Christ With Sickle and Trumpet Over the Grain HarvestBible World
15:551 Corinthians 15:55
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
The verse is the shout of triumph the righteous will raise on the resurrection morning, declaring that death can no longer hurt them and the grave can no longer hold them. It is not yet fulfilled, but will come to pass at the last trumpet, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, when the Lord Himself descends with a shout and mortal puts on immortality and corruptible puts on incorruption. The sting that is then taken away is sin with its corrupting ruin, terror, despair and sorrow, and the victory that is then broken is the grave's claimed power to keep dominion over the dead and harm them. That victory rests on Christ's own triumph, who felt death's pangs, met the enemy on death's own territory, broke Satan's power and the tomb's fetters, and rose with all power as pledge that all who sleep in Him will come forth as He did. Until then the dead sleep unconsciously in peaceful temporary rest with no pain or care, time to them only a moment, and this hope takes away grief and fear and calls the living to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, be justified by faith, and seek glory, honor, immortality and eternal life by patient continuance in well-doing.
Language and Immediate Context
The verse belongs to Paul's teaching on the literal resurrection of the dead, given to answer those who deny that the dead are raised. That teaching explains how the dead are raised and with what body they come, showing that the matter of the mortal body need not become the matter of the immortal body. Personal identity rests in organization rather than in the same particles of matter.
The sting of death is sin, and when sin is gone death loses its grip. That sting includes the serpent's corrupting influence, which ruins the body and is fatal to the soul. The righteous dead therefore sleep in the grave only for a time, for death cannot hold them and their deliverance is near.
The sting is also the terror, despair, and sorrow of death, whose power was held by the devil. Jesus met the enemy on death's own territory and there conquered him, feeling death's pangs Himself and then rising to sit with all power. Henceforth death is robbed of its terror and stinging despair for the Christian, because the conflict of the second Adam with Satan was decided when Christ arose.
The grave's victory is its claimed power to hold the dead, harm them, and keep dominion over them. When the risen righteous awake, the pain is gone because death can no longer hurt them and the grave can no longer hold them. At Christ's appearing to set His people free, death will no longer hold dominion or claim victory.
Time and Manner of Fulfillment
The triumph has not yet been spoken, for the trumpet has not yet sounded and the righteous dead have not yet been raised. Its fulfillment is near, when the Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, when the dead in Christ rise first and are caught up with the living saints to meet the Lord in the air. Then mortality puts on immortality and the corruptible puts on incorruption, and death is swallowed up in victory. At the last trumpet, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, the dead are raised incorruptible and the living are changed, and the sting of death and its victory over the grave are ended by resurrection to life.
At Christ's coming amid convulsions of nature, the voice of the Son of God as Lifegiver calls the sleeping saints to awake from the dust, and all who hear live. He breaks the fetters of the tomb, opens the graves, and brings forth the captives from the prison-house of death, and all who sleep in the tomb come forth as the Conqueror did. Those raised come from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people as an exceeding great army, clothed with immortal glory. They burst the fetters of the tomb and rise in immortal vigor, trampling death and the grave underfoot. Sickly bodies that went down to the grave are raised up in immortal health and vigor, clothed with glorious immortality.
Shout of the Risen Saints
On the resurrection morning the righteous will come forth speaking this as their shout of triumph over death and the grave. When Christ calls them at the sound of the last trump they rise from the prison-house of the dead clothed with immortal glory and cry out that death has lost its sting and the grave its victory. Their emerging at the last trumpet is itself the triumph, with death no longer having a sting and the grave no longer having victory over them.
Their first glad thought on awakening answers the question with victory, for their last sensation before sleep was the pang of death and falling beneath the power of the grave. They have slept unconsciously, unaware of the passage of time which is only a moment to them, until God awakens them at the trumpet to incorruptible life and glorious immortality. Those called forth from deep slumber begin to think just where they ceased, and when they awake the pain is all gone because death can no longer hold or harm them and the grave can no longer hold them. Then corruptible puts on incorruption and mortal puts on immortality as the dead are raised incorruptible, and death being swallowed up in victory is fulfilled.
