霎眼間的改變
哥林多前書十五章51至58節
51我如今把一件奧祕的事告訴你們：我們不是都要睡覺，乃是都要改變，
52就在一霎時，眨眼之間，號筒末次吹響的時候。因號筒要響，死人要復活成為不朽壞的，我們也要改變。
53這必朽壞的總要變成（變成：原文是穿；下同）不朽壞的，這必死的總要變成不死的。
54這必朽壞的既變成不朽壞的，這必死的既變成不死的，那時經上所記死被得勝吞滅的話就應驗了。
55死阿！你得勝的權勢在那裡？死阿！你的毒鉤在那裡？
56死的毒鉤就是罪，罪的權勢就是律法。
57感謝神，使我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督得勝。
58所以，我親愛的弟兄們，你們務要堅固，不可搖動，常常竭力多作主工；因為知道，你們的勞苦在主裡面不是徒然的。
信息分享
當耶穌基督從天上再來的時候，這事便要發生。昨天的經文告訴我們，死人將要復活；今天的經文則告訴我們，當基督再來時，那些仍然在生的人，便會在霎時間完全改變。
保羅說：「我如今把一件奧祕的事告訴你們」，那就是：正如信主的人在死後會有復活的身體，那些仍然在生的信徒，當要與主會面的時候，形體也要改變，雖然他們不用經歷死亡便可以見主。
換言之，當基督再來的時候，仍然活在世上的那一代基督徒，便可以無須經歷死亡而得著復活的身體。這並非一個蛻變的過程，而是眨眼之間便成全的事。他們的身體將會像基督的身體一樣。新約聖經在不同的地方，都曾經指出基督再來的那刻會發生此事。
保羅認為這信息可給我們新的盼望。他提出了兩個問題，第一是：「對基督徒而言，死亡的毒鉤在哪裡呢？」第二是：「信徒如何勝過死亡呢？」死亡的毒鉤，是來自我們犯罪的事實，這事實令我們感到恐懼，因律法已清楚指出，所有人都是罪人，因此都在死亡的刑罰之下。但基督已擔當了我們的罪，並為我們的罪受死，以致我們得以坦然無懼地來到基督的面前。而且，基督的復活大能，也使我們不再害怕死亡的拘禁。難怪保羅為此興奮地呼叫：「感謝神，使我們藉著我們的主耶穌基督得勝！」
反思：
聖經所言的「得勝的生命」，我到底認識有多深呢？
IN A MOMENT-CHANGED COMPLETELY
1 Corinthians 15:51-58
51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed—
52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
Message
It will all take place at the return of Jesus Christ from heaven. In our reading yesterday we talked about resurrection which follows death. Today we speak of instant change for those who are still alive when Christ comes.
Paul says 'I will tell you exactly what will happen'. Just as the people who have died' trusting in Christ will have resurrection bodies, those who are alive when Christ comes will be changed as they go to meet the Lord. They will not go through the experience of death.
There will be one whole generation of Christians who will be given resurrection bodies without dying. This will not be something which happens gradually. It will be instantaneous. Their bodies will be like Christ's body. It will all happen when Christ comes back again, we are told in several places in the New Testament.
Paul says this message gives us a new hope. He asks two questions. 'Where is the sting of death for the Christians?' 'Where is the victory of the grave?' The sting that is in death comes from fear brought about by the fact of our sin. The law has made this clear-all men are sinners and therefore deserve death. But Christ paid sin's penalty and death now takes us without fear into the presence of Christ.
Resurrection prevents the grave from holding us forever. No wonder Paul could shout, 'Thanks be unto God who gives us the victory'.
A QUESTION:
How much do you know of that victory in your life now?