The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Corinthians — Section 529

Vera. 54-57.- Victory on the last baltle-field. I. WE HAVE MANY BATTLES TO FIGHT, EUT THE ONE MOST DREADED IS THE LAST-THE CONTEST WITH DEATH. Life is a series -of contests. The battles of childhood are by no means insignificant, and they are many. In eve1y succeeding stage of life contests continue. Life is a cha11!:ing but unbroken fight. The final contest is usually the most feared. Then generally (1) the body is very weak; (2) in much pain ; (3) thoughts of separation from loved ones and familiar scenes rack the mind; (4) life-opportunities are seen to be at an end; (5) a sense uf loneliness is experienced; (6) we stand upon the margin of another world ; (7) the time for rendering up the life-account is nigh; (B)_weapproach our final destiny; (9) we meet -God. II. IMPORTANCE OF THE ISSUE. 1. If we do not triumph, it is an evidence that we are still under the dominion of sin. Death is of sin (Rom. v. 12), and if death is not -conquered, sin is not. "The sting of death is sin" (ver. 56). Death conquers only because sin conquers. If sin be slain, death will be powerless. 2. If we are "in sin," we are "without Christ." 3. If we are without Christ, we are without a Redeemer. 4. If we are without a Redeemer, we perish. The death-contest is a great test of our -condition. III. 'l'HE CERTAIN TRIUMPH OF THE CHILD OF Goo. 1. .Asserted. .. I will ransom them from the power of the grave ; I will redeem them from death : 0 death, I will be thy plagues; 0 grave, I will be thy destruction" (Hosea xiii. 14). That which is so <:lreaded by many should not be feared by the believer. He has a Divine promise of victory. 2. Explained. (1) The triumph comes "through our Lord Jesus Christ." It is not to be achieved by our prowess. We have no strength for the conflict; our sufficiency is of him. Like Mary, we shall meet Christ at the sepulchre. Through him we shall conquer. Well may we offer heartfelt thanks to God (ver. 57), for" God so loved the world," etc. (2) He satisfied the demands of the Law. "Sin is of the Law;" the Law condemns. Christ passed under the Law for us-bore the penalties of the broken Law; so that those in him are brought from under the Law. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. viii. 1). "The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the Law;" but we are not under the Law if we are in -Christ. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also him- self likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who tlmmgh fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage '.' (Heh. ii. 14, 15 ). (3) He hns risen from the grave. The power of his redemption is thus confirmed. His dominion over death is demonstrated. 3. Eiulttd in. Before the battle begins, the child of God may rejoice in coming victory. And well may he do so, for this will at the same time illustrate his faith in his Redeemer and brighten all his earthly course. That which was dreaded as a disastrous defeat is rejoiced in as a glorious and all-important victory. 4. Often illustrated. Christian biography is rich in death-triumphs. Thoruas Rutherford in the last fight exclaimed, "He has indeed been a precious Christ to me; an,d now I feel him to be my Rock, my Strength, my Rest, my Hope, my Joy, my All in all." When Paul heard the bugle-call to the last of his many battles, he cried, "I am now ready to be offered up," etc. IV. AN ARGUMENT FOR THE UNSAVED. Victory on the last battle-field comes alone through Christ. Without him our life will close in disaster and ruin. Suddenly the . conflict may come upon us.-H. Ver. 58.-Preparation for the death-trfamph. The apostle has been speaking of the believer's triumph in the final contest with death. This is assured, for it is "through our Lord Jesus Christ" (ver. 57), who is "the same yesterday, to-day, and for ever;" bt:t, though assured, it needs to be prepared for. Salvation is of Christ, yet we have to "work out our own salvation with fear and trembling;" and "they that enrlure to the end shall be saved." So we need to make constant preparation for tho last battle, that when it comes we may be ready and may be found clad in" the whole armour of God." I. THE APOSTLE unm,:s DELIEVERS TO ADIDE IN THE FAITH. 1. We must be" in the ,faith." Only thus can we anticipate triumph. Unless we know Christ we shall not know tho death-victory. If we are not in tho faith, death will triuruph over us, and -the marks of death's triumph we shall bear in all our future. 