A NOTE FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL
From 1 Corinthians 15 12-58 NKJ
Note: When you see ..., that means I left out some scriptures to shorten the length of this post. You can read the whole passage in your Bible. The first part of the chapter is valuable, too, because Paul states emphatically that Jesus died and rose from the dead, and then he lists the many witnesses, including 500 at once (probably at his ascension) and then gives his testimony of seeing him.
So here's Paul.
Now if Christ is preached that he has been raised from the dead, how do some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is vain and your faith is also vain.
Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ, whom he did not raise up--if in fact thte dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in you sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the mot pitiable.
BUT now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
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...
THE LAST ENEMY that will be destroyed is death... But someone will say, How are the dead raised up? And with what body will they come?
Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain--perhaps wheat or some other grain. But God gives it a body as he pleases, and to each seed its own body.
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of beasts, another of fish, and another of birds...
So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruptions, it is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body...
BEHOLD I TELL YOU A MYSTERY: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed--in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality.
So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory... "
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
