WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.459 Let's read Scripture together. We're going to read from 1 Corinthians 15, verses 12 to 34. 00:00:07.459 --> 00:00:07.459 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.579 That he raised Christ, whom he did not raise, if it is true that the dead are not raised. 00:00:35.579 --> 00:00:38.299 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 00:00:38.620 --> 00:00:43.340 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:48.719 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 00:00:49.460 --> 00:00:55.600 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 00:00:55.600 --> 00:01:00.240 But, in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. 00:01:00.780 --> 00:01:02.679 The firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:08.920 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 00:01:10.299 --> 00:01:15.079 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 00:01:15.840 --> 00:01:17.520 But each in his own order. 00:01:17.719 --> 00:01:22.760 Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. 00:01:22.760 --> 00:01:27.100 Then comes the end when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father, 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:30.340 after destroying every rule and every authority and every power. 00:01:31.160 --> 00:01:35.520 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. 00:01:36.120 --> 00:01:38.740 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. 00:01:40.140 --> 00:01:43.860 For God has put all things in subjection under his feet. 00:01:44.280 --> 00:01:46.439 But when it says all things are put in subjection, 00:01:46.620 --> 00:01:51.200 it is plain that he is accepted who put all things in subjection under him. 00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:53.400 When all things are subjected to him, 00:01:53.600 --> 00:01:59.180 then the Son himself will be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, 00:01:59.420 --> 00:02:01.379 that God may be all in all. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:06.180 Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? 00:02:06.960 --> 00:02:11.879 If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? 00:02:11.879 --> 00:02:14.579 Why are we in danger every hour? 00:02:14.939 --> 00:02:19.639 I protest, brothers, by my pride in you, which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:21.519 I die every day. 00:02:21.900 --> 00:02:26.299 What do I gain if, humanly speaking, I fought with beasts at Ephesus? 00:02:26.699 --> 00:02:30.519 If the dead are not raised, let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. 00:02:31.159 --> 00:02:32.159 Do not be deceived. 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:34.379 Bad company ruins good morals. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:38.519 Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. 00:02:38.520 --> 00:02:42.100 For some have no knowledge of God, and I say this to your shame. 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:43.880 This is God's holy word. 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:48.480 We are, for three weeks, looking at this chapter, 1 Corinthians 15. 00:02:48.840 --> 00:02:51.120 This is week two in the run-up to Easter. 00:02:51.780 --> 00:02:55.500 And this chapter is Paul's argument for the resurrection of Jesus. 00:02:56.379 --> 00:02:58.340 And it's a formal argument. 00:02:58.520 --> 00:03:01.620 So we didn't touch on this last week, but if you were paying attention there, 00:03:01.740 --> 00:03:06.719 you might have noticed that this takes the shape of a philosophical argument. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:13.659 So Paul is writing to Corinthians in what we now call Greece, and it's Greek culture. 00:03:13.979 --> 00:03:16.740 And so they were very, very used to very formal arguments. 00:03:17.460 --> 00:03:20.159 And Paul here is giving a very formal argument. 00:03:20.340 --> 00:03:24.060 And so if you go back through it, you can see, you can notice a lot of if. 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:27.280 So if this is the case, then this must be the case. 00:03:27.800 --> 00:03:30.819 If this is not true, then that couldn't be true. 00:03:31.139 --> 00:03:31.379 Right? 00:03:31.419 --> 00:03:35.819 And he goes back and forth through that very formal, very philosophical, highly intelligible. 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:40.199 And so the section we are in is called the refutation in formal logic. 00:03:40.799 --> 00:03:45.019 The first section we looked at last week where he says this is what the gospel is. 00:03:45.180 --> 00:03:46.319 It's the history of Jesus. 00:03:46.799 --> 00:03:47.639 That's the premise. 00:03:48.799 --> 00:03:51.859 So he's saying this is what everybody agrees on, Corinthian. 00:03:52.379 --> 00:03:53.740 I preached this to you. 00:03:53.840 --> 00:03:54.979 You said you believed it. 00:03:55.259 --> 00:03:58.079 The basic premises have been laid down. 00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:00.580 But now it's time for the refutation. 00:04:01.060 --> 00:04:05.440 And we learn why he has to refute, why he has to give this counter argument. 00:04:05.940 --> 00:04:06.800 And it's in verse 12. 00:04:07.560 --> 00:04:08.620 So in verse 12 he says, 00:04:09.060 --> 00:04:13.140 If Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, why are some of you saying there is no resurrection? 00:04:13.920 --> 00:04:16.660 So what is Paul coming to refute in this section? 00:04:16.660 --> 00:04:22.200 He's saying that there are people in Corinth who are suggesting that even after Paul said, 00:04:22.740 --> 00:04:28.520 I saw the physical Jesus alive, and so did 500 other people at least. 00:04:28.960 --> 00:04:32.840 He's saying, but some of you in Corinth are saying, yeah, I believe in Christianity, 00:04:32.840 --> 00:04:36.660 but I don't believe that Jesus Christ is actually physically alive. 00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:38.580 So that's what he has to refute. 00:04:38.700 --> 00:04:39.680 That's the refutation. 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:43.680 So he's going to give us his counter argument against that, 00:04:43.759 --> 00:04:48.199 and then he's going to say, but then if he has been raised from the dead, this is what that means. 00:04:48.360 --> 00:04:50.199 And so that's the very clear two sections. 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:55.699 Now, that means that the Corinthians, though they heard the gospel, 00:04:55.899 --> 00:04:57.100 though they said they believed it, 00:04:57.180 --> 00:05:01.240 some of them are still very stuck in a pagan worldview. 00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:05.079 And a pagan worldview comes from, in this time, 00:05:05.079 --> 00:05:13.680 Epicurean philosophy and Stoic philosophy and all sorts of worldviews cultivated by what we call cult religion of the time. 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:16.939 And in all these, there's different views of the afterlife. 00:05:16.939 --> 00:05:23.060 And so in Epicureanism and Stoicism, there's an idea that maybe there is no afterlife at all. 00:05:23.159 --> 00:05:24.620 So you die, you're dead. 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:28.199 Contemporary scientism might suggest something like that, right? 00:05:29.180 --> 00:05:32.599 But for others, there is an afterlife, but it's not physical. 00:05:32.899 --> 00:05:33.879 It's only spiritual. 00:05:33.879 --> 00:05:39.459 So the main Greek view is that the afterlife is nothing but spiritual, nothing but ethereal. 00:05:39.860 --> 00:05:41.680 There's no physical body, right? 00:05:41.699 --> 00:05:46.300 And then we learn later in the chapter that some people were even saying that actually, yeah, 00:05:46.379 --> 00:05:48.839 the resurrection is real, but it's already happened. 00:05:49.759 --> 00:05:53.180 So we say as modern people, what, how could the resurrection already happen? 00:05:53.240 --> 00:05:58.439 But what they meant by that was the resurrection is something that happens inside of you. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:00.699 It's inner life transformation. 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:04.939 So when you believe in Jesus, there's a resurrection that takes place in your soul. 00:06:05.680 --> 00:06:09.879 So they were saying the resurrection is not physical, but it has already taken place. 00:06:10.079 --> 00:06:14.319 So as soon as you believe, you are resurrected from the inside out, right? 