Victory Over Death Series

1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.

Christ rose in an eternal, immortal, yet physical body. He was the first. Those others we just mentioned that Jesus brought back to life, only lived to die again. But Jesus is first fruits of all who died in Christ. And one day we shall be like him, never to die again.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.

When will that happen?

1 Corinthians 15:22–23 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,

Those who are in Christ and have died, will rise, just as Christ did, when He returns. The one thing that we as Christians, have been repeatedly assured of, is that He indeed, will return. The dead in Christ will join Him and will be like Him. The question comes up about those of who are alive at His coming.

1 Corinthians 15:50–51 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

A mystery is a truth previously unknow. Our mortal bodies cannot enter eternity. The fact is we are not fit in our present bodies (whether dead or alive) to inherit the kingdom of God. Like the dead whose bodies that have been corrupted in the grave, we too, our bodies also are corrupted and imperfect, so likewise, who are alive will also be changed.

1 Corinthians 15:52–53 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

This is often called the rapture, when Jesus comes to take home his own. We will be changed to be like Him and we take on immortality. And here is the beauty of the resurrection!

1 Corinthians 15:54–55 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory. 55 O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?”

As Christ defeated death, so shall we who are in Christ. Like Christ, we will never again experience death.

“DEATH IS SWALLOWED UP in victory” Paul is paraphrasing from Isaiah 25:8. This was prophesied many centuries before. This is not new theology.

“O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?” Paul is paraphrasing from Hosea 13:14. These are not new ideas, but fulfillment of Scripture.

Why fear death? Paul now comments on these things.

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;

The sting of death is sin – the fact is all have sinned (Romans 3:23) and because of our willful actions, there is consequences.