WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.960 And there are many different beliefs about what happens after we die. 00:00:05.360 --> 00:00:08.339 And it was interesting as I walked around out there 00:00:08.339 --> 00:00:10.820 just to see that reflected on some of the stones. 00:00:11.480 --> 00:00:14.419 Some of them you could see very obviously they were people of faith. 00:00:15.060 --> 00:00:18.400 They believed that that wasn't the end for them. 00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:23.660 Others, there was no indication of anything. 00:00:23.660 --> 00:00:28.980 I saw some pictures of combines and golf clubs and stuff on the stone. 00:00:28.980 --> 00:00:30.740 And that's about it. 00:00:30.820 --> 00:00:32.480 This person is rested here. 00:00:33.859 --> 00:00:35.840 What happens after we die? 00:00:37.060 --> 00:00:41.179 There are all kinds of views in our world today about what happens after we die. 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:43.320 There are people who believe in reincarnation. 00:00:44.159 --> 00:00:46.920 That after we die, we come back. 00:00:47.280 --> 00:00:50.280 We get kind of the chance to do a redo. 00:00:50.579 --> 00:00:51.620 Maybe in a different form. 00:00:51.760 --> 00:00:52.740 Maybe as a human being. 00:00:52.880 --> 00:00:53.880 Maybe as an animal. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:00:56.359 Maybe as something else. 00:00:56.359 --> 00:01:00.659 There are people who believe in the afterlife. 00:01:00.979 --> 00:01:04.760 But that we can't really know what that will be like until we get there. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:06.340 There's something. 00:01:06.519 --> 00:01:07.359 I believe there's something. 00:01:07.480 --> 00:01:09.920 But I'm not really sure what it will be like. 00:01:09.959 --> 00:01:11.519 And I don't think we really can know. 00:01:12.239 --> 00:01:17.780 And then there are some people who just all together deny that there is any afterlife. 00:01:17.780 --> 00:01:23.799 That, you know, once your body's dead, that's it. 00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:25.359 That's the end. 00:01:26.140 --> 00:01:28.599 They put you in the ground and you cease to exist. 00:01:29.879 --> 00:01:38.900 Some of the people are atheists or naturalists who just really believe in what we see. 00:01:39.020 --> 00:01:39.859 That's what we have. 00:01:40.379 --> 00:01:41.200 There's no soul. 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:42.120 There's no spirit. 00:01:42.120 --> 00:01:43.980 That's what they believe. 00:01:45.020 --> 00:01:54.359 Well, this morning we want to listen in on a conversation between the Apostle Paul and the church at Corinth where he talks about the afterlife. 00:01:55.439 --> 00:01:57.060 And what happens after we die. 00:01:57.060 --> 00:02:12.219 And as we listen to him and what he says under the inspiration of God's spirit, my hope is that we'll get a little bit of an idea about what we might like written on our gravestone when we die. 00:02:12.819 --> 00:02:16.960 So if you have your Bibles, please open them to 1 Corinthians 15, verse 12. 00:02:18.960 --> 00:02:22.080 1 Corinthians 15, verse 12. 00:02:22.080 --> 00:02:52.060 1 Corinthians 15, verse 12. 00:02:52.080 --> 00:02:54.080 1 Corinthians 15, verse 12. 00:02:54.080 --> 00:02:54.200 1 Corinthians 15, verse 12. 00:02:54.200 --> 00:02:55.340 He says in verse 11, 00:02:56.020 --> 00:02:56.440 1 Corinthians 15, verse 12. 00:02:56.440 --> 00:03:02.060 Whether it's myself or the others who saw him alive, this is what we preach and this is what you believed. 00:03:03.180 --> 00:03:04.380 And now in verse 12 he says, 00:03:04.580 --> 00:03:04.680 1 Corinthians 15, verse 12. 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:09.360 But if it is preached, if it is being preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, 00:03:10.220 --> 00:03:14.880 how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 00:03:17.439 --> 00:03:20.240 There's a bit of an inconsistency here. 00:03:20.240 --> 00:03:30.420 And as we're about to see an incompatibility with the gospel for those who hold to this idea, this view. 00:03:30.419 --> 00:03:39.739 If we look closely at the words that Paul uses to describe what they are saying in verse 12, 00:03:39.979 --> 00:03:44.099 some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead. 00:03:44.819 --> 00:03:49.439 And throughout this passage, that the dead are not raised. 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:54.699 And we get a little bit of a clue down in verse 29 as to what they really mean here. 00:03:55.180 --> 00:03:55.759 He says, 00:03:55.859 --> 00:03:57.800 If the dead are not raised at all. 00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:07.620 Some of the Corinthians are categorically denying that there is resurrection of the dead. 00:04:07.620 --> 00:04:12.480 And whether that's even a thing that ever happens at all. 00:04:13.420 --> 00:04:16.240 There is no afterlife. 00:04:17.620 --> 00:04:18.480 There's nothing. 00:04:18.639 --> 00:04:20.600 It's not something that happens. 00:04:20.740 --> 00:04:22.379 It's not something that will happen. 00:04:24.600 --> 00:04:25.899 Who are these people? 00:04:27.079 --> 00:04:30.980 And what's really brought them to think like this? 00:04:30.980 --> 00:04:34.280 I think this is a question that many have been asking over the centuries. 00:04:34.960 --> 00:04:36.360 Scholars and commentators. 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:39.220 They've kind of come to three theories. 00:04:40.200 --> 00:04:43.000 The first theory is that this group of believers, 00:04:43.439 --> 00:04:46.900 they believe that the resurrection has already taken place. 00:04:47.640 --> 00:04:50.439 And this kind of goes back to Paul's letter to Timothy, 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:54.580 in which he warns them about Hymenaeus and Philetus, 00:04:54.939 --> 00:04:58.720 two men who were saying and teaching that the resurrection has already happened. 00:04:58.720 --> 00:05:03.120 And so that's one of the possibilities, 00:05:03.440 --> 00:05:05.100 is that these Corinthians, 00:05:05.380 --> 00:05:07.380 they believe that it's already happened. 00:05:08.100 --> 00:05:09.960 And if we look throughout history, 00:05:10.080 --> 00:05:13.840 we see evidence of people who actually believe this. 00:05:14.520 --> 00:05:18.120 One line of thinking is that the resurrection is just a spiritual thing. 00:05:19.180 --> 00:05:21.300 You're resurrected inside. 00:05:21.540 --> 00:05:23.180 Your spirit is brought to life. 00:05:23.600 --> 00:05:24.700 And when you die, 00:05:24.699 --> 00:05:29.920 you're just essentially shedding the dead husk of your body 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.579 and your spirit continues to live forever. 00:05:33.779 --> 00:05:35.959 That's what some people have believed. 00:05:37.120 --> 00:05:38.319 Another line of thinking, 00:05:38.519 --> 00:05:39.860 which might surprise you, 00:05:40.379 --> 00:05:42.419 there was some who actually believed that 00:05:42.419 --> 00:05:44.899 the resurrection happened 00:05:44.899 --> 00:05:47.039 and after that point, 00:05:47.339 --> 00:05:48.019 they were immortal 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:50.539 and that they weren't ever going to die, 00:05:51.079 --> 00:05:53.519 that they were just going to keep living forever. 00:05:53.519 --> 00:05:56.299 kind of like Highlander, 00:05:56.379 --> 00:05:57.779 if you've ever seen that. 00:06:00.539 --> 00:06:02.379 I'm not going to say any more about that, 00:06:02.479 --> 00:06:03.659 but this theory, 00:06:04.299 --> 00:06:06.079 the problem with it is that 00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:07.979 Paul says that these are those 00:06:07.979 --> 00:06:10.740 who are saying that there is no resurrection. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:14.339 Not those that are saying it has already taken place. 00:06:14.419 --> 00:06:17.180 So it's probably not who he's referring to. 00:06:17.180 --> 00:06:18.980 The second theory is that 00:06:18.980 --> 00:06:21.560 these people are people who are 00:06:21.560 --> 00:06:25.879 essentially denying that there is any life after death at all. 00:06:26.680 --> 00:06:29.980 That there's no existence after we die. 00:06:30.160 --> 00:06:34.720 And when we think back to ancient Greek and Roman religious culture, 00:06:34.899 --> 00:06:35.600 we kind of think, 00:06:35.720 --> 00:06:35.840 well, 00:06:36.300 --> 00:06:38.180 did they ever really believe that back then? 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:40.960 Didn't they all kind of worship spirits and gods 00:06:40.960 --> 00:06:43.680 and temples and all that stuff? 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.519 But actually there's a fair bit of evidence 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.560 that even people back in Paul's day, 00:06:49.100 --> 00:06:52.300 some of them believe that there was no afterlife. 00:06:54.079 --> 00:06:56.780 And I was shocked to find this out, 00:06:56.840 --> 00:07:03.060 but apparently there's the tombstones that they found 00:07:03.060 --> 00:07:06.000 that have an inscription on them. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:07.680 And the inscription goes like this, 00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:10.019 I was not, 00:07:10.759 --> 00:07:12.100 I was, 00:07:12.980 --> 00:07:14.379 I am not, 00:07:14.939 --> 00:07:16.439 I do not care. 00:07:18.060 --> 00:07:20.139 And this was actually common, 00:07:20.519 --> 00:07:22.980 apparently so common that they abbreviated that 00:07:22.980 --> 00:07:25.420 into just the first letters of those statements. 00:07:25.639 --> 00:07:27.819 And this was on people's tombstones. 00:07:28.600 --> 00:07:30.980 I was kind of shocked to find that out. 00:07:31.819 --> 00:07:35.040 The idea that there's nothing. 00:07:35.399 --> 00:07:36.800 You live and after that, 00:07:36.920 --> 00:07:37.500 it's over. 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:42.100 Some people think that perhaps that's what the Corinthians 00:07:42.100 --> 00:07:45.740 that he's talking to were about believed. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:47.819 And then the final theory is that 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:50.540 the Corinthians here, 00:07:50.819 --> 00:07:52.939 when they said that there's no resurrection, 00:07:53.139 --> 00:07:54.319 it's that they had a problem 00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.079 with the idea of a bodily resurrection. 00:07:59.720 --> 00:08:01.500 Ancient Greek and Roman culture, 00:08:02.460 --> 00:08:05.800 the religious views and beliefs that they had 00:08:05.800 --> 00:08:08.980 were kind of very much this idea that when you die, 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:11.280 your soul is separated from your body. 00:08:12.100 --> 00:08:16.220 And you can almost think of it in terms of like 00:08:16.220 --> 00:08:18.240 the bird being let out of the cage, 00:08:18.860 --> 00:08:19.060 you know, 00:08:19.120 --> 00:08:20.199 where it's kind of a, 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:20.960 it's a good thing. 00:08:21.020 --> 00:08:22.259 It's like you're ascending. 00:08:22.379 --> 00:08:24.519 It's like you're going to the next level. 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.939 And you're stepping out of that primitive existence 00:08:28.939 --> 00:08:31.299 with the body. 00:08:31.979 --> 00:08:34.960 And so the thought here is that there might have been 00:08:34.960 --> 00:08:36.939 some confusion by some of these people. 00:08:37.679 --> 00:08:37.759 Like, 00:08:37.860 --> 00:08:37.980 well, 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:39.539 how can there be a resurrection? 00:08:39.899 --> 00:08:40.000 Like, 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:43.980 is God really going to take my dead corpse 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:44.759 out of the ground 00:08:44.759 --> 00:08:48.139 and put my spirit or my soul back into that 00:08:48.139 --> 00:08:49.139 or my bones? 00:08:49.259 --> 00:08:50.679 What happens if my body was, 00:08:51.039 --> 00:08:51.519 you know, 00:08:52.759 --> 00:08:54.700 it was destroyed? 00:08:54.819 --> 00:08:55.539 It's just ashes. 00:08:55.740 --> 00:08:55.860 Like, 00:08:55.939 --> 00:08:57.000 how is that going to happen? 00:08:57.059 --> 00:08:59.299 Isn't that like a downgrade? 00:09:00.220 --> 00:09:00.379 You know, 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:02.779 isn't that like putting the bird back in the cage? 00:09:02.860 --> 00:09:03.039 Like, 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:04.379 that doesn't make sense. 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.399 So there's some that would believe that 00:09:06.399 --> 00:09:09.399 that was really what they were saying. 00:09:09.439 --> 00:09:09.539 Well, 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.620 there's no resurrection. 00:09:11.340 --> 00:09:11.559 You know, 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:12.559 not like that. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:14.019 Not that kind of a resurrection. 00:09:14.759 --> 00:09:15.319 Um, 00:09:16.080 --> 00:09:17.059 so with these theories, 00:09:17.179 --> 00:09:17.360 I mean, 00:09:17.399 --> 00:09:18.279 which of them is right? 00:09:19.100 --> 00:09:19.539 Uh, 00:09:19.580 --> 00:09:21.299 good scholars over the years, 00:09:21.439 --> 00:09:22.319 they admit, 00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:23.840 we don't have enough today 00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:25.200 to pin it down precisely. 00:09:26.220 --> 00:09:26.600 Um, 00:09:27.120 --> 00:09:28.740 Martin Luther, 00:09:29.080 --> 00:09:30.059 500 years ago, 00:09:30.139 --> 00:09:30.600 he said, 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:31.559 um, 00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:33.100 maybe it's that there was, 00:09:33.220 --> 00:09:34.179 there was more than one 00:09:34.179 --> 00:09:36.659 different group of people 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:38.779 who believe different things about this. 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:39.799 Um, 00:09:40.259 --> 00:09:41.659 more than one different kind of 00:09:41.659 --> 00:09:43.080 resurrection denier. 00:09:43.700 --> 00:09:44.259 And, 00:09:44.259 --> 00:09:46.439 perhaps Paul is actually writing 00:09:46.439 --> 00:09:47.659 less specifically here 00:09:47.659 --> 00:09:49.059 and leaving out some of the details 00:09:49.059 --> 00:09:50.700 just to try to catch all of them 00:09:50.700 --> 00:09:52.039 and to, 00:09:52.039 --> 00:09:52.720 uh, 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:53.819 bring the word of correction 00:09:53.819 --> 00:09:54.600 that they need. 00:09:57.879 --> 00:09:58.740 So he says, 00:09:58.740 --> 00:10:02.100 if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, 00:10:02.180 --> 00:10:06.100 how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 00:10:07.259 --> 00:10:09.620 If there is no resurrection of the dead, 00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:12.120 then not even Christ has been raised. 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:14.820 And if Christ has not been raised, 00:10:15.560 --> 00:10:17.500 our preaching is useless. 00:10:17.500 --> 00:10:19.720 And so is your faith. 00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:21.799 More than that, 00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:25.559 we are then found to be false witnesses about God. 00:10:25.940 --> 00:10:28.279 For we have testified about God 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:31.100 that he raised Christ from the dead. 00:10:31.100 --> 00:10:33.680 But he did not raise him, 00:10:33.680 --> 00:10:35.460 if in fact the dead are not raised. 00:10:36.500 --> 00:10:38.519 For if the dead are not raised, 00:10:38.960 --> 00:10:41.980 then Christ has not been raised either. 00:10:42.519 --> 00:10:44.420 And if Christ has not been raised, 00:10:45.000 --> 00:10:46.720 your faith is futile. 00:10:47.480 --> 00:10:49.000 You are still in your sins. 00:10:49.000 --> 00:10:54.460 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:58.039 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, 00:10:58.440 --> 00:11:02.019 we are of all people most to be pitied. 00:11:03.220 --> 00:11:05.240 So Paul's first question is, 00:11:05.320 --> 00:11:09.240 is essentially a challenge to what they believe. 00:11:10.139 --> 00:11:10.639 He says, 00:11:11.179 --> 00:11:14.179 we're preaching that Christ has been raised from the dead. 00:11:14.240 --> 00:11:15.740 And some of you are saying 00:11:15.740 --> 00:11:17.879 that there is no resurrection of the dead, 00:11:17.879 --> 00:11:19.059 ever, at all. 00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:19.899 It's not a thing. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:21.539 That's, 00:11:21.820 --> 00:11:23.220 those things can't, 00:11:23.299 --> 00:11:25.700 you can't believe both of those at the same time. 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:27.399 They're incompatible. 00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:28.340 The good news, 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:30.399 the gospel that we proclaim to you, 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:33.299 is not compatible with that idea. 00:11:34.659 --> 00:11:35.980 You can't say, 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:39.159 the resurrection never happens. 00:11:40.820 --> 00:11:41.639 And say, 00:11:41.740 --> 00:11:43.620 I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. 00:11:43.659 --> 00:11:44.519 It's one or the other. 00:11:44.519 --> 00:11:48.559 But let's think about the implications. 00:11:49.079 --> 00:11:49.519 Hypothetically, 00:11:49.740 --> 00:11:54.319 if it's true that there is no resurrection of the dead at all, 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:59.360 then Jesus hasn't been raised from the dead. 00:11:59.460 --> 00:12:02.759 This is the first big implication that he gives. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:07.079 If this is not a thing that ever happens, 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.939 he says it three times. 00:12:08.940 --> 00:12:10.660 In verse 14, 00:12:10.780 --> 00:12:11.160 he says, 00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:13.080 sorry, 00:12:13.180 --> 00:12:13.560 13, 00:12:13.680 --> 00:12:14.040 he says, 00:12:14.180 --> 00:12:16.160 if there is no resurrection of the dead, 00:12:16.400 --> 00:12:18.940 then not even Christ has been raised. 00:12:20.280 --> 00:12:21.880 He says it again in 15, 00:12:22.400 --> 00:12:25.820 but he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 00:12:26.120 --> 00:12:26.520 16, 00:12:26.800 --> 00:12:28.420 for if the dead are not raised, 00:12:28.500 --> 00:12:30.540 then Christ has not been raised either. 00:12:31.020 --> 00:12:32.760 Paul wants there to be no confusion. 00:12:33.780 --> 00:12:35.940 These two things are incompatible. 00:12:35.940 --> 00:12:38.160 If the dead are not raised, 00:12:38.260 --> 00:12:40.120 if there is no resurrection of the dead, 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:44.160 then not even Jesus has been raised from the dead. 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:45.000 Now, 00:12:45.160 --> 00:12:47.920 let's think about the implications of that. 00:12:48.780 --> 00:12:51.340 If Jesus hasn't been raised from the dead, 00:12:51.420 --> 00:12:53.000 and now Paul gives us, 00:12:53.080 --> 00:12:54.160 he gives the church there, 00:12:54.520 --> 00:12:55.720 seven implications. 00:12:56.840 --> 00:12:59.300 The first implication is verse 14. 00:12:59.760 --> 00:13:01.600 If Christ has not been raised, 00:13:02.440 --> 00:13:04.200 our preaching is useless. 00:13:04.200 --> 00:13:08.120 We've spent the last years of our life 00:13:08.120 --> 00:13:10.860 going from city to city to town to town 00:13:10.860 --> 00:13:12.060 to synagogue to synagogue 00:13:12.060 --> 00:13:13.840 for nothing. 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:17.340 The word useless there, 00:13:17.560 --> 00:13:19.420 it literally means empty. 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:21.580 For nothing. 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:25.560 The second implication, 00:13:26.879 --> 00:13:27.660 also there, 00:13:27.659 --> 00:13:33.459 if Christ has not been raised, 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:35.579 our preaching is useless, 00:13:35.899 --> 00:13:38.100 and so is your faith. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:40.819 Your belief, 00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:43.100 what you believed back at the beginning 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:44.079 when we came to you 00:13:44.079 --> 00:13:45.319 and brought you the message, 00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:48.579 it's for nothing. 00:13:48.959 --> 00:13:49.799 It's empty. 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:50.539 It's hollow. 00:13:50.879 --> 00:13:51.799 It has no value. 00:13:51.799 --> 00:13:55.719 The third implication, 00:13:56.319 --> 00:13:57.120 verse 15. 00:13:58.659 --> 00:14:00.500 If Christ has not been raised from the dead, 00:14:00.559 --> 00:14:00.959 he says, 00:14:01.359 --> 00:14:04.379 we are then found to be false witnesses about God, 00:14:05.079 --> 00:14:07.159 for we have testified about God 00:14:07.159 --> 00:14:10.139 that he raised Christ from the dead. 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:12.039 In other words, 00:14:12.539 --> 00:14:14.079 if Christ hasn't been raised from the dead, 00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.839 then we're all a bunch of liars. 00:14:15.840 --> 00:14:18.379 every last one of us 00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:21.220 who said that we saw him alive, 00:14:21.360 --> 00:14:24.019 we're deliberately lying to you. 00:14:26.500 --> 00:14:27.759 And you believed us. 00:14:31.460 --> 00:14:32.580 Implication number four, 00:14:33.800 --> 00:14:34.700 verse 17. 00:14:35.940 --> 00:14:37.620 If Christ has not been raised, 00:14:38.040 --> 00:14:39.240 your faith is futile. 00:14:40.220 --> 00:14:42.680 It's a very similar word to the one he used before, 00:14:42.759 --> 00:14:43.560 your faith is empty, 00:14:43.660 --> 00:14:45.440 but it essentially means that it's pointless. 00:14:45.840 --> 00:14:49.139 The years of your life 00:14:49.139 --> 00:14:50.700 that you spent believing this 00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:53.600 and doing stuff based on your belief in this, 00:14:53.960 --> 00:14:55.720 it was wasted. 00:14:56.200 --> 00:14:57.200 It was for nothing. 00:14:58.300 --> 00:14:59.379 It has no effect. 00:15:00.720 --> 00:15:02.300 The news that we gave you 00:15:02.300 --> 00:15:04.360 is no good to you at all. 00:15:05.639 --> 00:15:07.379 It brings no benefit to your life. 00:15:09.080 --> 00:15:10.180 Implication number five, 00:15:10.300 --> 00:15:11.340 also in verse 17, 00:15:11.480 --> 00:15:11.900 he says, 00:15:12.340 --> 00:15:14.240 you are still in your sins. 00:15:14.240 --> 00:15:16.360 If Christ has not been raised from the dead, 00:15:16.580 --> 00:15:19.080 you are still in your sins. 00:15:20.299 --> 00:15:22.039 Now this is kind of one of those ones where 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.360 I thought it was the death of Jesus 00:15:24.360 --> 00:15:26.659 that dealt with our sin problem, 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.860 but Paul is actually saying 00:15:27.860 --> 00:15:30.840 that our salvation is dependent upon 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:33.299 the resurrection of Jesus as well. 00:15:34.379 --> 00:15:35.680 He doesn't explain why. 00:15:36.180 --> 00:15:38.159 He simply states that it is, 00:15:38.159 --> 00:15:40.079 and if we want to explore the why, 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.579 we can, 00:15:40.679 --> 00:15:42.039 but that would be a whole other sermon. 00:15:43.240 --> 00:15:44.199 So for this morning, 00:15:44.279 --> 00:15:45.860 I think we just need to take Paul 00:15:45.860 --> 00:15:47.459 and the Lord at his word. 00:15:48.459 --> 00:15:49.879 Our salvation depends 00:15:49.879 --> 00:15:52.779 on the resurrection of Jesus 00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:54.219 from the dead. 00:15:54.220 --> 00:16:01.519 Implication number six, 00:16:02.080 --> 00:16:03.000 verse 18. 00:16:04.100 --> 00:16:06.639 If Christ has not been raised from the dead, 00:16:07.440 --> 00:16:12.259 those who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 00:16:14.860 --> 00:16:17.000 If Christ has not been raised from the dead, 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:19.500 you are still in your sins. 00:16:19.500 --> 00:16:23.240 You are liable before God 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:25.139 for everything you have done against him. 00:16:25.220 --> 00:16:26.100 You're still guilty. 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.480 And not only that, 00:16:28.559 --> 00:16:30.379 but everybody else who has believed in him 00:16:30.379 --> 00:16:33.440 and has died is now lost. 00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.720 They've perished. 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:40.159 They're facing the same end as the rest of us. 00:16:42.940 --> 00:16:44.440 And the final implication, 00:16:45.039 --> 00:16:46.200 implication number seven, 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.039 verse 19. 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:51.360 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, 00:16:51.459 --> 00:16:54.159 we are of all people most to be pitied. 00:16:54.299 --> 00:16:56.879 If Christ hasn't been raised from the dead, 00:16:57.659 --> 00:16:59.719 then it is right 00:16:59.719 --> 00:17:01.719 for the people in our world 00:17:01.719 --> 00:17:03.240 to look at us and say, 00:17:03.879 --> 00:17:05.579 oh, those poor people. 00:17:07.259 --> 00:17:08.619 Those poor people. 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:11.059 I mean, look, 00:17:11.220 --> 00:17:13.099 they wasted their lives 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:17.179 believing a lie. 00:17:18.559 --> 00:17:19.879 They were scorned. 00:17:19.980 --> 00:17:20.919 They were mocked. 00:17:21.419 --> 00:17:22.819 They, in some cases, 00:17:23.199 --> 00:17:24.879 suffered and were even killed 00:17:24.879 --> 00:17:26.019 for nothing. 00:17:28.779 --> 00:17:31.759 And it is right for us to pity them 00:17:31.759 --> 00:17:38.180 if we only have hope 00:17:38.180 --> 00:17:40.700 for this life. 00:17:41.480 --> 00:17:43.359 Because what do we get in this life 00:17:43.359 --> 00:17:46.619 if Christ hasn't been raised from the dead? 