“For this corruptible must put on incorruptibility...” oh wait. Let’s go back and look at the context of our passage. 1 Corinthians 15 talks about the resurrection of the dead, and the resurrection of Christ in particular. Paul turns to the focus of his inquiry in verse 50 and beyond.
Creation shows us that animal, fish, bird, and human flesh are all different. So it is not surprising that our natural body is different from a spiritual body. Verse 50 addresses this:
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the corruptible inherit the incorruptible.
If we are planning to go into space, we would make sure that we had a space suit that is compatible with the new environment into which we venture. Paul also notes that if we are heading for the “kingdom of God,” we had better have a kingdom suit. His beloved phrase follows:
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
(“Sleep” is a euphemism for dying.) So we will not all die, but some change will happen, “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye....” We will not exegete the prophetic aspects of this, except to note that the change will be into the state, or body required to enter the kingdom. He continues with an explanation of our new “suit.”
53 For this corruptible must put on the incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality.
We learn more about this new body. “Incorruptible” means that it will not decay, or age, or even deteriorate. Immortality is a popular theme in “comic book” movies. Only this immortality will never be involved in any type of conflict. All sin will also be banished, eliminated, so that our new bodies will enjoy a perfect home, forever. And the immortality aspect means that the enemy, death, which was activated in Genesis 3, will be defeated completely and eternally.
Paul then concludes by giving us a perspective of what this means. “Death is swallowed up in victory.” (Needs an exclamation point, or two!!) Isaiah 25:8 seems to be the passage he references. (Read that passage. This is not an exact quotation, which gives us a glimpse into how extensive his understanding of the Old Testament was.) Then Paul taunts this enemy.
55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”
The “sting of death” is derived from Hosea 13:14 (And he did this without the aid of a concordance or “The Moody Bible Commentary.”) Death is no longer the victor, and in fact it does not even have a sting.
More explanation follows:
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law;
At first glimpse, it seems to be reversed: The sting of sin is death, sounds more like the way I think. That is the penalty imposed in Genesis 2 and executed a chapter later. We think that we die because of sin and that is the punishment. If that were the case, we would all be without hope. We sinned. We will die. End of story.
But Paul, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit identifies the sting of death being sin. Help me understand. Death is never a “good thing,” because it separates the soul from the body. Life, as represented by our bodies, is a gift from God. (Genesis 2:7) God “ breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.”
God’s original intent was for life to be eternal. But that was not in effect yet as He closed the access to the tree of life in Genesis 3:22 so that man would not eat from it and “live forever” as a sinful and sin-controlled creature. Death ruled all mankind from then until the cross. At that point Jesus paid the penalty for sin. He took the sting. He also fulfilled the prophetic roll of the two lambs God sacrificed to cover the sins of Adam and Eve. If someone does not accept that substitution, death is permanent and horrific. But for those of us who have accepted His atonement for us, death becomes a portal into the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Death is harmless, impotent, when we have no sin. The only way we can have no sin, is for Christ’s perfection to be imputed to us. That was done when we accepted His offer of salvation. “In Christ Alone,” the Getty classic* worded it this way: “Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me.”
Sin is the sting, and its power comes from the law. The law points out that we can never reach an agreement or settlement with God. We can never achieve the perfection or pay the price that the law requires. We are completely without hope–until verse 57: “but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Our Lord Jesus Christ has defeated death and paid the ransom to release us forever. (Needs an “Amen” and “Hallelujah!” Listen to Getty again.)
As we viewed the body of a dear departed loved one, this verse coursed through my mind. We saw a literal fulfillment of this verse. The corruptible body had yielded possession of the soul. That soul is now with Jesus, waiting for the trumpet call (v. 51) when this saint will join those of us who “remain” in receiving our incorruptible, immortal, kingdom suits. (No space suit for me. I am not stopping in space. I have a non-stop ticket all the way. Here comes another “Hallelujah!”)
Our final thought is an encouragement to abound in the work of the Lord. It is not to earn the reward, but to show our appreciation of, and love for the One Who has effected this change. “...be steadfast, immovable, always abounding...” to share this stupendous news with others.
50 Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the corruptible inherit the incorruptible. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on the incorruptible, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this corruptible will have put on the incorruptible, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.
*https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=in+christ+alone+lyrics&view=detail&mid=CA46C3129C7364E5CE21CA46C3129C7364E5CE21&FORM=VIRE
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