1 Corinthians 15:50-56
Now I say this, brothers: Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and what is perishable is not going to inherit what is imperishable. Look, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality. But once this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then what is written will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Dear Heavenly Father,
Give us strength to face our body’s end. Before Jesus’ second coming, all our bodies will die. Paul described judgment day—the trumpet’s last sounding—the dead will rise from their graves’ bed, and those still living will also be changed in a blink of an eye. Everyone will become immortal at that moment. Lord, you tell us elsewhere in your word by faith you restore us to you, and eternal life comes to us. Through faith, we are delivered the confidence that while this body may be put into the grave, our souls will continue with you. Christ defeated death for us because we were deserving of both temporal and eternal death—the end for our bodies and souls—for our sins. Because of Jesus’ perfect life, his innocent death, and his resurrection, death itself was defeated; we know his victory was won for us. Jesus removed our sins, and we now share in his victory over death. When our bodies are raised from the dead at judgment’s final call, they will all be raised imperishable and immortal, no longer able to grow old, be diseased, or suffer any other effects of sin.
Thank you for sending your Son to rescue us from all our sins and to give us the victory over death. Thank you also for sending us your Spirit to believe what Jesus has done and making this gift ours. Today, please provide me with an opportunity to share my gift with others. Amen
Written through Pastor Roger Emmons
Jesus’ death and resurrection have given us a complete victory over death; he has removed our sins forever. It is brought to us through faith in him.