We Will Be Raised from Death

¹² It is preached that Christ was raised from death. So why do some of you say that people will not be raised from death? ¹³ If no one will ever be raised from death, then Christ was not raised from death. ¹⁴ And if Christ was not raised, then our preaching is worth nothing. And your faith is worth nothing. ¹⁵ And also, we will be guilty of lying about God. Because we have preached about him by saying that he raised Christ from death. And if people are not raised from death, then God never raised Christ from death. ¹⁶ If the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised either. ¹⁷ And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is for nothing; you are still guilty of your sins. ¹⁸ And also, those in Christ who have already died are lost. ¹⁹ If our hope in Christ is for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone else in the world.

²⁰ But Christ has truly been raised from death—the first one and proof that those who are asleep in death will also be raised. ²¹ Death comes to everyone because of what one man did. But the rising from death also happens because of one man. ²² In Adam all of us die. In the same way, in Christ all of us will be made alive again. ²³ But everyone will be raised to life in the right order. Christ was first to be raised. When Christ comes again, those who belong to him will be raised to life. ²⁴ Then the end will come. Christ will destroy all rulers, authorities, and powers. And he will give the kingdom to God the Father. ²⁵ Christ must rule until God puts all enemies under Christ’s control. ²⁶ The last enemy to be destroyed will be death.

⁵⁰ I tell you this, brothers: Flesh and blood cannot have a part in the kingdom of God. A thing that will ruin cannot have a part in something that never ruins. ⁵¹ But listen, I tell you this secret: We will not all die, but we will all be changed. ⁵² It will only take a second. We will be changed as quickly as an eye blinks. This will happen when the last trumpet sounds. The trumpet will sound and those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we will all be changed. ⁵³ This body that will ruin must clothe itself with something that will never ruin. And this body that dies must clothe itself with something that will never die. ⁵⁴ So this body that ruins will clothe itself with that which never ruins. And this body that dies will clothe itself with that which never dies. When this happens, then this Scripture will be made true:

⁵⁶ Death’s power to hurt is sin. The power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But we thank God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.