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:22.800 And the past five or six sermons, I don't know who started this, but it has been said twice already in the last two sermons, 00:06:22.800 --> 00:06:27.079 that we're on a streak of quoting German intellectuals from the 19th to 20th century. 00:06:27.600 --> 00:06:33.160 So I thought, far be it from me to break such a wonderful streak, so I will not break it. 00:06:33.379 --> 00:06:37.660 Rudolf Bultmann, 20th century, New Testament scholar in Germany. 00:06:37.660 --> 00:06:40.740 He said this about Easter. 00:06:40.900 --> 00:06:47.580 He said, Easter is not about the rising of Jesus from the dead. 00:06:47.740 --> 00:06:56.580 It's about the rising of faith in the inner life in the first Christians from the deadly moment of the crucifixion. 00:06:56.579 --> 00:07:03.159 So Bultmann said, like the Corinthians, some of the Corinthians said that the resurrection is not about physical, 00:07:04.079 --> 00:07:06.000 a physical resurrection from the dead, not about that. 00:07:06.359 --> 00:07:09.000 It's about this inner life transformation that occurs within you. 00:07:09.560 --> 00:07:14.259 And these apostles and these disciples had seen the crucifixion. 00:07:14.360 --> 00:07:15.060 It was horrific. 00:07:15.659 --> 00:07:20.500 Their master murdered, but they experienced resurrection because they all of a sudden said, 00:07:20.599 --> 00:07:23.180 even though he's dead, I can still believe in him. 00:07:24.000 --> 00:07:25.339 Bultmann says that's resurrection. 00:07:25.339 --> 00:07:27.399 And some of the Corinthians are saying that. 00:07:28.500 --> 00:07:33.239 So Paul says, does the resurrection transform your inner life? 00:07:34.279 --> 00:07:35.519 Yes, absolutely. 00:07:36.159 --> 00:07:39.519 But in 1 Corinthians 15, he says, that's not what I'm talking about. 00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:43.819 I'm talking about something physical, something real life history. 00:07:43.979 --> 00:07:46.099 That's the core to the gospel. 00:07:47.379 --> 00:07:52.219 Now, Tom Wright, a retired professor from St. Andrews, 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:56.500 he wrote a 700-page book about this chapter. 00:07:57.380 --> 00:07:57.640 All right? 00:07:58.020 --> 00:08:00.420 And I say that just to say, we're not going to cover everything. 00:08:00.800 --> 00:08:01.000 Okay? 00:08:01.800 --> 00:08:04.760 And at the beginning of Tom Wright's book on this chapter, he says, 00:08:05.200 --> 00:08:08.500 I wish I had enough pages to cover everything in this chapter. 00:08:08.500 --> 00:08:08.720 Okay? 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:12.819 So we can only get the biggest ideas across today and leave it. 00:08:13.319 --> 00:08:16.720 Every single clause has so much in this argument. 00:08:17.240 --> 00:08:19.220 But let me just give you the two big ideas. 00:08:19.300 --> 00:08:26.939 And the two big ideas are just this, that Paul says, first, the deadly consequences of denying the physical resurrection of Jesus. 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:32.179 What does it cost if you deny the resurrection of Jesus physically? 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:35.500 And then he turns and says, but he was raised. 00:08:36.379 --> 00:08:41.539 And so here is the transformative reality of the fact that he actually is alive. 00:08:41.779 --> 00:08:42.480 So those two things. 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:46.700 The problem if you deny it, but the beauty when you see it's true. 00:08:47.059 --> 00:08:47.500 The power. 00:08:48.240 --> 00:08:48.419 All right? 00:08:48.620 --> 00:08:50.539 So first, the problem if you deny it. 00:08:50.539 --> 00:08:58.299 Now, if you look at verse 13, he says, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 00:08:58.740 --> 00:09:02.980 So that is what we call an argument from the universal to the particular. 00:09:04.120 --> 00:09:09.679 So he says, if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is dead. 00:09:09.839 --> 00:09:10.459 He's not raised. 00:09:10.959 --> 00:09:11.079 Right? 00:09:11.099 --> 00:09:11.699 So what is he doing? 00:09:11.699 --> 00:09:18.879 He's saying, if you believe Corinthian or a 21st century person, if there is no such thing as resurrection, 00:09:18.879 --> 00:09:21.980 then that means Christ was never raised. 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:22.539 Right? 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:24.320 The universal to the particular. 00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:25.200 Yeah? 00:09:25.320 --> 00:09:34.879 And so one of the things that that verse does for us today is it shows us that we've got to be aware of a very untrue, 00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:40.460 a false view that we have as 21st century people of first century people, 00:09:41.039 --> 00:09:45.460 of people from the pre-modern world. 00:09:45.460 --> 00:09:53.400 And that's the idea that people in the first century were so gullible that they believed people could rise from the dead. 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:59.560 And Paul says here in verse 13 that people in Corinth in the first century are saying, 00:10:00.120 --> 00:10:05.300 Jesus obviously is not alive because there is no such thing as resurrection from the dead. 00:10:06.060 --> 00:10:06.160 Right? 00:10:06.220 --> 00:10:10.700 So in the 21st century, sometimes as modern people, we look back and think these pre-modern people, 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:13.620 the only reason they believe this is because they were gullible. 00:10:14.120 --> 00:10:17.480 And they haven't yet come to the claims of modern science. 00:10:18.500 --> 00:10:21.620 But as modern people, we know that the science is very clear. 00:10:22.520 --> 00:10:23.759 The science is very clear. 00:10:24.740 --> 00:10:27.120 People die and they don't come back. 00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:28.060 Right? 00:10:28.160 --> 00:10:29.580 Decay does not reverse in that way. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:35.259 And what this helps us to see is we have to avoid any sense of chronological snobbery. 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:40.360 Because the science was pretty clear in the first century as well. 00:10:41.059 --> 00:10:41.179 Right? 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:44.740 One out of one people that died did not come back from the dead. 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:48.139 And so we didn't, you know, modern science has helped us see this so much. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:48.379 No. 00:10:49.360 --> 00:10:53.939 We've always known, everybody knows that nobody comes back from the dead. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:56.939 And we see here that that's exactly what Corinthians were saying. 00:10:57.519 --> 00:11:00.679 And we know that even Jewish believers were saying the same thing. 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:04.439 The Sadducees in the Gospels did not believe in resurrection. 00:11:04.440 --> 00:11:06.720 They said resurrection is impossible. 00:11:07.120 --> 00:11:09.780 The only afterlife there is is a spiritual afterlife. 00:11:11.020 --> 00:11:12.680 And you see what Paul is saying? 00:11:13.060 --> 00:11:13.360 Yes. 00:11:14.260 --> 00:11:15.420 The science is clear. 00:11:16.120 --> 00:11:18.420 One out of one people never come back from the dead. 00:11:18.600 --> 00:11:22.540 Which is why this will convert you in your seats. 00:11:24.960 --> 00:11:26.240 That's the point. 00:11:27.120 --> 00:11:31.500 Because this is so consistent, it happened. 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:33.900 Therefore, this will change you in your seat. 00:11:34.440 --> 00:11:35.840 It will convert you on the spot. 00:11:36.500 --> 00:11:40.200 And you think about what Paul is saying if you back up to verse 8 and following when he says, 00:11:40.680 --> 00:11:41.800 Think about my life. 00:11:42.920 --> 00:11:45.100 Paul did not believe in Jesus. 00:11:45.300 --> 00:11:46.260 He did not follow Jesus. 00:11:46.400 --> 00:11:47.600 He did not believe in the resurrection. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:48.420 Not at all. 00:11:48.820 --> 00:11:50.880 And in fact, if you think about his life a little bit deeper, 00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:55.500 you realize that his whole well-being was wrapped up in denying the resurrection. 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:59.779 So, he made his money by denying the resurrection. 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:07.379 His identity was to hate the Christian world and to ultimately seek the death of anybody who believed in it. