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The Abolition of Death
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.”
2 Timothy 2:9–11
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation: “On the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The intention of the proclamation was to end slavery in the Southern states, but because those states were still fighting against the government in Washington, they did not recognize the proclamation as legitimate and binding. It would not be until the war ended and the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was adopted that slavery would be officially abolished.
There is a spiritual war taking place in our world today. Satan continues his rebellion against God, and although, through Christ’s death and resurrection Jesus has already defeated Satan, the full freedom purchased through His blood has not yet been realized. It will not be until the war has ended that the complete victory will be obvious. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). Yet the continuing war should not discourage or dishearten us. It is real, but the final outcome has already been determined. We have the power and ability through Jesus Christ to experience victory not just at some point in the future, but day after day in this present world.
2 Timothy 2:9–11
On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation: “On the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free.” The intention of the proclamation was to end slavery in the Southern states, but because those states were still fighting against the government in Washington, they did not recognize the proclamation as legitimate and binding. It would not be until the war ended and the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution was adopted that slavery would be officially abolished.
There is a spiritual war taking place in our world today. Satan continues his rebellion against God, and although, through Christ’s death and resurrection Jesus has already defeated Satan, the full freedom purchased through His blood has not yet been realized. It will not be until the war has ended that the complete victory will be obvious. “The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). Yet the continuing war should not discourage or dishearten us. It is real, but the final outcome has already been determined. We have the power and ability through Jesus Christ to experience victory not just at some point in the future, but day after day in this present world.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Though the battle continues, we can rest in confident assurance that the victory has already been won.
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