Death is a taboo topic that deeply impacts everyone, yet many prefer not to discuss or even contemplate it. The reality is, death affects us all, not just personally, but also through the loss of loved ones and widespread news of accidents, making it a common, inescapable part of life.
Facing death is inherently difficult and often brings heavy-heartedness. While rare instances, like the passing of a Christian centenarian, may feel less sorrowful due to the promise of paradise, the grief of separation and loss remains potent for families and friends.
The truth is, death is never far from us, regardless of age, and we inevitably encounter it through personal relationships and even social media. Its pervasive nature makes it a topic people often avoid, as there’s typically no good news to share about it.
Christ’s Victory: The Good News About Death
For Christians, however, the topic of death is intertwined with the good news of the Gospel, which centers on Jesus’s death. Through Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, those who trust in Him can escape eternal death, transforming our perspective on mortality.
To encourage people to consider the Gospel, it’s essential to confront them with the reality of death and their underlying fears. As we explore 1 Corinthians, Paul emphasizes Christ’s victory over death, mocking its defeat due to His triumph.
1 Corinthians 15:25 states that Christ must reign until all His enemies are under His feet. This highlights that Christ’s reign is not a future event but an ongoing, present reality, inaugurated with His first coming, not just His second.
The scripture emphasizes that Christ’s reign is absolute; He is not a partial king but will subdue all enemies, including idols, sin, dark forces, human folly, sickness, and every problem. Ultimately, the last enemy to be destroyed is death itself, as confirmed in verse 26.
Verse 27 reveals the beautiful, loving relationship within the Trinity: God the Father has put everything under Christ’s feet, yet the Son humbly subjects Himself to the Father, demonstrating a mutual submission and love that serves as a model for us.
This profound truth culminates in 1 Corinthians 15:54-57, declaring that when our mortal bodies are clothed with immortality, the prophecy will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory. Thanks to God, we receive this victory through our Lord Jesus Christ, overcoming the dread of death.
Understanding Death as the Ultimate Enemy
Scripture explicitly identifies death as our enemy, describing it as repulsive and contrary to our natural desire for life. Death was not part of God’s original creation; Adam was made to be a living being without death.
However, death entered the world through sin, as Romans 5:12 explains. Since nothing associated with sin can be our friend, and death is the wages of sin, it is truly the enemy of mankind.
Death brings immense bitterness and sorrow, devastating families, creating orphans, and robbing us of loved ones and cherished possessions. It ultimately leaves us naked, lonely, and miserable, as we can take nothing with us.
Often, death is accompanied by pain, ruin, and grief, eroding beauty and stealing joy. This makes death the ‘king of terrors’ to mankind, as it ends all earthly enjoyment and represents the ultimate fear.
Death is a cunning and unpredictable foe, striking suddenly and without warning in seemingly harmless situations or during normal activities. It spares no one, regardless of age, wealth, or health, proving that human capabilities cannot overcome it.
Humanity’s advancements in wisdom, science, and technology have yet to solve the problem of death. The Bible confirms that death is the sure destiny of every human being, followed by judgment, where we must account for our actions and unforgiven sins.
This inescapable destiny makes death an unbeatable enemy and a source of profound frustration, especially for those without Christ, the Gospel, eternal life, or salvation. Understanding this grim reality is crucial to appreciating the victory Christ achieved.
Christ’s Triumph and Reign Over Death
Despite the dreadful nature of death, we thank God that the Bible tells us Christ triumphs and reigns. His reign is a must, absolute and unstoppable, regardless of opposition or dark forces.
Christ’s power to rule is demonstrated by His ability to conquer death, sin, and the devil, who holds the power of death. Through His death, Christ broke the power of the one who holds death’s dominion, freeing those enslaved by the fear of dying.
As the greatest terror of mankind, death’s defeat by Christ qualifies Him as the Savior. His resurrection authorizes His rule, proving that death cannot hold Him, making Him the supreme King of kings and Lord of lords.
Christ reigns because He is God, the Creator who was before all things and in whom all things hold together. While He has reigned since the beginning, His resurrection made His reign more obvious, demonstrating His lordship over both the dead and the living.
Christ triumphed over death by removing its sting, which is sin. The law, with its unyielding high standards, reveals our sinfulness, showing that we are either perfectly holy or guilty of breaking it all, making sin a fatal sting with eternal consequences.
The victory we enjoy is not self-gained but given by God through our Lord Jesus Christ. By sacrificing His life, conquering sin’s penalty, and rising from the dead, Christ permanently removed death’s sting for believers.
Although Christians still experience physical death and its accompanying pain and grief, death has lost its sting for us. Like a bee without its stinger or a toothless lion, it can no longer eternally harm believers, nor separate us from God’s love or eternal life.
The moment Christians breathe their last, they enter paradise with Jesus. Death is no longer devastating or terrifying; it’s a temporary sleep because Christians will be resurrected, fulfilling the promise that death doesn’t have the final word.
The Gospel’s good news is that while death insists on destroying humanity, God’s mercy, love, and power are more insistent. Death lost to Jesus, who fought the battle for His people, resolving to save them from eternal death and grant them eternal life.
While Christians may still grieve at death, our sorrow is infused with hope. We grieve not like those without hope, but with the assurance that Jesus died and rose again, and God will bring believers with Him, enabling us to meet loved ones in heaven.
Living in Light of Christ’s Reign
Paul’s application in 1 Corinthians 15:58 is clear: stand firm and let nothing move you. Our faith should not be shaken by doubts, skeptic arguments, persecution, temptations, or even worldly pleasures that distract from God.
If Christ can triumph over death, no problem is too hard for Him to solve, even if we don’t understand it now. His tremendous love and power, demonstrated by His death and resurrection, should prevent us from doubting His care, even in trials.
A true belief in Jesus’s death and resurrection must have implications for our present life. Paul calls us to fully trust and faithfully serve God, knowing that our labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Knowing that we will surely win with Christ in the end provides motivation to undertake God’s challenging work. The priority of God’s work is to preach the Gospel to unbelievers and build up the church.
Since death is the last enemy to be destroyed, it means we must be prepared to lose loved ones at any time. We must cherish time with unbelieving friends and family, seizing every opportunity to share the Gospel.
If we will die and face judgment, we must live rightly today, in preparation for eternity with God. Our faithful labor for God in this life, even without immediate praise or visible results, is meaningful and significant in His eyes.
Even when battling sin daily and feeling defeated, we must not give up. Our fight against sin in the Lord is not in vain, because Christ’s power is greater than sin’s, and we can look forward to ultimate victory over it.
Ultimately, if Christ reigns with final victory, it is wise to belong to Him and allow Him to rule in our hearts now. To oppose Christ is to suffer in the end, as every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord on judgment day.
For those who reject Christ, the sting of death will remain, bringing eternal suffering. But for those who accept Christ, His blood covers and cleanses them, leading to forgiveness and salvation. The choice is whether Christ’s blood will condemn or save us.
Those who belong to Christ will rejoice and be glorified in His reign, while those who reject Him will face eternal punishment. For Christians, the resurrection hope, promised by Jesus, empowers us to follow and serve Him faithfully.
We are called to welcome and allow Christ to reign in all areas of our lives, experiencing the power of His resurrection daily. We pray for a heart to yield to Him as King, obeying, submitting, and consulting Him in every step, tasting the joy of submission.
[AI generated notes from this sermon]
