1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory-- Over sin, death, and the law.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ. That is, through the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Observe here, 1. An enemy encountered, death: death armed by sin, and strengthened by the law.. This is often. surprising enemy, an amazing enemy,. spoiling and destroying enemy, an inevitable and unavoidable enemy.

Observe, 2. Victory over this enemy declared: the destruction of death, as to its terror and power. Death is overcome. But how? Non ut ne sit, but ut non obsit; not that it should not be, but that it should not hurt. Death has lost its sting, that it cannot annoy; it has lost its terror, that it cannot amaze; it has lost its power, that it cannot destroy.

Observe, 3. The victors or conquerors over this enemy--who are first Christ, and then all that are Christ's, all that harvest of which Christ is the first-fruits.

Observe, 4. The triumph proclaimed, Thanks be to God which giveth us the victory.

From the whole learn, That all believers are victorious over death, through our Lord Jesus Christ. They may triumph over death through Christ, because he has disarmed it by his death and satisfaction, he has destroyed it by his resurrection; and Christ's victories become the believer's by participation and communion with him. As they communicate with him in the value of his satisfaction, so they communicate with him in the virtue of his resurrection.

Let us therefore triumph with the apostle, and say, Thanks be to God; with the prophet, Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the dust. Thus victory was won by Christ, it is won by us; it was dear to Christ: it is cheap to us: we overcome, but it is by the blood of the Lamb. Let us therefore, living and dying, say, Thanks be to God, who giveth us the victory, through our Lord Jesus Christ.