11-28-2021

 Good Morning All!

   1 Corinthians 15: 56-57; “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

    I watched an old western movie the other night. It had Walter Brennan in it. He was a crusty, retired army scout who was helping the star of the movie try to get 100 repeating rifles to a distant fort. Everyone was trying to steal the guns and then turn around and sell them. First it was some scavenger type guys. Then it was some of the men in his command and finally it was a party of Indian raiders. Of course, Walter Brennan’s character knew the Indian chief and could speak to him.

    As the final battle with the Indians raged, many of the army members were getting shot and dying.  The army was trying to keep the weapons from the Indians, but it looked bleak. Just as the Indians were about to capture the guns, out came Walter Brennan. He had filed all the firing pins of the guns so the guns would not shoot. Seeing that the guns were worthless, the Indians rode away. The army failed to get the guns, but the army kept the guns away from an enemy who planned to use those guns against them. The weapons no longer worked so the value of the gun was nothing.

   Our text tells us this same truth. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. After Jesus died and rose again, the “firing pin” of sin is gone. It is the pain of eternal death which gives death its sting. But with Christ’s victory over the grave and with his glorious resurrection, the tomb that once sealed us in is now only a door for us. In the blink of an eye, the world changed. In the blink of an eye, we enter into his heavenly kingdom.

    The sting and power are gone; the joy and grace are here to stay. With Jesus’ victory over the grave, a victory which he lovingly gives to us, we are guaranteed salvation. With Christ’s victory we can loudly cry, “O death where is your victory? O death where is your sting?”  We are assured of victory. Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate defeat of death. It no longer has the “final say.”  We have the final say that gives us life eternal; we have Jesus!

    We can take comfort and hope in this statement. We have victory because of Jesus. No matter what the world throws at you, not matter what trouble or pain you may feel; God is there to save us. We will always be victorious! It may be on the other side of the grave, but we enter it knowing that there is no sting to harm us. So, as we celebrate this wondrous truth, we can take hope in our victory, won by Christ and freely g. n to us.

 Dearest Father in heaven, to you alone goes all glory. Be with us and defend us from the power of the devil and his ways. Protect us by your mighty hand. Receive us into your blessed kingdom. In Jesus’ precious name we pray, Amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret