourned as dead. As death came by man, so the resurrection of the dead also comes by man, Jesus Christ. He died for the ungodly to work out the plan of salvation, and He was as much the Saviour of Abraham and all the patriarchs and prophets as He is now, with no hope for them any more than now except by believing in Him as the Lamb slain for the sins of the whole world. He is not only a crucified Saviour but a risen Saviour who came up from the grave, broke the fetters of the tomb, and paved the way for everyone who trusts in Him to do the same, so His resurrection is their joy and hope in the morning of the resurrection.
Jesus passed through the tomb, making it a place of hope and joy rather than final defeat. Death came through humanity and resurrection comes through Jesus. Those who die in Jesus will be raised, so the living can look forward to meeting them again.
What humanity lost through the first Adam is restored through Christ, the second Adam. Christ's sacrifice pays sin's penalty and recovers the dominion humanity forfeited. The earth will be renewed, freed from sin and sorrow, and become the eternal home of the redeemed. Christ's resurrection and ascension assure the saints' triumph over death and the grave. Christ represents the human race before the Father, and His ascent is a pledge that heaven is open to those who have washed their characters clean in the blood of the Lamb. God will bring those who reflect Christ's image to see and share His glory.
Through Adam's fall from perfect happiness, death and misery with a heavy curse came upon the whole human race, yet through Jesus the promised Redeemer would come life and immortality. This hope was taught to Adam, repeated by Seth, and fully exemplified by Enoch, clearing away darkness and gloom lest men become discouraged and ask what profit there is in keeping God's ordinances and walking mournfully before the Lord when death is the portion of all. Enoch proves that even while living among a corrupt and openly rebellious people, those who obey God and have faith in the promised Redeemer can work righteousness like Enoch, be accepted of God, and finally be exalted to His heavenly throne.
Since one man Adam brought death to all by transgression and fall, one man Jesus Christ as the second Adam brings resurrection, life and immortality to all. Only the Son of God who created man could make atonement, for the law could not be changed to meet man fallen and even an angel's life could not suffice. As King of glory He stood in Adam's place, took fallen nature, passed over the same ground where Adam fell and overcame the foe who had triumphed over Adam. Where Adam surrendered on appetite and brought disgrace, Christ resisted every temptation in the wilderness and vanquished the enemy at every point, opening the way for all who believe to overcome through His merits and grace. He gave His life and fell into the ground like wheat to rise as firstfruits of a great harvest, and His resurrection is the sample, pattern, pledge and assurance that at His return He will call all who sleep in Him to immortal life with identity preserved and bodies glorified and healed.
Death Through Adam, Life Through Christ
Death came by man through Adam's fall and transgression from perfect happiness into misery, wretchedness and sin, bringing a heavy curse upon the whole human race with death as the portion of all. That disobedience cut off access to the tree of life and made death and reconciliation with God necessary. Resurrection and restoration come by man through Jesus Christ as the second man and the second Adam, bringing life, immortality, redemption and reconciliation with God through His own death. As death came by Adam, resurrection from the dead comes by Christ in Adam's place.
The man who brings the resurrection is the Son of God who created man, and only He could make atonement for transgression. The law of Jehovah is the foundation of His government in heaven as well as upon earth, and not one precept could be abrogated or changed to meet man in his fallen condition. Even the life of an angel could not be accepted as a sacrifice. As King of glory He humbled Himself to fallen humanity, stood in Adam's place, placed His feet in Adam's steps, took man's fallen nature, passed over the same ground where Adam fell, and met the strong foe who triumphed over Adam and overcame him.
Adam brought death and disgrace to the race by failure and surrender on the point of appetite. Christ as Prince of Life and Captain of salvation redeemed that failure by meeting temptation in the wilderness and gaining the victory Adam failed to gain, resisting every temptation on appetite where Adam fell and vanquishing the fallen foe at every point. There would be no salvation if Christ had been as weak in moral power as man. By that firm victory He opened the way for all who believe on Him to be redeemed from the disgrace of Adam's failure and fall. By that victory He placed the human family on vantage ground with God, making it possible for each person to overcome in his own behalf through the merits of the crucified and risen Saviour, with divine grace and strength through His name.
This hope of life and immortality through Jesus the promised Redeemer was taught to Adam, repeated by Seth, and fully exemplified by Enoch, clearing away darkness and gloom. It was given lest men become discouraged and ask what profit there is in keeping God's ordinances and walking mournfully before Him when death is the portion of all. Christ died for the ungodly to work out the plan of salvation, and He was as much the Saviour of Abraham and all the patriarchs and prophets as He is now. There was no hope for them any more than now except by believing in Him as the Lamb slain for the sins of the whole world.