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:07.519 Right? 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:08.419 His whole identity. 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:08.940 His well-being. 00:12:09.220 --> 00:12:12.799 You know, Paul had a life plan like we all like to talk about today. 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:14.200 And he had mapped it out really well. 00:12:14.259 --> 00:12:16.059 And as a young man, he was very successful. 00:12:16.059 --> 00:12:18.959 And his whole success depended on killing Christians. 00:12:20.019 --> 00:12:23.299 He's saying, People don't come back from the dead, but I saw him. 00:12:24.419 --> 00:12:25.919 And it changed my life. 00:12:26.000 --> 00:12:27.299 It converted me on the spot. 00:12:27.659 --> 00:12:28.979 I gave my life away to him. 00:12:29.399 --> 00:12:30.659 That's exactly the point. 00:12:31.379 --> 00:12:32.019 That's the point. 00:12:32.019 --> 00:12:35.539 And so, we can't come and say something very silly like, 00:12:35.679 --> 00:12:37.159 Well, first century people were gullible. 00:12:37.319 --> 00:12:38.399 Paul's saying, I wasn't gullible. 00:12:39.199 --> 00:12:40.639 I didn't believe it for a second. 00:12:41.000 --> 00:12:42.220 But then I saw him. 00:12:43.379 --> 00:12:45.740 And 500 people I know about saw him as well. 00:12:45.779 --> 00:12:46.840 And even more than that saw him. 00:12:48.879 --> 00:12:50.220 This will change you in your seats. 00:12:51.620 --> 00:12:55.460 It's not an issue of faith versus science. 00:12:55.460 --> 00:12:57.740 The science has always been clear enough. 00:12:57.980 --> 00:12:59.799 Everybody's always understood the science. 00:13:00.279 --> 00:13:00.659 What is this? 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:01.799 This is an issue of worldview. 00:13:02.460 --> 00:13:03.179 So, what is Paul saying? 00:13:03.240 --> 00:13:04.139 He's saying, You need a new worldview. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:06.120 You need to be willing to say, 00:13:06.740 --> 00:13:09.000 If God exists and he actually made the world, 00:13:09.340 --> 00:13:14.799 then I can believe that he has the power to act into the world by raising somebody from the dead. 00:13:15.480 --> 00:13:17.100 It's not an issue of faith versus science. 00:13:17.199 --> 00:13:18.399 It's just, Do you believe in God? 00:13:18.460 --> 00:13:22.120 If you believe in God, then of course God has the power to raise people from the dead. 00:13:22.240 --> 00:13:22.659 He's God. 00:13:22.740 --> 00:13:23.279 He made us. 00:13:23.559 --> 00:13:24.199 He can do it. 00:13:24.819 --> 00:13:28.059 Now, the rest of Paul's argument in this first section 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:34.139 is actually talking to people in Corinth and to us today through God's word, 00:13:34.139 --> 00:13:36.179 to anybody who says, 00:13:36.519 --> 00:13:38.019 I'm a Christian on the one hand, 00:13:38.159 --> 00:13:41.179 but denies the physical resurrection of Jesus on the other hand. 00:13:41.220 --> 00:13:43.360 That's really what the rest of the section's about. 00:13:43.539 --> 00:13:46.199 So, that's directly the people that he's thinking about here. 00:13:46.200 --> 00:13:47.840 And so, what does he say? 00:13:47.920 --> 00:13:48.400 Look, he says, 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:50.140 First century Corinthian, 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.080 If you say, 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.320 I'm a Christian, 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:56.080 but I don't believe that Jesus rose from the dead physically, 00:13:56.560 --> 00:13:56.920 he says, 00:13:57.020 --> 00:13:58.020 Your faith is empty. 00:13:58.300 --> 00:13:58.860 It's futile. 00:13:59.080 --> 00:13:59.759 It's vain. 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:00.900 It's vacuous. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:03.340 My preaching is absolutely pointless. 00:14:03.960 --> 00:14:05.120 He says in verse 15, 00:14:05.700 --> 00:14:07.320 We, we and the apostles, 00:14:07.560 --> 00:14:11.040 we all preach that God raised Jesus from the dead. 00:14:11.220 --> 00:14:13.840 And what you've done by denying that is you're saying, 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:15.460 God himself is a liar. 00:14:15.460 --> 00:14:16.840 We've misrepresented him. 00:14:17.440 --> 00:14:18.900 He's talking there about something broader. 00:14:19.040 --> 00:14:20.639 He's saying in the whole Old Testament, 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:23.300 it was all about the moment of the resurrection, 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.639 the crucifixion and the resurrection. 00:14:25.220 --> 00:14:27.639 And we've been going around teaching the Old Testament saying, 00:14:27.940 --> 00:14:30.400 Look, the Old Testament shows that this was always the point. 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:32.620 But if it's not, if it hasn't happened, 00:14:32.980 --> 00:14:36.440 then we've made God's entire word to be empty. 00:14:37.259 --> 00:14:37.960 You see what he's saying there? 00:14:38.019 --> 00:14:38.360 He's saying, 00:14:38.780 --> 00:14:40.460 If Jesus is not raised from the dead, 00:14:40.580 --> 00:14:42.540 you need to go find a different God. 00:14:44.100 --> 00:14:45.139 Martin Luther said, 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:47.199 If Jesus Christ is still dead, 00:14:47.240 --> 00:14:49.259 if you can find his bones in Israel, 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:50.840 God is not God. 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.399 It's that big. 00:14:53.460 --> 00:14:54.059 It's that serious. 00:14:54.279 --> 00:14:55.240 The consequences are that big. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:14:56.039 And so he wants to say, 00:14:56.379 --> 00:14:58.139 Look, the forgiveness of sins 00:14:58.139 --> 00:14:59.580 and the power of the gospel 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:01.720 is so wrapped up in this reality 00:15:01.720 --> 00:15:03.600 that if you take away the resurrection, 00:15:03.879 --> 00:15:05.580 you don't have the forgiveness of sins. 00:15:05.740 --> 00:15:08.279 And all the people that have professed faith in Christ 00:15:08.279 --> 00:15:09.740 and have died in Corinth, 00:15:10.100 --> 00:15:12.000 they are dead in their sins. 00:15:12.439 --> 00:15:13.480 They've gone to deal with the Lord. 00:15:13.480 --> 00:15:16.600 No, God is not God if this has not happened. 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:18.279 What do we learn here? 00:15:18.320 --> 00:15:19.539 We learn this and we'll move on. 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:22.639 The gospel is not good news 00:15:22.639 --> 00:15:24.159 if Jesus Christ is still dead. 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:28.539 He's saying that the resurrection has such basicality, 00:15:28.659 --> 00:15:29.379 if I could use that word, 00:15:29.740 --> 00:15:32.360 basicality to the Christian message. 00:15:32.639 --> 00:15:33.920 You can't get underneath it. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:34.800 It's rock bottom. 00:15:35.300 --> 00:15:37.659 And so he's saying that progressive Christianity, 00:15:38.139 --> 00:15:39.180 as we call it today, 00:15:39.259 --> 00:15:40.600 has always been around. 00:15:40.600 --> 00:15:41.860 It was around in the first century. 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:43.720 It's still around with us today. 00:15:43.899 --> 00:15:45.920 And he's saying progressive Christianity 00:15:45.920 --> 00:15:46.600 is misnamed. 00:15:47.480 --> 00:15:48.399 Progressive Christianity, 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:51.399 the idea that you can be a Christian 00:15:51.399 --> 00:15:53.420 but deny the physical resurrection of Jesus 00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:55.420 is not Christianity at all. 00:15:56.860 --> 00:15:58.840 Progressive Christianity is sub-Christian. 00:16:00.040 --> 00:16:02.879 It lacks the basicality of the gospel message. 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:04.940 Without the physical resurrection of Jesus, 00:16:05.080 --> 00:16:06.060 there is no good news. 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:09.939 We're still dead in our sins and our trespasses. 00:16:11.179 --> 00:16:13.019 And as one commentator puts it, 00:16:13.259 --> 00:16:16.239 if progressive Christianity saws off the tree branch 00:16:16.239 --> 00:16:19.119 that it sits upon, right? 00:16:19.279 --> 00:16:21.159 If Jesus was not raised from the dead, 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.839 then all you have is mere religion. 