"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Corinthians 15:57).

There are innumerable things for which we could--and should--give thanks to God. But there are three notable gifts mentioned by Paul in his letters to the Corinthians in which He was led to use this particular exclamation: "Thanks be to God." We shall do well to look at these three great blessings, and then--like Paul--pour out our own thanks to God for them!

The first is in our text above, giving thanks for God's gift of victory. And what victory is that? "Death is swallowed up in victory" (v.54), and death has lost its terrible sting for the believer, for Christ conquered death forever when He died for our sins and rose again.

The second is similar, yet goes beyond even the first gift: "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savor of His knowledge by us in every place" (II Corinthians 2:14). Not only victory over death, but victory in life!

By the indwelling presence of the Spirit of Christ, we are enabled to triumph over circumstances and "show forth the praises of Him who hath called [us] out of darkness into His marvelous light" (I Peter 2:9). But the greatest gift of all is Christ Himself! Therefore, we join with the apostle Paul as he exclaims, "Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift" (II Corinthians 9:15). "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The value of this gift is beyond language to describe, "unspeakable and full of glory" (I Peter 1:8). The Lord Jesus Christ is both our Creator and Savior, giving us triumphant peace and joy in life, and eternal victory over death. Thanks be unto God! HMM