What does it mean that we have victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57)?

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul describes the results of Jesus’ death and resurrection. All who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior receive the benefits of Jesus’ death and resurrection, including victory over sin and death. He writes, “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:56–57). This victory is promised to all who believe in Jesus. However, it won’t be fully realized until He returns. At that time, Jesus will finally defeat sin, resurrect His people, give them new bodies, and recreate the world without sin.

To understand why this victory is needed, the Bible records God’s plan of salvation for humanity. According to Genesis 1, God created the world and everything in it. He made human beings unique. Genesis 1:27 reads, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” Genesis 3, however, tells how the first human beings, Adam and Eve, sinned against God. This act of rebellion led all people to sin against God (Romans 3:23).

To provide this victory over sin, the New Testament records how Jesus, God’s Son, came to earth and was born of a virgin, Mary (John 1:14; Luke 2:6–7). For three years, Jesus traveled around Israel, performing miracles and teaching the people about God. All four Gospels in the New Testament contain eyewitness accounts of His trials, death, and resurrection (Matthew 26–28; John 18–21). After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to His disciples and to many other people. He gave final instructions to His disciples. By His resurrection from the dead, Jesus proved that He was the Son of God.

Following these events, the rest of the New Testament records Jesus’ disciples spreading His message throughout Israel and the Roman Empire, including letters that explain the meaning of His death and resurrection for believers. Christians believe that the Holy Spirit inspired the apostles' writings, so their letters contained no errors when originally written. 1 Corinthians is one of Paul’s letters to the church at Corinth in Greece, and it explains the significance of Jesus’ resurrection for believers.

1 Corinthians 15 is a lengthy chapter in which Paul describes in detail the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. He explains how human beings were enslaved to sin and death. Jesus’ coming to earth changed everything for humanity. His death and resurrection opened a path to salvation from sin and death. This is the victory Paul describes in 1 Corinthians 15:57. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, all who believe in Him as Savior have victory over sin and death. Jesus’ resurrection from the dead proves that He will also resurrect all who believe in Him. These resurrected bodies will be free from the influence of sin.

Apart from Jesus, human beings have no hope and remain under sin’s control. Unlike all other people, Jesus kept God’s Law perfectly and never sinned. His death took the punishment that humanity’s sins deserved, and His resurrection demonstrated His power over sin, death, and evil. All who believe in Jesus share in this victory.

Jesus’ victory over sin and death will not be fully realized until He returns and remakes the world (Revelation 20–22). In this world, Christians will still struggle with sin. Through the Holy Spirit’s power, they will gradually overcome sin in their lives, though this can be a slow, painstaking process. Nevertheless, Jesus’ death and resurrection assure that Christians will have complete victory over sin. This victory begins at the moment of salvation, but it will not be complete until Jesus returns and defeats sin and evil for all time. Victory over sin, death, and evil is possible only because of Jesus’ death on the cross and His resurrection.