Amid convulsions of nature the voice of the Son of God as Lifegiver calls the sleeping saints from the dust and the graves are opened, and all who hear live and come forth from the prison-house of death. They come as an exceeding great army from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, clothed with immortal glory, with sickly bodies that went down to the grave raised up in immortal health and vigor. The living righteous are changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye from glory to glory, with health and beauty and glorious light shining upon them, and join the risen saints in one long, glad, transporting shout of victory with rich musical shouts of glory and victory on every immortal sanctified lip. While this happens their enemies fall like dead men unable to endure the light, and those who would have destroyed them witness the glory of God resting upon the saints.
Together the risen and the changed living are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The finishing touch of immortality is put upon the risen host and they go up to meet their Lord and enter through the gates into the City of God. Once thus caught up to meet Him they will never again be separated from Him and never more part.
That victory reunites those whom death had separated, never to part again, when loved ones and faithful companions meet again and friends are united. The living and resurrected meet their loved ones again to be parted no more. Christ as the great Lifegiver will then reward His faithful servants by restoring to them the children taken by death, just as the Shunammite woman's faith was rewarded by the restoration of her son.
Those who will speak it are now a little flock compared with the teeming millions, poor in this world's goods and in the minority. They stand for truth as revealed in God's Word, obeying His commandments from the heart, with God for their refuge under the broad shield of Omnipotence. At the resurrection they will stand with God, with Jesus Christ, with the heavenly angels, and with the loyal and true raised from their graves, and then they will be with the majority.
Christ's Resurrection Guarantees Victory
The triumph celebrated is grounded in Christ's own conquest of death and the grave by rising again. He felt the pangs of death Himself, met the enemy on death's own territory and there overcame him, having paid humanity's ransom and then taking up His life again. He rose to sit with all power, and by that rising He removed the despair, terror and stinging dread that gave death its sting for the Christian. That victory was wrought through the conflict of Gethsemane and the shame of the cross endured to the end.
His rising was the victory of the second Adam, deciding the conflict with Satan who held the power of death. In rising He shook Satan's prison-house to its foundations, broke the enemy's hold, and brought up a company of the sleeping dead as trophies and spoils taken from the conqueror. By that act He displayed His power over death and the grave and secured hope of a final resurrection. That first resurrection stands as sample, evidence and assurance that all who sleep in Him will rise at His second coming.
Through Jesus Christ the faithful share that victory, for their triumph over death comes through Him and issues in living forever with their Lord. As the Conqueror triumphed and broke the fetters of the tomb, every believing saint who falls asleep in Jesus will come forth from the prison-house of the tomb in triumph even as He did. All who were partakers with Him in humiliation and suffering will be partakers with Him in glory, raised to incorruptible, glorious, immortal life.
His resurrection and ascension are sure evidence of the saints' triumph over death and the grave and a pledge that heaven is open to those who wash their robes of character and make them white in His blood. He ascended to the Father as representative of the human race. Those who reflect His image God will bring to behold and share His glory, made like Him when they see Him.
His victory means Satan and his kingdom will ultimately come to an end. Satan's apparent triumph over humanity is ended, his power is broken, and he himself will eventually die. Mortality ends, the tomb's fetters are broken, and the dead enter everlasting life. The history of suffering and transgression closes in a future life where temptation and the possibility of wrongdoing are gone, because those who dwell there have withstood evil and are no longer susceptible to its power.
The triumph declares that Christ had to die, but His death did not end in defeat; it led to glorious, eternal victory. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of prophecy, with every specification outlined by Moses and the prophets fulfilled in His life as a man among men. The divine Son endured the cross, despising the shame, for the purpose of redeeming a lost world. He broke the fetters of the tomb and came forth from its dark borders, proclaiming triumphant victory over death and the grave, and ascended to heaven triumphant over them.
Sleep Until the Awakening
The dead do not go to heaven at death but sleep unconsciously in the grave, unaware of the passing of time, which is only a moment to them until God awakens them. At the trump of God they are awakened from the sleep of death and raised to incorruptible life, when corruptible puts on incorruption and mortal puts on immortality and death is swallowed up in victory. Their first glad thought on rising is triumph, that death has lost its sting and the grave its victory.
For those who sleep in Jesus death is a peaceful, temporary rest with no pain or sin or woe or care, held in certain hope of the glorious resurrection morning when Jesus comes, and not the end. It is only a short rest in the dusty bed, even if entered through lingering distressing sickness, and then the Lifegiver breaks the fetters of the tomb, releases the captive, and brings him forth immortal never more to know pain, sorrow, or death. When the last trump rends the skies the fetters burst and the dead wake in full immortal bloom to live again in heaven, so grief for the dead should cease and give sweet relief. Until that rest the duty is to keep working until the Master bids to lay off the armor.
