In 1 Cor 15:20 Jesus rose from the dead and became the “firstborn” of those that sleep.
There were several people including Lazarus (Jn 11) and the widows child in the Old Testament (1 Kings 17:17-24) that were physically raised. Paul here however further defines Jesus as the first person resurrected from “sleep”.
Verse 34 defines this “sleeping” condition as the condition of willful “sin”,1 Thess 5:6, Php 3:10-11. Meaning that the person has not confessed the sin and sought forgiveness.
1Th 5:6 ¶ Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
Php 3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
1Co 15:20 ¶ But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept.
Immediately after His crucifixion He told Mary not to touch Him (Jn 20:17), but then later in the chapter He told Thomas to touch Him, Jn 20:27.
After His ascension, His incorruption seems to have become more resistant to contact with corruption, since Jesus then encouraged Thomas to touch Him. After the resurrection but before His ascension, that appears not to have been the case.
The condition before His and ascension is referred to as corruptible.
Importantly He experienced this incorruption on earth and as a man.
As a man, He was subject to possible corruption. Then He ascended and the condition of incorruption appears to have become a more stable condition, in which Jesus was not effected by contact with uncleanness, Lev 5:2 and 2 Cor 6:17.
Jesus experienced this “sleeping” condition only He became “sin” for us, and He asked the Father why He was forsaken, Mathew 27:46 and Mark 15:34.
Being in the likeness of a man (Rm 8:3), Jesus could have been corrupted by sin, but He personally defeated the power of the Devil, Heb 2:13 and 1 Jn 3:8.
Mankind moves from corruptible to incorruptible.
Jesus did not experience corruption, Ps 16:10, Acts 2:31, Ac 13:35.
He became sin for us (2 Cor 5:21) and experienced Gods judgment upon our corruption. He was the first man to be resurrected from separation from God, or the “spiritual death” inherited from Adam, Gen 2:17.
2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
We can be corrupted by sin and involved in the metaphorical “sleeping ” condition.
In 1 Cor 15:23 those who follow Christ Jesus are similarly resurrected, when Jesus “comes” into their Hearts, Acts 3:20 and John 14:23.
1 Cor 15:29 asks the question – Why are people being baptized for the dead and identifying with the death of Jesus?
Ro 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
Christians are to imitate Jesus and condemn sin in the flesh.
He ( Paul) dies daily and then in verse 32 sights as proof of this dying, his fighting with beasts (carnal influences).
In verse 34 He says to awake to righteousness and sin not.
When all our sin has been forgiven we can be sinless and “Awake” as Jesus was.
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 are about the spiritual transformation of a Christian. Specifically, their transformation from corruptible to incorruptible.
In verse 51 we see that a Christian can overcome the flesh nature, or they can sleep (1 Thess 5:10).
Either way, they will live with Jesus based on their faith in Him, 1 Thess 5:10. Paul again alludes to this process in Phil 3:9-16.
The method that the Corinthians must employ to put on immortality of spirit can be seen in verse 52.
The Greek word translated “twinkling” (Strong’s #4493) can mean “to cast”.
The word translated “in a moment” (Strong’s Greek word # 823) can mean “undivided”.
This transformation is accomplished through an undivided gaze at Jesus.
The “undivided casting of the eye” or uninterrupted attention directed towards the sound of the trumpet will bring about this transformation.
Just as Peter walked on the water as long as His attention was fixed upon Jesus, Matt 14:25-33.
The trumpet is of course the message or voice of Christ, as can be seen from Revelation 1:10.
An undivided “casting of the eye” “or gaze” at Jesus will bring about the transformation from corruptible to incorruptible.
This is the process of a Christian being conformed into the “image” of incorruption or the image of Christ Jesus.
Verse 54 shows that while we are mortal (our present condition) we must put on immortality. This shows that it happens during this lifetime and not after physical death.
Verses 55-58 indicate that this transformation happens progressively as the Christian stops sinning.
In verse 58 He says to “work” to put on incorruption. This labor is lifelong and difficult but we are to walk as Jesus walked and resist sin until our death.
Heb 12:4 ¶ In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
(RSV)
This is the labor or work we are to do. Many say we do not have to “work” to obtain salvation, but they are incorrect, as 1 Cor 15:58 illustrates. The difficulty people have with this concept is cleared up in one statement. “We are not capable of doing any “work” which will do what Grace does”, Titus 2:11-12. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness.
We can’t teach ourselves to deny ungodliness, but we must maintain our faith, Heb 4:11.
Our struggle against sin means we must maintain our faith. In response to our faith God gives us His grace which teaches us How to do what we cannot do by ourselves. This is why Jesus says “Repent (of your unbelief) and believe”, Mk 1:14-15.
Heb 4:11 ¶ Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.
A very important distinction here is that salvation means being saved from God’s wrath against ungodliness, and is based on our actions, Rm 1:18.
Just because a Christian is not saved from God’s wrath in a particular situation does not mean that the Christian person will lose “Eternal Life”. We will not “all” metaphorically “sleep” or willfully sin, but we will all be changed and receive eternal life. This is the point of 1 Thess 5:10 and 1 Cor 15:51.
A Christians “Eternal life” is based on faith, not “being free from sin”.
If they maintain “faith” through the wrath or discipline brought about by willful sin, they will still receive Eternal life.
If the ungodly activity is a mistake, then they can be forgiven upon confession of the sin.
If on the other hand, the ungodly activity is “willful” and continued they will not be saved from God’s wrath. They will have to experience God’s wrath/judgment, based on Heb 9:28 and 1 Cor 11:32. They will so to speak be “saved through fire”,1 Cor 3:15.
God’s grace teaches them to deny ungodliness and stop sinning, Titus 2:11-12. This is how Christian’s “put on incorruption” or “Christ”, they fix their eyes on Jesus.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:16 we see the same sort of trumpet blown. This time the sound of the trumpet (more specifically the intervention of the Lord) is used to “wake” the “sleeping” or willfully sinful Christian.
In verse 58 Paul tells those He is writing to that their labor is not in vain. Whether they completely overcome the flesh nature or not their labor towards that end or goal is not in vain, Phil 3:9-16.
The willfully sinful “sleeping” brother or sister in Christ is awakened in 1 Thess 4:13 -5:8 (they stop the willful sin).
They do this through the Lord’s intervention or “discipline”. This time of discipline is referred to as the “Day of the Lord”, 1 Cor 11:32.
A Christian’s personal transformation from corruptible to incorruptible can resume when they stop willful sin.
After the discipline the Christian who has stopped willfully sinning joins the brethren who “remained” faithful to Christ. Those “remaining in the coming/presence of the Lord” had successfully resisted willfully sinning in the first place.
This process, which can be referred to as “discipline for correction”, happens during this present life on earth.