Oh Death Where is Your Sting?

Oh Death Where is Your Sting?

"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" (1 Corinthians 15:55)

On this day it is particularly imperative to remember that death and destruction have been definitively defeated. Christ's crimson blood has won the ultimate victory. We are no longer held hostage by the threat of sin and its punishing penalty of separation and agonising eternal pain. We have overcome sin and death because He has paid the price and defeated the cross and the grave.

Our futures are secured by salvation. The gruelling grip of death has permanently lost its strength, because the earth-shaking might of God has loosed the chains of our shameful sin from the atoning sacrifice of Christ once and for all - that means for us all as well. The Lord's wondrous work on our behalf has forever freed us, and it's through the power of His blood that was shed.

"I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. O Death, I will be your plagues! O Grave, I will be your destruction!" (Hosea 13:14)

Θάνατος. This is the Greek word for death. It can also mean the eternal, horrendous separation from God the Father. This ghastly disgrace is the shame which results from our sinful nature, and this is precisely the pain that Jesus endured for our redemption.

"But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9)

The word death here is also θάνατος (thanatos). So as you can see, Jesus suffered the most unthinkably harrowing hurts for us. He bore the bruises. He endured death. He pressed on so that we may live abundant eternal lives in fellowship with Him, for He loves us so dearly. And His love has proven faithful time and again.

Today instead of celebrating death, let's chose to celebrate the gift of pure life in freedom. He is the God of grace, love, and life, so we ought to radiate life too! May the Lord bless you all abundantly with joy and hope unending.

-The Introverted Evangelist