Should Christians no longer grieve the death of a loved one, since "death has lost its sting?"

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