How does 1 Corinthians 15:56 explain the relationship between sin and the law? Setting the Verse in Context 1 Corinthians 15:56: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.” Paul is wrapping up his triumphant proclamation of Christ’s resurrection. He turns to explain why death had such a grip on humanity and how that grip was broken. Unpacking “The Sting of Death is Sin” • Death’s “sting” is not simply physical pain; it is the condemnation that follows sin (Romans 6:23). • Sin poisons every human life (Romans 3:23). Because all sin, all feel the sting. • This sting is universal—no exceptions, no escape by human effort. Examining “The Power of Sin is the Law” • God’s law is holy, righteous, and good (Romans 7:12). • Yet sin exploits the law. – The law defines right and wrong (Romans 3:20). – That clear line exposes every trespass (1 John 3:4). – Once sin is identified, guilt is undeniable, increasing its “power” (Romans 5:20). • The law, therefore, doesn’t create sin; it brings sin into sharp relief, giving it legal force and condemning power. How the Law Gives Sin Its Edge 1. Revelation: The law reveals God’s perfect standard (Psalm 19:7). 2. Recognition: By comparison, our shortcomings become obvious (Romans 7:7). 3. Condemnation: Sin, once recognized, brings a penalty the law demands—death (Deuteronomy 27:26; Galatians 3:10). 4. Incitement: Fallen hearts sometimes rebel even more when commandments are clear (Romans 7:8-11). The Limitations of the Law • It can diagnose sin but cannot cure it (Hebrews 10:1-4). • It points us to our need for a savior (Galatians 3:24). • It shuts every mouth, leaving no ground for self-justification (Romans 3:19). Christ’s Victory Over Both Law and Sin • Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly (Matthew 5:17). • He bore the curse the law pronounces on sinners (Galatians 3:13). • By rising, He removed sin’s sting and disarmed its power (Colossians 2:13-15). • Now death is “swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54). Living in the Freedom Christ Provides • Believers are no longer under law’s condemnation (Romans 8:1). • We serve “in the new way of the Spirit” rather than “the old way of the written code” (Romans 7:6). • Grace teaches us to say no to sin (Titus 2:11-12), not by abolishing God’s moral standard but by writing it on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33). • The resurrection guarantees that even physical death has lost its venom; what remains is a doorway into eternal life (John 11:25-26). In 1 Corinthians 15:56, Paul shows that sin is lethal because the law rightfully condemns it—but in Christ the believer is free from both the sting and the power. |
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