Death Has Lost It's Sting!
When I was younger I was deathly afraid of bees. Why? Because I had been stung when I was younger and it really hurt. So when I saw bees I generally ran! Today Paul talks about a different kind of sting. The sting of death, which he calls "sin". And then he says the power of sin, comes from the Law. After all, how would we know sin if there wasn't the Law.
Romans 6:23 says something similar when it states, "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus!" But Paul's purpose in 1 Corinthians 15 is not to focus on sin and death, but the victory over sin and death that Jesus brings. And he says quoting Hosea, "where O death is your victory, where is your sting!" I love the term victory. Being a sports fan, there is nothing like the sweet smell of victory. But even greater than victory on earth, is victory over sin, death and the power of the devil. And importantly, that victory came from God through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth, among other reasons, to conquer sin and death.
Finally Paul ends with, "Therefore stand firm and let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of The Lord, because you know your labor is not in vain." Another version says, "be steadfast and immovable always abounding in the work of The Lord!" When Paul says "therefore" it is always important to note what he says after it. In this case, he is saying in lieu of everything I have taught you about the resurrection of Jesus and your own future resurrection, be firm and give yourselves fully to the work of The Lord.
What a great call of the Christian life in response to God's gift of grace in Christ! As you live in the shadow of Easter, where is God calling you to stand firm and be immovable in your faith? Where are you tempted to be the opposite? Where is God calling you to engage in the work of The Lord He has gifted in you? As we realize that death has lost its sting and been swallowed up in victory, we can live our lives with meaning and purpose giving ourselves over to God's work here in earth until he calls us home! Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[a]
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[b]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Romans 6:23 says something similar when it states, "the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus!" But Paul's purpose in 1 Corinthians 15 is not to focus on sin and death, but the victory over sin and death that Jesus brings. And he says quoting Hosea, "where O death is your victory, where is your sting!" I love the term victory. Being a sports fan, there is nothing like the sweet smell of victory. But even greater than victory on earth, is victory over sin, death and the power of the devil. And importantly, that victory came from God through Jesus Christ. Jesus came to earth, among other reasons, to conquer sin and death.
Finally Paul ends with, "Therefore stand firm and let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of The Lord, because you know your labor is not in vain." Another version says, "be steadfast and immovable always abounding in the work of The Lord!" When Paul says "therefore" it is always important to note what he says after it. In this case, he is saying in lieu of everything I have taught you about the resurrection of Jesus and your own future resurrection, be firm and give yourselves fully to the work of The Lord.
What a great call of the Christian life in response to God's gift of grace in Christ! As you live in the shadow of Easter, where is God calling you to stand firm and be immovable in your faith? Where are you tempted to be the opposite? Where is God calling you to engage in the work of The Lord He has gifted in you? As we realize that death has lost its sting and been swallowed up in victory, we can live our lives with meaning and purpose giving ourselves over to God's work here in earth until he calls us home! Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:50-58
50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”[a]
55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
Where, O death, is your sting?”[b]
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
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