Army of the Redeemed – The Presidential Prayer Team

Behold! I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. – 1 Corinthians 15:51

Changes are continual, some for good, others not. The believers in Corinth did not understand the concept of Christ’s return. Paul’s explanation brought to light what had been a mystery to them. The dead would be raised when Christ returns, just as He Himself had been raised from the dead. Death will be swallowed up in victory because of Christ’s work on the cross and His own triumphant resurrection. Not only that, they will all be changed; Christ will give them a new spiritual body.

But what about those still alive? They will be exempt from death. Paul points out in the following verse that they will, in a twinkling of an eye, be changed from a natural body of flesh and blood to a spiritual body, imperishable and acceptable for heaven (v. 52).

What a glorious thought! H.A. Ironside calls those born again to the knowledge of Christ as Savior the “Grand Army of the Redeemed.” Remember that God never changes His plan. Live godly lives, proclaim Christ as Savior, and pray for those in this nation who have yet to know the victory Jesus has secured for those who believe. As believers, wait patiently “for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

Today’s Verse: 1 Corinthians 15:51

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: 1 Corinthians 15:50-58

⁵⁰I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, ⁵²in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. ⁵⁴When 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.”
⁵⁵“O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

⁵⁶The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

⁵⁸Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.