When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” I Corinthians 15:54
Paul, the author of this letter, was a Jewish scholar. a Pharisee, obsessed with interpreting and obeying the laws of Moses to the extreme. He joined those who hated and crucified Jesus and promptly began persecuting Christians. That is, until he had an up close and personal encounter with Jesus, The Risen Savior. (Acts 22:7-10)
Part of Paul’s education and practice would have been debate and reason. In this passage Paul speaks like a litigator. ‘If you believe this, then you must also believe this.’ This is not a bad pastoral strategy, as he was addressing problems with false teaching.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the single most important event in history. If you do not believe this one fact, then everything else is in vain, futile, hopeless. BUT!!!! If you believe nothing else but this, THEN everything changes and life is transformed into eternal living hope.
Death is no threat to those who will not die. We win, the end!
Life is Beautiful,
Gretchen