WEBVTT 00:00:00.400 --> 00:00:07.719 Psalm number 31, that's on page 36, and verses 1 to 8. 00:00:09.500 --> 00:00:13.859 In you I've taken refuge, Lord, you are my shelter in distress. 00:00:14.580 --> 00:00:17.679 Oh, let me never be ashamed, but save me in your righteousness. 00:00:18.600 --> 00:00:22.059 Lord, turn your ear to hear my cry, come quickly to deliver me, 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:27.379 and be my rock and firm defense, my stronghold and security. 00:00:27.379 --> 00:00:31.039 Verses 1 to 8, we'll stand to sing these verses to God's praise. 00:00:57.380 --> 00:00:59.380 Lord, turn your ear to hear my cry, come quickly to deliver me. 00:00:59.380 --> 00:01:15.379 Lord, turn your ear to hear my cry, come quickly to deliver me. 00:01:15.379 --> 00:01:30.379 Lord, turn your ear to hear my cry, come quickly to deliver me. 00:01:30.379 --> 00:01:48.859 And be my rock and firm defense, my stronghold and security. 00:01:48.859 --> 00:01:59.859 You are my fortress and my rock. 00:01:59.859 --> 00:02:08.860 For you this day, if I should guide, 00:02:08.860 --> 00:02:18.860 which set me from the trap of set. 00:02:18.860 --> 00:02:28.860 You are the refuge where I guide. 00:02:28.860 --> 00:02:30.860 Lord, turn your ear to hear my cry, come quickly to deliver me. 00:02:30.860 --> 00:02:47.860 Redeem me, Lord, O God of truth, my spirit I commit to you. 00:02:47.860 --> 00:02:57.860 I hate all those good trust, O God. 00:02:57.860 --> 00:03:07.860 I trust the Lord, for he is true. 00:03:07.860 --> 00:03:26.860 I will rejoice and take delight in all the love that you have shown. 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:36.860 For my affection you have seen. 00:03:36.860 --> 00:03:46.860 To you, my soul's distress is known. 00:03:46.860 --> 00:03:55.860 You have not led me to my foe. 00:03:55.860 --> 00:04:04.860 For given me into his hand, 00:04:04.860 --> 00:04:14.860 But you have set my feet within. 00:04:14.860 --> 00:04:23.860 A spacious place where I may stand. 00:04:27.860 --> 00:04:28.860 Let's unite our hearts now in prayer. 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:30.860 Let's call upon the Lord in prayer. 00:04:30.860 --> 00:04:37.860 Our gracious and loving God, 00:04:37.860 --> 00:04:40.860 we give thanks as we come together in this way, 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:43.860 that we do so around your word of truth, 00:04:43.860 --> 00:04:46.860 that we do so conscious of drawing near to God 00:04:46.860 --> 00:04:50.860 and seeking that God would draw near to us. 00:04:50.860 --> 00:04:53.860 We thank you for these wonderful words, O Lord, 00:04:53.860 --> 00:04:57.860 where we are reminded of the refuge that you are to your people, 00:04:57.860 --> 00:05:02.860 of the way that we can find you as a ready place of safety, 00:05:02.860 --> 00:05:04.860 from all that endangers us in life. 00:05:04.860 --> 00:05:10.860 And we bless you especially for the fact that you are a spiritual refuge to us. 00:05:10.860 --> 00:05:13.860 A refuge from your own wrath. 00:05:13.860 --> 00:05:16.860 A refuge from what we deserve for our sins. 00:05:16.860 --> 00:05:20.860 Every way, Lord, in which you are a refuge to your people, 00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:23.860 is so precious to your people. 00:05:23.860 --> 00:05:27.860 And we thank you tonight for the preciousness of knowing this. 00:05:27.860 --> 00:05:32.860 We pray that you would bless us, Lord, as we come once again to your word, 00:05:32.860 --> 00:05:37.860 and as we come to hold our conversation with you in prayer, 00:05:37.860 --> 00:05:41.860 and sing to you in praise, and contemplate your word. 00:05:41.860 --> 00:05:46.860 Lord, we thank you that that is a great privilege for us, Lord. 00:05:46.860 --> 00:05:50.860 We fail to estimate just how great a privilege it is. 00:05:50.860 --> 00:05:54.860 And we confess, O Lord, at many times that we find in a measure 00:05:54.860 --> 00:05:59.860 ourselves resting satisfied with the outward performance, 00:05:59.860 --> 00:06:02.860 with the mere formality of our worship. 00:06:02.860 --> 00:06:05.860 But forbid that it should be so, O Lord. 00:06:05.860 --> 00:06:11.860 For while we would want our worship to be formal in the sense of being beautiful and ordered, 00:06:11.860 --> 00:06:16.860 and nevertheless, Lord, help us, we pray, to enter into the spirit of worship, 00:06:16.860 --> 00:06:19.860 as we are guided by your spirit. 00:06:19.860 --> 00:06:24.860 And we thank you tonight, Lord, for the way that we have each other to share in that worship. 00:06:24.860 --> 00:06:28.860 And for the gatherings of your people are precious in your sight. 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:35.860 And they have always been the case, Lord, ever since you had a people who were formed to call upon your name. 00:06:35.860 --> 00:06:40.860 And we thank you for the way that your people are spread throughout the world. 00:06:40.860 --> 00:06:46.860 That your people share that same common testimony of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:06:46.860 --> 00:06:49.860 And hope in him as the risen Christ. 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:55.860 And that whatever denomination or church or group or country they belong to, 00:06:55.860 --> 00:06:58.860 we bless you that these things are foundational to them. 00:06:58.860 --> 00:07:04.860 We thank you, Lord, that you have brought us in our own understanding, in our own experience, 00:07:04.860 --> 00:07:06.860 to hold these things precious. 00:07:06.860 --> 00:07:11.860 We pray that we may constantly be on our guard, Lord, against the enemy. 00:07:11.860 --> 00:07:17.860 We have been singing in these words of your refuge being a refuge against the enemy. 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:25.860 We know that the enemy of our souls, the devil, prowls about seeking whom he may devour like a roaring lion. 00:07:25.860 --> 00:07:32.860 But we know, too, that he comes disguised and that he comes in many ways that would seek to lead us away from confidence in your truth 00:07:32.860 --> 00:07:39.860 and from seeking to have our hope and confidence fed by your truth. 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:46.860 Lord, we thank you tonight for the many advantages we have compared to so many other people in the world. 00:07:46.860 --> 00:07:48.860 We thank you for the gospel. 00:07:48.860 --> 00:07:51.860 Lord, we thank you for being part of a worshipping people. 00:07:51.860 --> 00:07:58.860 And we thank you, Lord, that we know of a history in our congregations and churches in this locality 00:07:58.860 --> 00:08:05.860 where we find your blessing still being spoken of, still being experienced, 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:10.860 that we have entered into a great heritage of spiritual blessing. 00:08:10.860 --> 00:08:21.860 We pray that we ourselves, Lord, we be furnished by your Spirit's power so that we might go on seeking to transmit this legacy we have received to others, 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:23.860 to those who are coming after us. 00:08:23.860 --> 00:08:27.860 And so to that end, remember our children, our young people, 00:08:27.860 --> 00:08:35.860 we thank you for their participation in worship services, in activities that we seek to set out as a congregation. 