2. We must b6 steadfast  MO TIIE FIHST EPISTLE TO TIIE CORINTHIANS. [cu. xv. 1-63, - - - - - - - - - ------ ------------------- in the faith. Not halting between two opinions-of one mind to-do.y and of another to-morrow. ,v e must choose ,lecisively and be faithful to our choice, "Unstable as. water, thou shalt not excel." That soldier is not worth much who has much loyalty to-day and none to-morrow. Vacillation in Divine things is a poor preparation for death. We must be stradfast (1) to Christ personally ; (2) to his doctrine- including doctrine of resurrection, which Paul has specially in mind; (3) to holy living. 3. TVe must be unmovable in the faith. Not tumincr aside ourselves nor allowing others to turn us. Enemies will try to turn us-iur great enemy' pre- eminently. Ilut we must be like limpets on th~ rock, which cling the more tenaciously the more we seek to dislodge them. Yet with these little creatures a sudden blow will generally remove them. So we must "watch." In such an hour as we think not the fierce temptation may come. We must hold to Christ and pray Christ to hohi to us. He is able to keep us from falling. II. THE APOSTLE URGES BELIEVERS TO BE DILIGE~T IN THE Loan's SERVICE. 1. We should en_qa_qe in the work of the Lord. Some may think they bad better concentrate their thoughts altogether upon themselves; woo delightful frames of mind • listen m~1c~, to s?~1e captivating 1:reacher; "sit an~ sing themselves away to eve;lasting. bliss. Spmtual selfishness 1s a poor preparat10n for the last fight. Many Christians p'imper themselves and become horeless spiritual invalids. Vve must cultivate personal piety, but we may do this largely by robust Christian work. We need exerci~e. 'l'he spiritual sedentary life is prolific of spiritual ills. A Church of do-nothings is always a hospital full of sick and complaining folks. Besides, the need of service is great, and the Master calls. 2. We should abound in the work of the Lord, We should not do as little as we can for Christ, but as much. How ho "abounded" in work for us I It is the man who abounds in his work who is most fit to leave it; the diligent servant is the one most ready to meet his Lord. If we wish to be victorious over death by-_ and-by, we bad need to be victorious over sloth and self-seeking and indulgence now, 3. We should always abound in the worlc of the Lord. Our work is not to be by fits and starts; our consecration must be life-consecration. Always on the same side, always serving the same Master. 4. We have much encouragement ever to abound ii, the worlc of the Lord. "Our labour is not in vain in the Lord." (1) We may know this: (a) Ily promise. "My word shall not return unto me void." (b) Ily reason. The gospel, according lo our judgment, meets the needs of men, and is likely to be accepted by not a few. (c) By experience. Our own, perhaps; past work speaks in its results. Tbe experiences of others; what vast effects have followed upon devoted service! (2) It is not in vain; for: (a) It pleases God. The true servant is never unsucces.iful. He is always successful in pleasing his Master! (b) It has its effect upon those immediately concerned. We say in natural things every cause produces its appropriate effect: so in spiritual. The result that we desirer! may not follow, but there has been an effect,. ns we shall perceive hereafter. (c) It blesses ourselve8. Few things are likely to d:o us so much good. (d) It will assuredly bring its reward. But our lo.hour must always be "in the Lord "-iu his Name, in dependence upon his power, in prayer for his help, in desire for his glory.-H. Ver. 1.-The large use of the term "gospel." The general meaning of the term "gospel" is " good news," "glad tidings," It is "God's spel," or "word." All that is connected with the Lord Jesus Christ may properly be called good news, and the word "gospel" may be thought of as including it all. There is, i □ deed, a tendency to limit the term to a portion only of our Hedeemer's work, which r:.eeds to be resisted. The gospel is treated as if it were only the message of our LQrd's sacrificial deat-h. But that is, evidently, not the matter that is at all in the mind of the apostle when be wrote to the Corinthians of the" gospel which he preached unto them." He was thinking of the "gospel of the resurrection," and of those truths which rest upon the risen rather than up0n the dying Hedeemer. We plead, therefore, for a full comprehensive applica- tion of tbe term "gospel," as including- I. THE GOSPEL 0I' THE lNCAHNATION. The" good news" that God is willing to tako upon himself our human nature; to bPcome a man among men; and to show to 11s that humanity is not hopelessly d<'prM·ed, but is still within reach of the redemptive power of God. The "good news" that Gou•~ love is no mere sentiment, but o. holy on. xv. 1-58.J THE FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 541