The Resurrection Life - 1 Corinthians 15v50-58

[0:00] And so if you're on the Church Bibles, it's page 1156, chapter 15, verse 50 to 58.

[0:17] I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed.

[0:30] In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with the immortal.

[0:46] When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true. Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

[1:00] The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, he gives us the glory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you.

[1:11] Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain. Thanks so much, Avin. Keep your Bibles open there, and Kirsty's going to hand round some little notes there if you want to follow along.

[1:36] You can get a pen and a piece of paper with headings which will help you to follow along with the talk. Thank you. Thank you. So again, just to remind you and encourage you to come along on Wednesdays.

[2:06] It's the opportunity to pray for each other as we look at God's Word as well. We encourage each other through that, and there may be things you want to discuss further about this morning's talk and have questions about that.

[2:20] We're going to pray, and as we pray, been asked to pray for somebody who's requested prayer this morning. Somebody they know who's very, very ill.

[2:32] We just want to pray for that right now. Let's pray. Our Father God, we come to you as the one who is Lord over life.

[2:57] You speak, and the dead are raised. You speak, and you bring spiritual life, opening eyes to see you, and ears to hear you clearly.

[3:14] Father, we pray for this person who is very ill at this time. We pray that if it's your will that you would bring healing to them.

[3:29] We pray ultimately that they will come to trust in the risen Lord Jesus. That they may face the future without fear because of their hope in Christ.

[3:45] Father, we pray the same for each one of us. That we would renew our trust in you. That we would be a people who not only talk about the resurrection, but see it change our lives day by day.

[4:06] For that is what we long. Father, speak to us afresh today. In Jesus' name. Amen. Well, I want to start by asking a question.

[4:23] Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead? Have a look at verse 20. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, for since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.

[4:52] For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. Do you believe this? I don't mean do you agree with it, or can you tick the box to it?

[5:08] But does the truth of the resurrection change your life? Because that's the test of whether you believe in the resurrection.

[5:19] Does it actually change you? Have you become a different person because of it? Have you become a different person because of it? Even over these last few weeks of looking at the theme of the resurrection, have you become a different person because of it?

[5:36] Or let me put it another way. Suppose there is no resurrection. Imagine Jesus did not raise from the grave. Would it make any difference to how you live your life now?

[5:51] When you get up tomorrow morning, if Christ didn't rise, would it make any difference to you? You see, the evidence that you truly believe in the resurrection is that your life is dramatically transformed.

[6:07] So this morning, we're going to look at three ways belief in the resurrection changes your life. Here's the first one. First, it changes our view of the future.

[6:23] It changes our view of the future. If you were to conduct a survey to ask people, what happens when you die? You'd probably get two general answers.

[6:34] You'll have some who will say something like this, nothing happens when we die. We just die and that's it. We rot in the ground. We just become dust. Others will say something like this, well, I hope there's life after death.

[6:50] I'd like to think we go to a better place, but I'm not quite sure. Well, if we believe in the resurrection, there are two things we can be guaranteed will happen.

[7:05] First, we will be immediately changed. Look at verse 51. Here we get into our text. Verse 51.

[7:16] Listen. This is really important. Listen up, everyone. I tell you a mystery. Something that is revealed to you. We will not all sleep.

[7:28] We'll not all die. But we will all be changed. Listen. When the risen Lord Jesus returns, we will have already died, or we will still be alive.

[7:42] That's the state we will be in when Christ comes. We will have already died, or we will still be alive. And in that moment, if we believe in the resurrection, if we're trusting Christ with our life, at that moment when Christ returns, we will be wonderfully changed.

[8:01] And it's not going to be some long, drawn-out process. It will be immediate. Verse 52. In a flash. In the twinkling of an eye. Before you can even blink.

[8:13] At the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

[8:26] I wonder if you can remember hearing the final school bell on the day of your school holidays. Can you remember the sound of that bell?

[8:38] There you are sitting in that desk, that wooden hard desk, long, dreary days of listening to the teacher moaning at the front. Sorry, teachers. And then the sound of the bell.

[8:50] And in that moment, everything changes. School is finished. Screams of joy. Uncontrolled excitement as everybody runs out of the classroom with renewed enthusiasm.

[9:05] Well, one day, in the future, you will hear another sound. The sound of a trumpet. It's the sound of the Lord's return.

[9:16] And before you can even blink, you will be changed. And that change will be complete transformation.

[9:28] Screams of joy. Uncontrolled excitement. Renewed enthusiasm as we have been changed. Look at verse 49.

[9:40] And just as we have borne the likeness or bear the image of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness or the image of the man from heaven.

[9:55] We will be changed. We will become, just like the resurrected Jesus, a life without suffering or sin.

[10:06] No more pain. No more pain. No more sickness. No cancers. No more temptations. No failing. No falling. We will bear the likeness of Jesus for we will be forever changed.

[10:23] And it gets even better. We will be clothed eternally. Look at verse 50.

[10:36] I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood, the very bodies that we have right now, that we're sitting where we are, I declare to you, brothers and sisters, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.

[10:52] Nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Verse 53. For, or because, the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal clothe itself with immortality.

[11:11] You see, life in our present bodies, as we are right now, is marked by decay and death. We're perishable people. We're mortal.

[11:22] We become weak. We get sick and eventually we die. These bodies, the way that they are right now, are not fit for the eternal kingdom of God.

[11:34] We need something different than this body. But when the Lord Jesus returns, he tells us here, we are going to be clothed with the imperishable. We will have an immortal body.

[11:49] Do you remember the superhero comics and films? Clark Kent. See him there in his little spectacles in his ordinary clothes? And then in the moment, he rips open his shirt, and there he stands in his superhero suit.

[12:07] All of a sudden, he can fly. He can bash through concrete, rip steel. Now, I'm not saying we're all going to become supermen and superwomen and be wearing red capes and doing all kinds of things.

[12:20] That's fantasy. But I think you get the point. When the risen Lord Jesus comes, we are going to be clothed in a real, eternal, supernatural body.

[12:33] A body that lives forever and never decays and never breaks and never dies. Look back at verse 44. It is sown, the body is sown, it is born, and it dies, a natural body.

[12:48] But it is raised a spiritual body. The other word that's sometimes used is, it is raised a supernatural body. Continue, verse 44.

[13:01] If there's a natural body, there is also a supernatural body. The idea is, is that our bodies will be powered differently.

[13:12] No longer under the effects of sin and suffering, but they will be wonderfully made new. With a divine power, meaning we will never, ever die.

[13:25] We will live forever pure and perfect. The people that God longs that we would be, reigning in God's eternal kingdom forever and ever.

[13:37] This is the sure and certain future that is guaranteed if you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

[13:51] But it not only changes our view of the future, it changes our attitude towards death. It changes our attitude towards death.

[14:05] I'm sure this is something you find to be true, that most people fear death. You might even fear death.

[14:17] In fact, we don't often like to talk about death. We avoid it. Because death is destructive. It's our undefeatable enemy.

[14:28] It robs our joy. It steals away our loved ones. It turns our dreams into sorrows. But, if we believe in the resurrection, we need not fear death.

[14:42] We can face death with confidence and assurance. First, Christ's victory over death. Look at verse 54. Follow with me verse 54.

[14:57] When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true.

[15:08] Death has been swallowed up in victory. Let's have a look at that quote. Keep your finger there and go back to Isaiah 25.

[15:20] That little sentence, death has been swallowed up in victory, comes from Isaiah chapter 25. So, if you could go back there and if somebody has a page number and help me out, that would be great.

[15:34] Isaiah chapter 25. Page 708. Thank you. Isaiah 25 and we'll start from verse 6.

[15:53] So, we're thinking about death being swallowed up by victory and through Isaiah God promises that a day would come when death would be defeated and things would be made new.

[16:06] And here we get a picture of what that will be like. So, verse 6. On this mountain, so we're thinking here of God's eternal kingdom. On this mountain, the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine, the best of meats and the finest of wines.

[16:28] On this mountain, he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all people, the sheet that covers all nations. That is, the shroud of death, the sheet of death.

[16:43] Verse 8. He will swallow up death forever. The sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces.

[16:55] He will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The Lord has spoken. In that day, they will say, surely this is our God.

[17:08] We trusted in him and he saved us. This is the Lord. We trusted in him. Let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.

[17:21] Go back to 1 Corinthians. that promise, that picture, has partially been fulfilled with the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, who through his death and resurrection has defeated death and has given us a future beyond the grave and eternity where all is made good.

[17:49] And so, the cry of celebration can go up. Look at verse 55. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?

[18:02] The enemy has finally been destroyed. Christ has victory over death. But it is not just Christ's victory over death.

[18:16] death. This is our victory over death. Continue on. Look at verse 56. The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law.

[18:32] You know, from, maybe from your experiences in life or certainly watching TV programs, when somebody dies, an autopsy is carried out to determine the cause of death.

[18:44] how did this person die? Well, the cause behind every single death, ultimately, is sin.

[18:55] The reason we all die, whether it's through the natural process of age or through a tragic accident, is because we've all broken God's law.

[19:06] We've all disobeyed God. We've all sought to live life our own way, and we die. the consequences of sin is always death, and not one of us in this room can avoid it.

[19:20] But, look at verse 57, but thanks be to God, He gives us the victory. He gives us, you and me, the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[19:35] Victory over death is ours. A little girl was heard screaming in the garden.

[19:47] A bee was flying around her face, and she was getting anxious and flapping her arms, and her dad, who was nearby, ran over towards her, wrapped his arms around her, and covered her over with his big body.

[20:02] A few moments later, he let her go, and said, there's no need to fear the bee now. The bee has stung me, and bees can't sting twice.

[20:16] You see, we all deserve to die, but in this incredible act of love, the Lord Jesus took the sting of death for us.

[20:28] When he came and as he hung on the cross, he took my sin and your sin on himself, and it's like at that moment he wrapped his arms around us, covering us, protecting us from the judgment we deserve, he took the sting of death for us so that we don't have to, and where the sting has fallen, it will not sting again.

[20:54] But more than that, he rose triumphantly from the grave so that we might live with him forever. verse 57, thanks be to God.

[21:08] He gives us, you insert your own name there, if you are trusting in him, he gives Johnny Grant the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

[21:23] We can now face death, look death in the face, without fear, and say, verse 55, where, oh death, is your victory, where, oh death, is your sting.

[21:40] This is the assurance and confidence we can have if we believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. So let me ask that question again.

[21:56] Do you believe in the resurrection? Do you believe that your future is secure and that death has been defeated?

[22:08] Well, the test of whether we believe these things is seen in how you live your life today. Does it make any difference to how you live?

[22:23] So third, it not only changes our view of the future, our attitude towards death, it changes our priorities in this life.

[22:34] Look at verse 58. Therefore, because the resurrection changes your view of the future, because it changes your attitude towards death, therefore, my brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move you, always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

[23:07] How will it change you? What priorities will you have in your life? Well, here's the first one. Priority number one, stand firm in the gospel.

[23:21] Look at the beginning of verse 58 again. Do you remember how this whole teaching of the resurrection started?

[23:37] Go back to verse 1, chapter 15. This is how he began the whole teaching on the resurrection. Chapter 15, verse 1. Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel that I preach to you, which you received, and on which you have taken your stand, literally on which you are building your life.

[24:01] By this gospel, you are saved. If you hold firmly to the word I preach to you, if you hold firmly to the word I preach to you, otherwise you have believed in vain.

[24:18] If you are a Christian, holding on to the gospel and making that the central foundation of your life becomes a priority. And we need it.

[24:33] Because, listen, the longer that we live life, the more struggles and heartaches we will face. And in those days and weeks when everything seems dark and empty and hopeless, and you can't see any light in the darkness, you'll just want to give up and everything around you will be saying, this faith in Jesus Christ, this resurrection business, it's useless, it's a waste of time, give up on it.

[25:05] And in those moments you will need to stand firm on the gospel, remember the truth of the resurrection and let nothing move you.

[25:18] So when sickness or an illness comes and the pain is unbearable and there seems no end in sight, stand firm in the gospel.

[25:31] When death sweeps in and takes away those we dearly love, stand firm in the gospel. When frustrations and disappointment come, and life doesn't work out the way that you wanted it to, stand firm in the gospel.

[25:50] When the battle with sin seems to rage and temptation is unrelenting, stand firm. When wars increase and evil seems to run unrestrained through our streets, stand firm.

[26:09] My brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move you. If you believe in the gospel, you will make it a priority in your life to remind yourself daily, and remind your brothers and sisters in Christ that he has risen from the dead, that there will be a trumpet sound, that Christ is going to return, and we will be changed in the blink of an eye, for the victory is ours.

[26:44] So priority number one, stand firm in the gospel, remind yourself and each other of what we have.