Those called forth from deep slumber begin to think just where they ceased, with the last sensation the pang of death and falling beneath the power of the grave, and their arising thought is triumph over death and the grave. So the hope of victory over death rests entirely on the resurrection. To treat the righteous as already enjoying immortal blessedness at death obscures that hope and makes the resurrection seem unnecessary, whereas the resurrection is a central gospel doctrine giving reason for diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness.
After the final judgment the faithful welcomed by Christ into His kingdom have no cause to fear death, because its power to hold them has been overcome.
Comfort and Call to Overcome
The coming resurrection takes away grief and fear, for the last trumpet will rend the skies and burst the fetters of the tomb to wake the dead in full immortal bloom. Because death cannot hold those who sleep for a time in the grave and their deliverance is near, sorrow for the dead should cease and give sweet relief. The trumpet is the promise that the dead will be seen again, for the sting of death is sin and when sin is gone death loses its grip. For those whose life is righteous in Christ, death and the grave lose their terror and sorrow, since Jesus has passed through death and believers can face the same path with confidence and hope of eternal life.
With Christ's presence death loses its sting and the grave its victory. That hope gives joy and courage to endure present toil and suffering while awaiting the end of trial, when the dead will come forth to see Jesus, be made like Him, and share in victory over death. Even under sickness, disappointment, poverty, reproach and distress, and even if permitted to suffer a lingering distressing sickness before closing the eyes in death, the Christian can bear it all with cheerfulness. He knows One who knows it all, sympathizes with every sorrow and soothes anguish, and while communing with his Redeemer his countenance is radiant with joy as he contemplates the future with heavenly satisfaction, knowing death is only a short rest until the Lifegiver breaks the fetters of the tomb, releases the captive, and brings him from his dusty bed immortal, never more to know pain, sorrow, or death. Until that glorious resurrection morning when Jesus comes, which is certain and not the end, the duty is to keep working until the Master bids to lay off the armor.
The shout of triumph and victory will be raised by the redeemed in the morning of the resurrection when they come forth from the grave as from a prison-house, when mortality is swallowed up by life. Then the faithful dead rise again to honor with no shame, reproach, or suffering, but peace, joy, and immortal praise on every redeemed tongue, and a faithful companion who has died will live again. Therefore the living are urged to turn while probation lasts and by patient continuance in well doing to seek glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life, so as not to be missing when that voice of victory is raised.
That victory means death and the grave are conquered, the gates of heaven are opened, and the eternal reward is given. It belongs to everyone who overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil by laying hold by faith on the divine nature through the merits of Jesus Christ. Such give to Jesus their mental, moral, and physical powers and their whole life because He gave His life, and win souls to Him. They receive the gift of eternal life and a crown of immortal glory, dwell in His presence, see the King in His beauty and behold His matchless charms, have peace here with Christ formed within as the hope of glory, and then praise Him with an immortal tongue, so that Christ shall not have died for them in vain.
The sting of death is the deadly sting of the serpent, and it is healed when a person is justified by faith by looking only to Jesus as righteousness and sacrifice. Then self ends and there is peace with God through Jesus Christ. The healing comes by opening the door of the heart and letting Jesus in, by the look of faith to the Lamb of God that brings life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins, just as a look to the brazen serpent brought life to the dying. Men in responsible positions above all others need this converting power of God daily to have their eyes opened and their hearts made new.
Jesus Christ vanquished death while He was in humanity, broke the fetters of the tomb, and came forth from its dark borders proclaiming triumphant victory over death and the grave. As Chief Physician He still hears the prayers of true, earnest, God-fearing physicians and missionaries to prolong the life of the suffering when His name will be glorified thereby, doing even greater healings through laborers together with God who work in faith and trust wholly in God. He gives endless life to all who believe in Him and endure unto the end, working through connected physicians to treat suffering bodies and to watch for souls and heal the bruises that sin has made upon soul and body in humanity under the serpent's sting. He is Saviour to all who come to Him confessing their sins, saying to them that their sins are forgiven and sending them forth in peace to sin no more. The hope of victory over death rests wholly on the resurrection, and that central gospel doctrine gives believers reason for diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness.
