THE ANSWER TO DEATH

“Death, where is your victory?  Death, where is your sting?  Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!”  (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 HCSB)

I don’t know any other way to break this to you, but to just come out and say it: I have a terminal illness.  I’m not trying to depress you, but it’s something you need to know.  Now, for some more bad news—you also have this disease—it’s called life, and it’s 100% fatal! 

We contracted this terminal condition at birth.  The Bible says, “It is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment” (Heb.9:27).  Death runs in my family! 

The reason we may be squirming right now is that we don’t want to face the Grim Reaper—and after that, to stand before God!  It bothers us to think about it.  Did you notice how we try to evade the topic—the euphemisms we use: “She passed away.  He’s gone on.” 

We try to soften the hard edge of reality.  Bluntly—we die; we all die.  The monitor flat lines, breathing stops, tubes are unhooked, the family walks out of the room and a sheet is pulled over our head, while the body grows cold and rigid.  I’ve been in a room numerous times when Death marched in, grabbed someone by the throat and squeezed out the last breath.

Is that it?  Then what? 

These are questions as old as the human race.  Job asked, “When a man dies, will he come back to life?” (Job 14:14)  How do we answer that question?  Is there an answer to death? 

Thank God—yes!  Jesus answers, “Because I live, you will live too.” (John 14:19)

The glorious hope is in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  His empty tomb guarantees His followers the same future.  This vital doctrine is set forth in 1 Corinthians 15 perhaps better than any other place in Scripture.  Let’s examine how Paul presents his case for the answer to death. 

The answer is in THE RESURRECTED SAVIOR.

“But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” (v.20). 

Paul begins this chapter as an attorney presenting compelling evidence of the reality of Christ’s resurrection.  He brings into the court of human opinion, eyewitness after eyewitness—including his own experience—to testify that Jesus is alive.

All of our faith hinges on this fact.  Jesus’ promise, “Because I live, you will live too” is an empty promise, unless His tomb is empty.  Yet His resurrection assures us of victory over death.  It is well attested—an historical reality.

The answer to death is also in THE RESURRECTION SALVATION.

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished.” (v.17-18)

There is no salvation apart from the fact of and faith in the resurrection of Christ.  The Christian faith is founded on the resurrection of Jesus. His death on the cross cannot save unless He arose, for the Bible says He died for our sins and “was raised for our justification.”(Rom.4:25)

We are not given eternal life in heaven because we deserve it.  It isn’t by the practice of a religion or the membership in a church that saves us.  The Bible says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness, and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation.’” (Rom.10:9-10)  Do you have a personal relationship with the risen Savior?

Death is answered in THE RESURRECTED SAINTS. 

“For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man.  For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.  But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at His coming, those who belong to Christ.”

(v.21-23). 

One day Jesus is coming for His people and He is going to give them a new body—a resurrection body like His. But what about our loved ones who have already died?  Where are they right now?

Scripture is clear: “and we are confident and satisfied to be out of the body and at home with the Lord.” (2 Cor.5:8) The real you is not the body we see, but who lives inside that body.  Our flesh is the house we reside in.  Death for the Christian is just moving day! The dead in Christ are safe, enjoying the bliss of heaven, waiting until a new body is fashioned to inhabit for eternity.  You see, even the eternally living saints have not attained their final destination and glorification.  As wonderful as paradise must be for our loved ones who have died in faith, the best is yet to come!

There is more.  Death is answered by THE RESURRECTION STATE. 

“But someone will say, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come? ” (v.35). 

As we answer the question of death, this leads to more questions.  That was true of the Corinthians who were struggling to get a handle on this doctrine, and may be said of us.

The answers to the questions about the new body may not tell us all we want to know, but they sure tell us what we need to know.  What is most crucial to understand is that the resurrection body is real—we will not be ghosts—and that it is life on the highest plane.  The glorified body of Christ establishes the prototype for our final form.  His body was not limited by time and space, but he could be touched and could sit down and eat food with His followers.

We are in the process of dying as a result of the curse of sin.  But, Christ came to reverse the curse—to restore to us all that Adam forfeited in Eden due to disobedience.  That includes physical health.  It demands the redemption of the body.

“Old age is not for sissies!”  That’s a sign I read in a fast food restaurant.  The older I get, the more I understand this.  I told one of our aging saints who gave a litany of aches and pains, “There’s nothing wrong with you that the resurrection won’t fix!” 

That’s true for all of us.  The new body will be perfect, not subjected to sickness, suffering, sorrow or—and this is best of all—sin!   Look at this:

“So it is with the resurrection of the dead:

Sown in corruption, raised in incorruption; sown in dishonor, raised in glory; sown in weakness, raised in power; sown a natural body, raised a spiritual body.  If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.” (v.42-44) 

These bodies can become prisons.   Bars of bone incarcerate our soul and we yearn to break free.  The resurrection will liberate us, finally and fully.

