“For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Corinthians 15:56-57 NLT

The entire 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians tells the story of the Apostle Paul making the case for the victory we have over sin and death through Christ Jesus.

Reflection

Who doesn’t love a good victory? If you are a sports fan, it is a good day when your team wins. There is nothing like the joy of a parent watching a child accomplish a milestone in their life. If you have worked hard on something and see it achieved, you can be proud and satisfied with the successful results of good, challenging work. There are also hard-fought victories to be celebrated: Overcoming addiction, rising above abuse, and battling terminal diseases, just to name a few. There are two dominating issues that we all face: sin and death. We know through our own experience and God’s word that we cannot overcome either in our own strength.

The law was set up to deal with sin. Sin’s constant rebellion against the law became its primary expression of power. When we hear phrases like “we are a nation of law,” what is really being said is that we have sin that needs to be brought under control. The harder sin fights, the more laws are created to deal with it, and more resources are dedicated to trying to keep it in check. If one just looks at political and legal efforts, it seems like an endless cycle with no victory in sight.

Death is another matter. When it comes, whatever the process, it is a harsh separation from those we love. We can’t stop it. We can’t change it. The suffering associated with a dying body is brutal. There is no victory we can bring to it on our own. So, what is Paul saying about having victory over sin and death?

Encouragement

It is through Jesus Christ that we are able to know and experience victory in both sin and death. Christ’s coming to the world as a baby, living a life of “God with us,” being crucified for our sins, and defeating death by rising again is the best news ever. Our sin and death have been dealt with. We still encounter sin, but we are no longer stuck with it. Yes, if we sin, we will bump into the force of the law and its consequences. By contrast, through Jesus, our sin is forgiven, dealt with, and released. We are free from it. This is not a one-time situation. It applies to all sins in any circumstance at any time in our lives. Death is also dealt with through Christ. He showed us the reality of being resurrected and living after death. There was a new body, familiar in some ways and mysteriously different in others. This is what is in store for everyone who dies believing in Christ. Yes, we will still experience the death of the body as we currently know it. This is hard. The separation from those we love is painful. Thankfully, in Christ, there is more. There is a life that lasts forever with God. A new body is raised out of the seed of the old body that died. This new body is familiar in some ways and mysteriously new and wonderful in other ways.

Christ is the way. Christ has shown us the way. He is both our provision and our example. There are two amazing Christmas gifts to thank God for: victory over sin and death, given to us by Jesus Christ.

-Ed McDowell, CEO Warm Beach Camp Ministries