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"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have
put on immortality, THEN (and not before) shall be brought to pass the saying that is
written, Death is swallowed up in victory" (I Cor. 15: 54).
This passage points us straight on to II Cor. 5: 4 where we read:
"That mortality might be swallowed up of life",
to which we must turn directly.
One of the reasons why death is spoken of as sleep for the believer, is that its "sting"
has been removed:
"The sting of death is SIN,
The strength of sin is the LAW,
BUT
Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Cor. 15: 55-57).
Earlier, at the close of the first section, the Apostle paused to speak of the practical
outcome of the doctrine of the resurrection:
"Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I
speak this to your shame" (I Cor. 15: 34).
At the close of the second great division, the Apostle once more calls for a practical
response. Let us give these familiar words in a less familiar translation:
"Well then, my beloved brothers, hold your ground, immoveable; abound in work for
the Lord at all times, for you may be sure that in the Lord your labour is never thrown
away" (I Cor. 15: 58 Moffatt).
The interested reader may be pleased to observe, and to work out for himself, the fact
that when we compare I Cor. 15: 13-33 with I Cor. 15: 36-57, we find the five items
introduced in the one section receive amplification in the second, thus:
B | 13-33. ADAM and CHRIST. Death destroyed. "When"
B | 36-57. FIRST and LAST ADAM. Death swallowed up. "When?"
The Five Amplifications.
(1)
Differences in "order"
verse 23 with verses 37-44.
(2)
Relation with Adam
verses 21, 22 with verses 45, 47, 49.
(3)
Relation with Christ
verses 20-22, 28 with verses 45, 47, 49.
(4)
Destruction of Death
verse 26 with verse 54.
(5)
Time Periods
verse 24 with verse 54.
The testimony of
II Corinthians.
No church had so full a testimony to the fact and consequence of resurrection as the
Corinthians. This we have seen in I Cor. 15: It will not surprise us therefore, that in the