1 Corinthians
15:57-58 Thankful for Victory WC McCarter
Introduction
Let me first say “thank you” to the Rural Hall Moravian
Church for hosting all of us tonight. A worship gathering like this is a very
special occasion. “Thank you,” also, to the other ministers who have
participated in the meetings and in this service. We are all thankful to the
Lord for your hard work in our community. We may all have our own traditions
and histories, but there is only one Lord, one faith, and one church. Look
around the room and be reminded that these are your brothers and sisters. Why
don’t you look at the person to your right and then your left and say, “Hey,
church.”
Every Thanksgiving my mom’s side of the family gets
together at my grandparents to eat a meal. I think there are now 41 of us who
meet there as well as a few other friends. That is a lot of people in one
house. When the meal is finally prepared, we all gather around the kitchen
table and hold hands to pray. That is a lot of people in one kitchen. By that
time almost all of us are ready to eat because the meal always takes longer to
prepare than we were first anticipating, yet my aunts propose that we need to
go around the circle and say what we are all thankful for. Does anyone else do
this? Every year this little exercise quickly descends into a repetitious and
nonsensical time. Everyone says they are thankful for their family, another
year of life. . . . Everyone ends up saying the same thing, and so, the
conversation turns into jokes. It is almost like asking a group of kids what
they are thankful for; puppies, candy, toys . . . if you are lucky, they will
say mom or dad. Well, tonight I would like to take you to the Scriptures in
order to remind you that you have something significant, meaningful, and real
for which to be thankful. Let me remind you of something that never gets boring
or silly.
Directing
Thanksgiving to God
We know that the Scriptures teach that all good things
come from above. As believers, we also know that all the blessings we have in
this life and into the next are because of our union with the Lord Jesus
Christ. Thus, when we have something for which to be thankful, we should say,
“Thanks be to God.” Of course, in v57 the sentence begins with a “But.” This
reminds me of Romans 3:20-22 which says, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no
flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God apart
from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the
righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who
believe.” To that small phrase, “But now,” D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones famously said,
“There are no more wonderful words in the whole of Scripture than just these
two words ‘But now.’” In the context of 1 Corinthians 15, the word connects us
back to v56 which says, “The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is
the law. But thanks be to God. . .
.” We are no longer under the law because we are under grace; sin is not on our
account because Christ has paid the penalty as our substitute; and death no
longer has any power over us because Christ is victorious over the grave.
Because of this mighty work of salvation, God is working out all things for the
good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
Whatever you find
yourself thankful for, your thanksgiving should be directed to God.
Thankful for
Victory
What is the primary thing that the Apostle is thankful
for in this passage? He is thankful for victory. What kind of victory is this? First,
it is God who gives the victory, which is why our thanksgiving is due to Him.
Second, our victory is given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ. The blessings
that are associated with this victory come somehow by means of Christ. We can
discuss this in more detail in a few minutes. Lastly, the Apostle has been
discussing the subject of resurrection. In this context, he has answered the
mockery of those who object to bodily resurrection by asking, “How are the dead
raised, and with what body do they come?” He did so by giving natural examples
of how things are transformed like a seed that later blooms into a plant, the
different kinds of flesh among the earthly creatures, just as there are
different types of heavenly bodies, and the heavenly bodies are in a different
category from the earthly. Therefore, we will all be changed. You cannot enter
into God’s heavenly kingdom with these earthly bodies.
The natural comes first and then the spiritual. Thus, for
the Christian, death leads to victory. Although the law is strong in that it
reveals sin, and sin is a master because it always leads to death, we can be
thankful to God for victory. To have victory in these things is not only
possible, but it is a reality in Christ. Outside of Christ there is no hope for
victory. And this victory does not necessarily make one rich in this life or
shelter them from pain or sorrow. If you live long enough, you will suffer in
this present wicked age. To have victory is to have a confident hope for the future.
It is to believe in things unseen, knowing that God speaks the worlds into
existence, and if our Lord has gone to prepare a place for us, He will come
again that we may be where He is.
Steadfast,
Immovable, Abounding
You may think that it is difficult to get a sermon out of
two verses, but these two verses in particular are perfect. There is the great
theological statement made in v57, and then the very practical application is
given in v58. This last verse begins with the important word, “Therefore.” In
light of the truth that the Apostle has just established by unique inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, we must be steadfast and immovable as well as always giving
ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because we are confident that our labor
is not in vain. He who has promised is able. Do not let anyone sway you from
the truth that you have found in the Gospel and the Christian Scriptures.
Conclusion and
Christian Application
(1) Hang on to
what you have believed. It is not going to get easier to continue in the faith
in the near future. You are going to be challenged. You cannot be one who
shrinks back. Continue to trust in the Lord and the promises He has made.
Continue to trust that what Christ has done on the cross is enough to save you.