[1Co 15:1-58]
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Paul is about to recall the gospel (good news) of what they experienced. But before he does, he states that what he is about to recall is in which they had received and in which they stand. The conversion that occurred in which you are saved by, unless you believed in vain.
Does this mean that you can lose your salvation if you do not continue to believe? Or that you may not have believed in the first place? This passage is not a place to enter the OSAS argument since it is clear here that the believing was in vain, not wholly, but only in empty confession. It is clear that you believe the gospel and receive it, or you did not actually believe.
Now he is about to recall the scenario of the gospel and what he declared.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Here is what they received: That Jesus died for our sins, was buried (crucified) and rose again in resurrection. But it is the believing (trusting in) that applies it to those who receive. In this the good news is that Jesus provided a worthy sacrifice to redeem us from our sin. And his merit was accepted (proof being resurrection). Romans 10:8,9 explains how it is applied by our confession and believing in our heart in the resurrection for the satisfaction to pay our sins. By fully adhering to and trusting what Jesus did as the offer by God (John 3:16), you are receiving His merit for your righteousness that you fail in the flesh. And thus being “born again” from above (John 3:3).
5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
The witnesses to attest this fact are overwhelming. Two would be considered. But we have more than 500. It would be one thing that people would believe a lie. But how many would stake their life in a lie and risk being persecuted and even martyred over a lie?
Skip v8-10
11 Therefore whether [it were] I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed. 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? 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. 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. 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. 18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
Here Paul establishes the fact that if these people believe in a resurrection that had not happened, then their believing is in vain. And that if Christ had NOT been resurrected, they are still in their sin. This is establishing the necessity of resurrection of Jesus. And also stating that without Him, your standing before God would still be in contempt.
20 But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. 24 Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. 25 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death. 27 For he hath put all things under his feet. But when he saith all things are put under [him, it is] manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. 29 Else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? why are they then baptized for the dead? 30 And why stand we in jeopardy every hour? 31 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. 32 If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. 33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. 34 Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame. 35 But some [man] will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come?
This passage simply makes the case that the resurrection of Jesus as firstfruits is the precedence for us all to be resurrected. Since in Adam all mankind had died in sin, we can be raised like Christ in resurrection (of the spirit and eventually the body). And this gives us power to overcome death (the Bible speaks of death as the second death being one of finality that we have overcome by our believing in Jesus).
In v36 to 41 he explains the differences of flesh. But then how they are sown in corruption.
42 So also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam [was made] a quickening spirit. 46 Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 47 The first man [is] of the earth, earthy: the second man [is] the Lord from heaven. 48 As [is] the earthy, such [are] they also that are earthy: and as [is] the heavenly, such [are] they also that are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Born in the natural does not qualify us to have eternal life. Our body is corruptible. We need to acquire one of incorruption to see the Kingdom of God. And that transformation is only in believing in the firstfruits.
51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality.
In the end ALL in Christ shall be raised for the finality of incorruptible. Shall be changed, and shall escape the second death because the Kingdom of God in spirit cannot receive the flesh.
Now the victory claim.
54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory? 56 The sting of death [is] sin; and the strength of sin [is] the law. 57 But thanks [be] to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
Sin has made us corruptible. Worthy of death (in finality). The flesh cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. But Christ made it possible that we are resurrected unto a new birth to be received by God and be incorruptible, and that we are thankful for our victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And that our labor in this is no in vain.