Christ's Resurrection as Firstfruits Pattern
Jesus had to give up his life and fall into the ground like a kernel of wheat in order not to abide alone, but to rise again as the first-fruits of a great harvest. Risen from the dead, he is the antitype of the sheaf of the first fruits come forth from the grave, a living Saviour no longer to be mourned as dead. His death makes possible the gathering of the Gentiles and of all nations, tongues, and people.
Christ died and rose as the first-fruits, and as Life-giver he will call from their graves all the dead who are united with him by faith. That calling will produce a glorious harvest of ripe grain for the heavenly garner. In the gospel of his death and resurrection and of the resurrection of the dead, life and immortality are brought to light and the kingdom of heaven is opened to all believers.
His personal resurrection answers the death that came through humanity, for death came by the first man and resurrection from the dead comes by the second man, the second Adam. The devil held the power of death, but Christ met him on his own territory in death and the grave, himself felt the pangs of death, and conquered him by rising. By experiencing death and rising from the grave he defeated Satan's power and rose to sit at the right hand of the Father with all power in heaven and on earth. Therefore death is robbed of its stinging despair and terror for the Christian.
At his resurrection he shook the prison-house of the enemy to its foundations and brought up a company of the sleeping dead as spoils and trophies of his victory. Those raised were an earnest of the resurrection to come. His resurrection is the sample, pattern, pledge, and assurance of the final resurrection of the righteous dead who sleep in him at his second coming and return. At his return God's voice will reach the graves, and Christ will call the righteous dead to immortal life. That resurrection is the final conquest of death, the last enemy, and completes the work of redemption.
As the risen Saviour kept his familiar appearance, body, manner, deportment, voice, and accents of speech so his followers knew him, so those who sleep in Jesus will rise again in like manner. Their individual identity will be perfectly preserved, and friends will know each other even as the disciples knew Jesus, recognizing the features of those they love. They will recognize loved ones and be recognized, with faces radiant with light shining from the face of Jesus. Though mortal bodies may have been deformed, diseased, or disfigured, the resurrected bodies will be glorified, restored, and healed of all deformity, disease, and disfigurement of this mortal life. Identity does not require the same matter composing the mortal body, for identity lies in organization, not in identical particles.
His raising from the dead establishes him as the True Witness sent from God to reveal the Father and proves the resurrection of everyone who believes in Jesus. His words must therefore be believed and revered as verity and truth because he is divine and speaks what he knows, not because they harmonize with preconceived opinions. His resurrection and ascension assure the saints' triumph over death and the grave. He represents the human race before the Father, and his ascent is a pledge that heaven is open to those who have washed their characters clean in the blood of the Lamb.
Hope Doctrine and Restoration
The verse belongs to Paul's teaching on the literal resurrection of the dead, a doctrine central to Christian hope. That hope has been obscured by the belief that the righteous receive full glory at death, which makes preaching the resurrection seem unnecessary. The resurrection argument is joined to the question of what body the dead will have, for the matter composing the mortal body does not have to be the same matter composing the immortal body, since identity lies in organization and not in identical particles.
His resurrection is the greatest message ever given to the world, glad tidings on which the hopes of the human family for time and for eternity depend. He is risen as the antitype of the sheaf of the first fruits come forth from the grave, a living Saviour no longer to be mourned as dead. As death came by man, so the resurrection of the dead also comes by man, Jesus Christ. He died for the ungodly to work out the plan of salvation, and He was as much the Saviour of Abraham and all the patriarchs and prophets as He is now, with no hope for them any more than now except by believing in Him as the Lamb slain for the sins of the whole world. He is not only a crucified Saviour but a risen Saviour who came up from the grave, broke the fetters of the tomb, and paved the way for everyone who trusts in Him to do the same, so His resurrection is their joy and hope in the morning of the resurrection.
Jesus passed through the tomb, making it a place of hope and joy rather than final defeat. Death came through humanity and resurrection comes through Jesus. Those who die in Jesus will be raised, so the living can look forward to meeting them again.
What humanity lost through the first Adam is restored through Christ, the second Adam. Christ's sacrifice pays sin's penalty and recovers the dominion humanity forfeited. The earth will be renewed, freed from sin and sorrow, and become the eternal home of the redeemed. Christ's resurrection and ascension assure the saints' triumph over death and the grave. Christ represents the human race before the Father, and His ascent is a pledge that heaven is open to those who have washed their characters clean in the blood of the Lamb. God will bring those who reflect Christ's image to see and share His glory.
Through Adam's fall from perfect happiness, death and misery with a heavy curse came upon the whole human race, yet through Jesus the promised Redeemer would come life and immortality. This hope was taught to Adam, repeated by Seth, and fully exemplified by Enoch, clearing away darkness and gloom lest men become discouraged and ask what profit there is in keeping God's ordinances and walking mournfully before the Lord when death is the portion of all. Enoch proves that even while living among a corrupt and openly rebellious people, those who obey God and have faith in the promised Redeemer can work righteousness like Enoch, be accepted of God, and finally be exalted to His heavenly throne.