The victory of our Lord Jesus Christ has a very lasting, eternal impact. It is a spiritual victory that includes both the future and present.

1.  Victory over mortality (1 Cor 15:51-53):

v51: There will be a generation of God’s children who will be spared physical death. Whether we live or die, the body we have will be transformed into a glorious body. Even though God’s only begotten Son has completed the work of salvation for humanity, God’s work of salvation in His children is not completed until He has defeated mortality by giving us an immortal body.

v52: The speed of a twinkle (not a blink) of an eye is how fast believers who have died will be resurrected, and mortality will be replaced by immortality.

v53: This body we have today is important because it is the temple of the Holy Spirit. God wants this body to be incorruptible. The corruptible flesh is the result of sin. The victory of the Lord Jesus Christ is more than just delivering us from hell, death and sin. It will be thoroughly completed in our lives when we enter heaven in glory. Thus, while on earth, we are to keep this body holy, as it will be a glorious reflection of the salvific work of Christ one day.

2.  Victory over death (1 Cor 15:54-57):

v54: Death, our last enemy, will be thoroughly defeated. Death is swallowed up in victory when we receive our glorious body, and immortality.

v56: On earth, sin remains in us, and the sting of death continues to have its power over us. Through the Ten Commandments, we know how great sinners we are.

v57: Through Christ, we have this victory over death, and no sin will remain in us.

3.  Victory over dead works (1 Cor 15:58):

v58: Today, as we look forward to our glorified body, we must stop living in carnality. Because we are truly born again, our lives on earth must bear the fruit of salvation. The victory through Jesus Christ helps us to overcome our bondage to sin, guilt of sin, and dominion of sin. Stand still in what is right and true in God’s sight, stand firmly rooted on His Word, and keep on serving the Lord more and more. The finished work of our Lord Jesus Christ has transformed us from a depraved sinner to a holy and faithful servant of the Most High God. It is not vanity, but a spiritual and eternal blessing to us.