1 Corinthians 15:54-58 - Death has been swallowed up in victory

15:54,55

So death must be defeated, and death has been defeated. “Death has been swallowed up in victory” will come true. Now notice that as yet while we look forward to the victory, the victory has not been fully consummated. We have a foretaste, but there is much more to come. Death’s victory and sting will be gone forever. Death has a terrible effect on life now, but there is a time coming when that will not longer be the case. Death will be gone forever.

15:56,57

“The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law”. It is sin that brought death into the world. In this letter Paul has not said much about the law, whereas in letters like Galatians it is at the heart of the letter. Sin dominates through the Law, for under the Law we are all under judgement, we are all condemned. “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”. It is only in Christ that we have the victory. False teachings ignore the reality and enormity of death and sin.

15:58

So the conclusion of all this is that we should stand firm in our faith, letting nothing move us. Be that circumstances or false teachings. Instead we are to fully devote ourselves to the work of the Lord. The resurrection is not “pie in the sky when we die”. It is an absolute reality, and it motivates and strengthens us for life today. Without the resurrection everything is ultimately futile. But the resurrection means that our “labour in the Lord is not in vain”.