The Sting Of Death

1 Cor 15:56-57 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

It was an unforgettable trip to the mailbox.  Little did I realize that this short walk would send me to the hospital.  While working at a summer camp as a teenager, my supervisor asked me to walk out to the mailbox for the daily mail.  I must have interfered with the hornet’s business when I opened the mailbox.  Immediately it stung me, and I was in pain.  A rash sprung up quickly; I felt nauseous, dizzy, and felt like vomiting.  I forgot about the mail.

By God’s grace, a camp employee came by in their car and saw my dilemma.  They quickly rushed me to the nearest hospital.  They treated me to prevent an anaphylactic reaction and gave me medications to relieve the pain, nausea, and rash, enabling me to recover quickly.  Until then, I did not know I had a hornet sting allergy.  But this memory helps me watch for hornets and keep a safe distance.

The Sin Sting is like the hornet’s sting, but it produces death.  The verse could be re-phrased this way:  Sin is the sting that causes death.

Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and  death by sin; and  so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

There was no death until after Adam and Eve sinned.  From that time forward, all humanity inherited a sin nature and, consequently, death.  Thus, we are not sinners because we sin.  Instead, we sin because we are sinners.  Paul could then write in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short (i.e., missed the mark) of the glory of God.” Because we “miss the mark,” there is a payday for our sins.  “For the wages of sin is death” Romans 6:23.

Because God loves us, He provided the solution for this hopeless predicament.  Romans 5:8 states, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” 1 Peter 2:24 proclaims, “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

Jesus provided the only perfect remedy for the sting of death.  He took all the guilt and punishment for our sins on Himself, died, and then physically rose again.  He dramatically demonstrated that He had power over sin, death, and the grave, for Himself and all who believe in Him.

Man can do nothing to wipe out the guilt, shame, and resulting judgment for our sins.  “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5a).  “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8,9).

Because Paul, the author of 1 Corinthians 15:56, trusted Christ for the forgiveness of sin and for salvation, he could confidently state, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Have you trusted Him for your salvation?

Romans 10:9-10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.