00:08:35.860 --> 00:08:42.860 And we ask, oh Lord, that you would be pleased to bless this to them, bless them under your word, 00:08:42.860 --> 00:08:53.860 especially help them to develop morally and spiritually under your word as that which would be a ready light to them for their path through life. 00:08:53.860 --> 00:09:00.860 We ask that you protect them, shield them about, we pray, by your own special power, 00:09:00.860 --> 00:09:08.860 and give them to know that they are your children, even as they would seek to place their trust, their confidence in you. 00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:14.860 We pray that you remember every family connected to us as a congregation of your people, 00:09:14.860 --> 00:09:19.860 and every family, Lord, throughout this town where your word is prized. 00:09:19.860 --> 00:09:26.860 We ask that you would bless us in a day when so much of this is cast aside. 00:09:26.860 --> 00:09:33.860 Lord, when there are so many challenges to family life lived under the dictation of your word. 00:09:33.860 --> 00:09:38.860 Lord, we pray that you would bless every family that seeks to be true to you, 00:09:38.860 --> 00:09:45.860 that seeks to be a testimony to their own neighbors of what it is to live in obedience to God. 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:51.860 We pray that many others will be added to the number of such homes and families, Lord, 00:09:51.860 --> 00:09:57.860 so that we may see more and more coming under that proper influence of your word, 00:09:57.860 --> 00:10:01.860 coming to hold you forth as their Lord and their God. 00:10:01.860 --> 00:10:06.860 We ask your blessing tonight to be with us as we meet later in fellowship. 00:10:06.860 --> 00:10:12.860 We pray that you would bless us as we come to hear about the work of Safe Families Scotland. 00:10:12.860 --> 00:10:16.860 We thank you for its establishment here in our own locality. 00:10:16.860 --> 00:10:21.860 And we pray that it will prosper and that you will bless those who are involved, 00:10:21.860 --> 00:10:27.860 that you will bless especially those like Catherine who are involved in running of Safe Families here locally. 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:31.860 Bless her tonight, we pray, as she brings this message to us. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:37.860 Bless her and her work from day to day with the charity. 00:10:37.860 --> 00:10:40.860 Bless those who have already come to benefit from it. 00:10:40.860 --> 00:10:45.860 We pray that we, Lord, will give due consideration to how we, ourselves, 00:10:45.860 --> 00:10:50.860 may contribute and help to that work here locally. 00:10:50.860 --> 00:10:55.860 And remember it as it takes place throughout Scotland as well. 00:10:55.860 --> 00:11:02.860 We ask, O Lord, that you will bless every other agency that seeks to uphold your own cause, 00:11:02.860 --> 00:11:06.860 your own truth and help those who are in need. 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:09.860 We pray that you will bless also the work of Road to Recovery. 00:11:09.860 --> 00:11:15.860 We pray for David as he takes part in leading that work, O Lord, locally. 00:11:15.860 --> 00:11:18.860 We thank you for his commitment to it over the years. 00:11:18.860 --> 00:11:25.860 We pray that he will know encouragement and blessing as he seeks to bring the message of the Gospel, 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:32.860 but also support practically to those at this time who are caught up in various addictions, 00:11:32.860 --> 00:11:35.860 different kinds of problems in life. 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:38.860 O Lord, our God, remember them, we pray, 00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:43.860 and grant that you would benefit them from hearing about David's own experiences 00:11:43.860 --> 00:11:48.860 and of the work of the Gospel, especially in the lives of others. 00:11:48.860 --> 00:11:53.860 We pray your blessing too for those tonight who mourn the passing of loved ones. 00:11:53.860 --> 00:12:04.860 O gracious God, we have been involved and have heard of those who have bereavements in their families in these past weeks especially. 00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:09.860 We pray for all of them again tonight, and we ask that you would bless them with your comfort. 00:12:09.860 --> 00:12:16.860 Lord, we pray that whatever measure of help we may give them, that we may be concerned to do so, 00:12:16.860 --> 00:12:19.860 that we may especially commend them to you in our prayers. 00:12:19.860 --> 00:12:23.860 Lord, we pray that we may be concerned with them, and grant to them, O Lord, as they experience that loss, 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:29.860 and as they seek to come to terms with loved ones no longer being here present with them in this world. 00:12:29.860 --> 00:12:31.860 Guide them to yourself, we pray. 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:37.860 Guide them to the God who knows of death and the experience of his own dear Son, 00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:44.860 and who is able to bring such succor and support to those who are in need in all temptations. 00:12:44.860 --> 00:12:48.860 We give thanks tonight, Lord, for your resurrection from the dead. 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:55.860 We thank you for the reality of it, and we thank you for the way that it is so foundational to the hope of your people. 00:12:55.860 --> 00:13:07.860 We pray that as we consider this tonight, O Lord, from the teaching of your word, that you will come to impress again upon our hearts how wonderful it is that death has been defeated, 00:13:07.860 --> 00:13:16.860 and that the Lord Jesus Christ stands over death beneath his feet, and that he now reigns as Lord on the throne of the universe. 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:30.860 We pray that our confidence in him will be all the more enhanced as we learn more of the glory of his resurrection and the prospect of resurrection for your own believing people. 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:36.860 Bless any tonight, we pray here, who have not yet come to embrace you in faith. 00:13:36.860 --> 00:13:48.860 Any elsewhere, Lord, who hear the gospel, are not yet saved, have not yet come to comply with and obey the command that you give yourself in your word, 00:13:48.860 --> 00:13:56.860 although it is also your invitation to come and place their trust and confidence in you and to receive you as you are offered in the gospel. 00:13:56.860 --> 00:14:00.860 We thank you tonight, Lord, for the sincerity of that offer. 00:14:00.860 --> 00:14:07.860 We thank you for its freeness, for the way that you seek nothing from us in order to contribute to our salvation, 00:14:07.860 --> 00:14:10.860 for you have done everything that's needed for us. 00:14:10.860 --> 00:14:15.860 And you require of us that we come simply and place our trust in what you have done, 00:14:15.860 --> 00:14:17.860 and in you as the one who has done it. 00:14:17.860 --> 00:14:19.860 So receive us now, we pray. 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:25.860 Continue with us here and pardon our many sins and wash us from our sin, for Jesus' sake. 00:14:25.860 --> 00:14:26.860 Amen. 00:14:26.860 --> 00:14:31.860 Let's sing again to God's praise in Psalm 71. 00:14:31.860 --> 00:14:33.860 Psalm number 71. 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.860 This time we're singing in the Scottish Psalter. 00:14:35.860 --> 00:14:37.860 That's page 312. 