The verse is the shout of triumph the righteous will raise on the resurrection morning, declaring that death can no longer hurt them and the grave can no longer hold them. It is not yet fulfilled, but will come to pass at the last trumpet, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, when the Lord Himself descends with a shout and mortal puts on immortality and corruptible puts on incorruption. The sting that is then taken away is sin with its corrupting ruin, terror, despair and sorrow, and the victory that is then broken is the grave's claimed power to keep dominion over the dead and harm them. That victory rests on Christ's own triumph, who felt death's pangs, met the enemy on death's own territory, broke Satan's power and the tomb's fetters, and rose with all power as pledge that all who sleep in Him will come forth as He did. Until then the dead sleep unconsciously in peaceful temporary rest with no pain or care, time to them only a moment, and this hope takes away grief and fear and calls the living to overcome the world, the flesh and the devil, be justified by faith, and seek glory, honor, immortality and eternal life by patient continuance in well-doing.
Language and Immediate Context
The verse belongs to Paul's teaching on the literal resurrection of the dead, given to answer those who deny that the dead are raised. That teaching explains how the dead are raised and with what body they come, showing that the matter of the mortal body need not become the matter of the immortal body. Personal identity rests in organization rather than in the same particles of matter.
The sting of death is sin, and when sin is gone death loses its grip. That sting includes the serpent's corrupting influence, which ruins the body and is fatal to the soul. The righteous dead therefore sleep in the grave only for a time, for death cannot hold them and their deliverance is near.
The sting is also the terror, despair, and sorrow of death, whose power was held by the devil. Jesus met the enemy on death's own territory and there conquered him, feeling death's pangs Himself and then rising to sit with all power. Henceforth death is robbed of its terror and stinging despair for the Christian, because the conflict of the second Adam with Satan was decided when Christ arose.
The grave's victory is its claimed power to hold the dead, harm them, and keep dominion over them. When the risen righteous awake, the pain is gone because death can no longer hurt them and the grave can no longer hold them. At Christ's appearing to set His people free, death will no longer hold dominion or claim victory.
Time and Manner of Fulfillment
The triumph has not yet been spoken, for the trumpet has not yet sounded and the righteous dead have not yet been raised. Its fulfillment is near, when the Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trump of God, when the dead in Christ rise first and are caught up with the living saints to meet the Lord in the air. Then mortality puts on immortality and the corruptible puts on incorruption, and death is swallowed up in victory. At the last trumpet, in a moment in the twinkling of an eye, the dead are raised incorruptible and the living are changed, and the sting of death and its victory over the grave are ended by resurrection to life.
At Christ's coming amid convulsions of nature, the voice of the Son of God as Lifegiver calls the sleeping saints to awake from the dust, and all who hear live. He breaks the fetters of the tomb, opens the graves, and brings forth the captives from the prison-house of death, and all who sleep in the tomb come forth as the Conqueror did. Those raised come from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people as an exceeding great army, clothed with immortal glory. They burst the fetters of the tomb and rise in immortal vigor, trampling death and the grave underfoot. Sickly bodies that went down to the grave are raised up in immortal health and vigor, clothed with glorious immortality.
Shout of the Risen Saints
On the resurrection morning the righteous will come forth speaking this as their shout of triumph over death and the grave. When Christ calls them at the sound of the last trump they rise from the prison-house of the dead clothed with immortal glory and cry out that death has lost its sting and the grave its victory. Their emerging at the last trumpet is itself the triumph, with death no longer having a sting and the grave no longer having victory over them.
Their first glad thought on awakening answers the question with victory, for their last sensation before sleep was the pang of death and falling beneath the power of the grave. They have slept unconsciously, unaware of the passage of time which is only a moment to them, until God awakens them at the trumpet to incorruptible life and glorious immortality. Those called forth from deep slumber begin to think just where they ceased, and when they awake the pain is all gone because death can no longer hold or harm them and the grave can no longer hold them. Then corruptible puts on incorruption and mortal puts on immortality as the dead are raised incorruptible, and death being swallowed up in victory is fulfilled.
Amid convulsions of nature the voice of the Son of God as Lifegiver calls the sleeping saints from the dust and the graves are opened, and all who hear live and come forth from the prison-house of death. They come as an exceeding great army from every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, clothed with immortal glory, with sickly bodies that went down to the grave raised up in immortal health and vigor. The living righteous are changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye from glory to glory, with health and beauty and glorious light shining upon them, and join the risen saints in one long, glad, transporting shout of victory with rich musical shouts of glory and victory on every immortal sanctified lip. While this happens their enemies fall like dead men unable to endure the light, and those who would have destroyed them witness the glory of God resting upon the saints.
