1 Corinthians 15:21
“For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.”
What does 1 Corinthians 15:21 mean?
Paul is drawing a parallel between two pivotal moments in human history: Adam's sin brought death into the world, and now Jesus, the second Adam, brings resurrection and new life. Just as one man's choice affected all of humanity, so one man's victory over death reshapes what's possible for everyone else. This isn't saying we earn our own resurrection, but rather that what seemed impossible and permanent (death's reign) has been broken open by a single person who defeated it. If you're carrying grief or fear about death, Paul is pointing to something that changed the equation entirely.