00:16:24.619 --> 00:16:25.639 This is just mere religion. 00:16:26.139 --> 00:16:28.039 And religion is a lame hobby. 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:30.319 Yeah. 00:16:31.579 --> 00:16:32.559 Yaroslav Pelikan, 00:16:32.779 --> 00:16:34.500 the Yale historian from the 20th century, 00:16:34.599 --> 00:16:35.699 he says about this chapter, 00:16:35.700 --> 00:16:36.759 he says what Paul is saying 00:16:36.759 --> 00:16:38.800 is that if Christ was not raised, 00:16:39.140 --> 00:16:40.140 nothing else matters. 00:16:42.000 --> 00:16:43.360 But, secondly, 00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:45.360 he was raised from the dead. 00:16:46.960 --> 00:16:48.200 That's what Paul says here 00:16:48.200 --> 00:16:51.200 in the second half from verse 20. 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:53.660 In fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. 00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:55.660 And so here he gives you, 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:58.100 let me give you three realities, 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.920 three things this means for you 00:16:59.920 --> 00:17:00.780 if you believe this, 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:03.000 if you know that this is real life history. 00:17:03.940 --> 00:17:05.480 This will change you today. 00:17:05.720 --> 00:17:06.720 This will bring, 00:17:06.880 --> 00:17:07.559 if you're not a Christian, 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.279 this, 00:17:08.380 --> 00:17:08.619 this, 00:17:08.720 --> 00:17:09.299 what I'm about to say, 00:17:09.359 --> 00:17:10.200 this has the power 00:17:10.200 --> 00:17:12.140 to bring conversion into your life. 00:17:12.660 --> 00:17:14.099 It can change you right here, 00:17:14.200 --> 00:17:14.779 right today. 00:17:15.420 --> 00:17:16.339 If you are a Christian, 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:16.839 it has, 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:18.380 what Paul tells us here, 00:17:18.440 --> 00:17:20.099 has the power to transform you 00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:21.740 right now in the 21st century, 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:22.579 2025. 00:17:23.579 --> 00:17:25.259 And he tells us three things. 00:17:25.259 --> 00:17:26.500 I can only treat them 00:17:26.500 --> 00:17:27.640 in the most cursory way 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:28.980 because of time. 00:17:30.019 --> 00:17:31.740 But the first thing he says 00:17:31.740 --> 00:17:34.400 is that when you realize 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:37.279 the resurrection is real life history, 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:38.980 what it offers to you 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:41.339 is hope when you are facing death. 00:17:42.299 --> 00:17:43.539 That's the first big thing 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.619 I think Paul wants to tell us. 00:17:45.079 --> 00:17:45.220 Now, 00:17:45.500 --> 00:17:45.720 all, 00:17:46.019 --> 00:17:47.180 every single one of us today, 00:17:47.819 --> 00:17:50.480 we are facing death right now. 00:17:51.259 --> 00:17:53.279 So facing death is not something 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:54.980 that we will do when we're older. 00:17:55.180 --> 00:17:56.660 Facing death is today. 00:17:58.220 --> 00:17:59.299 Facing death is right now. 00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:00.220 All of us are standing 00:18:00.220 --> 00:18:00.960 in the face of death 00:18:00.960 --> 00:18:01.720 at any moment, 00:18:01.779 --> 00:18:01.960 right? 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:04.480 And Paul says here in verse 22, 00:18:05.559 --> 00:18:06.039 in Adam, 00:18:06.259 --> 00:18:07.420 all of us have died. 00:18:07.539 --> 00:18:08.940 All of us do die because of Adam. 00:18:09.299 --> 00:18:10.579 So also in Christ, 00:18:10.819 --> 00:18:12.539 all shall be made alive. 00:18:12.639 --> 00:18:14.099 Now there he's doing this thing 00:18:14.099 --> 00:18:15.559 where he's connecting you, 00:18:16.059 --> 00:18:16.960 every single one of us, 00:18:17.099 --> 00:18:18.119 to the first man, 00:18:18.259 --> 00:18:18.519 Adam. 00:18:18.680 --> 00:18:20.680 He's saying there is a deep connection 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:22.680 between you and the first man. 00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:24.100 That the first human 00:18:24.100 --> 00:18:25.279 that ever came into this world 00:18:25.279 --> 00:18:26.560 was a representative 00:18:26.560 --> 00:18:27.920 for all of humanity. 00:18:28.820 --> 00:18:31.500 As modern Western individualist 00:18:31.500 --> 00:18:32.200 as we are, 00:18:32.420 --> 00:18:33.980 we struggle very much with this. 00:18:34.340 --> 00:18:36.299 We do not want to be willing to say 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:38.560 what this man did matters for me 00:18:38.560 --> 00:18:39.660 so many years later. 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:42.080 But most societies in world history 00:18:42.080 --> 00:18:43.500 never had a problem with this. 00:18:44.200 --> 00:18:45.680 Most societies have had 00:18:45.680 --> 00:18:46.980 a communitarian mindset 00:18:46.980 --> 00:18:47.779 and have understood 00:18:47.779 --> 00:18:49.960 that people represent others. 00:18:50.460 --> 00:18:51.580 And we know this to be true 00:18:51.579 --> 00:18:52.559 in so many ways, right? 00:18:52.619 --> 00:18:54.639 If a president, 00:18:54.919 --> 00:18:57.359 if a prime minister declares war, 00:18:58.460 --> 00:19:00.599 you go to war, right? 00:19:00.679 --> 00:19:02.199 If the prime minister says, 00:19:02.279 --> 00:19:03.119 if the parliament says, 00:19:03.220 --> 00:19:04.439 we are going to war tomorrow, 00:19:04.679 --> 00:19:05.960 then our nation, 00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:07.599 our society has gone to war. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.939 They represent us. 00:19:09.759 --> 00:19:10.559 And in the same way, 00:19:10.639 --> 00:19:11.339 before God, 00:19:11.619 --> 00:19:13.119 Adam represented us all. 00:19:13.199 --> 00:19:14.839 We are deeply connected to him 00:19:14.839 --> 00:19:16.240 so that when he chose 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.879 death instead of life, 00:19:18.039 --> 00:19:19.339 he's saying there's a deep connection there. 00:19:19.339 --> 00:19:19.799 We all die. 00:19:20.139 --> 00:19:21.179 But when the second Adam, 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.220 but when the second Adam 00:19:23.220 --> 00:19:26.159 faced death that we deserved 00:19:26.159 --> 00:19:27.959 and disrupted that death 00:19:27.959 --> 00:19:29.059 by coming back to life, 00:19:29.339 --> 00:19:30.899 he also represented us. 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:32.139 And so he's saying 00:19:32.139 --> 00:19:33.439 that there's this deep connection. 00:19:33.559 --> 00:19:35.399 We call it Adam Christology. 00:19:35.619 --> 00:19:36.799 This deep connection 00:19:36.799 --> 00:19:37.619 between us and Adam 00:19:37.619 --> 00:19:38.399 and us and Christ 00:19:38.399 --> 00:19:39.419 as Christians. 00:19:40.220 --> 00:19:41.779 I've used this illustration here 00:19:41.779 --> 00:19:42.139 before. 00:19:43.139 --> 00:19:44.059 I'll come back to it. 00:19:44.059 --> 00:19:45.059 I think it's helpful. 00:19:46.139 --> 00:19:47.000 If you're married, 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:49.000 you probably have 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.579 a joint credit card 00:19:50.579 --> 00:19:51.559 with your spouse. 00:19:52.179 --> 00:19:53.019 It's good to have that. 00:19:53.099 --> 00:19:54.500 You build your credit a bit, right? 00:19:54.559 --> 00:19:55.599 You have a joint credit card. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:58.339 And if your spouse goes 00:19:58.339 --> 00:20:00.659 and spends so much money 00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:01.799 on Amazon, 00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:03.019 so much money 00:20:03.019 --> 00:20:05.139 on shopping on Princess Street 00:20:05.139 --> 00:20:06.579 and right out here 00:20:06.579 --> 00:20:07.339 on the Royal Mile, 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:09.159 and the debt collector 00:20:09.159 --> 00:20:10.259 comes to your door 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.440 and knocks on your door 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.720 and says you owe 00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:14.140 thousands upon thousands 00:20:14.140 --> 00:20:15.240 and it's time to pay, 00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.259 you say, 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:17.539 I didn't spend 00:20:17.539 --> 00:20:18.440 any of that money. 