As I blog through The Explicit Gospel, I am reminded how readable-fun, helpful, clear-this book is. It is definitely an book you could give as a gift to a wide audience; young, old, believer, non-believer, and almost anyone. Consider the following passage that is both humorous and helpful.
Commenting on 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 Chandler writes:
I have heard this text used shoddily at funerals. Preachers shout, "Where is your sting, O death?" just inches away from an occupied casket. I always want to shout back, "it's right there! There's the sting!"
Do you see in 1 Corinthians 15 when death loses its sting? Do you see when it's swallowed up in victory and can no longer create mourning? It is when we put on the imperishable. So, at funerals we mourn and we hurt; death stings, and there is a real loss. This text rightly used at a funeral should point us to the hope of the day where it won't sting any longer.
In that day, the victory of Christ over death will be tangible, palpable, and visceral. (169)
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