Jesus’ Resurrection
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 1 Corinthians 15:57
Victory or defeat? Those two possibilities confront us throughout our lives. This is true whether we are talking about something as seemingly insignificant as a grade school basketball game or something as earth-shatteringly significant as the outcome of a world war.
Thankfully, we do not have to live in suspense when it comes to the outcome of God’s plan for our eternal salvation. Paul concludes this great resurrection chapter of 1 Corinthians by pointing out that Jesus’ resurrection leads to a certain victory for every believer!
This is not a victory earned, but rather a victory given by God’s grace and based on Jesus’ redemptive work. This work was planned in eternity. Paul writes: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” (Ephesians 1:3-4). This work was completed in time when Jesus came “not…to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). He ransomed us on Calvary’s cross and, thereafter, cried out victoriously: “It is finished!” (John 19:30)
Three days later the success of that great work was certified by God, when He restored His Son to life, thereby assuring us of A CERTAIN VICTORY! That victory becomes ours through faith. Paul testifies: “It (the blessings of Christ’s victory) shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification” (Romans 4:24-25).
May our lives be filled with thanksgiving to our gracious God and our Savior Jesus Christ for that certain victory!
Thanks to Thee, O Christ victorious! Thanks to Thee, O Lord of Life!
Death hath now no power o’er us, Thou hast conquered in the strife.
Thanks because Thou didst arise and hast opened Paradise!
None can fully sing the glory of the resurrection story! Amen.
The Lutheran Hymnal 207:2