22For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. 23But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. 25For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 26The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
This passage dovetails nicely with Romans 5:18, which we discussed on Sunday, August 31st.
Here we see Paul laying out for us essentially a staged salvation plan. First, Christ Himself is raised, then, comes we who believe. Then on the Last Day, Death is the last enemy defeated.
I take this to clearly mean that Christ is the first sign of God's plan; then comes the Christians, his foot soldiers carrying the gospel, then, in the end, EVERYONE. Note 1 Corinithians 15: 22: he says in Christ ALL will be made alive; as in Adam all die. Once again we see the legal proof, almost mathematical. The total of mankind is doomed through Adam; the totality of mankind is saved through Christ.
Once again we see the divine mathematics of God's way. In man, we can really only have FINITE Sin. There are only so many people, so many years, so many sins. Even the effect of sin is some finite (although VERY LARGE) number. Christ, however, being 100% God and 100% man, is infinite crossing finite. Therefore, his atonement is infinite. Infinite atonement trumps finite sin, and even has extra for a song and dance number.
Now, take this joy with you and go love your neighbor!
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