What does 1 Corinthians 15:22 mean?

In describing the implications if there is no resurrection from the dead for Christians, Paul said it would mean Christ had not been raised, either. He did not allow for any possibility that Christ could have been resurrected by God as a one-time, special event.

Now he is showing why that is so by a comparison with the first man, Adam. Adam's sin introduced death into the world. His death became the pattern for all who would follow, because all are born into Adam's sin. Because Adam died, all die. In a similar way, Christ's resurrection from death became the inevitable pattern for all who are forgiven for their sin through faith in Him. Because He was resurrected in His bodily, physical form, all who are in Christ will also be physically resurrected from the grave when the time is right. Paul shows when that time will be in the following verse.