00:20:19.440 --> 00:20:19.960 And what does 00:20:19.960 --> 00:20:20.900 the debt collector say? 00:20:21.299 --> 00:20:22.539 It does not matter. 00:20:23.120 --> 00:20:24.480 Your name is on the account. 00:20:24.960 --> 00:20:25.400 Legally, 00:20:25.660 --> 00:20:26.960 you spent every penny. 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:29.000 So you might have not 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.400 made a single transaction, 00:20:30.759 --> 00:20:31.640 but it's your debt. 00:20:32.900 --> 00:20:33.200 You see, 00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.100 we know that there's 00:20:34.100 --> 00:20:35.120 such a thing as legal 00:20:35.120 --> 00:20:36.180 connection 00:20:36.180 --> 00:20:37.240 that leads 00:20:37.240 --> 00:20:38.720 to a representative, 00:20:39.980 --> 00:20:40.120 you know, 00:20:40.180 --> 00:20:40.460 even 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:42.579 think about it like this. 00:20:43.279 --> 00:20:44.039 The debt collector 00:20:44.039 --> 00:20:44.579 comes to your door 00:20:44.579 --> 00:20:44.880 and says, 00:20:44.980 --> 00:20:45.660 you owe so much money. 00:20:45.740 --> 00:20:45.940 You say, 00:20:46.220 --> 00:20:48.180 there's no way 00:20:48.180 --> 00:20:48.799 I could owe that money. 00:20:48.880 --> 00:20:49.100 And he says, 00:20:49.140 --> 00:20:49.640 oh, you do. 00:20:49.740 --> 00:20:50.740 You're legally connected. 00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:52.620 But then what do you do? 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.259 You say, 00:20:53.420 --> 00:20:53.579 look, 00:20:53.700 --> 00:20:54.900 I didn't spend 00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:56.120 any of that money myself, 00:20:56.799 --> 00:20:58.500 but I will pay 00:20:58.500 --> 00:20:59.559 every penny of it 00:20:59.559 --> 00:21:01.539 because I love them. 00:21:02.480 --> 00:21:03.360 And you pay it. 00:21:04.840 --> 00:21:05.680 And you know what? 00:21:05.860 --> 00:21:07.340 They didn't pay a dime. 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:08.600 They didn't pay, 00:21:08.600 --> 00:21:09.420 they spent it all, 00:21:09.420 --> 00:21:10.000 but they didn't pay 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:10.720 any of it back. 00:21:11.120 --> 00:21:12.060 You paid every penny, 00:21:12.240 --> 00:21:12.800 but guess what? 00:21:13.340 --> 00:21:14.060 They're debt free. 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.279 And in the same way, 00:21:16.380 --> 00:21:16.740 he's saying, 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:17.460 in Adam, 00:21:18.100 --> 00:21:19.600 his debt became your debt 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:20.360 and boy, 00:21:20.460 --> 00:21:21.000 have we accrued 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:21.880 some debt in our lives. 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:24.759 But in Christ, 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:27.060 though he didn't 00:21:27.060 --> 00:21:28.259 earn the debt, 00:21:28.519 --> 00:21:29.860 he paid every penny of it 00:21:29.860 --> 00:21:30.940 and now you're free too. 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:32.560 And so he's saying, 00:21:32.640 --> 00:21:34.480 when Jesus rose from the dead, 00:21:34.840 --> 00:21:36.100 you were made alive. 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:36.900 Now here's the takeaway, 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.680 here's the application. 00:21:37.680 --> 00:21:39.240 If you are a believer today, 00:21:39.299 --> 00:21:40.400 if you say today, 00:21:40.940 --> 00:21:42.720 I know Jesus Christ lives 00:21:42.720 --> 00:21:43.700 and I follow him, 00:21:44.759 --> 00:21:46.240 don't miss that 00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.660 what Paul's saying here 00:21:47.660 --> 00:21:48.580 and what Paul says 00:21:48.580 --> 00:21:49.779 in other parts of the gospel, 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.900 of his letters, 00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:53.920 is you today are alive. 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:57.660 You today have been made 00:21:57.660 --> 00:21:58.420 a new creation. 00:21:58.620 --> 00:21:59.560 Don't miss the reality 00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.340 of your sainthood. 00:22:01.820 --> 00:22:03.380 You are alive. 00:22:03.600 --> 00:22:04.500 You have been made new. 00:22:04.600 --> 00:22:05.519 You are a new creation. 00:22:05.519 --> 00:22:06.879 It doesn't just start 00:22:06.879 --> 00:22:07.740 at the end of history 00:22:07.740 --> 00:22:09.139 when your physical body 00:22:09.139 --> 00:22:10.119 is raised from the dead. 00:22:10.660 --> 00:22:11.759 You, the second fruit. 00:22:11.879 --> 00:22:12.759 He, the first fruit. 00:22:13.400 --> 00:22:14.599 No, but right now, 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:16.319 the resurrection does matter 00:22:16.319 --> 00:22:18.019 because you are spiritually 00:22:18.019 --> 00:22:18.579 made alive 00:22:18.579 --> 00:22:19.519 from this very moment, 00:22:19.579 --> 00:22:20.279 from the very moment 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:20.920 of his resurrection. 00:22:21.339 --> 00:22:21.940 It's true of you. 00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.639 You're a saint. 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.460 You're beloved. 00:22:23.660 --> 00:22:24.180 You're adopted. 00:22:24.500 --> 00:22:25.420 You're part of his family. 00:22:25.639 --> 00:22:26.460 It has changed. 00:22:26.599 --> 00:22:27.259 Life is different. 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.480 You are not who you used to be, 00:22:29.539 --> 00:22:30.379 but by the grace of God, 00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:30.799 you can say, 00:22:30.900 --> 00:22:31.779 today I am what I am. 00:22:32.299 --> 00:22:33.440 Things have changed 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:34.360 really and truly. 00:22:34.840 --> 00:22:36.000 Sainthood is actually real. 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:38.400 The first Adam was given 00:22:38.400 --> 00:22:41.000 wonderful life by God 00:22:41.000 --> 00:22:43.299 and he traded it for death. 00:22:43.900 --> 00:22:44.920 The second Adam, 00:22:45.039 --> 00:22:46.539 the very author of life, 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:49.059 he traded his life 00:22:49.059 --> 00:22:50.480 for the death we deserved 00:22:50.480 --> 00:22:52.799 so that we could have his life. 00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:54.600 We're deeply connected 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:55.500 and that means that 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:57.320 because Jesus Christ 00:22:57.320 --> 00:22:58.500 was physically raised 00:22:58.500 --> 00:22:59.180 from the dead, 00:22:59.620 --> 00:23:00.519 you shall be too. 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:02.920 Everything that's true of him 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:04.220 is now true of you. 00:23:05.079 --> 00:23:05.740 The second thing 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.220 Paul says to us, 00:23:09.220 --> 00:23:09.900 Christian friend, 00:23:10.160 --> 00:23:11.940 transformative power here, 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.200 the second thing he says 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:15.480 is in the face of death now 00:23:15.480 --> 00:23:16.240 because of that, 00:23:16.359 --> 00:23:17.200 you can say, 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.379 God shall be all in all. 00:23:19.660 --> 00:23:20.539 So in verse 28, 00:23:20.660 --> 00:23:21.819 that's how he ends 00:23:21.819 --> 00:23:23.000 this refutation, 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:23.619 this argument. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.160 He says, 00:23:24.980 --> 00:23:25.940 when all things 00:23:25.940 --> 00:23:27.079 are subjected to God, 00:23:27.799 --> 00:23:28.940 the Son himself 00:23:28.940 --> 00:23:30.460 subjected to God the Father, 00:23:30.519 --> 00:23:33.279 then God shall be all in all. 00:23:34.039 --> 00:23:34.279 Now, 00:23:34.460 --> 00:23:35.700 what is he saying 00:23:35.700 --> 00:23:36.599 when he says 00:23:36.599 --> 00:23:37.519 God shall be all in all? 00:23:38.480 --> 00:23:39.599 Another way to translate it, 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.119 that is, 00:23:40.339 --> 00:23:40.900 one day, 00:23:41.240 --> 00:23:42.940 when this all wraps up, 00:23:43.379 --> 00:23:44.920 God shall be everything 00:23:44.920 --> 00:23:45.759 to everyone. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:47.440 God shall be all in all. 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.339 That means he will be 00:23:48.339 --> 00:23:49.559 everything to everyone, 00:23:49.660 --> 00:23:51.440 meaning all that God is 00:23:51.440 --> 00:23:52.960 and all that God has done 00:23:52.960 --> 00:23:53.980 throughout world history 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.720 will be visible to everyone. 00:23:56.819 --> 00:23:57.059 He's saying, 00:23:57.180 --> 00:23:58.460 so he has raised Christ 00:23:58.460 --> 00:23:59.380 in the middle of history, 00:24:00.140 --> 00:24:01.079 but right now, 00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:02.880 verses 24 to 28 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.799 are saying, 00:24:04.059 --> 00:24:04.440 right now, 00:24:04.519 --> 00:24:05.620 it doesn't feel that way 00:24:05.620 --> 00:24:06.819 because he's writing 00:24:06.819 --> 00:24:07.900 to a Corinthian church 00:24:07.900 --> 00:24:09.000 who's underneath 00:24:09.000 --> 00:24:10.640 the power of the empire. 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:12.740 And in the first century, 00:24:12.900 --> 00:24:13.440 the empire, 00:24:13.600 --> 00:24:14.059 the emperor 00:24:14.059 --> 00:24:15.480 called himself 00:24:15.480 --> 00:24:16.980 the pater patriae, 00:24:17.220 --> 00:24:17.519 meaning, 00:24:17.720 --> 00:24:18.420 I am the father, 00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:19.279 the holy father 00:24:19.279 --> 00:24:20.200 of the fatherland. 00:24:21.039 --> 00:24:21.319 So, 00:24:21.420 --> 00:24:21.759 in other words, 00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:22.940 the emperor in that time 00:24:22.940 --> 00:24:23.600 saw himself 00:24:23.600 --> 00:24:24.920 as the divine father 00:24:24.920 --> 00:24:26.000 over the people. 00:24:26.960 --> 00:24:27.500 And he's saying, 00:24:27.640 --> 00:24:28.860 but you've got to understand 00:24:28.860 --> 00:24:30.100 when you look at the weakness 00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:31.200 of Christ at the cross 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.759 and the power of God 00:24:32.759 --> 00:24:33.440 in the resurrection, 00:24:34.060 --> 00:24:35.580 God is going to subject 00:24:35.580 --> 00:24:37.220 every single power 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:39.360 underneath the kingship 00:24:39.360 --> 00:24:39.779 of Jesus. 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:41.560 And I know that right now 00:24:41.560 --> 00:24:43.400 it doesn't feel that way 00:24:43.400 --> 00:24:43.759 exactly. 00:24:44.600 --> 00:24:45.580 You don't feel like 00:24:45.580 --> 00:24:47.060 every single power 00:24:47.060 --> 00:24:48.700 over you in your life 00:24:48.700 --> 00:24:49.240 is underneath 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:50.220 the kingship of Jesus. 00:24:50.400 --> 00:24:51.259 You look at 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.259 political leaders 00:24:52.259 --> 00:24:53.900 like they were doing 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:54.599 in the first century 00:24:54.599 --> 00:24:55.900 and saying they see themselves 00:24:55.900 --> 00:24:56.660 as divine. 00:24:57.900 --> 00:24:58.660 And he's saying, 00:24:58.740 --> 00:24:58.859 no, 00:24:58.960 --> 00:24:59.279 look, 00:24:59.319 --> 00:25:00.279 you've got to be patient. 00:25:01.200 --> 00:25:02.319 We know that we have 00:25:02.319 --> 00:25:03.599 the first fruits of the spirit. 00:25:03.740 --> 00:25:05.099 We wait for the resurrection 00:25:05.099 --> 00:25:06.319 of the body with patience. 00:25:07.160 --> 00:25:07.759 One day, 00:25:07.859 --> 00:25:08.759 every power 00:25:08.759 --> 00:25:09.640 will be subjected 00:25:09.640 --> 00:25:10.599 visibly 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:12.119 and Christ, 00:25:12.500 --> 00:25:12.779 God, 00:25:12.859 --> 00:25:13.539 will be everything 00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:13.960 to everyone. 00:25:14.099 --> 00:25:14.940 Everybody will see it. 00:25:15.259 --> 00:25:15.920 What was made true 00:25:15.920 --> 00:25:16.839 at the middle of history 00:25:16.839 --> 00:25:17.960 will come true 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:18.900 at the end of history 00:25:18.900 --> 00:25:20.119 and every power, 00:25:20.299 --> 00:25:20.960 every demon, 00:25:21.400 --> 00:25:21.879 Satan himself, 00:25:21.880 --> 00:25:22.400 and then he says, 00:25:22.500 --> 00:25:23.660 and even the last enemy, 00:25:23.940 --> 00:25:24.300 death, 00:25:24.500 --> 00:25:25.520 will be subjected 00:25:25.520 --> 00:25:26.640 to his reign. 00:25:27.220 --> 00:25:27.960 It will die 00:25:27.960 --> 00:25:28.980 and he will be king. 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:30.800 Now that is, 00:25:31.000 --> 00:25:32.520 that is why 00:25:32.520 --> 00:25:33.300 in verse 29 00:25:33.300 --> 00:25:34.080 he says something 00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:36.580 that sounds to us 00:25:36.580 --> 00:25:37.300 very strange 00:25:37.300 --> 00:25:38.580 as Protestant readers. 00:25:39.120 --> 00:25:39.500 He says, 00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.820 is that not why 00:25:40.820 --> 00:25:41.260 Paul says 00:25:41.260 --> 00:25:41.840 some of you 00:25:41.840 --> 00:25:43.320 are being baptized 00:25:43.320 --> 00:25:44.980 on behalf of the dead? 00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:47.660 What does he mean by that? 00:25:47.700 --> 00:25:48.440 It sounds as if 00:25:48.440 --> 00:25:49.400 he's saying something like 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:51.240 a person 00:25:51.240 --> 00:25:52.300 who's alive today 00:25:52.300 --> 00:25:54.060 can seek baptism 00:25:54.060 --> 00:25:56.180 and help a person 00:25:56.180 --> 00:25:57.140 who's already died 00:25:57.140 --> 00:25:58.060 achieve something 00:25:58.060 --> 00:25:58.880 in the next life. 00:25:59.360 --> 00:26:00.180 So some way 00:26:00.180 --> 00:26:01.180 that the sacrament 00:26:01.180 --> 00:26:01.700 of baptism 00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.640 becomes powerful 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:03.660 to somebody 00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:05.340 who might 00:26:05.340 --> 00:26:06.280 have already died. 00:26:07.100 --> 00:26:08.820 But the overwhelming 00:26:08.820 --> 00:26:10.300 majority view today 00:26:10.300 --> 00:26:10.980 in scholarship 00:26:10.980 --> 00:26:11.420 of this 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:11.780 is something 00:26:11.780 --> 00:26:12.440 very different 00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.560 and it requires 00:26:13.560 --> 00:26:14.600 us to change 00:26:14.600 --> 00:26:15.100 the translation 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:16.019 just a little bit 00:26:16.019 --> 00:26:17.019 and it says 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:17.700 this is why 00:26:17.700 --> 00:26:18.299 some of you 00:26:18.299 --> 00:26:19.379 have been baptized 00:26:19.379 --> 00:26:20.559 for the sake 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:21.099 of the dead 00:26:21.099 --> 00:26:22.440 or because 00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.400 of what happened 00:26:23.400 --> 00:26:24.220 with the dead. 00:26:24.440 --> 00:26:24.920 That's a way 00:26:24.920 --> 00:26:25.480 to translate it 00:26:25.480 --> 00:26:25.920 and so let me 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.660 give you a quote. 00:26:26.779 --> 00:26:28.500 This is Anthony Thistleton 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.279 one really 00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:30.779 important contemporary 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:31.420 commentator 00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:33.039 quoting from a woman 00:26:33.039 --> 00:26:34.139 named Maria Rader 00:26:34.139 --> 00:26:35.660 who wrote a whole book 00:26:35.660 --> 00:26:36.400 about this sentence 00:26:36.400 --> 00:26:37.240 in 1955. 00:26:38.259 --> 00:26:38.839 Okay and I'm 00:26:38.839 --> 00:26:39.519 pretty convinced 00:26:39.519 --> 00:26:40.299 about what she 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:41.139 thought about it. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.299 This is what she says 00:26:42.299 --> 00:26:44.200 what Paul is saying 00:26:44.200 --> 00:26:44.759 here is part 00:26:44.759 --> 00:26:45.519 of his argument 00:26:45.519 --> 00:26:47.240 for why the resurrection 00:26:47.240 --> 00:26:48.779 is so powerful 00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.980 for us when we face death. 00:26:50.400 --> 00:26:51.299 And this is what she says 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:53.119 the death of Christians 00:26:53.119 --> 00:26:53.779 in Corinth 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.640 in the first century 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:56.599 led to the conversion 00:26:56.599 --> 00:26:58.039 of many people 00:26:58.039 --> 00:26:59.200 that saw them die. 00:27:00.839 --> 00:27:01.640 Okay he says 00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.819 in the first instance 00:27:02.819 --> 00:27:03.440 when it says 00:27:03.440 --> 00:27:04.299 for the sake of the dead 00:27:04.299 --> 00:27:05.180 on behalf of the dead 00:27:05.180 --> 00:27:07.279 people in the first century 00:27:07.279 --> 00:27:08.960 saw Christians dying 00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:11.579 especially Christian relatives 00:27:11.579 --> 00:27:13.579 and a sweet mother 00:27:13.579 --> 00:27:14.519 would hold the hand 00:27:14.519 --> 00:27:15.139 of her son 00:27:15.139 --> 00:27:16.200 at her deathbed 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:17.019 and say 00:27:17.019 --> 00:27:19.599 I believed in Christ 00:27:19.599 --> 00:27:21.299 I will see Christ 00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:21.920 today 00:27:21.920 --> 00:27:23.680 come with me 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:26.440 turn to Jesus 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:27.440 believe in the truth 00:27:27.440 --> 00:27:28.000 of the resurrection 00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.279 and we will be together. 00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:30.819 And so it says 00:27:30.819 --> 00:27:31.940 this is why many of you 00:27:31.940 --> 00:27:32.339 in Corinth 00:27:32.339 --> 00:27:32.960 have been baptized 00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:34.220 for the sake of the dead 00:27:34.220 --> 00:27:35.000 or because you saw 00:27:35.000 --> 00:27:35.519 the dead 00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:36.180 you saw the people 00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:37.000 facing death 00:27:37.000 --> 00:27:38.539 even some of them 00:27:38.539 --> 00:27:39.900 murdered for their faith 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:41.259 you saw them say 00:27:41.259 --> 00:27:42.700 I will hold fast 00:27:42.700 --> 00:27:43.200 to the claim 00:27:43.200 --> 00:27:44.039 that Jesus Christ 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:45.420 is alive not dead 00:27:45.420 --> 00:27:46.180 and I know 00:27:46.180 --> 00:27:47.000 that my Redeemer lives 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.619 I'll see him 00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:48.440 will you not 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:49.319 come and see him 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.799 with me? 00:27:50.180 --> 00:27:50.879 And so many of you 00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:51.379 have turned 00:27:51.379 --> 00:27:51.700 and said 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.539 I want to be baptized 00:27:52.539 --> 00:27:54.539 because you saw 00:27:54.539 --> 00:27:55.339 the strength 00:27:55.339 --> 00:27:56.700 of people's faith 00:27:56.700 --> 00:27:57.819 when they face death. 00:27:57.940 --> 00:27:58.039 Now 00:27:58.039 --> 00:27:59.359 that gives us 00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.920 the application 00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:00.720 doesn't it? 00:28:02.420 --> 00:28:02.839 He's saying 00:28:02.839 --> 00:28:04.460 when you see somebody 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.539 have you seen 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:06.460 somebody face death 00:28:06.460 --> 00:28:07.379 with the hope of Christ? 00:28:07.380 --> 00:28:09.340 And he's saying 00:28:09.340 --> 00:28:10.440 when you see somebody 00:28:10.440 --> 00:28:11.240 face death 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:12.160 with the hope of Christ 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:13.320 and they say 00:28:13.320 --> 00:28:14.940 I don't want to die 00:28:14.940 --> 00:28:15.960 I hate death 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:17.520 death is the last enemy 00:28:17.520 --> 00:28:18.720 but today I know 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.820 my Redeemer lives 00:28:19.820 --> 00:28:21.440 and I want 00:28:21.440 --> 00:28:22.320 I want you 00:28:22.320 --> 00:28:23.380 to know that too. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:24.520 He's saying 00:28:24.520 --> 00:28:25.560 that's a powerful witness 00:28:25.560 --> 00:28:27.800 and you can say 00:28:27.800 --> 00:28:28.980 if you believe that 00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:30.400 you can look at death 00:28:30.400 --> 00:28:30.880 and say 00:28:30.880 --> 00:28:32.380 you are the last enemy 00:28:32.380 --> 00:28:33.160 you are evil 00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:33.920 I hate you 00:28:33.920 --> 00:28:36.000 there's no celebration 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:36.540 in this 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:37.339 there's nothing 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.619 to celebrate in death 00:28:38.619 --> 00:28:39.200 no not at all 00:28:39.200 --> 00:28:39.599 and yet 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.220 at the same time 00:28:40.220 --> 00:28:41.359 death where is thy sting? 00:28:42.899 --> 00:28:43.720 You can say 00:28:43.720 --> 00:28:44.579 in the face of death 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:46.099 I hate you 00:28:46.099 --> 00:28:48.139 and the lower 00:28:48.139 --> 00:28:49.039 you lay me 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:50.420 the higher he'll raise me 00:28:50.420 --> 00:28:52.299 and he's saying 00:28:52.299 --> 00:28:53.099 that's what it means 00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:53.980 people are being baptized 00:28:53.980 --> 00:28:55.200 because they saw 00:28:55.200 --> 00:28:56.000 people die 00:28:56.000 --> 00:28:56.819 in the faith 00:28:56.819 --> 00:28:58.480 and they wanted 00:28:58.480 --> 00:28:59.139 the same thing 00:28:59.139 --> 00:29:00.599 they wanted the hope 00:29:00.599 --> 00:29:01.859 of that type of transformation 00:29:01.859 --> 00:29:02.500 and so finally 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:03.299 this leads us 00:29:03.299 --> 00:29:04.339 to the third thing 00:29:04.339 --> 00:29:04.839 final thing 00:29:04.839 --> 00:29:05.659 and I'll close with this 00:29:05.660 --> 00:29:07.060 Paul says 00:29:07.060 --> 00:29:07.880 at the end of this passage 00:29:07.880 --> 00:29:09.000 from verse 31 00:29:09.000 --> 00:29:09.900 he says 00:29:09.900 --> 00:29:10.500 look this 00:29:10.500 --> 00:29:11.960 this has to change you today 00:29:11.960 --> 00:29:12.700 that's what he says 00:29:12.700 --> 00:29:14.660 you can't 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:14.940 friend 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:15.340 look 00:29:15.340 --> 00:29:17.060 you can't walk away today 00:29:17.060 --> 00:29:19.300 without asking yourself 00:29:19.300 --> 00:29:21.040 did Jesus Christ 00:29:21.040 --> 00:29:21.820 rise from the dead 00:29:21.820 --> 00:29:22.380 or not 00:29:22.380 --> 00:29:24.140 physically 00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:25.720 if he did 00:29:25.720 --> 00:29:26.340 it has to 00:29:26.340 --> 00:29:27.100 it means everything 00:29:27.100 --> 00:29:28.420 and if he didn't 00:29:28.420 --> 00:29:29.240 it means everything 00:29:29.240 --> 00:29:30.640 right 00:29:30.640 --> 00:29:31.740 and that's what Paul 00:29:31.740 --> 00:29:32.300 concludes with 00:29:32.300 --> 00:29:33.240 he says from verse 31 00:29:33.240 --> 00:29:35.200 why would I die 00:29:35.200 --> 00:29:36.500 every single day 00:29:36.500 --> 00:29:37.440 if this were not true 00:29:37.440 --> 00:29:39.059 so he's writing 00:29:39.059 --> 00:29:40.400 here from Ephesus 00:29:40.400 --> 00:29:41.880 and in verse 31 00:29:41.880 --> 00:29:42.259 he says 