Together the risen and the changed living are caught up to meet the Lord in the air. The finishing touch of immortality is put upon the risen host and they go up to meet their Lord and enter through the gates into the City of God. Once thus caught up to meet Him they will never again be separated from Him and never more part.
That victory reunites those whom death had separated, never to part again, when loved ones and faithful companions meet again and friends are united. The living and resurrected meet their loved ones again to be parted no more. Christ as the great Lifegiver will then reward His faithful servants by restoring to them the children taken by death, just as the Shunammite woman's faith was rewarded by the restoration of her son.
Those who will speak it are now a little flock compared with the teeming millions, poor in this world's goods and in the minority. They stand for truth as revealed in God's Word, obeying His commandments from the heart, with God for their refuge under the broad shield of Omnipotence. At the resurrection they will stand with God, with Jesus Christ, with the heavenly angels, and with the loyal and true raised from their graves, and then they will be with the majority.
Christ's Resurrection Guarantees Victory
The triumph celebrated is grounded in Christ's own conquest of death and the grave by rising again. He felt the pangs of death Himself, met the enemy on death's own territory and there overcame him, having paid humanity's ransom and then taking up His life again. He rose to sit with all power, and by that rising He removed the despair, terror and stinging dread that gave death its sting for the Christian. That victory was wrought through the conflict of Gethsemane and the shame of the cross endured to the end.
His rising was the victory of the second Adam, deciding the conflict with Satan who held the power of death. In rising He shook Satan's prison-house to its foundations, broke the enemy's hold, and brought up a company of the sleeping dead as trophies and spoils taken from the conqueror. By that act He displayed His power over death and the grave and secured hope of a final resurrection. That first resurrection stands as sample, evidence and assurance that all who sleep in Him will rise at His second coming.
Through Jesus Christ the faithful share that victory, for their triumph over death comes through Him and issues in living forever with their Lord. As the Conqueror triumphed and broke the fetters of the tomb, every believing saint who falls asleep in Jesus will come forth from the prison-house of the tomb in triumph even as He did. All who were partakers with Him in humiliation and suffering will be partakers with Him in glory, raised to incorruptible, glorious, immortal life.
His resurrection and ascension are sure evidence of the saints' triumph over death and the grave and a pledge that heaven is open to those who wash their robes of character and make them white in His blood. He ascended to the Father as representative of the human race. Those who reflect His image God will bring to behold and share His glory, made like Him when they see Him.
His victory means Satan and his kingdom will ultimately come to an end. Satan's apparent triumph over humanity is ended, his power is broken, and he himself will eventually die. Mortality ends, the tomb's fetters are broken, and the dead enter everlasting life. The history of suffering and transgression closes in a future life where temptation and the possibility of wrongdoing are gone, because those who dwell there have withstood evil and are no longer susceptible to its power.
The triumph declares that Christ had to die, but His death did not end in defeat; it led to glorious, eternal victory. Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah of prophecy, with every specification outlined by Moses and the prophets fulfilled in His life as a man among men. The divine Son endured the cross, despising the shame, for the purpose of redeeming a lost world. He broke the fetters of the tomb and came forth from its dark borders, proclaiming triumphant victory over death and the grave, and ascended to heaven triumphant over them.
Sleep Until the Awakening
The dead do not go to heaven at death but sleep unconsciously in the grave, unaware of the passing of time, which is only a moment to them until God awakens them. At the trump of God they are awakened from the sleep of death and raised to incorruptible life, when corruptible puts on incorruption and mortal puts on immortality and death is swallowed up in victory. Their first glad thought on rising is triumph, that death has lost its sting and the grave its victory.
For those who sleep in Jesus death is a peaceful, temporary rest with no pain or sin or woe or care, held in certain hope of the glorious resurrection morning when Jesus comes, and not the end. It is only a short rest in the dusty bed, even if entered through lingering distressing sickness, and then the Lifegiver breaks the fetters of the tomb, releases the captive, and brings him forth immortal never more to know pain, sorrow, or death. When the last trump rends the skies the fetters burst and the dead wake in full immortal bloom to live again in heaven, so grief for the dead should cease and give sweet relief. Until that rest the duty is to keep working until the Master bids to lay off the armor.
