It’s
a well-known phrase among Christians, made popular by several songs. It’s a
phrase that makes us feel vaguely encouraged because it sounds a note of
triumph—death has lost its sting. I say “vaguely” encouraged because when we
hear it, we probably don’t know exactly what it means.
So
what does this phrase mean, and what does it mean for our behavior and our
responses to death? Most importantly for now, how should we answer the question
that forms the title of this blog post? Does the word “sting” in that phrase
refer to emotional pain over someone’s death? Would we be dishonoring our hope
in Christ, then, if we felt emotional pain over someone’s death?
It’s
important to note that the phrase “death has lost its sting” is not found in
the Bible in that exact wording. That’s not necessarily a big deal, but making
that observation helps us understand that the phrase is an interpretation or a
summary of the exact language of the Bible. Interpretations can sometimes be less
than accurate, and summaries can actually be unhelpful if they miss the heart
of what they intend to condense. Is that the case with this phrase?
In
this case, the phrase “death has lost its sting” is meant to summarize the
teaching of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:56, which I present here in
its context:
“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.”
Two
observations are in order here. First, notice that Paul is writing about a
victory that is assured to us right now, but it not yet a reality. This victory
will be realized “when the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal
puts on immortality”—that is, when we’re resurrected in our imperishable,
immortal bodies. That is a victory that not even deceased believers have
enjoyed yet, since they are still awaiting the resurrection, too.
Second,
notice that Paul defines for us what the “sting of death” is—it is sin. Sin is
the tool through which Death (personified here) inflicts its harm; it is the
means through which Death captures its prey. Sin creates this opportunity for
Death because of the Law of God, which calls for death as the penalty for
law-breaking. But since Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law on our behalf, and
since his death has “[cancelled] the record of debt that stood against us with
its legal demands (Col 2:14),” we are now presently assured of the ultimate
victory over death—resurrection!—even though we may have to experience physical
death first.
So
has death presently lost its sting? Yes
and no. Perhaps we should compare it to an army that is cut off from its supply
lines. Such an army can still do damage at the moment, but its days are
numbered. The life-blood of its power to harm is draining away and will not be
replenished. So it is with death. Though we might die physically before God
wraps up the fullness of His plan for the ages, death’s days are numbered. Paul
was right—thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ!
To
answer the question that sparked this post, it is perfectly appropriate to
grieve the loss of a loved one. To do so does not dishonor the hope we have in
Christ. If you’ve ever felt guilty for grieving because you thought this phrase
meant “death is no longer painful,” please leave behind that misunderstanding.
Grief is normal, but thank God that as Christians, our grief is not the same as
those “who have no hope (1 Thess 4:13).” In Christ, we have the assurance of
one day seeing our loved ones who have shared our faith—an assurance which can
take a bit of the edge off of our grief.
“And
after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called
you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen,
and establish you.”—1 Peter 5:10