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:49.859 We get a bit of a sense of joy, 00:17:50.019 --> 00:17:50.859 a sense of peace, 00:17:50.920 --> 00:17:51.879 a sense of security. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.319 But if Jesus hasn't been raised from the dead, 00:17:54.379 --> 00:17:56.680 then all of that is just a false hope, 00:17:57.400 --> 00:17:58.579 a false sense of security, 00:17:58.680 --> 00:17:59.720 a false sense of peace. 00:17:59.720 --> 00:18:02.720 We get that with a bunch of trouble 00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.880 for what we've believed. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.079 And oh, if that's the case, 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:10.200 then it is right for the people 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.640 to look at us and think, 00:18:11.799 --> 00:18:12.700 those poor people, 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:14.720 they were duped 00:18:14.720 --> 00:18:18.279 to the nth degree. 00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.500 Verse 20. 00:18:26.880 --> 00:18:28.440 Actually, before we get there, 00:18:28.440 --> 00:18:30.559 I mean, summing these things all up, 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:33.299 bringing this all together, 00:18:33.500 --> 00:18:35.880 if Christ has not been raised from the dead, 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:40.600 then we should all just go home right now. 00:18:42.539 --> 00:18:45.299 We should liquidate the church's assets, 00:18:45.559 --> 00:18:47.279 we should divide it up amongst the members, 00:18:47.500 --> 00:18:50.140 and we should stop wasting our time. 00:18:50.779 --> 00:18:52.620 Next Sunday, we shouldn't come here. 00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:57.119 Because if this is all just a sham, 00:18:57.879 --> 00:19:00.779 then we're to be pitied more than anyone. 00:19:01.419 --> 00:19:02.619 I mean, think of this. 00:19:03.979 --> 00:19:06.679 God, it turns out, is a liar. 00:19:06.839 --> 00:19:08.199 His word isn't true. 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:13.779 Jesus is not really who God said that he would be, 00:19:14.299 --> 00:19:16.859 the king that reigns forever on the throne of David. 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:18.839 David, Jesus himself is a liar. 00:19:18.979 --> 00:19:20.639 He promised and offered eternal life, 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.859 but if there's no resurrection, 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:24.279 if not even Jesus was raised from the dead, 00:19:24.339 --> 00:19:27.039 then why should we think that we should get that? 00:19:28.459 --> 00:19:31.019 You know, the implications of this go right to the end. 00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:33.000 We're just wasting our time here 00:19:33.000 --> 00:19:35.539 if Jesus hasn't been raised from the dead. 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:37.700 Verse 20. 00:19:39.700 --> 00:19:45.779 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, 00:19:46.460 --> 00:19:50.619 the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:19:52.940 --> 00:19:57.779 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. 00:20:00.680 --> 00:20:02.519 We learned at Promise Keepers, 00:20:02.759 --> 00:20:04.480 was it last weekend? 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:08.099 the meaning of the word but. 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:12.379 And the guy there had some really colorful illustrations, 00:20:12.680 --> 00:20:13.779 but essentially he said, 00:20:14.359 --> 00:20:15.559 when you hear the word but, 00:20:15.639 --> 00:20:18.819 it means that everything that came before it is negated. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:22.720 I owe you a lot of money, but. 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:25.680 I really like you. 00:20:25.819 --> 00:20:29.159 I like, you know, spending time with you, but. 00:20:30.899 --> 00:20:33.539 It's really powerful the way he phrased it, 00:20:33.599 --> 00:20:35.259 but that's essentially what Paul is saying. 00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:38.859 Some of you are saying that there's no resurrection, 00:20:39.420 --> 00:20:41.879 and these are the implications of that, 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.779 but. 00:20:45.500 --> 00:20:46.759 To say it another way, 00:20:46.859 --> 00:20:48.460 you're wrong. 00:20:48.460 --> 00:20:53.759 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:57.120 It's a fact. 00:20:57.119 --> 00:20:59.659 And I love the way Paul just states it. 00:20:59.659 --> 00:21:00.359 He doesn't say, 00:21:00.799 --> 00:21:03.500 I believe that Christ was raised from the dead. 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:05.879 He says he was indeed. 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.599 Yes, 00:21:07.019 --> 00:21:09.439 God did raise him from the dead. 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:15.419 Notice that he doesn't say, 00:21:15.639 --> 00:21:16.039 therefore, 00:21:17.439 --> 00:21:19.879 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. 00:21:19.880 --> 00:21:24.640 We might think after this big list of implications, 00:21:24.880 --> 00:21:25.040 well, 00:21:25.580 --> 00:21:25.940 yeah, 00:21:26.180 --> 00:21:26.520 I mean, 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:29.920 we sure hope that Jesus was raised from the dead, 00:21:29.980 --> 00:21:31.640 because the implications of that for me, 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:33.940 as somebody who's been going to church for all my life, 00:21:33.980 --> 00:21:35.700 and believing this for my whole life, 00:21:35.760 --> 00:21:36.500 would be terrible. 00:21:37.200 --> 00:21:38.500 But Paul doesn't say, 00:21:38.900 --> 00:21:39.180 you know, 00:21:39.180 --> 00:21:40.500 these are the implications. 00:21:41.220 --> 00:21:41.539 Therefore, 00:21:41.740 --> 00:21:43.200 Christ has been raised from the dead, 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:44.259 because I can't imagine, 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:44.580 like, 00:21:44.820 --> 00:21:45.620 if that was true, 00:21:45.700 --> 00:21:47.200 that would be like the end of my life. 00:21:47.320 --> 00:21:50.519 On what basis does Paul say, 00:21:50.620 --> 00:21:51.460 does he assert, 00:21:51.740 --> 00:21:53.600 that Christ has been raised from the dead? 00:21:55.740 --> 00:21:57.080 Back in verse 4 to 8. 