Those called forth from deep slumber begin to think just where they ceased, with the last sensation the pang of death and falling beneath the power of the grave, and their arising thought is triumph over death and the grave. So the hope of victory over death rests entirely on the resurrection. To treat the righteous as already enjoying immortal blessedness at death obscures that hope and makes the resurrection seem unnecessary, whereas the resurrection is a central gospel doctrine giving reason for diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness.
After the final judgment the faithful welcomed by Christ into His kingdom have no cause to fear death, because its power to hold them has been overcome.
Comfort and Call to Overcome
The coming resurrection takes away grief and fear, for the last trumpet will rend the skies and burst the fetters of the tomb to wake the dead in full immortal bloom. Because death cannot hold those who sleep for a time in the grave and their deliverance is near, sorrow for the dead should cease and give sweet relief. The trumpet is the promise that the dead will be seen again, for the sting of death is sin and when sin is gone death loses its grip. For those whose life is righteous in Christ, death and the grave lose their terror and sorrow, since Jesus has passed through death and believers can face the same path with confidence and hope of eternal life.
With Christ's presence death loses its sting and the grave its victory. That hope gives joy and courage to endure present toil and suffering while awaiting the end of trial, when the dead will come forth to see Jesus, be made like Him, and share in victory over death. Even under sickness, disappointment, poverty, reproach and distress, and even if permitted to suffer a lingering distressing sickness before closing the eyes in death, the Christian can bear it all with cheerfulness. He knows One who knows it all, sympathizes with every sorrow and soothes anguish, and while communing with his Redeemer his countenance is radiant with joy as he contemplates the future with heavenly satisfaction, knowing death is only a short rest until the Lifegiver breaks the fetters of the tomb, releases the captive, and brings him from his dusty bed immortal, never more to know pain, sorrow, or death. Until that glorious resurrection morning when Jesus comes, which is certain and not the end, the duty is to keep working until the Master bids to lay off the armor.
The shout of triumph and victory will be raised by the redeemed in the morning of the resurrection when they come forth from the grave as from a prison-house, when mortality is swallowed up by life. Then the faithful dead rise again to honor with no shame, reproach, or suffering, but peace, joy, and immortal praise on every redeemed tongue, and a faithful companion who has died will live again. Therefore the living are urged to turn while probation lasts and by patient continuance in well doing to seek glory, honor, immortality, and eternal life, so as not to be missing when that voice of victory is raised.
That victory means death and the grave are conquered, the gates of heaven are opened, and the eternal reward is given. It belongs to everyone who overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil by laying hold by faith on the divine nature through the merits of Jesus Christ. Such give to Jesus their mental, moral, and physical powers and their whole life because He gave His life, and win souls to Him. They receive the gift of eternal life and a crown of immortal glory, dwell in His presence, see the King in His beauty and behold His matchless charms, have peace here with Christ formed within as the hope of glory, and then praise Him with an immortal tongue, so that Christ shall not have died for them in vain.
The sting of death is the deadly sting of the serpent, and it is healed when a person is justified by faith by looking only to Jesus as righteousness and sacrifice. Then self ends and there is peace with God through Jesus Christ. The healing comes by opening the door of the heart and letting Jesus in, by the look of faith to the Lamb of God that brings life to the soul dead in trespasses and sins, just as a look to the brazen serpent brought life to the dying. Men in responsible positions above all others need this converting power of God daily to have their eyes opened and their hearts made new.
Jesus Christ vanquished death while He was in humanity, broke the fetters of the tomb, and came forth from its dark borders proclaiming triumphant victory over death and the grave. As Chief Physician He still hears the prayers of true, earnest, God-fearing physicians and missionaries to prolong the life of the suffering when His name will be glorified thereby, doing even greater healings through laborers together with God who work in faith and trust wholly in God. He gives endless life to all who believe in Him and endure unto the end, working through connected physicians to treat suffering bodies and to watch for souls and heal the bruises that sin has made upon soul and body in humanity under the serpent's sting. He is Saviour to all who come to Him confessing their sins, saying to them that their sins are forgiven and sending them forth in peace to sin no more. The hope of victory over death rests wholly on the resurrection, and that central gospel doctrine gives believers reason for diligence, obedience, and cheerfulness.