This is a good and important question.  To understand what is being taught here, let’s read 1 Corinthians 15:20-22, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”

Sin entered the world through man…Adam.  It was through him that sin and death came upon everyone.  In order to rectify the work and impact of Adam’s sin upon the world, God sent His Son, Jesus, into the world to die for our sins, be raised from the dead, and bring about the “resurrection of the dead” for all those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, Adam and the Lord Jesus are referred to as Federal Heads.  This means their actions affected others and all who are related to them are impacted by them.  All humanity is related to Adam as the “first man” (1 Corinthians 15:45, 47).  As such, we all have inherited our sinful nature, and we all have died spiritually because of our sins.  We read in Ezekiel 18:4, “…the soul that sinneth, it shall die.” (Also read Ezekiel 18:20). 

We go on to read in verse 22, “…even so in Christ shall all be made alive.”  Your good question is important because some have thought this means that, in due time, all will be made alive.  This cannot be true because the Lord spoke of those who will die in their sins.

  • John 8:24, “I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”
  • John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” 

Isn’t it obvious that not all will be saved?  The Lord’s desire is that everyone would come to Him for salvation.  He truly wants to save everyone.  2 Peter 3:9 tells us, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, NOT WILLING THAT ANY SHOULD PERISH, but that all should come to repentance.”  We learn in Acts 17:30 that God, “…commandeth all men every where to repent.”  But there will be those who will not be saved because of their unbelief as we see in the above verses.

So…how are we to understand the lesson of 1 Corinthians 15:22?  The answer can be found in the tiny word “IN”.  All who have been born are IN Adam and all who are IN Adam shall die.  However, those who are IN Christ “shall be made alive.”  It is those who have put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that are spoken of as being IN Christ.

  • Romans 8:1, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are IN Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:30, “But of him are ye IN Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”
  • 2 Corinthians 5:17, “Therefore if any man be IN Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Every single person throughout history who has put their faith in Christ shall be made alive.  We see, again in 1 Corinthians 15:22, that for those who trust in Christ, “shall ALL be made alive.”  This is another important tiny word…ALL.  No believer will be rejected or left out of God’s eternal blessings.  The Lord Jesus stated in John 6:37, “ALL that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” Matthew 11:28 says, “Come unto me, ALL ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  Indeed, ALL those who are IN Christ Jesus by faith in Him are saved and will dwell with the Lord forever in glory.  (CC)  (715.2)