January 4

1 Corinthians 15:55

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

In today’s verse, Paul personifies death and the grave and is here taunting them for their defeat. Death and the grave have always been a dread and a mystery to mankind and have ruled with absolute domination. Job refers to death as “the king of terrors”, Job 18:14; but “the king of terrors” has been totally defeated by our Savior who suffered and died in our place and then rose triumphant from the grave. Jesus said in Revelation 1:18, “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death”, and in John 5:28,29 he said, “the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation”. Because of this, we can say, “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”

Commentary by Francis L. Harris

"...what must I do to be saved?" Acts 16:30