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Timothy: I Corinthians 15:50-58
Mystery and Victory

Dear God, my Beloved Father, I respectfully offer my praise and gratitude to You. You are the Almighty God and my Father in Heaven. I always find joy and fulfillment in Your love and grace, but I am also deeply discouraged by the sinful nature of this world. I think about how You, as the all-knowing God, must be weary of the countless hidden sins within the hearts of humanity. I remember these words from Genesis 6:5-6, “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.” During that time, You used a flood to destroy the sinful world. In this present time, You will use the seven-year tribulation of the End Times to judge the whole world, as prophesied in the book of Revelation. I am grateful to You, Father, because beforehand, Christ will take the Church out of the world. I eagerly await the day when Christ comes. I long to escape from this sinful world. I ask You, Father, to grant me the strength to remain steadfast until the coming of Christ. I thank You, Father. I pray to Christ to strengthen my weary body and to the Holy Spirit to enlighten my spirit as I meditate on the Eternal Living Word of God. I am grateful to Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Father, I would like to present my reflections on I Corinthians 15:50-58 as follows:

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

Verse 50: I understand that “flesh and blood” refers to the natural physical body of human beings. The word “kingdom” in Greek also has the meaning “kingship” and, in this verse, refers to the authority to reign bestowed by God. Although the people of God in the Church have been saved and granted the authority to co-reign with Christ in the Kingdom of Heaven, they cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven with their natural physical bodies because these bodies are perishable.

51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

Verses 51 and 52: I understand that through the divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle Paul revealed to the people of God the mystery that some believers in the Church will not experience death. On the day when Christ comes to take the Church out of the world, the natural physical bodies of all true believers in the Lord who are alive will be transformed in an instant. Just before that, the natural physical bodies of those believers who had passed away, which had decayed into dust, will be resurrected. Each person will be given a new, spiritual, glorious body that is imperishable.

53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Verses 53 and 54: I understand that “corruptible” and “mortal” refer to the natural physical body, which over time decays and returns to dust. “Incorruption” and “immortality” refer to the spiritual, glorious body that is incorruptible. When the natural physical bodies of God’s people are resurrected or transformed into spiritual, glorious bodies, death will no longer have power over them.

55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

Verses 55 and 56: I understand that the “sting” refers to the part of certain creatures that contains venom, which they use for self-defense and hunting. “Grave” refers to the realm of the dead, where bodies are buried. Death maintains its grip on humanity because of sin. Sin is any violation of God’s commandments. The law punishes transgressors, and thus the law becomes the power of sin, causing the sinner to lose the glory and life bestowed by God, cutting off their fellowship with Him, and subjecting them to eternal confinement in Hell. On the day when the natural physical bodies of God’s people are resurrected or transformed into spiritual, glorious bodies, death and Hades will no longer have power over them.

57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Verse 57: I understand that God grants each of His people victory over sin and death through Christ. Christ died, bearing the punishment for the sins of humanity. Only those who sincerely repent of their sins and accept the redemptive death of Christ can experience victory over sin and death. Christ becomes their Lord, meaning He has complete authority over them and rules over them.

58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Verse 58: I understand that it is because of the abundant blessings bestowed by God that His people should stand firm in faith. They should have faith in the faithfulness of God and in every promise of God in the Scriptures. By doing so, they can live without worry, fear, or discouragement in the face of difficulties and challenges in life. They should eagerly participate in the spiritual activities of the Church and strive to live according to the Word of God. Surely, the toil of God’s people is not in vain, for each person will receive their deserved reward from Christ according to their deeds.

Father, I thank You for the blessed call and encouragement in verse 58. May You help each of Your people to understand this passage of Scripture and keep it in their hearts as an encouragement in their daily lives. I long for and eagerly await the day when Christ comes. Amen!

In the grace of Jesus Christ, my Lord.

Timothy Christian Huynh
06/06/2023