Live Triumphantly! We Have The Victory
Steph Curry is my favorite basketball player. I love his game, his unselfishness and his leadership. He knows who he is and what he has accomplished. He doesn’t have to walk around like he is the man, he just is …and everyone knows he is! In winning his fourth championship, he did something that has become a meme. Before the final game was officially over, Steph put his hands together on one side of his head to indicate “night, night”. The opponent had been put to bed and even though there was still time left on the clock, they had been defeated. In 1 Corinthians 15:20-28, Paul wanted believers to know that Christ’s defeat of the enemies of God was a certainty. And although we’re still living in this broken world, through Christ’s resurrection, all believers have already won the victory. I pray that you will live like you know you have already received the victory!
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. But each in turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him. (1 Corinthians 15:20-23) Having dealt in earlier verses with the question, “what if there was no resurrection?”, Paul began here with an affirmation, “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead”. From that affirmation and assurance to the believers at Corinth, Paul tells them what that extraordinary fact means for believers. Christ was the first to be resurrected, but through Him, all believers will be resurrected too. Because of Adam’s sin, all men and women are destined for death. But through Christ, all believers will be resurrected and have eternal life.
Then the end will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15:24-26) Paul explained that when Christ comes again, He will resolve everything. He reigns now and He will reign until He has defeated all the enemies of God. Including the last enemy to be destroyed…death. At that time, Christ will hand the kingdom of God, with all dominion, power and authority, back over to the Father.
For he “has put everything under his feet.” Now when it says that “everything” has been put under him, it is clear that this does not include God himself, who put everything under Christ. When he has done this, then the Son himself will be made subject to him who put everything under him, so that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:27-28) Paul clarified that the Father’s position is never subjugated to the Son, so the phrase “has put everything under His feet” doesn’t apply to God the Father. When Christ, the Son, has defeated all of the enemies of God, He will hand the kingdom back to the Father and be subject to Him, as a son is to a father. That relationship will be intact. Then God the Father will be all in all… i.e. the Father will be glorified forever, His rule will be absolutely comprehensive forever, and from Him, through Him and to Him are all things forever (see Rom. 11:36)
The truth is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He reigns and all the enemies of God are assured of defeat. Believers will be resurrected and receive eternal life. God the Father will have no challenge to His dominion, power and authority and He will be glorified forever. These are all things that Paul has assured all believers. And the beautiful thing about it for us is that we don’t have to wait until the battle is over….we can shout now! And those who have put our faith in Jesus, already have the victory ….So let us live like it!
Blessings, Rev. Glenn