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:02.640 The scriptures foretold it, 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:11.540 and I myself saw Jesus alive after he was dead. 00:22:11.600 --> 00:22:12.300 Not only me, 00:22:12.380 --> 00:22:13.759 but countless others, 00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:15.720 some of whom are still alive. 00:22:16.180 --> 00:22:17.420 You want to go check with them? 00:22:17.640 --> 00:22:18.320 You can. 00:22:18.620 --> 00:22:19.480 It's a fact. 00:22:20.560 --> 00:22:23.100 You're saying that there's no resurrection. 00:22:23.300 --> 00:22:24.060 It's not a thing. 00:22:25.020 --> 00:22:30.500 But I have seen a man raised from the dead myself. 00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:31.360 He appeared to me. 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.420 We were with him. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:35.940 Paul has no reason to doubt. 00:22:36.759 --> 00:22:38.180 He has no reason to say, 00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:38.480 well, 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:39.240 I believe, 00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:42.940 but your belief that there is no resurrection is valid. 00:22:43.800 --> 00:22:44.180 No, 00:22:44.380 --> 00:22:45.020 it's not. 00:22:47.540 --> 00:22:50.080 And so he simply asserts it. 00:22:51.520 --> 00:22:54.520 Christ has indeed been raised from the dead. 00:22:56.240 --> 00:22:58.620 You Corinthians who believe that there's no resurrection, 00:22:59.220 --> 00:22:59.820 you're wrong. 00:23:02.640 --> 00:23:07.340 continuing on in verse 20, 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:07.920 he says, 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.960 he's been raised from the dead, 00:23:10.240 --> 00:23:12.940 the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:23:13.700 --> 00:23:16.140 That's kind of an odd expression to us today. 00:23:16.140 --> 00:23:17.020 The first fruits. 00:23:17.019 --> 00:23:18.400 We don't really say that ever. 00:23:18.400 --> 00:23:19.119 We don't really say that ever. 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:20.720 What does that mean? 00:23:21.400 --> 00:23:29.460 The first fruits were essentially the first portion of the harvest that was then offered to God back in the Old Testament. 00:23:29.460 --> 00:23:30.840 The Israelites did this. 00:23:30.840 --> 00:23:35.400 And essentially what Paul means to say, 00:23:35.400 --> 00:23:37.460 he uses some of that meaning, 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:40.680 is that Christ has been raised from the dead, 00:23:41.060 --> 00:23:49.960 and his resurrection is like the first portion of a greater resurrection that is yet to come. 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:52.180 It's like the first installment. 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:56.900 You can't have a first installment unless there's more coming. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:23:58.920 It's the down payment. 00:23:59.200 --> 00:24:00.039 It's the guarantee. 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:01.079 It's the pledge. 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:05.279 It's the proof that there's more where that came from. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:13.599 He's the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:24:14.639 --> 00:24:18.019 Who are these people that are yet to come? 00:24:18.399 --> 00:24:19.519 They're those who are dead. 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:24.039 Some of them are in the cemetery west of town here. 00:24:25.740 --> 00:24:28.139 Those are the people who have fallen asleep. 00:24:28.399 --> 00:24:29.259 That's Paul's, 00:24:30.680 --> 00:24:32.359 they're those who have died. 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:35.019 It's from among the dead. 00:24:35.279 --> 00:24:40.019 That this great harvest will come. 00:24:40.519 --> 00:24:41.639 And Christ is the proof. 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:43.440 He's the guarantee of that. 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:45.579 Verse 21. 00:24:45.779 --> 00:24:47.940 For since death came through a man, 00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:52.099 the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 00:24:53.079 --> 00:24:55.339 For as in Adam all die, 00:24:56.139 --> 00:24:58.660 so in Christ all will be made alive. 00:24:59.079 --> 00:25:01.339 Paul is essentially just making it clear. 00:25:02.259 --> 00:25:03.359 Yes, first fruits. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:06.879 I'm saying that there is going to be resurrection, 00:25:07.319 --> 00:25:08.379 not just for Jesus, 00:25:08.679 --> 00:25:09.639 but for others. 00:25:10.699 --> 00:25:15.179 In the same way as death became a reality for humanity 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:16.500 through a man, 00:25:17.659 --> 00:25:18.019 Adam. 00:25:19.659 --> 00:25:21.659 Resurrection from the dead 00:25:21.660 --> 00:25:25.000 becomes a reality for humanity. 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:27.460 Through a man. 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:29.100 Jesus. 00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:29.500 Jesus. 00:25:29.500 --> 00:25:34.740 And then he states it so clearly, 00:25:34.740 --> 00:25:36.059 so powerfully, 00:25:36.059 --> 00:25:38.559 in verse 22. 00:25:38.819 --> 00:25:41.319 For as in Adam all die, 00:25:42.339 --> 00:25:45.900 so in Christ all will be made alive. 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:48.920 We need to be careful with this statement. 00:25:49.300 --> 00:25:50.740 I had a friend back in the day 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:54.220 who would point to that verse and say, 00:25:54.620 --> 00:25:54.860 see, 00:25:55.340 --> 00:25:57.120 everyone is going to be saved. 00:25:58.220 --> 00:25:59.860 As in Adam all die, 00:26:00.200 --> 00:26:02.480 so in Christ all will be made alive. 00:26:02.740 --> 00:26:04.100 Everyone's going to be saved. 00:26:04.740 --> 00:26:07.500 Despite the fact that Jesus taught to the contrary 00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:09.680 and so did the apostles in other places. 