Overcoming Death 737
fully today, we nonetheless do experience it partially for we possess
the Holy Spirit as the down payment. The giving of the Spirit is that
we may foretaste the future triumph of life.
“Now (God) has manifested (Himself) through the appearing of
our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and
immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Tim. 1.10). Life and
immortality, declares the Apostle, are the common portion of all who
receive the gospel. Wherefore the question arises, how far is the Holy
Spirit able to lead a believer into possessing his portion? Death has
been abolished; consequently, believers ought to experience
something of this. Now this age is soon to be over; with the rapture
in view the Holy Spirit intends to bring believers to experience more
of possessing this possession.
Let us believe it is possible to foretaste the powers of the age to
come. When Paul exclaims, “Thanks be to God, who gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15.57), he is pointing
to the present and he is concerned with the problem of death.
Although he is referring to future total victory over death, even so he
is not content to leave such an experience entirely to the future. He
claims we may overcome through the Lord Jesus now!
God has among His principles this one—that what He intends to
do in a certain age He first exhibits in a few. What all will experience
in the millennium, the members of Christ should currently be
experiencing. Even in past dispensation there were people who
experienced in advance the power of the coming age. How much
more must the church today have the experience of Christ’s victory
over death. God desires us to thrust through the boundaries of hades
now. The Lord calls us to overcome death for His body’s sake.
Unless we conquer the last enemy our battle is not concluded.
Let each of us therefore seek the Lord’s mind concerning our
future. We entertain no superstitious concept that we will not die. But