00:14:37.860 --> 00:14:41.860 And we'll sing from verse 20 to the end of the psalm. 00:14:41.860 --> 00:14:54.860 Verse 20 to 24 to God's praise. 00:14:54.860 --> 00:15:00.860 Verse 20 to 24 to God's praise. 00:15:00.860 --> 00:15:22.860 O Lord, who great adversities and sought to lead its show, 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:41.860 Shall we care and make me again from death so happy Lord. 00:15:41.860 --> 00:15:58.860 My goodness and my power, Thou wilt in peace that Thou extend. 00:15:58.860 --> 00:15:59.860 In my truth I also praise. 00:15:59.860 --> 00:16:00.860 My God will so praise. 00:16:00.860 --> 00:16:01.860 My God will so tell. 00:16:01.860 --> 00:16:02.860 My God will so tell. 00:16:02.860 --> 00:16:03.860 My God will so tell. 00:16:03.860 --> 00:16:04.860 In my truth, Thou will so tell. 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.860 If I can see. 00:16:05.860 --> 00:16:06.860 My God will so tell. 00:16:06.860 --> 00:16:07.860 In my truth I also praise. 00:16:07.860 --> 00:16:08.860 My God will so tell. 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:12.860 In my truth I also praise. 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:13.860 My God will so tell me. 00:16:13.860 --> 00:16:17.860 My God will so tell me. 00:16:17.860 --> 00:16:32.300 United, I also praise my heart, their salt and heat. 00:16:32.299 --> 00:16:49.299 Thou Holy One, O Israel, with heart I sing to Thee. 00:16:49.299 --> 00:17:06.299 My lips shall not rejoice in Thee, when Thy life is still sound. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:23.299 My soul, which Thou redeemed us, in joy shall march upon. 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:41.299 My tongue, Thy justice shall proclaim, continue all day long. 00:17:41.299 --> 00:17:58.759 For they, God found it, God and shined, that's me to do thee all. 00:18:01.259 --> 00:18:03.299 Now we're going to turn to read God's Word. 00:18:03.399 --> 00:18:04.359 There are two short passages. 00:18:04.359 --> 00:18:08.279 Firstly, in the book of Acts, chapter 2. 00:18:08.279 --> 00:18:15.819 The book of Acts, chapter 2, and we're reading from verse 22, down as far as verse 36. 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:23.099 And then we'll read another short passage from 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. 00:18:27.460 --> 00:18:31.899 But first of all, it's in the book of Acts, chapter 2, and from verse 22. 00:18:34.420 --> 00:18:38.200 This is Peter, standing, preaching on the day of Pentecost. 00:18:38.279 --> 00:18:40.980 Men of Israel, hear these words. 00:18:41.660 --> 00:18:47.099 Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God, with mighty works and wonders and signs 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:51.200 that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know. 00:18:52.099 --> 00:18:57.039 This Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, 00:18:57.639 --> 00:19:01.379 you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:08.240 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 00:19:09.100 --> 00:19:10.780 For David says concerning him, 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:16.200 I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:20.319 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced. 00:19:21.079 --> 00:19:26.019 My flesh will also dwell in hope, for you will not abandon my soul to Hades, 00:19:26.559 --> 00:19:28.440 or let your Holy One see corruption. 00:19:29.460 --> 00:19:31.980 You have made known to me the paths of life. 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:35.180 You will make me full of gladness with your presence. 00:19:35.180 --> 00:19:40.920 Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David, 00:19:41.440 --> 00:19:45.960 that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 00:19:47.060 --> 00:19:51.539 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him 00:19:51.539 --> 00:19:54.519 that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 00:19:55.180 --> 00:19:58.279 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, 00:19:58.920 --> 00:20:03.000 that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:09.980 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all our witnesses, 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:13.539 being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, 00:20:14.019 --> 00:20:17.119 and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, 00:20:17.880 --> 00:20:21.980 he has poured out this, that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.019 For David did not ascend into the heavens, 00:20:25.019 --> 00:20:27.059 but he himself says, 00:20:27.059 --> 00:20:29.440 the Lord said to my Lord, 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:34.319 sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. 00:20:35.259 --> 00:20:38.200 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:42.740 that God has made him both Lord and Christ, 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:46.200 this Jesus whom you crucified. 00:20:47.480 --> 00:20:50.559 And if we turn to 1 Corinthians chapter 15, 00:20:50.559 --> 00:20:54.639 this is the passage we're going to look at shortly, 00:20:55.500 --> 00:20:59.319 from verse 12 to verse 19. 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:05.559 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, 00:21:06.179 --> 00:21:09.240 how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:12.099 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, 00:21:12.339 --> 00:21:14.399 then not even Christ has been raised. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:17.000 And if Christ has not been raised, 00:21:17.180 --> 00:21:18.840 then our preaching is in vain, 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:20.660 and your faith is in vain. 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:24.100 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, 00:21:24.700 --> 00:21:28.200 because we testified about God that he raised Christ, 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.960 whom he did not raise, 00:21:30.460 --> 00:21:32.660 if it is through that the dead are not raised. 00:21:33.460 --> 00:21:35.080 For if the dead are not raised, 00:21:35.519 --> 00:21:37.340 not even Christ has been raised. 00:21:38.080 --> 00:21:39.840 And if Christ has not been raised, 00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:41.660 your faith is futile, 00:21:42.259 --> 00:21:43.860 and you are still in your sins. 00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:47.639 Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:52.019 If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:56.519 we are of all people most to be pitied. 00:21:57.919 --> 00:21:59.599 And we pray that God will bless to us 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:03.000 those two readings of his own word this evening. 00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:05.199 Before we turn to this second passage, 00:22:05.199 --> 00:22:08.740 let's again sing from Psalm 103 this time. 00:22:09.139 --> 00:22:10.819 And again, it's in the Scottish Psalter version. 00:22:11.740 --> 00:22:14.000 Psalm 103 from the beginning. 00:22:16.240 --> 00:22:18.220 We'll sing verses 1 to 5. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:21.879 O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, 00:22:21.939 --> 00:22:23.059 and all that in me is, 00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:26.799 be stirred up his holy name to magnify and bless. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:29.919 Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God, 00:22:30.439 --> 00:22:33.240 and not forgetful be of all his gracious benefits 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:35.879 he hath bestowed on thee. 00:22:35.880 --> 00:22:37.960 So on through to verse 5. 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:39.980 Who with abundance of good things 00:22:39.980 --> 00:22:41.860 doth satisfy thy mouth, 00:22:42.540 --> 00:22:45.160 so that even as the eagle's age renewed 00:22:45.160 --> 00:22:46.940 is thy youth. 00:22:47.040 --> 00:22:50.100 O thou, my soul, bless God the Lord. 00:22:50.099 --> 00:23:03.259 Lord thou, my soul, bless God the Lord, 00:23:03.259 --> 00:23:09.699 and all that in me is, 00:23:09.699 --> 00:23:18.019 be stirred up his holy name, 00:23:18.019 --> 00:23:25.359 to magnify and bless. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:34.400 Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God, 00:23:34.400 --> 00:23:41.180 and not forgetful be. 00:23:41.180 --> 00:23:49.560 Of all his gracious benefits 00:23:49.560 --> 00:23:57.519 he hath bestowed on me. 00:23:57.519 --> 00:24:03.639 Of all thy iniquity, 00:24:05.059 --> 00:24:06.500 lost great glory, 00:24:06.900 --> 00:24:10.900 most gracious shield the Lord, 00:24:10.920 --> 00:24:12.859 most graciously forgive. 00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:18.859 With all night in Jesus' Huang, 00:24:18.960 --> 00:24:22.539 he hath bestowed on me, 00:24:22.539 --> 00:24:29.539 doth heal and heal him. 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:38.539 Who doth redeploy life of love 00:24:39.180 --> 00:24:45.539 to death this not go down? 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:53.539 To thee with loving kindness 00:24:54.539 --> 00:25:02.539 and tender mercies come. 00:25:02.539 --> 00:25:10.539 Who with the wonder so good things 00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:17.539 that satisfied my mind 00:25:18.539 --> 00:25:27.539 so that he has the eager stage 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:35.539 renew it is thy youth. 00:25:35.539 --> 00:25:40.539 Now please turn with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 00:25:40.539 --> 00:25:45.539 And we're looking this evening at the passage we read from verse 12 00:25:45.539 --> 00:25:48.539 done as far as verse 19. 00:25:48.539 --> 00:25:52.539 Now having started to study through the chapter, 00:25:52.539 --> 00:25:56.539 you'll recall the previous studies in the earlier verses of the chapter. 00:25:56.539 --> 00:26:00.539 Paul begins by emphasizing those things 00:26:00.539 --> 00:26:03.539 that are true of the Lord Jesus Christ himself 00:26:03.539 --> 00:26:07.539 and therefore form the nucleus or the basis of the gospel. 00:26:07.539 --> 00:26:11.539 And he describes that for you in verse 3, 00:26:11.539 --> 00:26:15.539 following the way in which Jesus died, 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:18.539 was buried, was raised on the third day, 00:26:18.539 --> 00:26:20.539 and then appeared to various people that he mentions, 00:26:20.539 --> 00:26:22.539 including then Paul himself. 00:26:22.539 --> 00:26:24.539 And we saw last time how that brought Paul 00:26:24.539 --> 00:26:27.539 into speaking about the grace of God 00:26:27.539 --> 00:26:31.539 as the grace of God was something that he had come to experience 00:26:31.539 --> 00:26:32.539 in his own life, 00:26:32.539 --> 00:26:35.539 where he had been turned from his previous way of life 00:26:35.539 --> 00:26:39.539 to become what he is now an apostle of Jesus Christ. 00:26:39.539 --> 00:26:42.539 And now he comes in verse 12 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:45.539 to deal with certain doubts 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:48.539 or certain matters in Corinth regarding resurrection 00:26:48.539 --> 00:26:50.539 that weren't just being disputed 00:26:50.539 --> 00:26:52.539 but were actually being denied. 00:26:52.539 --> 00:26:59.539 Do you believe in resurrection? 00:26:59.539 --> 00:27:03.539 I'm not asking do you believe in the potential of a resurrection? 00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:06.539 Do you believe in the possibility of a resurrection? 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:08.539 The question really is, 00:27:08.539 --> 00:27:11.539 do you believe in the reality of resurrection? 00:27:11.539 --> 00:27:17.539 Do you believe that resurrection is actually factually true 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:19.539 in respect to Jesus himself 00:27:19.539 --> 00:27:24.539 and also in respect to resurrection being a reality in itself 00:27:24.539 --> 00:27:28.539 that awaits all believers in Christ? 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:31.539 It wouldn't be surprising to some extent 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:33.539 if somebody here were to say, 00:27:33.539 --> 00:27:36.539 no, I don't believe in resurrection. 00:27:36.539 --> 00:27:40.539 You might say that's pretty serious, it is. 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:43.539 You might say that's pretty unlikely. 00:27:43.539 --> 00:27:45.539 I hope it is as well. 00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:48.539 But it wouldn't be a surprise if someone in here would turn around and say, 00:27:48.539 --> 00:27:51.539 no, I actually don't believe in resurrection. 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:53.539 Why do I say that? 00:27:53.539 --> 00:27:56.539 Well, because here is a congregation in Corinth, 00:27:56.539 --> 00:27:57.539 in the city of Corinth, 00:27:57.539 --> 00:28:00.539 that were actually taught by an apostle. 00:28:00.539 --> 00:28:04.539 They were taught by an apostle the things of God, 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:06.539 the things he says in verse 3, 00:28:06.539 --> 00:28:09.539 I delivered to you as of first importance 00:28:09.539 --> 00:28:11.539 what I also received. 00:28:11.539 --> 00:28:14.539 They were taught by Paul himself. 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:17.539 By this man, an apostle of God, 00:28:17.539 --> 00:28:20.539 to whom God had revealed himself so dramatically 00:28:20.539 --> 00:28:23.539 and who had been established as a great preacher of the gospel. 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:26.539 Yet he now says in verse 12, 00:28:26.539 --> 00:28:29.539 if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, 00:28:29.539 --> 00:28:35.539 how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 00:28:35.539 --> 00:28:41.539 You would not expect to find people under the ministry of an apostle 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:46.539 who had emphasized the resurrection of Christ as central to the gospel, 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:50.539 who had emphasized the reality of resurrection as in the prospect of God's people. 00:28:50.539 --> 00:28:56.539 You would not have expected anybody in Corinth not to believe in resurrection. 00:28:56.539 --> 00:28:58.539 And yet it was true. 00:28:58.539 --> 00:29:04.539 It may be that they were like those in 2 Timothy 2 and verse 18. 