1 Corinthians 15:56-57

1 Corinthians 15:56-57 (ESV)

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

Over the past few days it seems that every one of my blogs have been about death, but they were not really about death. They were about victory and life. The resurrection of Jesus robbed death of its sting. The verses above go on to explain that more fully. “The sting of death is sin” (1 Cor 15:56a). It is sin that holds the world captive. It is sin that brought about death. It is sin that causes hopelessness in the face of death. Death is an enemy to be destroyed, but it is not the real enemy. Sin is the enemy. But what is sin?

“The power of sin is the law” (1 Cor 15:56b). We tend to think of sin as breaking God’s laws. God put the boundaries of the law in place and we view breaking those boundaries as sin. But that’s not quite accurate. The boundaries of the law were not put in place to find us guilty. They were put in place to reveal our sin. Romans 3:23 says, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The word for sin used in this verse is an archery term that means we have missed the mark. But what is the mark? It is the glory of God. God’s glory is the visible expression of his nature, character, and purpose. It is the outward expression of his greatness. The definition for sin, then, is not breaking God’s law. It is anything contrary to the nature, character, and purpose of God.

Adam’s act of rebellion in the Garden of Eden moved all mankind outside the nature, character, and purpose of God. The purpose of the law was to reveal that to us. Galatians 3 argues that the law of God was temporary. “So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith” (Gal 3:24). It is in the death and resurrection of Christ that the power of sin was broken. The law was inadequate to break the power of sin. It could reveal it, but it could not deal with it. The resurrection releases us from the power of sin.

Galatians 2:20 says,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Romans 6:4 explains that.

[4] We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Because of the resurrection, those who have put their faith in Christ have come to possess the very life of Christ. We no longer live by law, but “by faith in the Son of God” (Gal 2:20). By trusting Christ we were placed into his death and resurrection. We have been raised with him to a new life. The power of sin has been broken. The victory is found in Christ. That victory is available to anyone who will put their faith in Christ.

This is significant because it means that as believers in Jesus Christ, we do not just wait for our future resurrection. It means that we live each day in the power of the resurrection. Salvation is not just about forgiveness of sins and a promise of a future life. Salvation is also about a present power to live out the nature, character, and purpose of God in this life here and now. Eternal life begins the moment we put our faith in Christ. Victory is found in him. “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15:57). These blogs are not about death. They are about life. May you find life in Christ.