But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Corinthians 15: 57
At the tail end of his talk about the reality of the resurrection of the dead, Paul comforts the Corinthians with these words: 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. 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. 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. – I Corinthians 15: 51-56
One day, incorruption shall overcome corruption. Immortality will outlive mortality. Death will lose its sting. The grave will release its grip. The law will surrender its strength. Paul gives thanks because all of this can and will happen since God has given us the victory. Before we part the passage, be sure to quickly see the following about this victory and why we should give thanks for it. (1) The sight of victory. The fact that Paul puts the word “give” in the present tense and not the past tense or even the future tense is instructive. This victory is not completely over, nor is it something in the distance future. It is being given to us as we speak. Though it is not complete, the very sight of it makes it sure to us. (2) The source of victory. The victory comes from God. It is God who gives the victory. It is sent by God. It is sustained by God. It is secured by God. (3) The Savior of victory. Now, even though it is God who gives us the victory, he has chosen to give it to us through his son and our savior Jesus Christ.
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2: 9-11. Thank you God for sending the victory and thank you Jesus of bringing it.