1 Corinthians 15:50-58

The Greatest And Final Victory

Our fleshly bodies will have no place in heaven since it is an incorruptible place (1 Peter 1:34). God's apostle to the Gentiles was revealing something which had long been concealed when he said not all believers would die a physical death. Some would be changed from corruptible to incorruptible beings and then be caught up into the clouds to meet their Lord (1 Corinthians 15:50-51; see also 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).

The resurrection and change to incorruptible bodies would happen in an instant. First, the apostle said the trumpet will blow. Second, the dead will be raised with incorruptible bodies. Third, those saints still alive will be changed. To go to heaven, all must change. With the change of bodies at the resurrection, death's power over man will be gone. Death will be swallowed up this powerful moment (1 Corinthians 15:52-54; Isaiah 25:8).

With a loose quotation from Hosea 13:14, Paul joyously and triumphantly declared the resurrection to be the end of death and the fears it holds for mankind (1 Corinthians 15:55-57; see also Romans 5:12-15; Romans 7:7-12). McGarvey writes,

Death is here spoken of under the figure of a serpent. Sin is the bite or sting with which he slays men, and the power or poisonous strength of sin is found in the curse which the law pronounces upon the sinner. By the triple power of law, sin and death, the glory of man was brought to nought; but thanks are due to God, who restored glory to man through Jesus Christ. Christ gave man the victory over the law, for he nailed it to his cross (Colossians 2:14); he gave him victory over sin, for he made atonement for sin (Hebrews 7:27); and he gave his victory over death by his resurrection which is the earnest of the general resurrection. Wonderful threefold victory!

Because there is a resurrection, Paul urged the brethren in Corinth to not be swayed from their faith in Christ's gospel. Instead, he said they should hold to it knowing heaven would be their reward (1 Corinthians 15:58).