[26:57] Priority two, give your life to the work of the gospel. gospel. If you truly believe the gospel, then look at verse 58, therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm, let nothing move you, always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

[27:26] The work of the Lord is the work of the gospel. gospel. It's making Jesus Christ known to people who do not know Christ. It's about investing our life, our time, our money, into the one thing that is going to last for eternity.

[27:48] Do you believe in the resurrection? If it does, if you do, you will give your life to the work of the gospel. Let me show you briefly.

[27:59] Three very practical ways this is going to mean change. First, it's going to affect your attitude to your possessions, to your money, what you do with it.

[28:12] Francis Schaeffer was a Christian thinker and writer. He wrote an essay, you can look it up on the internet, it's called Ash Heap Lives. Ash Heap Lives.

[28:24] He writes this, Have you ever walked through a city dump? You should. When I was growing up in Philadelphia, I would hike every Saturday.

[28:36] To get to the clean air of the country, I used to save a couple of miles by trampling through the city dump. I have never forgotten this. It was a place of junk, fire, and stench.

[28:50] It has helped me tremendously to think back on that place, because even as a boy, I realised that I saw there almost everything people spend their money on.

[29:02] That was where their investment ended. You see, think about all the stuff we buy and accumulate.

[29:15] Fast forward 10, 20, 50 years, decaying, rotting, rusting, rubbish. If you and I believe in the resurrection, we will invest in stuff, not in stuff that doesn't last, but in the work of the gospel, because, look at the end of verse 58, you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

[29:48] So it will mean change in our possessions, and it will mean change in our decisions. See, most of the time our decisions are around securing a good and comfortable life.

[30:02] Isn't that what we encourage our children to do? Get a good job, healthy income, nice house, secure pension, that's the things that matter. But what if you were to sacrifice the good life for gospel work where Christ is not now?

[30:20] What would it mean for you to move to another country where Christ is not yet known, and leave the good life, so that you can bring Christ?

[30:33] Well, because the resurrection is true, because he believed in the resurrection, Paul made sacrificial decisions. Look back at verse 31. This is the effect it had on his life.

[30:46] Verse 31. I die every day. A little bit of me dies every day. I mean that, brothers and sisters, just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[31:02] In his decision-making about life, he was willing to give of his life, to make sacrifices, because he knew it counted for eternity. So think about this.

[31:16] Every Sunday school lesson you prepare, instead of watching your favorite TV show, or every Friday and weekend you sacrifice for The Rock, every hour of me time you let go of to serve in polo, every person you invite into your home and serve, even if you've had a long week and you're tired, every visit and phone call you make to somebody, even when you feel fed up, is a decision well made because, end of verse 58, you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

[31:55] It affects our everyday to day decisions, if we believe in the resurrection. And last, it affects our conversations with other people.

[32:10] talking about Jesus, his death and resurrection is perhaps one of the hardest things we have to do. It's never easy, I struggle with it.

[32:23] Don't we fear what people are going to say? And because we fear people's responses, we say nothing. What if I lose my friend over this?

[32:34] What if people think I'm weird and a nutcase? What if I go to another country and I actually die for speaking the gospel? Because people do.

[32:47] Well, let me put all this another way. What would it mean if I keep my friends in this life but lose my friends for all eternity?

[33:04] What would it mean to save your life in this life life? But lose it for all eternity. Do you remember the words of Jesus?

[33:19] Whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and the gospel will save it. Do you believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead?

[33:38] I don't mean do you agree with it or can you sign and tick the right box? But has the truth of the resurrection changed your life?

[33:50] That's the test of whether you believe the resurrection. Does it change you? Have you become a different person because of it? Has it changed your attitude towards your possessions and your money?

[34:05] Has it changed how you make decisions? Is it comfort or is it sacrifice? does it change how you think about the conversations you'll have with that person tomorrow at work?

[34:18] Well it's bank holiday tomorrow so the next day. Listen to this. Our life is but a moment.

[34:31] A breath. It's the tick of a clock. A blink of an eye. a click of the fingers. You get one life.

[34:45] One chance. There's no replay. There's no rewind button. Don't live for the moment.

[34:57] Live for the gospel because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. let's pray.

[35:20] As we reflect maybe there's just one thing that we want to take away today.! olabilir.

[35:35] I love you crazy. That's what I have to go. stop you okay. it's Mis