THE MYSTERY AND VICTORY

Passage: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

Key verse: 57

NIV

50 I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood(A) cannot inherit the kingdom of God,(B) nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.(C) 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery:(D) We will not all sleep,(E) but we will all be changed(F)— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound,(G) the dead(H) will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable(I) must clothe itself with the imperishable,(J) 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](K)

55 “Where, O death, is your victory?
    Where, O death, is your sting?”[b](L)

56 The sting of death is sin,(M) and the power of sin is the law.(N) 57 But thanks be to God!(O) He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.(P)

58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord,(Q) because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.(R)

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Footnotes
  1. 1 Corinthians 15:54 Isaiah 25:8
  2. 1 Corinthians 15:55 Hosea 13:14
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Mystery and Victory

50 I tell you this, brothers: (A)flesh and blood (B)cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold! I tell you a mystery. (C)We shall not all sleep, (D)but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For (E)the trumpet will sound, and (F)the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and (G)this mortal body must put on immortality. 54 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:

(H)“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 (I)“O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

56 The sting of death is sin, and (J)the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, (K)who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58 (L)Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in (M)the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord (N)your labor is not in vain.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Paul tells us a mystery. We will not all sleep but we will all be changed when Christ comes again. His coming will be sudden and with a loud trumpet sound the dead will be raised imperishable, and those alive will be changed. Our mortal and perishable body will be transformed into an imperishable and immortal body. At our resurrection, death will lose its power. We will shout, ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!” Indeed, it will be the most joyful and glorious day of our complete salvation. We will reign with Christ forever in heaven where there is no more death, mourning or pain. What a glorious hope and promise for those who are redeemed by the blood of the Lamb!

Solomon asked, “What do people gain from all their labors at which they toil under the sun?” Without the hope of the resurrection, all our labors seem in vain. However, in the risen Christ our labor is not in vain though we may suffer to follow him and serve his will for us. We have victory over sin and death and have the hope of resurrection. Therefore, we need to stand firm and give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord joyfully and willingly.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the victory over sin and death in Christ Jesus. Help me to stand firm and give myself fully to your life-saving work.

One Word: One word: Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