霎眼间的改变
哥林多前书十五章51至58节
51我如今把一件奥秘的事告诉你们：我们不是都要睡觉，乃是都要改变，
52就在一霎时，眨眼之间，号筒末次吹响的时候。因号筒要响，死人要复活成为不朽坏的，我们也要改变。
53这必朽坏的总要变成（变成：原文是穿；下同）不朽坏的，这必死的总要变成不死的。
54这必朽坏的既变成不朽坏的，这必死的既变成不死的，那时经上所记死被得胜吞灭的话就应验了。
55死阿！你得胜的权势在那里？死阿！你的毒钩在那里？
56死的毒钩就是罪，罪的权势就是律法。
57感谢神，使我们借着我们的主耶稣基督得胜。
58所以，我亲爱的弟兄们，你们务要坚固，不可摇动，常常竭力多作主工；因为知道，你们的劳苦在主里面不是徒然的。
信息分享
当耶稣基督从天上再来的时候，这事便要发生。昨天的经文告诉我们，死人将要复活；今天的经文则告诉我们，当基督再来时，那些仍然在生的人，便会在霎时间完全改变。
保罗说：「我如今把一件奥秘的事告诉你们」，那就是：正如信主的人在死后会有复活的身体，那些仍然在生的信徒，当要与主会面的时候，形体也要改变，虽然他们不用经历死亡便可以见主。
换言之，当基督再来的时候，仍然活在世上的那一代基督徒，便可以无须经历死亡而得着复活的身体。这并非一个蜕变的过程，而是眨眼之间便成全的事。他们的身体将会像基督的身体一样。新约圣经在不同的地方，都曾经指出基督再来的那刻会发生此事。
保罗认为这信息可给我们新的盼望。他提出了两个问题，第一是：「对基督徒而言，死亡的毒钩在哪里呢？」第二是：「信徒如何胜过死亡呢？」死亡的毒钩，是来自我们犯罪的事实，这事实令我们感到恐惧，因律法已清楚指出，所有人都是罪人，因此都在死亡的刑罚之下。但基督已担当了我们的罪，并为我们的罪受死，以致我们得以坦然无惧地来到基督的面前。而且，基督的复活大能，也使我们不再害怕死亡的拘禁。难怪保罗为此兴奋地呼叫：「感谢神，使我们借着我们的主耶稣基督得胜！」
反思：
圣经所言的「得胜的生命」，我到底认识有多深呢？
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?