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:11.839 That's not what Paul's saying here. 00:26:12.460 --> 00:26:13.500 He's saying that 00:26:13.500 --> 00:26:15.880 in Adam all die. 00:26:16.059 --> 00:26:18.440 All who are in Adam die. 00:26:19.440 --> 00:26:21.619 And all of humanity is in Adam. 00:26:21.779 --> 00:26:22.819 We're all descended from him, 00:26:22.900 --> 00:26:24.279 so we all die. 00:26:25.279 --> 00:26:28.339 But all who are in Christ 00:26:28.339 --> 00:26:30.660 shall be brought to life. 00:26:30.660 --> 00:26:34.080 Only those who are in Christ 00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:35.980 have that guarantee, 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:37.279 that promise, 00:26:37.380 --> 00:26:38.080 and that hope. 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:42.600 In Adam all die, 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:46.779 so in Christ all will be made alive. 00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:57.160 We're going to cut it off at that point. 00:26:57.800 --> 00:26:59.140 Paul just keeps going, 00:26:59.140 --> 00:27:01.900 but we're going to get to that next week. 00:27:03.220 --> 00:27:05.520 But a couple things that I want to say in closing. 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:07.040 How does this apply to us? 00:27:07.100 --> 00:27:07.320 I mean, 00:27:07.759 --> 00:27:09.500 we've heard the logic of Paul 00:27:09.500 --> 00:27:11.380 as he reasons with these people 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.759 who don't believe in the afterlife. 00:27:13.780 --> 00:27:15.800 I'm going to guess that most of us 00:27:15.800 --> 00:27:18.920 believe in the resurrection of the dead 00:27:18.920 --> 00:27:20.240 and the afterlife. 00:27:21.440 --> 00:27:21.720 And so, 00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:24.440 how does this apply to us today? 00:27:25.380 --> 00:27:26.880 There's three things that really 00:27:26.880 --> 00:27:28.440 kind of came to my mind 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:30.840 as I was thinking about that this week. 00:27:32.759 --> 00:27:34.320 We've heard the logic of Paul, 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:36.860 but do we hear the heart of Paul here? 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:40.340 Why is he warning them? 00:27:40.420 --> 00:27:41.680 Why is he laying this out 00:27:41.680 --> 00:27:43.539 so carefully for them? 00:27:44.940 --> 00:27:46.120 Because he loves them. 00:27:46.640 --> 00:27:48.000 And he doesn't want to see 00:27:48.000 --> 00:27:50.740 any single one of them perish. 00:27:50.740 --> 00:27:53.259 Think back to verse 2 00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:54.779 that we looked at last Sunday. 00:27:55.920 --> 00:27:57.400 By this good news, 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:59.220 you are saved 00:27:59.220 --> 00:28:02.079 if you hold firmly 00:28:02.079 --> 00:28:04.019 to the word of truth, 00:28:04.339 --> 00:28:05.720 to the word I preach to you. 00:28:06.120 --> 00:28:07.640 If you move on from this 00:28:07.640 --> 00:28:09.400 and you embrace this other idea 00:28:09.400 --> 00:28:10.759 that there is no resurrection, 00:28:11.440 --> 00:28:12.940 you're in spiritual danger. 00:28:12.940 --> 00:28:16.500 And I don't want any of you 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:19.680 to face God without Christ. 00:28:21.600 --> 00:28:23.279 Do you hear the heart of Paul? 00:28:24.340 --> 00:28:25.539 That he takes the time 00:28:25.539 --> 00:28:26.980 to say to them in love, 00:28:27.519 --> 00:28:28.480 you guys are wrong. 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:32.559 But there's a flip side to that too. 00:28:32.880 --> 00:28:34.600 It's not just the warning 00:28:34.600 --> 00:28:35.840 out of desperation, 00:28:36.220 --> 00:28:37.340 but it's the assurance. 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:40.299 Do you hear those words? 00:28:42.299 --> 00:28:43.819 As in Adam all die, 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:47.819 so in Christ all shall be made alive. 00:28:48.639 --> 00:28:49.839 That's a promise. 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:53.159 And I want you to know the joy, 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.799 the certainty that you can face 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:57.539 the rest of your journey 00:28:57.539 --> 00:28:59.159 to the cemetery with. 00:29:02.019 --> 00:29:03.899 That's not the final destination. 00:29:03.900 --> 00:29:07.440 They will lay you in the ground someday 00:29:07.440 --> 00:29:09.360 unless the Lord returns first. 00:29:10.920 --> 00:29:12.360 But you will be coming up 00:29:12.360 --> 00:29:13.980 if you are in Christ. 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:16.640 And you can be confident of that 00:29:16.640 --> 00:29:19.320 because he is the first fruits. 00:29:19.680 --> 00:29:21.019 He's the first installment. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:23.120 And there's more where that came from. 00:29:26.360 --> 00:29:28.280 The second thing that really struck me 00:29:28.280 --> 00:29:29.900 is the simple weight of these words. 00:29:30.780 --> 00:29:33.800 In Adam all die. 00:29:33.900 --> 00:29:37.120 It's not even Paul's main point. 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:39.720 It's just part of the statement. 00:29:39.940 --> 00:29:41.040 In Adam all die. 00:29:42.820 --> 00:29:44.240 We live in a community 00:29:44.240 --> 00:29:47.040 that is full of people 00:29:47.040 --> 00:29:51.580 who are headed to the cemetery with us. 00:29:54.320 --> 00:29:55.680 But it's only in Christ 00:29:55.680 --> 00:29:56.960 that they will be made alive, 00:29:57.440 --> 00:29:58.560 that they have any hope 00:29:58.560 --> 00:30:00.340 of being resurrected to life 00:30:00.339 --> 00:30:04.319 rather than eternal punishment. 00:30:04.319 --> 00:30:05.000 For Paul, 00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:07.079 this is not a matter of life and death. 00:30:07.419 --> 00:30:10.559 This is a matter of eternal life 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:12.559 and eternal death. 00:30:15.559 --> 00:30:18.279 We're surrounded by people 00:30:18.279 --> 00:30:19.599 in this community, 00:30:20.199 --> 00:30:21.839 in the neighboring communities, 00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:23.919 who need to know 00:30:23.919 --> 00:30:26.439 that Christ has indeed 00:30:26.439 --> 00:30:27.679 been raised from the dead. 00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:29.539 And there is a way 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:30.419 that they can beat 00:30:30.419 --> 00:30:32.179 the grave. 00:30:34.119 --> 00:30:35.559 What are we going to do about it? 00:30:35.559 --> 00:30:42.139 The final thing that struck me 00:30:42.139 --> 00:30:42.639 from this 00:30:42.639 --> 00:30:43.799 is the way that Paul 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:45.079 communicates the gospel. 