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:13.539 We don't know exactly what kind of thinking these people had with regard to resurrection or anything else. 00:29:13.539 --> 00:29:17.539 He simply mentions how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 00:29:17.539 --> 00:29:22.539 In 2 Timothy, he mentions two individuals, Hymenaeus and Philatus, 00:29:22.539 --> 00:29:26.539 who say that the resurrection is past already 00:29:26.539 --> 00:29:29.539 and are overthrowing the faith of some 00:29:29.539 --> 00:29:32.539 or causing some to actually wobble in their faith. 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:34.539 They say the resurrection is past. 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:38.539 So maybe that's what it was like for these people in Corinth as well 00:29:38.539 --> 00:29:45.539 who regarded resurrection as confined to the matter of being brought to life spiritually. 00:29:45.539 --> 00:29:50.539 In other words, from the deadness that we have naturally in our sinfulness, 00:29:50.539 --> 00:29:57.539 these people seem to have just regarded resurrection as confined to Jesus or God 00:29:57.539 --> 00:30:03.539 bringing them alive out of that spiritual resurrection, creating life in them. 00:30:03.539 --> 00:30:06.539 And that was about the end of their understanding of resurrection. 00:30:06.539 --> 00:30:09.539 So they needed to be taught. 00:30:09.539 --> 00:30:11.539 They needed to be corrected. 00:30:11.539 --> 00:30:16.539 And Paul does so here in this passage, 12 to 18, 12 to 19. 00:30:16.539 --> 00:30:22.539 He did so by a series of logical statements. 00:30:22.539 --> 00:30:29.539 And as we work through it, the logical statements are in the form of Paul saying, 00:30:29.539 --> 00:30:35.539 if such and such is true, then other things inevitably or logically follow. 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:39.539 And we'll see that that's what he's really doing in these verses. 00:30:39.539 --> 00:30:45.539 For example, he's saying, first of all, if there is no resurrection, if there's no such thing as resurrection, 00:30:45.539 --> 00:30:53.539 then it follows, logically follows, indubitably follows that Christ has not been raised from the dead. 00:30:53.539 --> 00:30:57.539 If there's no resurrection, there's no risen Christ. 00:30:57.539 --> 00:31:00.539 That's the first point he makes. 00:31:00.539 --> 00:31:05.539 But then he takes that second part of that statement, there is no risen Christ. 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:12.539 And he says, if Christ is not risen, then certain things also follow logically from that. 00:31:12.539 --> 00:31:18.539 And in fact, there are four points that follow from that that we're going to follow through this evening. 00:31:18.539 --> 00:31:23.539 If Christ is not risen, well, if there's no resurrection, Christ is not risen. 00:31:23.539 --> 00:31:28.539 And if there's no, if Christ is not risen, then one, our preaching is in vain. 00:31:28.539 --> 00:31:30.539 Two, your faith is in vain. 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:33.539 Third, those who have died have perished. 00:31:33.539 --> 00:31:39.539 And fourthly, we are most to be pitied of all people. 00:31:39.539 --> 00:31:44.539 These are the outlines of our study this evening, these points. 00:31:44.539 --> 00:31:49.539 Let's pick up that first one, the point Paul is making to begin with. 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:53.539 If Christ is proclaimed from the dead, if there's no resurrection of the dead, 00:31:53.539 --> 00:31:56.539 then not even Christ has been raised. 00:31:56.539 --> 00:32:00.539 In other words, if you discount the idea of a physical resurrection, 00:32:00.539 --> 00:32:02.539 that's what Paul is dealing with. 00:32:02.539 --> 00:32:05.539 Paul is not dealing with something that's merely spiritual, 00:32:05.539 --> 00:32:08.539 or something as potential, or something of an idea or a theory. 00:32:08.539 --> 00:32:10.539 He's dealing with facts. 00:32:10.539 --> 00:32:14.539 He's dealing with real facts that happened in the history of space and time. 00:32:14.539 --> 00:32:18.539 Jesus, risen from the dead, physically risen from the dead. 00:32:18.539 --> 00:32:22.539 And that's what he means by raised from the dead. 00:32:22.539 --> 00:32:27.539 If we discount physical resurrection as a possibility, 00:32:27.539 --> 00:32:32.539 not just as a possibility, but as a fact that has happened already in Christ's case, 00:32:32.539 --> 00:32:37.539 then he's saying, Christ has not been raised. 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:40.539 Christ's body is still in a grave somewhere. 00:32:40.539 --> 00:32:48.539 That's the reality of discounting or rejecting the reality of resurrection. 00:32:48.539 --> 00:32:52.539 And you notice the words Paul is using here, interestingly. 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:58.539 He's saying, if there's no resurrection, then not even Christ has been raised. 00:32:58.539 --> 00:33:00.539 Now, why is that interesting? 00:33:00.539 --> 00:33:03.539 Why is that significant, in fact, that he's using these words, has been raised? 00:33:03.539 --> 00:33:07.539 Because he's saying, this is something that was done to Christ. 00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:15.539 There are other parts of the Bible, of the New Testament, that speak about Christ himself rising from the dead. 00:33:15.539 --> 00:33:24.539 But more often it's actually God the Father who is specified as having raised Jesus from the dead. 00:33:24.539 --> 00:33:27.539 For example, Galatians, just to pick up one of those verses, 00:33:27.539 --> 00:33:30.539 Galatians chapter 1 and verse 1, 00:33:30.539 --> 00:33:36.539 where Paul is about to go in through this great letter in regard to justification, 00:33:36.539 --> 00:33:38.539 especially by faith in Christ. 00:33:38.539 --> 00:33:44.539 He wants to make it clear that it's faith in the risen Christ that's significant. 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.539 This is how he begins, Galatians. 00:33:45.539 --> 00:33:52.539 Paul, an apostle not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, 00:33:52.539 --> 00:33:55.539 who raised him from the dead. 00:33:55.539 --> 00:34:02.539 And why is it important that Paul is putting it in such language that God raised Jesus from the dead, 00:34:02.539 --> 00:34:10.539 that God did something to the dead body of Jesus to actually raise him, lift him up, raise him from the dead? 00:34:10.539 --> 00:34:19.539 Well, because it brings us into that other great theological fact that the atonement that Christ rendered to God by his death on the cross 00:34:19.539 --> 00:34:26.539 was fully accepted by God the Father as sufficient for the forgiveness of all the sins of his people, 00:34:26.539 --> 00:34:30.539 and for them to be ultimately raised from the dead as well. 00:34:30.539 --> 00:34:38.539 That atonement that Jesus rendered, which is the death that he died, is the death we deserve to die. 00:34:38.539 --> 00:34:43.539 It's the penalty that we were due for our sin, for our rebellion against God. 00:34:43.539 --> 00:34:46.539 And God was right in demanding that. 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:54.539 But he took it on himself to do so in the person of his son Jesus. 00:34:54.539 --> 00:35:01.539 And he raised him from the dead because the resurrection of Christ, being raised by the Father, 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:10.539 is itself the evidence and the indication, more than anything else, that his death was accepted as an atonement for sin. 00:35:10.539 --> 00:35:13.539 That's why it's important that he was raised from the dead. 