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:42.920 why would I go 00:29:42.920 --> 00:29:43.700 to the beasts 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.480 in Ephesus 00:29:44.480 --> 00:29:45.539 every day 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:46.720 if this were not real 00:29:46.720 --> 00:29:47.940 if I were lying 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:48.960 and he's probably 00:29:48.960 --> 00:29:49.980 not talking there 00:29:49.980 --> 00:29:50.799 about going to 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:52.799 literal gladiatorial games 00:29:52.799 --> 00:29:54.319 where he confronts 00:29:54.319 --> 00:29:55.059 lions and stuff 00:29:55.059 --> 00:29:56.120 he's saying that 00:29:56.120 --> 00:29:56.880 I'm in Ephesus 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:57.339 right now 00:29:57.339 --> 00:29:58.380 preaching this message 00:29:58.380 --> 00:29:59.599 and people are trying 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:00.259 to kill me 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:01.519 and every day 00:30:01.519 --> 00:30:02.240 I wake up 00:30:02.240 --> 00:30:03.299 and I think 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.240 what is the point 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.819 what is the point 00:30:05.819 --> 00:30:06.879 of dying to my 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:08.079 pleasures and desires 00:30:08.079 --> 00:30:08.960 every day 00:30:08.960 --> 00:30:10.619 and going 00:30:10.619 --> 00:30:11.940 to face my death 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.319 at the hands 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:12.940 of these Ephesians 00:30:12.940 --> 00:30:13.259 leaders 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.599 if this were not real 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:16.240 in other words 00:30:16.240 --> 00:30:16.619 he's saying 00:30:16.619 --> 00:30:17.759 what is the point 00:30:17.759 --> 00:30:18.220 Christian 00:30:18.220 --> 00:30:19.579 of doing religion 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:22.559 and dying to yourself 00:30:22.559 --> 00:30:23.400 every day 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:23.920 every Sunday 00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:24.720 by waking up earlier 00:30:24.720 --> 00:30:25.299 than you want to 00:30:25.299 --> 00:30:25.819 and coming here 00:30:25.819 --> 00:30:26.759 if Christ has not 00:30:26.759 --> 00:30:27.420 been raised from the dead 00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:29.339 what's the point 00:30:29.339 --> 00:30:30.879 that's the question 00:30:30.879 --> 00:30:31.339 he's asking 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:33.059 and this time 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:33.639 it was very common 00:30:33.639 --> 00:30:35.059 that gladiators 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.859 on the night before 00:30:35.859 --> 00:30:36.379 they were going to 00:30:36.379 --> 00:30:37.439 have to go into 00:30:37.439 --> 00:30:38.759 the gladiatorial arena 00:30:38.759 --> 00:30:39.480 in the Colosseum 00:30:39.480 --> 00:30:40.319 in Rome for instance 00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:41.639 it was very common 00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:42.599 they believed 00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:43.899 in only a spiritual 00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.519 afterlife 00:30:44.519 --> 00:30:45.599 no physical afterlife 00:30:45.599 --> 00:30:47.099 and so the norm 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.220 was if you're a gladiator 00:30:48.220 --> 00:30:48.980 and you're fighting 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:50.179 the tigers tomorrow 00:30:50.179 --> 00:30:51.959 on the night before 00:30:51.959 --> 00:30:53.799 you enjoy the pleasures 00:30:53.799 --> 00:30:54.599 of the physical life 00:30:54.599 --> 00:30:55.839 to their maximal degree 00:30:55.839 --> 00:30:56.740 because you think 00:30:56.740 --> 00:30:57.619 my physical life 00:30:57.619 --> 00:30:58.059 is over 00:30:58.059 --> 00:30:58.759 and that's what 00:30:58.759 --> 00:30:59.559 he's referencing here 00:30:59.559 --> 00:31:01.160 he quotes Menander 00:31:01.160 --> 00:31:02.200 a Greek poet 00:31:02.200 --> 00:31:02.519 and says 00:31:02.519 --> 00:31:03.339 what does Menander say 00:31:03.339 --> 00:31:04.940 eat, live, be merry 00:31:04.940 --> 00:31:05.940 tomorrow you're going to die 00:31:05.940 --> 00:31:06.980 if there is no 00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:07.859 physical resurrection 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:09.400 then you might as well 00:31:09.400 --> 00:31:10.539 stop doing religion 00:31:10.539 --> 00:31:12.700 and maximize the pleasures 00:31:12.700 --> 00:31:13.440 of this life 00:31:13.440 --> 00:31:14.519 and he says 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.319 but if Christ 00:31:15.319 --> 00:31:16.000 has been raised 00:31:16.000 --> 00:31:16.539 from the dead 00:31:16.539 --> 00:31:17.839 there is a reason 00:31:17.839 --> 00:31:20.559 to die to yourself 00:31:20.559 --> 00:31:22.099 every single day 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:22.900 and say 00:31:22.900 --> 00:31:24.619 I exist to live for him 00:31:24.619 --> 00:31:27.500 we could put it this way 00:31:27.500 --> 00:31:29.500 in the first half 00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:29.900 of the argument 00:31:29.900 --> 00:31:31.220 Paul said 00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:33.200 if Christ 00:31:33.200 --> 00:31:34.279 has not been raised 00:31:34.279 --> 00:31:36.539 if Christ is dead 00:31:36.539 --> 00:31:37.940 nothing else matters 00:31:37.940 --> 00:31:40.039 and in the second half 00:31:40.039 --> 00:31:40.440 of the argument 00:31:40.440 --> 00:31:40.980 he says 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:43.180 if Christ has been raised 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:44.220 nothing else matters 00:31:44.220 --> 00:31:48.660 let us pray 00:31:48.660 --> 00:31:52.720 Father 00:31:52.720 --> 00:31:54.000 would you take this message 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.900 and transform us 00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:55.500 in our seats 00:31:55.500 --> 00:31:58.440 would you bring 00:31:58.440 --> 00:31:59.259 somebody today 00:31:59.259 --> 00:32:00.560 who doesn't yet know 00:32:00.560 --> 00:32:01.440 the power of the resurrection 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.820 to see 00:32:02.820 --> 00:32:03.779 the wonder 00:32:03.779 --> 00:32:04.400 of 00:32:04.400 --> 00:32:06.160 the son of God 00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:06.820 raised from the dead 00:32:06.820 --> 00:32:07.680 in the middle of history 00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.320 for the forgiveness 00:32:08.320 --> 00:32:09.120 of all sins 00:32:09.120 --> 00:32:11.140 and I pray 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:12.240 for many many 00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:13.259 Christians here today 00:32:13.259 --> 00:32:13.840 that we 00:32:13.840 --> 00:32:14.880 Lord 00:32:14.880 --> 00:32:16.140 would give our lives away 00:32:16.140 --> 00:32:17.060 that we would say 00:32:17.060 --> 00:32:19.360 that we would say 00:32:19.360 --> 00:32:20.480 this is why 00:32:20.480 --> 00:32:21.320 I die to self 00:32:21.320 --> 00:32:21.860 Lord 00:32:21.860 --> 00:32:22.920 help us to die to self 00:32:22.920 --> 00:32:25.140 and live for Christ 00:32:25.140 --> 00:32:26.360 Lord 00:32:26.360 --> 00:32:27.040 we say today 00:32:27.040 --> 00:32:28.140 because you were raised 00:32:28.140 --> 00:32:29.020 nothing else matters 00:32:29.020 --> 00:32:30.220 let that be 00:32:30.220 --> 00:32:31.200 the confession 00:32:31.200 --> 00:32:31.800 of our hearts 00:32:31.800 --> 00:32:32.800 because you live 00:32:32.800 --> 00:32:33.620 we can face tomorrow 00:32:33.620 --> 00:32:35.080 because you live 00:32:35.080 --> 00:32:36.400 all fear is gone 00:32:36.400 --> 00:32:37.220 because you live 00:32:37.220 --> 00:32:38.759 we know you hold the future 00:32:38.759 --> 00:32:40.820 and life is worth the living 00:32:40.820 --> 00:32:42.020 because you live 00:32:42.020 --> 00:32:43.600 so that's our prayer 00:32:43.600 --> 00:32:44.400 that's our song 00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:45.320 right now 00:32:45.320 --> 00:32:46.000 we pray it 00:32:46.000 --> 00:32:46.940 in Jesus name 00:32:46.940 --> 00:32:47.740 Amen