Two Men: The resurrection of Christ and its blessing are only appreciated when we properly perceive our own problem of death. Death is a reality for all of humanity. As those who descend from Adam, we all die (v22). Even the very first human genealogy reveals that, like Adam, all died.^{^[1]} The greatest champion among men is no match for death and its sting. No matter how strong, wealthy, or smart we are, we are all subject to the sentence of death because we all come from Adam. We are, therefore, sinners guilty before the holy God. But God has provided another man, “the last Adam” who unlike the first gives life (v45). Indeed, all who are “Christ’s” will like Him be raised from the dead when He comes (v23). Christ is the firstfruits, and we the harvest after Him (v20). All who belong to Christ (“Christ’s”) trust and follow Him as sheep their shepherd and their eternity is secure (John 10:26-30). They are now His bride and He their groom (Eph. 5:23-24). In this spiritual union with Christ (Eph. 5:31-32), they share in all that is His, even His victory over death.

Victory: We like Him will rise immortal and imperishable (v53). As glorified saints, we will inherit God’s imperishable kingdom (v50). Because Christ died for our sins (v3) and took the sting of death, no judgment remains for us in death. Jesus fully satisfied the law’s just demand for payment (v55-56; Col. 2:14). All who are Christ’s are justified in Him (Rom. 3:24; 5:1, 9; 8:30; Gal. 2:16). Death no longer is loss for us. To die is gain (Phil. 1:21). Absence from the body is presence with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Hallelujah, what a Savior!

[1] Enoch is one exception to this rule because of God’s supernatural intervention (Gen. 5:24; Heb. 11:5). Only one other man experienced this immediate translation into heaven without death: Elijah (2 Kings 2:11). These two men demonstrate the power of God to rapture and translate the church (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Th. 4:17).