I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Comment: We are so limited by our senses; by our societies attitudes and prejudice against another world living in co-existence with ours that we are easily led to be closed off in our thinking to otherworldly realities. And if people are inclined to the ‘spirit’ world they are often led into fanciful unreality! In summary Paul says that for true believers if we die before Jesus returns it doesn’t matter. At God’s command the living and the dead (raised) Christians will change their perishable mortal existence for imperishable immortal bodies! Death clearly defeated by the victory of resurrection! Jesus has not in any way diminished God, the Father’s moral standards, but He has paid the total punishment of sin and Grace has restored victory to our relationship with God and His perfect plan. There is a triumphant ring to Paul’s words. ‘“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.‘
Prayer: Gracious Father make us steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in You our labor is not in vain.
As I read it! 