“… Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

 – 1 Corinthians 15: 54-55 NIV 

“The foundation of the Christian’s peace is everlasting; it is what no time, no change can destroy. It will remain when the body dies; it will remain when the mountains depart and the hills shall be removed, and when the heavens shall be rolled together as a scroll. The fountain of His comfort shall never be diminished, and the stream shall never be dried. His comfort and joy is a living spring in the soul, a well of water springing up to everlasting life.” -Jonathan Edwards

Have you ever thought about death? What is death? And, why is it feared? The Bible tells us that death is an enemy, which eternally separates us from God. [Read 1 Corinthians 15:26 and 2 Thessalonians 1:9] Death came into the world after the first sin was committed. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned—” Romans 5:12 NIV Death was the punishment for sin. But, God loved humanity so much, that He made a way for humans to be reconciled to Him.

• “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” -Romans 6:23 NIV
•  “so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” -Romans 5:21 NIV
•  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. -John 3:16 NIV
• “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” -John 14:6 NIV
•  “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.” -John 5:24NIV

But, we couldn’t have victory over death without the death and resurrection of Christ. “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:13-22 NIV It is only by the sacrifice of a sinless and immortal Saviour, that we are clothed with righteousness and immortality. It is only by the resurrection of Christ, that we have victory over Death. 1 Corinthians 15: 50-56 NIV says, “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Amen.

Reference:  Kurtbubna.com| http://kurtbubna.com/wpcontent/uploads/2015/03/Cross-Empty-Tomb.jpg