Continuing with our theme of looking at the Resurrection, today I would like to look at another of its benefits for believers. Following on from last month, where we looked at 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, Paul continues in verses 54-57 to show us that the Resurrection has taken away the sting of death. He says:
“When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:54-57)
When Paul says that “the sting of death is sin,” he is saying that it is sin which makes death so bad. Sin is like the venom that comes from the stinger of a scorpion; without the venom, the sting may still hurt, but it is not as effective. In the same way, what makes death so unbearable is the sin that will be punished when we die.
The writer to the Hebrews said that “it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment” (Heb. 9:27). When we die, the venom of sin is brought to the light and we are then judged for all of our wicked thoughts, words, and deeds.
However, the good news of the Resurrection is that it declares to the world that there is a Savior. A Savior who has defeated death and sin and calls people to trust in Him for the forgiveness of sin. “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” says Paul in Romans chapter 8. This is because all those who are in Him have had their sins removed, and through the removal of sin, comes the removal of the sting of death. Indeed shall we say with Paul: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”
– Shaun M. Hewlett