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:18.539 God the Father raised him from the dead. 00:35:18.539 --> 00:35:25.539 And now he sets out in the rest of the passage why that is important, that God raised him from the dead. 00:35:25.539 --> 00:35:31.539 And the implications of Christ not being raised from the dead are set out in these four points we mentioned. 00:35:31.539 --> 00:35:33.539 So that's the first thing he's saying. 00:35:33.539 --> 00:35:37.539 If there's no resurrection, then Christ has not been raised. 00:35:37.539 --> 00:35:46.539 But now, if Christ has not been raised from the dead, then it follows first of all, our preaching is in vain. 00:35:46.539 --> 00:35:49.539 Our preaching is in vain. 00:35:49.539 --> 00:35:53.539 It doesn't just mean their preaching as apostles. 00:35:53.539 --> 00:35:56.539 He means the preaching of the gospel in every instance. 00:35:56.539 --> 00:36:02.539 Because at the very heart of the gospel, central to the gospel, is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. 00:36:02.539 --> 00:36:04.539 That is what we proclaim, Paul is saying. 00:36:04.539 --> 00:36:06.539 That is central to the message. 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.539 It's not just about the cross. 00:36:07.539 --> 00:36:15.539 It's about the cross followed by the resurrection from the dead, where God raised him up from the dead, and everything that then followed on to that. 00:36:15.539 --> 00:36:22.539 You see, it all, as we saw earlier on in the chapter, it all has to be kept fitted together in the way it actually happened. 00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:27.539 He actually died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures. 00:36:27.539 --> 00:36:34.539 He was buried, and he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and then appeared to these people. 00:36:34.539 --> 00:36:37.539 You see, he's saying, this is an unbroken chain. 00:36:37.539 --> 00:36:40.539 This is a chain that you must keep intact. 00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:49.539 Because all of these parts fit together in a way that's essential to our understanding of what the gospel is, what salvation is. 00:36:49.539 --> 00:36:54.539 And so now he's saying, if Christ is not risen from the dead, then our preaching is in vain. 00:36:54.539 --> 00:37:02.539 When we're actually saying about Jesus that he was raised from the dead, that that's foundational to our hopes and to our expectation, 00:37:02.539 --> 00:37:09.539 and indeed to eternal life as it's presented in him, it's presented in him as the living Christ. 00:37:09.539 --> 00:37:13.539 Not merely the Christ who died on the cross. 00:37:13.539 --> 00:37:16.539 Our preaching is in vain tonight. 00:37:16.539 --> 00:37:17.539 Not only the Christ who died on the cross. 00:37:17.539 --> 00:37:21.539 If God did not raise him from the dead, if Christ is still dead. 00:37:21.539 --> 00:37:39.539 If I believed, even to the least extent, that God did not raise Christ from the dead, I ought to walk out of this pulpit and out of this church tonight and say, there is no point to preaching. 00:37:39.539 --> 00:37:46.539 There is no point to proclaiming eternal life in Jesus Christ. 00:37:46.539 --> 00:37:56.539 Because our proclamation of the gospel, the gospel itself as it comes across from the scriptures, has central to it the resurrection of Christ from the dead. 00:37:56.539 --> 00:37:59.539 And you see, that's the basis of our hope. 00:37:59.539 --> 00:38:06.539 That's the message that we set out in the gospel, that's set out in the gospel that we preach, that death has been defeated. 00:38:06.539 --> 00:38:13.539 What is your hope other than a hope that's beyond death and above the reach of death? 00:38:13.539 --> 00:38:19.539 And you go through, as we will, God willing, to the end of this great passage in 1 Corinthians 15. 00:38:19.539 --> 00:38:21.539 And what does it all mount up to? 00:38:21.539 --> 00:38:24.539 What does it all actually come to eventually? 00:38:24.539 --> 00:38:27.539 It says, death is swallowed up in victory. 00:38:27.539 --> 00:38:29.539 Oh, death, where is your victory? 00:38:29.539 --> 00:38:30.539 Where is your sting? 00:38:30.539 --> 00:38:34.539 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 00:38:34.539 --> 00:38:38.539 But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:38:38.539 --> 00:38:40.539 The victory over what? 00:38:40.539 --> 00:38:41.539 The victory over death. 00:38:41.539 --> 00:38:43.539 The victory over sin. 00:38:43.539 --> 00:38:45.539 How have we come to have victory over sin? 00:38:45.539 --> 00:38:48.539 By having a dead Christ still in the grave? 00:38:48.539 --> 00:38:53.539 No, but by having a Christ raised from the dead who now reigns in heaven. 00:38:53.539 --> 00:38:56.539 That's the basis of our hope. 00:38:56.539 --> 00:39:01.539 And if you come across somebody who says, I'm a Christian but I don't believe in the resurrection of Christ. 00:39:01.539 --> 00:39:06.539 I'm a Christian but I don't really believe that Jesus rose from the dead physically. 00:39:06.539 --> 00:39:14.539 You'll have to say, well, you might call yourself a Christian but you're not a Christian in terms of God's definition of what a Christian, what a believer is. 00:39:14.539 --> 00:39:25.539 Because when I say that I believe in Jesus Christ, what I'm really saying or ought to be saying is, what I want to mean by that is, I believe in the risen Christ. 00:39:25.539 --> 00:39:31.539 I believe in the Christ who lives today and reigns from the throne of heaven. 00:39:31.539 --> 00:39:36.539 God having raised him from the dead. 00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:40.539 Hope, you see, needs a solid foundation. 00:39:40.539 --> 00:39:59.539 As I say so often, and particularly at times of funerals, in the message we try to give at these times, it's no message of consolation or comfort to people to even give the suggestion that somehow it'll be alright if there's no resurrection from the dead. 00:39:59.539 --> 00:40:06.539 That's why we say so often, we need hope. 00:40:06.539 --> 00:40:11.539 We need hope more than a hoping for the best as we normally refer to it. 00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:18.539 We need hope that's based on something that makes the outcome or fulfillment of that hope certain. 00:40:18.539 --> 00:40:23.539 What is the one thing that will make the outcome of your hope certain? 00:40:23.539 --> 00:40:28.539 It's the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:40:28.539 --> 00:40:38.539 That's why he says, if he is not raised, has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain. 00:40:38.539 --> 00:40:40.539 It's futile. 00:40:40.539 --> 00:40:42.539 There's no point to it. 00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:49.539 But secondly, he says, if Christ is not risen from the dead, your faith is in vain. 00:40:49.539 --> 00:41:00.539 You see, because trust in Christ, which is really the main element or ingredient of faith, you mustn't just think that faith is believing things that are unseen. 00:41:00.539 --> 00:41:01.539 It is that. 00:41:01.539 --> 00:41:07.539 Faith is more than just accepting this Bible, this Word of God as God's Word. 00:41:07.539 --> 00:41:09.539 It is that too. 00:41:09.539 --> 00:41:10.539 Faith is more than just taking hold of Christ. 