Meditation

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DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY

Text: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58
16 April 2017

A GLORIOUS HOPE

We have such a glorious hope in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ! Let us read again what the Apostle wrote in the following text to the Corinthian Church.

Behold, I tell you a mystery:
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed-

So when this corruptible has put on incorruption,
And this mortal has put on immortality,
Then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”

O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”

But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory
Through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast,
Always abounding in the work of the Lord,
Knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:51,54-55, 57-58

 

1. The word “sleep”

a) This is called an euphemism

b) This is a reference to “death”

2. The word “changed”

a) There will be a total transformation

b) This is a reference to a new resurrection body God will give to His children

i) The present body is well-described as “corruptible”

ii) It is also called “mortal” (that is, it is subjected to death)

iii) The new body we have will be an immortal one

iv) It will not be subject to corruption or death

3. Death is swallowed up in victory

a) Because death has been defeated by the Lord Jesus Christ

b) By the glorious power of God, Christ Jesus was raised from the dead

c) Death is swallowed up by the victory that Christ has won

4. Our exultation

We may thus exclaim!

O Death, where is your sting?

O Hades, where is your victory?

We need never fear death anymore! We do not need to be bondage to the Devil because of the fear of death!

5. Thanks be to God

Let us indeed, give thanks to God for our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

6. Abounding in the work of the Lord

Let us find revival for our spirit!

a) Let us be steadfast

b) Let us abound in the work of the Lord

c) Let us believe that our work is not in vain in the Lord!