1 Corinthians 15:20-23 - Christ has indeed been raised

15:20

Having shown that (i) there is plenty evidence for Christ’s resurrection; (ii) if He did not rise from the dead, then we are all in deep trouble and the gospel is nothing but a sham, Paul returns to the positive, looking at the positive consequences of Christ’s resurrection. Christ has been raised, and He is the first fruits of “those who have fallen asleep”. This latter phrase is referring to those who have died in the faith. So again we see the close link between Christ’s resurrection, and our resurrection. We will be raised in the same way that He was raised.

15:21,22

Christ is now seen as the second Adam. All man’s problems relate back to Adam’s sin. Now, this does not mean we are all the unfortunate victims of Adam’s sin, for we have all sinned multiple times. Adam’s sin has had an effect on all of us in that we live in a fallen world, affecting all people and all of creation. It has also had an effect on all of us that we each have a fallen nature, we are all sinners. So death is an intrinsic part of the human condition. But in Christ life becomes an intrinsic part of the human condition. Instead of death we have life, we become a new creation.

15:23

The immediate question is if we share in His resurrection why haven’t those whom died in faith been raised? Paul says this will happen when Christ returns. So Christ died and was raised from the dead, demonstrating the reality of the resurrection. All who belong to Him will be raised when He returns.