(1Co 15:20) “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”  “Firstfruits” speaks of the tithe which is always God’s (Ex 23:19). Jesus is God and God’s. Glory! Our salvation which includes a physical resurrection is based upon the Lord God placing us “in Christ”: His death, our death; His life; our life. Therefore the saved are also the “firstfruits” of the resurrection!

(1Co 15:19) “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.”  If Jesus’ death does not save us from hell, then we are still in a state of condemnation and wrath before God; death remains a dread to thought; we are miserable indeed!

(1 Cor 15:18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”   Dead described as “sleep” is only used for the saved. It speaks of the body coming back to life some day – the resurrection. It by no means indicated the soul is sleeping. In Second Corinthians it plainly says, “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

(1Co 15:16) “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:…. (18) Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.”  If Jesus remained a corpse, so would all others, even though they believed in Him. We are promised a future resurrection because our Lord’s body rose alive from the grave. All of our hope: payment for our sin – thus forgiven; our soul’s presence in heaven upon our body’s death; and the hope of a future resurrection of our body is all based upon Jesus’ resurrection from the dead!

(1Co 15:16) “For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: (17)  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”  Since the Believer in the salvation experience is literally put “in” Christ Jesus, if He had remained in the grave we would have been no better off. His victory was over death itself, for He had never transgressed the law of God, neither in action nor the spirit of. His death paid our debt, His victory brought us forth to everlasting life.

(1Co 15:15) “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.”  To deny the resurrection of Christ Jesus is to call, not just the person taking the time to share the gospel with you, but also to call God a liar. He gave us plain testimony as to the reality of this event.

(1Co 15:13) “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: (14)  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.”  Why? If the grave held the Lord Jesus, it would indicate that He was under the curse, paying for His Own sin. The only way He could pay for ours is if He were sinless: “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom 6:23) and (Jas_2:10” “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”

(1Co 15:12) “Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?”  Ask yourself, when you hear the gospel given, how often does it include the resurrection? I would say, “Ninety-six percent or higher of the time, it is not.” Yet, that is the gospel (v.3-4). I wonder if it would be more effective and blessed by God if we made sure we gave it all?