Wednesday May 30, 2018
1 Corinthians 15:21-22 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
DEATH'S CLAIM ON YOU
We tend to think of death as a natural thing. But the Word of God teaches us that God didn't intend that human beings die. He created them to live forever, as perfect, sinless beings. Death came as a result of sin. The Bible says it simply (Romans 5:12): " . . . through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin . . . thus death spread to all men, because all sinned . . ."
Death isn't natural. It came into this world unnaturally. Who is the man responsible for the entrance of death into this world? He is here simply named-- Adam. There is no distinction made, no reference to the fact that Eve first took of the fruit and ate because Adam, who was there, also took and ate. Thus death became reality for all humankind, and the necessity of forgiveness of sins and a resurrection from death became evident.
It is because of the fact that we are descendants of Adam and Eve, sinful human beings, that we also are going to die and be buried. We are born in the image of sinful Adam with a corrupt sinful nature. We prove it on a daily basis by thought, word and action. Therefore temporal death will claim each one of us.
What is worse, because of sin, eternal death has put a claim on each of us. We have earned a spot in hell. We deserve to be separated from God forever. Such would be our sure lot-- except that the Second Adam came, who made the resurrection from death and life eternal reality for those who believe.
Who is the man responsible for the resurrection from death? Who is the one who has removed death's sting and the threat of eternal death? Who is the one by whom believers in Corinth and the world over shall be made alive? It is no mystery. It is Jesus, the Christ.
