How will we be raised to life? What is the resurrection from the dead? Paul continues. There is a difference between the natural body, and the spiritual body. We see this represented in the first Adam, and the second Adam–Christ.
“If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth; the second man is of heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man” 1 Cor 15:44-49.
Paul compares the two Adams as they are the book ends of life, faith, and humanity. It’s not the only time he has done this.
“But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!” (Rom 5:15-17).
Back to our primary text. The first Adam was of the earth, natural, and perishable. God breathed into him life. Ultimately, though, that body of the first Adam will die.
Jesus, on the other hand, is not like the first Adam. He is spirit. He came from heaven. Then he clothed himself with a body. His body will die, but His spirit is eternal.
What about us?
We are like the first Adam – of the earth, natural, and perishable. But for those in Christ, we have been literally made alive in Christ in our spirits:
“In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom 6:11).
“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!” Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit” (John 3:4-6).
Because we are born again, and made alive in our spirits with Christ, we become like him. Therefore our earthly bodies will perish, but like Christ, are spiritual self will be raised, like Christ’s, to become imperishable. Jesus is the “life-giving spirit.”
“And just as we have borne the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the image of the heavenly man” 1 Cor 15:49.
So for the Corinthian questioners, know that there is a resurrection from the dead. We will indeed be raised to life in Christ. Why? Because bear the image of the heavenly man.