 

We look at death and answer with THE RESURRECTION SONG.

“When this corruptible is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Death, where is your victory?  Death, where is your sting?  Now the sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (v.54-57)

Hallelujah!  We sing in triumph over the tomb!  We go out—not succumbing to death with resignation, but singing of deliverance in resurrection! 

“Death, where is your sting?”

I recall as a child, running barefoot through the yard with the carefree joy of a boy of summer.   The grass of our lawn was intermingled with patches of clover.  Honeybees loved those little white flowers, but they did not like barefoot boys stepping on them.  Suddenly, I felt the pain of the bee’s wrath, and with a howl, went hobbling off to mother.  She reached down, extracted the stinger, hugged and consoled me with these words, “You don’t have to worry about that old bee anymore.  He has lost his stinger.”  It is the honeybee that dies when its stinger is torn away.

Jesus took the painful sting of death Himself, and now we need have no fear—death has lost its ability to harm us—its stinger is gone!  The venom of the curse burned in Immanuel’s veins, but it was death that died that day!

So, I can proclaim the answer to death as Paul did with THE RESURRECTION SERMON.

“Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, knowing that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (v.58)

Paul bases his exhortation to the living on the reality of the resurrection.  He presents three practical applications.  “Therefore”—based on the resurrection reality—be faithful, fearless and fruitful.

Because death is defeated, there is a call to FAITHFULNESS “steadfast.”  Be faithful to the finish. Don’t back up and don’t back down.  At the judgment, you’ll be glad to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant!”

Because death is defeated, there is a call to FEARLESSNESS “immovable.”  We will not flee from the foe in fear, but face him in faith.  What is the worst the Devil could do to you?  Kill you?  Then, you would just go to heaven—and isn’t that what we want anyway?  Our fearlessness is grounded on the bedrock of biblical convictions.  In these days when hurricane winds of heresy assail us, we can dig in our heels and not be moved.

Because death is defeated, there is a call to FRUITFULNESS “always excelling in the Lord’s work.”  Life rushes by.  Death may come unexpectedly and swiftly—but it will come sooner than any of us anticipate.  In light of eternity, what are you doing that is going to outlast your time on earth and be worthy of reward in heaven? 

We can know what Paul knew, “your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”  In funeral after funeral, I have challenged the living as they were uncomfortably looking at a casket to measure the brevity of mortality and weigh the gravity of eternity.   Most of the time, I will close with these words which were the motivating motto of my mentor, the late Stephen Olford, “Only one life; ‘Twill soon be past; only what’s done for Christ will last!”

His words still speak to me from beyond the grave.  That preacher’s mortal tongue is silent, but his influence lives on in me and through me.  In audio recordings, I can revisit his sermons.  In books he wrote, I can reapply his teaching.  As is said of Abel, “even though he is dead, he still speaks…” (Heb.11:4b).  It will be worth it all when we see Jesus. 

It is a wonderful thing to be able to share at a funeral service, words from beyond the grave—a heritage of hope that helps the broken hearted.  People may write notes in their Bibles.  I have one of our good old deacon’s Bibles, and Joe Brown’s black Bible is full of poems and sayings—still speaking to me when I open it.  Others keep journals.  Another godly deacon, Marvin Mathews left a narrative of the all-sufficient grace of God experienced through his battle with cancer, and I was blessed to read those encouraging words.  Speaking of encouraging people, the prayer journals of the late Margaret Stamey are inspiring.  Reading them, you can still see her face and hear her voice.  I was speaking with her daughter, Peggy about that just last night.

Then, I also remember one of my sons-in-law, Logan Phillips, and his brother and grandmother.  Logan’s brother, Rory, was a strong young man who died as a result of a tragic fire.  At his funeral, the church was packed—standing room only.  The service was long, and yet felt brief.  Tears were shed, but joy was overwhelming.  The Risen Savior showed up and as the invitation was given, many responded to the Gospel.  That funeral resulted in lives transformed forever.  On the opposite end of the age spectrum, I did the grandmother’s memorial service, and she had left a message she wanted shared.  Here it is from a decade ago:

“I would say to those attending the funeral to live every day as though it were your last.  There is nothing so important and nothing that will give you as much joy, peace, happiness and contentment as living a Christian life.  Put away jealousy, strife, and the sinful insignificant things of this world and put on the whole armor of God, for when you come to where I am today—nothing matters but being prepared to meet God.  It’s the life you live, the way you treat your fellowman and what you have in your heart that is really important.  Accept Him today is my prayer if you don’t know Him!”

(From the funeral of Mary Lou Phillips, July 26, 2002)