13^th April

“For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Sin and death have no power over us anymore because we have the victory in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What a wonderful verse to start the week with. We can know for sure that when Jesus laid down His life for us, He took the sting out of sin and death, and instead gives us life and life in its fullness.

When Moses gave the law to the people of Israel, it bound them to the consequences of their actions. They could no longer say “I didn’t know this or that was wrong” because the law clearly stated what was permissible and what was a sin. That in turn pronounced judgement on those living under the law. If you stole, you are guilty according to the law. If you lied then according to the law, you are guilty. And so on and so forth. The consequence of disobeying the law was ultimately Spiritual and sometimes physical death.

It all started when Adam disobeyed God in the garden of Eden, sin entered the world, resulting in death and eternal separation from God. Yes sin has consequences here on earth but the ultimate price of sin was death. However it doesn’t end there!!

Paul finishes in verse 57 with the good news of Jesus Christ. We now have the victory in Jesus’ death and resurrection and in His conquering of sin and death on the cross. Jesus had to die a sinners death (even though He was completely innocent), paying the debt and consequences of our sin, and by doing so, when He resurrected, rendered the power of death and sin defeated. He paid our price (the consequence of our sins) so we would no longer have to.

So now when we do make bad choices, we can come before the throne of God, confidently and without condemnation because there is no sting in our sin.