Hi Lee
I'm not convinced from this scripture that Paul is viewing this meaning that ALL will be saved Lee mainly because that would ignore FREE WILL CHOICE.
There were some in the church at Corinth that believed and were teaching a doctrine that there was NO resurrection from the dead.
1 Cor 15:12-13
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. (NIV)
Now we MUST UNDERSTAND that Paul is addressing "BELIEVERS" but believers that are teaching a false teaching. Paul says clearly, that IF there is no resurrection then the "apostles" would be false teachers.
1 Cor 15:15-16
15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. (NIV)
I believe Paul was stressing the importance TO BELIEVERS that if they didn't believe in the resurrection of the dead they would ALSO be ETERNALLY LOST.
1 Cor 15:17-18
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.
18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. (NIV)
So what I believe Paul says is that Christ is the FIRSTFRUITS of those believers who will rise from the dead. He doesn't say that there will no longer be any LOST. While it is true that Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of ALL mankind, according to the context of ALL the Scriptures this redemption is ONLY APPLIED to them that believe.
1 Cor 15:20-23
20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.
22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.
23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (NIV)
At the endtime ALL the kingdoms of THIS WORLD, and their authority and power WILL BE destroyed and put UNDER HIS RULE and finally to the Father.
1 Cor 15:24-25
24 Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power.
25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. (NIV)
The final enemy will be death. IOW no longer will people die.
1 Cor 15:26
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (NIV)
Finally, after ALL things are put under Christ, then ALL THINGS will be under God.
1 Cor 15:27-28
27 For he "has put everything under his feet." Now when it says that "everything" has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ.
28 When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. (NIV)
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”~~~~Edmund Burke
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