Victory Through Our Lord 1 Cor. 15:50-57 CLICK TITLE FOR AUDIO
Our text is 1 Cor 15:50-58. Three times in this text we find the word “victory.” “Death is swallowed up in victory,” [1 Cor 15:54]. “O grave, where is thy victory,” [1 Cor 15:55]? “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” [1 Cor 15:57]. The context of this last reference is sin in verse 56. Here we find victory over death, over the grave and over sin. In one other New Testament reference concerning Christians, we find a reference to victory over the world [1 Jn 5:4-5].
I’ve always wanted to be on the winning side. Who hasn’t? I like victory more than defeat. Who doesn’t? When you are in Jesus, you are guaranteed the victory. In Christ, you are guaranteed:
Victory over Death – 1 Cor 15:54 – Jesus Christ defeated death when he rose from the dead. In Heb 2:14-15 we read, “ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead so that all of us who are in Christ can go through death without dying. Our bodies die, but we don’t, because we have eternal life. To die is to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. When you see the body of a Christian in a casket or in an urn, you have to remember that you are not looking at the person. You are looking at his remains. He’s not there. He’s in a better place now. He’s in heaven in Christ Jesus. “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Victory over the Grave – 1 Cor 15:55 – Jesus Christ defeated the grave when he rose from the grave. If you go to Jerusalem today you will find an empty tomb. It’s been empty since the beginning of the fourth day. The grave held the body of Jesus Christ for three nights and three days. But as soon as that third day was over, he was gone!! The grave couldn’t hold him, though it was sealed and guarded. And the grave cannot hold us.
One of these days Jesus Christ is going to return and with the trump of God and the voice of the archangel. He is going to call us out of our graves. 1 Cor 15:52-54 and 1 Thes 4:16-17 describe the event. It’s going to happen so fast that you can’t even see it. Every grave of every Christian, whether sea, ground or urn, is going to give up its contents. The grave cannot hold the bodies of saved people when the Lord, who bought those bodies, returns to claim his possession. He wins; the grave loses. I’m glad to be on the winning side!!
Victory over Sin – 1 Cor 15:56-57– when Jesus Christ lived on the earth he never sinned, not one time. Now that he has risen from the dead and ascended into heaven, his body is seated at the right hand of God but his Spirit resides inside of every person who has received him as his or her Savior. And because he has taken up residence inside of us, we can yield to him and let him live his sinless life in us. Rom 6:9-14 describe this beautifully. Sin shall not have dominion over you because of Christ’s substitution [2 Cor 5:21] and because of our crucifixion with him [Gal 2:20]. When we yield to him, he lives his life in us and we can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth us [Phil 4:13]. We aren’t sinless; but he is. And in him we have victory over sin.
Victory over the World – 1 Jn 5:4-5 – I don’t know if you realize this but the world is the enemy of God. Jas 4:4 says, “… whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” That’s why you see so much craziness in the world. When Jesus returns to this earth, he will defeat the world. This world system, which is currently under the control of the devil, will end and Jesus will rule. In the meantime, we have to live in this world. And so to have victory over this enemy of God, we must walk in the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ. Our faith in Christ gives us “the victory that overcomes the world.”
Those who overcome the world are those who are born of God by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. Look carefully at 1 Jn 5:10-13 and realize that if you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour you know that you have eternal life and that you are not going down in defeat with the rest of the world. You will live forever with the Son of God.
The good news for you that have not trusted the Lord Jesus Christ is that you don’t have to go down in defeat. You can receive Jesus Christ today and be saved and have eternal life. You will have the victory in Christ, immediately.
Conclusion: When you are in Christ, beloved, you have the victory. You have victory over death, victory over the grave, victory over sin and victory over the world. What a great combination. And let me just exhort you along this line. Since you already have the victory, quit walking around like you are the loser. We are on the winning side!!