Victory in Jesus
Death Has Lost Its Sting, and Sin Has Lost Its Power
SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV - "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
OBSERVATION:
In chapter 15 of Corinthians, Paul spends more time on the resurrection than in any other chapter of the book. He takes 58 verses to lay out the importance of the resurrection and where we would be without it.
The argument among those with great knowledge was that there was no resurrection. The common phrase of the day was “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (vs 32). If there is no resurrection, then why worry about eternity? Death was the finality of all.
Paul would conclude differently!
1 Corinthians 15:16-17 NKJV – For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
If Christ had not died on the cross and the resurrection had not happened three days later, we would still be under the heavy burden of atoning for our sins!
That sting of death would always haunt us, knowing that death would be the end. Sin would reign in our mortal bodies. The Law would prove (as it is intended) that none is righteous, no, not one. We cannot, nor ever will be able to keep it. What hope would we have if there were no resurrection?
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NKJV - "O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?" The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
OBSERVATION:
In chapter 15 of Corinthians, Paul spends more time on the resurrection than in any other chapter of the book. He takes 58 verses to lay out the importance of the resurrection and where we would be without it.
The argument among those with great knowledge was that there was no resurrection. The common phrase of the day was “let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die” (vs 32). If there is no resurrection, then why worry about eternity? Death was the finality of all.
Paul would conclude differently!
1 Corinthians 15:16-17 NKJV – For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!
If Christ had not died on the cross and the resurrection had not happened three days later, we would still be under the heavy burden of atoning for our sins!
That sting of death would always haunt us, knowing that death would be the end. Sin would reign in our mortal bodies. The Law would prove (as it is intended) that none is righteous, no, not one. We cannot, nor ever will be able to keep it. What hope would we have if there were no resurrection?
The sting of death lay in this, that we had sinned and were summoned to appear before the God whom we had offended. This is the sting of death to you, unconverted ones, not that you are dying, but that after death is the judgment, and that you must stand before the Judge of the quick and dead to receive a sentence for the sins which you have committed in your body against him. – Charles Spurgeon.
Romans 6 tells us, “The wages of sin is death!” If that were the end of the verse, how pitiful our lives would be! But because of the resurrection of the dead, Jesus rose! He rose to set the captive free. The rest of Romans 6 says, “But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
I will not fear thee, death, why should I? Thou lookest like a dragon, but thy sting is gone. Thy teeth are broken, oh old lion, wherefore should I fear thee? I know thou art no more able to destroy me, but thou art sent as a messenger to conduct me to the golden gate wherein I shall enter and see my Savior’s unveiled face forever. Expiring saints have often said that their last beds have been the best they have ever slept upon. – Charles Spurgeon.
APPLICATION:
For you and me, because of the resurrection, we no longer have to face the sting of death or be bound by the power of sin!
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have victory in Jesus! In Christ, you will see heaven and be allowed to enter. What amazing grace Jesus has given!
We also, because of the resurrection of Jesus, have the victory He had over sin and death, which means we no longer have to be bound to sin. We can have victory because He was victorious!
That sin you and I struggle with does not have to be your master. It has been defeated! Let us walk in His victory.
Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.
He loved me 'ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the work You did on the cross. Thank You that because You rose, I know I can live in victory over sin and death. One day, I will see You face to face, because death is not the end. Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever!
For you and me, because of the resurrection, we no longer have to face the sting of death or be bound by the power of sin!
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have victory in Jesus! In Christ, you will see heaven and be allowed to enter. What amazing grace Jesus has given!
We also, because of the resurrection of Jesus, have the victory He had over sin and death, which means we no longer have to be bound to sin. We can have victory because He was victorious!
That sin you and I struggle with does not have to be your master. It has been defeated! Let us walk in His victory.
Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever
He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood.
He loved me 'ere I knew Him, and all my love is due Him.
He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the work You did on the cross. Thank You that because You rose, I know I can live in victory over sin and death. One day, I will see You face to face, because death is not the end. Victory in Jesus, my Savior forever!
Because Jesus rose from the dead, we don't just have the hope of heaven — we have victory over sin right now, today.
Posted in 07 - 1 Corinthians
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