Christ Jesus Has Obtained Victory Over Death

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:20-22)

Death has taken every man. It is the common enemy of all life on the earth. When sin entered the world and death by sin, the world and everything in it began it’s descend toward decay and death. Everything, whether plant life or animal life or human life, will find it’s end in death. Anything with an earthly origin will eventually die. Nothing is eternal that can be seen. Death is the grand and undefeated enemy of life on the earth.

What is remarkable however, is that men have the ability to be enslaved to the fear of death and yet live as though it will never happen. So either in denial of their impending defeat by death or in acceptance of it, men spend their lives seeking to obtain fame, power and riches. Any obtainment of these things is often celebrated and emulated by their fellow men. They are seen as victorious in this life, though they will eventually die. 

The world glories in substandard victories that still result in death. “The earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Pet 3:10). There is really no victory to speak of if, in the end, death has the final triumph. If small victories are not a prelude to this greater victory - over sin and death - then they are distractions; a sort of idol accepting the praise of men. Where men glory in their temporary, earthly accomplishments of obtaining power, prestige and riches, they have fallen prey to the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life (1 Jn 2:16). Power prestige and riches are not inherently evil but when they are not willingly forsaken for eternal life they are a pitfall. “For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul” (Mt 16:26)? There has got to be something more, something lasting, something eternal. And, by Christ, there is!

“But NOW is Christ,” a man, “risen from the dead!” In accomplishing the salvation of man, Christ defeats this arch foe, death. He defeated death in rising from the grave “no more to return” (Acts 13:34) and when He comes again death itself shall be swallowed up in victory and the grave shall release it’s inhabitants. As a result of this good news, our hope extends beyond the grave. Our lives are lived by faith and patience. In preparation for a greater work we make the most of our time during our stay on the earth. The fear of death has given way to the hope of the resurrection.

Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy Him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. (Hebrews 2:14-15)

Believers are subject to bondage by living in fear of death. The threat of death cannot prevent them from living unto God. Like “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” they know that their God is able to deliver them from death but even if He doesn’t they will not cave to the threats of men (Dan 3:17-18). For, the grave is only a temporary dwelling. All of the men of earth will stand on that last day and look back to the earth and say, “You can have your tomb back, I need it no longer.”