d Rom 4:25]. If mankind was still guilty after Jesus died, his resurrection would neither be possible nor relevant! This explains Acts 10:28 and 2 Cor 5:14 and 16. Acts 17:31 says, “because God had fixed a day on which he would judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.”) 15:18 No resurrection implies no hope for anyone beyond the grave; it makes no difference whether you believed that you were included in Christ’s death or not. 15:19 If our hope in Christ was restricted to only benefit us in this life then imagine the severity of our disappointment if it all had to come to an abrupt end when we died. 15:20 However this very moment the risen Christ represents everyone who has ever died; exactly like the first fruit represents the complete harvest. 15:21

The same mankind who died in a man was raised again in a man. 15:22

In Adam all died;

in Christ all are made alive.

15:23 All are individually made alive in the order of Christ; he is the first fruit and in 1his immediate presence we are personally revealed as his own. (The word 1parousia was often translated to mean the coming of the Lord; however, the two components of the word are, para, a preposition indicating close proximity, a thing proceeding from a sphere of influence, with a suggestion of union of place of residence, to have sprung from its author and giver, originating from, denoting the point from which an action originates, intimate connection; and eimi, I am: his immediate presence realized in me15:24 The complete conclusion in his work of redemption is celebrated in his yielding the full harvest of his reign to God the Father, having 1brought to naught the law of works which supported every definition of dominion under the fall, including all 2principalities, all 3authority and every 4dynamic influence in society. (He brought to naught the law of works, 1katargeo, from kata, meaning intensity, and argos, meaning labor; thus free from all self-effort to attempt to improve what God has already perfected in Christ. All principalities, 2arche, or chief ranks, i.e., kings, governors; this includes any governing system whereby one is ranked above the other on the basis of their performance or preference. All authority, 3exousia, comes from ek, denoting origin and eimi, I am; in this case, because of what I can do I am defined by what I can do better than you; therefore, I have authority over you. Every dynamic influence in society, 4dunamis, means power, in this case, willpower. Every government structure in society will be brought under the dominion of grace where the Christ life rules. The kingdom of God is the authority of the Christ life in ordinary, day to day life, where righteousness is based on who we are and not on who we are trying to impress. The law of works is duty and guilt driven, whereas the law of faith is love driven. Rom 3:27, Gal 5:6. Also 2 Cor 10:12 When they measure themselves by one another, competing and comparing, they are without understanding.) 15:25 His dominion is destined to subdue all hostility and contradiction under his feet. (The lowest part of the human body will equally share in this victory. “The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your foot stool.” [Ps 110:1] Jesus is Lord of Lords; in his victory mankind is restored to lordship; “I say you are gods, all of you are sons of the Most High” [Ps 82:6 RSV].) 15:26 Resurrection life will finally triumph over every definition of death.