The Resurrection of the Dead (Or: A Study of 1 Corthinthians 15, called "the resurrection chapter") Jesus is the first to have been risen from the dead, nobody has risen before Him. Not to heaven (John 3:13) or anywhere else. We all remain dead, or asleep until Jesus returns at the earliest. 1 Corinthians 15:20 (NIV) But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. The dead are reussurrected when Jesus returns "when he comes", those who belong to Him first. 1 Corinthians 15:22-23 (NIV) For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. Jesus is the son of God the Father. Jesus is not the Father, but they are separate beings as this verse clearly indicates. The Father is not subject to the Son, but the Son, Jesus, is subject to the Father, and always has been. 1 Corinthians 15:27-28 (NIV) For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. Note that the physical body is perishable, or can die and decay. But the spiritual body is imperishable and cannot die. We will be resurrected with a spirit body. 1 Corinthians 15:42&44 (NIV) So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. We will bear the same image as Christ, an eternal spirit body. 1 Corinthians 15:49 (NIV) And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man. Fleshly, physical bodies cannot inherit the kingdom of God, we must be spirit beings first, and only the dead in Christ are raised with a spiritual body. 1 Corinthians 15:50 (NIV) I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. We will not all sleep, or die, but we will all be changed from perishable (flesh) to imperishable (spirit). The reason why we will not all die is because some will still be alive when Christ returns, and they will be changed to spirit at that time and will not experience death or "sleep" (most of us will of course). This will happen in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, instantaneously. And it will happen "at the last trump" which is the final trumpet blast at the END of the tribulation (not at the start) when Jesus returns. Verse 53 reiterates the fact that we must clothe ourselves with an imperishable, immortal body, ie; spirit body. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 (NIV) Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. "Grace only, no works"? Clearly we are to work and labourr in the Lord. I agree that it is God's grace that saves us, but this does not eliminate the need to continue to do good works and obey God's commandments. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive, but live in harmony together. 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV) Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. This is a chapter that many ministers who believe in the truth as it is stated in God's word preach from at funerals. It gives the truth about death and gives us hope in Christ for a resurrection in the future to eternal life.