1 CORINTHIANS 15:50-56 – I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 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 shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. 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.”
THEME OF THE DAY: THE WAR IS WON. The Christ life is a war. You know it. I know it. It isn’t primarily a war outside of us, though persecution of some form is going to happen. It is a war internally. A heart war. The 19th century English pastor and man used mightily by God, even today through his books, J. C. Ryle said, “The believer may be known by his inward warfare as well as by his inward peace.” No one described this better than the Apostle Paul in the seventh chapter of his letter to the believers in Rome . . .
For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin. For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good. So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? (Romans 7:14-24).
As we read the Apostle describing the war against sin and his flesh, all of us nod in agreement of this tremendous conflict within. And all of us may sigh and bow our head in humble admission of the many battles against sin and the flesh we have lost. Enter today’s scripture. The same Apostle who laments of the war in Romans 7 is now shouting the cry of victory in 1 Corinthians 15. The key is the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Here lies our total victory. Here the war is won. Yes, we will lose battles, but not the war. Yes, Satan is a formidable foe, but he is a defeated foe. So, what is the application? It starts with the verse I left off the Romans 7 passage – Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin (Romans 7:25). The application then moves to our constantly reminding ourselves that the resurrection of Jesus ensures complete spiritual victory is achieved. The penalty of sin is conquered. The power of sin is defeated. And someday, the presence of sin will be removed.
Yes, the war is won because Jesus rose from the dead. Rest in His total victory as we fight daily battles.
PRAYER: “Father, I praise You for raising Your Son from the dead – my only hope beyond the grave.”
QUOTE: “Christ’s resurrection from the dead is not only about the future but power for today.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim