In this passage, Paul describes the believer’s resurrection, and applies it to the believer’s life. He begins by introducing the mystery, or newly revealed truth, that not all believers will die, but all of them will be changed. This will happen in a moment, as quickly as one’s eye twinkles, and at the last trumpet sound from the holy angels. At that moment, the dead will be raised as imperishable people, and all believers will be changed. The reason for this change is that it is necessary. It is necessary because believer’s current bodies are temporary, and thus, must be turned into eternal bodies. In other words, bodies that can die must be turned into bodies that cannot die. When those things happen, Paul says, death will be finished, conquered, devoid of power, and without any ability to harm any believer. This harm, Paul explains, is sin, and the power behind sin is God’s law. However, God gives believers the victory over death through the Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 58, Paul applies these truths about the resurrection of believers by commanding the Corinthians to persevere, and be immovable in their perseverance, by always striving in their work for the Lord because they know that their hard work is not in vain.

This passage is primarily intended to be read by believers in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you understand the gospel? The Apostle Paul explained it this way:

“. . . I make known unto you brethren, the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye received, wherein also ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if ye hold fast the word which I preached unto you, except ye believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried; and that he hath been raised on the third day according to the scriptures; and that he appeared to Cephas; then to the twelve; then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain until now, but some are fallen asleep; then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to the child untimely born, he appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.”              1 Corinthians 15:1-9

This is what Christ Himself said about the gospel:

“. . . God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” John 3:16-20

John the Baptist said this: “. . . he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on [stays directed toward] him.” – John 3:36

The Apostle Paul said this in Romans 2:4-16:

“. . . despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? but after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up for thyself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life: but unto them that are factious, and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall be wrath and indignation, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that worketh evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek; but glory and honor and peace to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek: for there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law: and as many as have sinned under the law shall be judged by the law; for not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified; (for when Gentiles that have not the law do by nature the things of the law, these, not having the law, are the law unto themselves; in that they show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness therewith, and their thoughts one with another accusing or else excusing them); in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men, according to my gospel, by Jesus Christ.”

This is what you must do to be forgiven by God: repent of the way you think about Christ and your sins, and depend only on Him, the God-man, His death to pay for your sins, and His bodily resurrection from the dead as the only reason for God’s acceptance and forgiveness. As some of Paul’s audience did, if you receive, take your stand in, and entrust your eternity with the Lord Jesus Christ, His death for your sins, and bodily resurrection from the dead, you will be saved.

“. . . if thou shalt confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved: for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek: for the same Lord is Lord of all, and is rich unto all that call upon him: for, Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”                    Romans 10:9-13