In our previous blog, we found our Bible asking where death’s sting was. We saw that death’s sting came from sin. Adam and Eve suffered death, or rather, the penalty for death only after they sinned. So many people are under the impression that the sting of death is found in death itself. The Bible says otherwise. 1 Corinthians 15:56 states that” the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” What does this mean to you and me? Well, Jesus destroyed Satan’s control over man’s destiny.
Christ Triumphs over Death
John tells his audience that they should not be amazed at the notion of a resurrection. He states in John 5:28 “Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”This is showing us men now have a choice; they can keep on leading a sinful life or they can except what Jesus did for them, and choose Life. This means the penalty for sin only stays with the man who does not choose life. What John surmises here shows the beauty of Christ. That is why we read “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord” (Revelation 14:13). This should prompt us to believe what Adam and Eve did not believe. Sin brings death to all men. Death’s power came by sin but Christ triumphed over death by living a sinless life. God gave us his only begotten son, to pay the penalty of sin “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Elsewhere we read “And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin” (1 John 3:5).
Jesus Destroyed Satan’s Control Over Man’s Destiny
It is said that since Eden this is Satan’s world. In fact, Jesus told the Apostles if this were my Kingdom I would fight, proving it is Satan’s kingdom now. But Jesus came and broke the chains that sin has on man. He delivered us from sin and death thru his sinless life and his painful death. Hebrews 2:14: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong bondage.” Hebrews states this was the very reason Jesus became flesh and blood. He came to triumph over Satan and thus triumph over sin and death.
Jesus did what the law could not do. The law only points out sin; the law was like a lamp that guides man away from sin and brings him close to God. The law does not make us righteous. There are a couple of key verses explaining this concept. “For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3-4) and “For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous” (Romans 5:19). Adam disobeyed God and brought the curse upon all men, and Christ came and took away our sins, through His death on the Cross.
Man Does Not Have to Be Ruled by Sin
Today, we do not have to be ruled by sin, but are told to rule over sin instead. “Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:12-14). Jesus triumphed over death so you and I could live. We are told this profound statement found in John 5:24“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that hears my word, and believes on him that sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” This our hope, we will pass from death to life. More on that in our next blog on the hope that lies within us.
Greater Phoenix Church of God Welcomes All
At Greater Phoenix Church of God, we consider ourselves to be easygoing, fun, and accepting. We invite you to join our church family for worship on Saturday mornings at 10:30am.