1 Corinthians 15:51-54 Grave where is your Victory? David Gunn 6/17/2006
Behold, I show you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, V: 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. V: 53 for this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. V: 54 so when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, and then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Isaiah 25:8 Hosea 13:14 = (HE) Jesus will do it!!!
V: 55 O death, where is thy (sting)? O grave, where is thy (victory)?
1Cor 15:56 Paul says the (sting) of death is sin; and the (strength) of sin is the law.
I - V: 51 = First Paul said Let me Show you a mystery and then I will explain it.
A - The mystery is (The Transformation of Our Bodies.)
B - We shall not all sleep, but we all shall be changed.
C - Quickly (twinkling of eye) – orderly – Dead first – particular time (Last trump)
D - The dead (corruptible) shall be raised (incorruptible), and we (alive) shall be changed.
E - There will be no evolution process our change comes quickly, (dead or alive).
F- Because this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
G- Paul tells us (two things) that will be changed about our bodies.
# 1 – (The Corruptible part) and (The Mortal part) of our bodies. Jesus body saw no decay.
# 2- (corruptible = perishable) Perishable means = that our bodies, wear out, run down breaks.
#3 -. Mortal means that our bodies die. You can die in your youth before you wear out.
#4 V: 54 so when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. Isaiah 25:8 – Hosea 13:14 (He) shall swallow up death. Jesus said I am the resurrection.
II - Victory over Death: What is the (Victory)?, how does it Happens?.
A -Paul says when our bodies are changed from (corruptible to incorruptible) from (mortal to immortal) then death is swallowed up in victory.’ O (grave), where is your victory? O (death), where is your sting?
Jesus promises two things, victory over the graveyard, and to take the sting out of death.
B – Paul says when Jesus comes he will Swallow up death. Barns commentary = drink down, drown.
1 - Death is an enemy and it will be destroyed 1St Corinthians 15:26 -Heb 11:29 destroy and remove
2 – How do you destroy an enemy without killing him?
A -We die, and it seems like a defeat, but the resurrection is where the victory comes over death. (You don’t kill death ;) it is (removed / rendered powerless) swallowed up by life.
C- Paul says Jesus is going to take the sting out of death.
1 – Snake –poison – pain. This is what we think of the sting of death.
2 – Paul says there will be no sting in death; the snake bite will not hurt us because the poison has been taken out, and death will not destroy us. Death is not death anymore.
3 -John 11:25-26, Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. There is no(death in death) for those who believe in Christ. The poison is gone. (SIN)
III 1St Cor 15:56 the sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
A - What does that mean? It means (Sin puts the sting in death).
B - Death is the result of sin; Death is horrible / terrible because of sin.
C - Death is damnation, hell, gnashing of teeth, outer darkness, because of sin.
E - Death is the wages of sin (Romans 6:23) Because of sin (death is punishment). It is the final sentence: away from God and away from peace and joy into torment that never ends. That’s the sting. And that’s the horror, because of sin.
IV The power of sin is the law. = The Law gives sin its power and force.
The punishment, the legal verdict, has force, power and authority, and is binding because the law of God tells us what to do. And what happens if we reject.
So what makes death terrifying is our sin, and what gives that terror great force is that the whole law of God stands behind and backs it up.
V: 57, Paul says but, thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Death is swallowed up in victory and the sting of death is gone) because God did something, He sent Jesus to satisfy all the demands of the law and bear all the penalty of our sin. Galatians 3:13, "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us; Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree. 1 Peter 2:24, "He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree." The curse of the law is satisfied, the sins are taken away, death is swallowed up in victory and the sting of death is gone. Halleluiah!!! I’m Happy!!
2 Corinthian 5:8 so to be absent from the body and at present with the Lord. No sting!!!
E - Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. (Steady as you go) (Don’t get pushed over) (Do lots of work in the work). Amen!