00:41:10.539 --> 00:41:28.539 But faith, in the main ingredient of faith, the main action of faith, is actually taking hold of Christ, placing your trust in Christ, taking Him as your Savior, accepting Him as God's provided means of salvation and forgiveness of sin. 00:41:28.539 --> 00:41:34.539 But what is the point in taking hold of Christ if all it means is taking hold of His teaching? 00:41:34.539 --> 00:42:02.539 No, when you take hold of Christ, when you receive the Jesus that's presented in the Gospel, your faith, this trust, this trust in Him as the living Christ, as the risen Christ, the Christ who defeated death, the Christ whose resurrection was real, physical resurrection from the dead. 00:42:02.539 --> 00:42:09.539 He's saying here, if that's the case, then your faith is futile. 00:42:09.539 --> 00:42:12.539 At the end of verse 17, he continues that point. 00:42:12.539 --> 00:42:15.539 And he says, you are still in your sins. 00:42:15.539 --> 00:42:19.539 Now, that's another important emphasis there. 00:42:19.539 --> 00:42:21.539 It doesn't just say your faith is futile. 00:42:21.539 --> 00:42:31.539 But he says, consider this as well, that the futility of your faith, if Christ has not been raised, contains this element that you are still in your sins. 00:42:31.539 --> 00:42:37.539 You're still as you were as a lost sinner coming into this world if Christ was not raised from the dead. 00:42:37.539 --> 00:42:46.539 Because, you see, forgiveness is more than God making a declaration, I forgive you. 00:42:46.539 --> 00:43:06.539 You know, some people have the idea that atonement or the kind of atonement that we believe in from Scripture, where there is a substitution on the part of Christ, God placing Him in our place and Him taking the penalty of our sins and making reconciliation for us. 00:43:06.539 --> 00:43:11.539 There are some people, theologians, that would say, well, that's really not actually necessary. 00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:19.539 God could just have declared from heaven, as it were, somebody who comes to Him to ask for forgiveness, God could have said, I forgive you. 00:43:19.539 --> 00:43:21.539 Your repentance is genuine. 00:43:21.539 --> 00:43:22.539 I forgive you. 00:43:22.539 --> 00:43:26.539 But then God has revealed that He couldn't have done that. 00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:27.539 Why not? 00:43:27.539 --> 00:43:32.539 Because of something serious that needed to be attended to. 00:43:32.539 --> 00:43:43.539 Because of the alienation that we had caused by our sin and the provocation and the offense that our sin had given to God. 00:43:43.539 --> 00:43:48.539 Sin is not something that you can just declare out of existence. 00:43:48.539 --> 00:43:53.539 God required Himself His justice to be satisfied. 00:43:53.539 --> 00:44:06.539 He required Himself that the reconciliation that He did effect through the death of Christ, that it's something that was necessary on Christ's part and on God's part. 00:44:06.539 --> 00:44:07.539 God the Father. 00:44:07.539 --> 00:44:12.539 That's all the way through many of Paul's statements in his epistles. 00:44:12.539 --> 00:44:27.539 So, you see, the death of Jesus followed by the resurrection of Jesus, which proved the acceptance of His death to God, was necessary so that our sin would be forgiven. 00:44:27.539 --> 00:44:35.539 Forgiveness is not a mere decision on the part of God to wipe your sins away from your record. 00:44:35.539 --> 00:44:36.539 There is that. 00:44:36.539 --> 00:44:37.539 There is that. 00:44:37.539 --> 00:44:40.539 But that's based on something else. 00:44:40.539 --> 00:44:42.539 It's based on the resurrection of Christ. 00:44:42.539 --> 00:44:48.539 The satisfaction God received from Christ's death and resurrection from the dead. 00:44:48.539 --> 00:44:50.539 And just go back to… 00:44:50.539 --> 00:44:56.539 Let me just read from Luke's Gospel from the final chapter there, chapter 24. 00:44:56.539 --> 00:44:58.539 You remember that passage? 00:44:58.539 --> 00:45:02.539 Well-known passage for the two disciples who are walking on the way to Emmaus. 00:45:02.539 --> 00:45:05.539 Jesus threw near to them. 00:45:05.539 --> 00:45:10.539 They were disputing or discussing what had happened so very recently in Jerusalem. 00:45:10.539 --> 00:45:14.539 And as they were discussing this, Jesus Himself threw near to them. 00:45:14.539 --> 00:45:17.539 They didn't recognize Him, of course, to begin with. 00:45:17.539 --> 00:45:22.539 And then in verse 44, as Jesus taught them afterwards, He said, 00:45:22.539 --> 00:45:35.539 These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and in the Psalms must be fulfilled. 00:45:35.539 --> 00:45:41.539 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and said to them, 00:45:41.539 --> 00:45:48.539 Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 00:45:48.539 --> 00:45:54.539 and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all nations. 00:45:54.539 --> 00:45:59.539 Now, read that again and just leave out this reference to the resurrection. 00:45:59.539 --> 00:46:07.539 Thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name. 00:46:07.539 --> 00:46:09.539 You can see the missing ingredients straight away. 00:46:09.539 --> 00:46:19.539 You need that reference to the resurrection as part of the whole package, if you like, where God is providing salvation for us in Christ. 00:46:19.539 --> 00:46:28.539 Suffering, dying, third day rising again, and then repentance, forgiveness of sins proclaimed in His name. 00:46:28.539 --> 00:46:37.539 The offer of the gospel through the preaching of the gospel is the offer of life, forgiveness, eternal life, 00:46:37.539 --> 00:46:47.539 on the basis of Christ risen from the dead, having died the death of the cross. 00:46:47.539 --> 00:46:51.539 If Christ is not risen, then your faith is in vain. 00:46:51.539 --> 00:46:54.539 You are still in your sins. 00:46:54.539 --> 00:47:03.539 Thirdly, if Christ has not been raised, then those who perished, those who died, are perished. 00:47:03.539 --> 00:47:06.539 That's the next point he makes. 00:47:06.539 --> 00:47:11.539 Those who have fallen asleep, in verse 18, in Christ have perished. 00:47:11.539 --> 00:47:22.539 Now, these were people who had come to believe in Christ, come to follow Christ, place their trust in Jesus, but had died. 00:47:22.539 --> 00:47:24.539 They had left this world. 00:47:24.539 --> 00:47:28.539 They had been in Corinth as part of that believing congregation. 00:47:28.539 --> 00:47:35.539 But Paul is now saying, well, if Christ was not raised from the dead, then those people have perished. 00:47:35.539 --> 00:47:43.539 And interesting in the words, literally, that he used there, where he says, those who have fallen asleep. 00:47:43.539 --> 00:47:50.539 More literally, you could translate that, those who were laid to sleep in Christ. 00:47:50.539 --> 00:47:59.539 Those who were laid to sleep in Christ, thinking of the burial of their bodies, these believers in Corinth who had died. 00:47:59.539 --> 00:48:03.539 They were laid to sleep in Christ. 00:48:03.539 --> 00:48:07.539 That doesn't mean there's no life beyond death, no consciousness beyond death. 00:48:07.539 --> 00:48:10.539 He's talking here about resurrection, the resurrection of their bodies. 00:48:10.539 --> 00:48:14.539 And so he needs to deal with their bodies being laid into their grave. 00:48:14.539 --> 00:48:17.539 And there's a beautiful way in which he speaks of it. 00:48:17.539 --> 00:48:23.539 They were laid to sleep in Christ. 