00:30:46.419 --> 00:30:47.839 Notice that he doesn't say, 00:30:48.779 --> 00:30:50.519 I see that some of you guys 00:30:50.519 --> 00:30:51.700 are believing something 00:30:51.700 --> 00:30:53.440 that's of concern to me. 00:30:54.159 --> 00:30:56.319 And I would suggest 00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:57.940 that you consider altering 00:30:57.940 --> 00:30:59.399 your view 00:30:59.400 --> 00:31:00.740 because 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:02.220 if you don't, 00:31:02.280 --> 00:31:03.400 there's the possibility 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:04.340 that something 00:31:04.340 --> 00:31:06.380 bad might happen to you. 00:31:06.860 --> 00:31:08.220 Look at how he says it. 00:31:08.280 --> 00:31:09.600 Right back from verse 1. 00:31:10.500 --> 00:31:12.500 Now, I want to make known 00:31:12.500 --> 00:31:13.100 to you 00:31:13.100 --> 00:31:14.180 the good news. 00:31:14.920 --> 00:31:15.640 And what is it? 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:18.400 Christ has indeed 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:19.600 been raised from the dead. 00:31:20.720 --> 00:31:21.940 This is how it is. 00:31:22.019 --> 00:31:22.960 This is the reality. 00:31:23.820 --> 00:31:24.620 And I want to suggest 00:31:24.620 --> 00:31:25.280 to you this morning 00:31:25.280 --> 00:31:26.240 that this is how 00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:27.420 our neighbors 00:31:27.420 --> 00:31:28.700 need to hear it from us. 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:31.000 This is the truth. 00:31:31.940 --> 00:31:32.900 We need to be 00:31:32.900 --> 00:31:33.860 the lighthouse, 00:31:34.400 --> 00:31:35.720 the church in this community 00:31:35.720 --> 00:31:37.460 that warns people 00:31:37.460 --> 00:31:38.420 of the danger 00:31:38.420 --> 00:31:39.519 of the rocks 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.340 that they are going 00:31:40.340 --> 00:31:41.420 to crash against. 00:31:41.759 --> 00:31:42.880 It won't do them 00:31:42.880 --> 00:31:44.080 any good for us to say, 00:31:44.340 --> 00:31:45.360 well, I believe 00:31:45.360 --> 00:31:46.180 that there's rocks 00:31:46.180 --> 00:31:46.660 that you're going 00:31:46.660 --> 00:31:47.519 to crash against. 00:31:48.019 --> 00:31:49.140 But your viewpoint 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:50.040 is valid too. 00:31:51.759 --> 00:31:53.259 Was Paul disrespectful 00:31:53.259 --> 00:31:54.200 when he said 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:56.140 as matter-of-factly 00:31:56.140 --> 00:31:56.680 as he did, 00:31:57.240 --> 00:31:58.580 you guys are wrong. 00:31:58.579 --> 00:31:59.759 Christ has indeed 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.799 been raised from the dead. 00:32:02.139 --> 00:32:03.220 Was that rude? 00:32:04.099 --> 00:32:05.019 Was that arrogant? 00:32:06.319 --> 00:32:07.319 It wasn't. 00:32:09.319 --> 00:32:10.559 It was the truth. 00:32:11.399 --> 00:32:12.019 And the truth 00:32:12.019 --> 00:32:12.699 is what people 00:32:12.699 --> 00:32:13.500 need to hear 00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:15.099 in love, 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.839 with gentleness, 00:32:17.539 --> 00:32:19.519 but with firmness 00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:21.480 and commitment to it. 00:32:21.480 --> 00:32:24.259 we need to speak 00:32:24.259 --> 00:32:26.160 as though we really are 00:32:26.160 --> 00:32:28.220 ambassadors of Christ. 00:32:31.299 --> 00:32:32.700 And so I want to 00:32:32.700 --> 00:32:33.539 leave you 00:32:33.539 --> 00:32:34.440 with this encouragement. 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:38.039 Let's hold fast 00:32:38.039 --> 00:32:38.980 to the good news 00:32:38.980 --> 00:32:40.160 of Jesus, 00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.400 the gospel. 00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.819 But let's not stop there. 00:32:43.819 --> 00:32:46.679 let's hold forth 00:32:46.679 --> 00:32:48.000 the good news 00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:49.460 of Jesus. 00:32:51.859 --> 00:32:53.299 It's what people 00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:54.000 need to hear 00:32:54.000 --> 00:32:55.500 to be saved. 00:32:57.899 --> 00:32:59.039 I don't know what 00:32:59.039 --> 00:33:00.720 I'm going to put 00:33:00.720 --> 00:33:01.879 on my gravestone. 00:33:03.559 --> 00:33:05.000 I haven't decided 00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:05.599 that yet. 00:33:05.599 --> 00:33:08.619 but I want to say 00:33:08.619 --> 00:33:09.059 something 00:33:09.059 --> 00:33:10.359 to point people 00:33:10.359 --> 00:33:10.899 to Jesus 00:33:10.899 --> 00:33:11.659 that if someone's 00:33:11.659 --> 00:33:12.480 wandering around 00:33:12.480 --> 00:33:12.899 in there 00:33:12.899 --> 00:33:13.980 and they come 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:15.000 across my stone, 00:33:15.240 --> 00:33:16.399 it'll say something 00:33:16.399 --> 00:33:17.139 that will point 00:33:17.139 --> 00:33:17.980 people to Jesus. 00:33:19.039 --> 00:33:19.759 And I hope 00:33:19.759 --> 00:33:20.559 that that's your heart 00:33:20.559 --> 00:33:20.839 too. 00:33:21.980 --> 00:33:22.759 But let's not wait 00:33:22.759 --> 00:33:23.259 till then 00:33:23.259 --> 00:33:24.899 to tell them. 00:33:26.279 --> 00:33:27.139 Let's use 00:33:27.139 --> 00:33:27.959 what we have 00:33:27.959 --> 00:33:28.319 now 00:33:28.319 --> 00:33:29.359 to make it known. 00:33:29.359 --> 00:33:33.139 Father in heaven, 00:33:33.919 --> 00:33:34.459 thank you 00:33:34.459 --> 00:33:35.639 for your word. 00:33:36.359 --> 00:33:36.859 Thank you 00:33:36.859 --> 00:33:37.740 for the good news. 00:33:38.199 --> 00:33:39.000 We praise you 00:33:39.000 --> 00:33:39.879 that you raised 00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:41.099 Jesus from the dead. 00:33:41.179 --> 00:33:41.719 You did what 00:33:41.719 --> 00:33:42.859 is impossible, 00:33:43.619 --> 00:33:44.399 what doesn't even 00:33:44.399 --> 00:33:45.079 make sense 00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.000 to many of us, 00:33:46.479 --> 00:33:48.099 but what's beautiful 00:33:48.099 --> 00:33:48.759 and amazing. 00:33:48.879 --> 00:33:50.159 And we can't wait 00:33:50.159 --> 00:33:51.019 for that day, Lord, 00:33:51.579 --> 00:33:52.359 when we too 00:33:52.359 --> 00:33:53.599 will be called 00:33:53.599 --> 00:33:54.539 out of our graves 00:33:54.539 --> 00:33:56.439 and when we will 00:33:56.439 --> 00:33:56.939 meet you 00:33:56.939 --> 00:33:57.859 in the air 00:33:57.859 --> 00:33:58.939 at your return. 00:34:00.019 --> 00:34:01.139 In Christ's name, 00:34:01.740 --> 00:34:02.039 Amen.