00:48:23.539 --> 00:48:34.539 In other words, they were buried in a way that anticipated they would awaken in resurrection, their bodies, that is. 00:48:34.539 --> 00:48:39.539 They're buried with the hope of a later resurrection. 00:48:39.539 --> 00:48:50.539 But that makes no sense without the reality of Christ himself raised from the dead and a future resurrection of God's people based upon that. 00:48:50.539 --> 00:49:00.539 If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then those who were laid to sleep in Christ have perished. 00:49:00.539 --> 00:49:15.539 We often say from 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, when we come to the death and the burial of believers, the remains being laid to rest in the tombs. 00:49:15.539 --> 00:49:23.539 We often quote from that passage that we don't mourn as those who have no hope. 00:49:23.539 --> 00:49:30.539 Why do we not mourn as those who have no hope when it comes to the burial of the remains of believers? 00:49:30.539 --> 00:49:35.539 Because their hope is based on the resurrection of Christ. 00:49:35.539 --> 00:49:40.539 Of course, that passage, 1 Thessalonians 4 is dealing with resurrection as well. 00:49:40.539 --> 00:49:45.539 And when you tie it up with this passage, this is what he's really saying. 00:49:45.539 --> 00:49:59.539 The seriousness of not believing that Christ was raised from the dead, it actually logically leads you to this conclusion that those who were laid to sleep in Christ have perished. 00:49:59.539 --> 00:50:06.539 Because their future resurrection depends on Christ's own resurrection from the dead. 00:50:06.539 --> 00:50:09.539 That's the Christian hope. 00:50:09.539 --> 00:50:15.539 That's the hope of the gospel, the hope that's presented in the gospel that God gave to us. 00:50:15.539 --> 00:50:18.539 And it's evacuated of all meaning. 00:50:18.539 --> 00:50:24.539 If it simply means that, as we'll see now, fourthly, we are most to be pitied. 00:50:24.539 --> 00:50:31.539 Because if in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 00:50:31.539 --> 00:50:37.539 Now, that's saying something like this to us. 00:50:37.539 --> 00:50:53.539 If we don't have as the basis of our hope the resurrection of Christ Himself, and therefore our future resurrection as believers united to Him, then our hope has really become nothing more than this life only hope. 00:50:53.539 --> 00:50:56.539 A this life only hope. 00:50:56.539 --> 00:51:06.539 A hope that we will live as good and as decent a life as we can in this life, and then we die and that's it. 00:51:06.539 --> 00:51:16.539 Some people will say, you know, it doesn't really matter all that much if I believe that Jesus rose from the dead or not. 00:51:16.539 --> 00:51:18.539 Or if I believe that He didn't rise from the dead. 00:51:18.539 --> 00:51:23.539 If I don't believe in the concept of the reality of resurrection, I can still lead a good life. 00:51:23.539 --> 00:51:26.539 I can lead a good life that will be very helpful to other people. 00:51:26.539 --> 00:51:32.539 I can follow the example that Jesus set me because I can follow His teaching. 00:51:32.539 --> 00:51:36.539 I have His teaching in the New Testament and the Bible there especially. 00:51:36.539 --> 00:51:37.539 And I can follow that teaching. 00:51:37.539 --> 00:51:39.539 I can see that as my great example. 00:51:39.539 --> 00:51:45.539 And as I try and follow that great example, that's really what my Christian life consists of. 00:51:45.539 --> 00:51:47.539 I don't need all this theology stuff. 00:51:47.539 --> 00:51:48.539 I do. 00:51:48.539 --> 00:51:49.539 I can follow that in the Old Testament. 00:51:49.539 --> 00:51:55.539 Well, you do if you've been through to Christ as a follower of Christ. 00:51:55.539 --> 00:52:04.539 Because on one occasion, and indeed there were many other occasions too, on one occasion Jesus put it this way in the Sermon on the Mount, 00:52:04.539 --> 00:52:10.360 which was pretty much a sermon that fits into the situation you and I are in today, 00:52:10.360 --> 00:52:15.659 where so much of the world is given over to either materialism or secularism or both, 00:52:16.039 --> 00:52:18.599 but wants to squeeze God out of the picture altogether. 00:52:20.039 --> 00:52:21.900 How did Jesus address this? 00:52:23.599 --> 00:52:27.759 Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven, 00:52:29.079 --> 00:52:33.719 where neither moth corrupts or thieves do not break in and steal. 00:52:34.480 --> 00:52:37.959 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 00:52:38.679 --> 00:52:42.359 Why did he say to them, lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven? 00:52:43.000 --> 00:52:47.359 What's the point of it if there's no such thing as resurrection that takes you into heaven? 00:52:48.359 --> 00:52:56.459 He said, lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven with the sense that don't live for this life only is what he meant. 00:52:57.239 --> 00:53:03.619 And he went on to speak about the materialism of his own age and people who just lived for the things of this life. 00:53:03.719 --> 00:53:07.519 Lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven. 00:53:08.799 --> 00:53:11.539 Paul said the same thing in writing to the Colossians. 00:53:11.919 --> 00:53:20.719 Set your affection on things above, where Christ is, not on the things of this earth. 00:53:20.719 --> 00:53:27.379 And if we have, as he says here, in this life only hoped in Christ, 00:53:28.239 --> 00:53:31.339 we are of all people most to be pitied. 00:53:32.839 --> 00:53:33.959 Why is that? 00:53:33.960 --> 00:53:45.260 Well, because the whole chain of what he has said from verses 13 to 18 then becomes inevitable for us. 00:53:46.539 --> 00:53:50.000 By that I mean, if we say that there is no resurrection, 00:53:51.039 --> 00:53:53.659 and therefore Christ has not been raised from the dead, 00:53:54.220 --> 00:53:56.119 then our gospel has no substance. 00:53:56.699 --> 00:53:57.960 Our faith is ineffective. 00:53:57.960 --> 00:54:03.579 We are found witnesses to God because we testified that he raised him from the dead. 00:54:04.240 --> 00:54:09.039 And it means still that sin is still in power on the throne of our hearts. 00:54:09.599 --> 00:54:16.019 And it means all believers who have passed from this life before us have all perished. 00:54:16.019 --> 00:54:16.059 Perished. 00:54:17.300 --> 00:54:20.659 Well, perish the thought. 00:54:22.800 --> 00:54:29.659 Perish the thought that anyone here tonight would not believe in resurrection. 00:54:29.659 --> 00:54:35.579 And would not believe in the resurrection of Jesus physically from the dead 00:54:35.579 --> 00:54:40.719 as the basis of resurrection and of hope 00:54:40.719 --> 00:54:45.699 in the way in which the Christian hope is set out in the gospel. 00:54:47.420 --> 00:54:50.079 So let's go back to the question we had at the beginning. 00:54:51.279 --> 00:54:53.920 Do you believe in resurrection? 00:54:53.920 --> 00:55:00.460 Do you believe that Jesus was raised from the dead? 00:55:01.599 --> 00:55:06.460 Do you believe in a future resurrection at the return of Christ? 00:55:08.720 --> 00:55:16.059 And finally, what is the basis of your hope as you go through this life? 00:55:17.480 --> 00:55:18.820 You need hope. 00:55:18.820 --> 00:55:23.680 But you need a basis for that hope to be realized 00:55:23.680 --> 00:55:27.019 for it to be more than just a hoping for the best. 00:55:28.080 --> 00:55:30.980 Well, if you're a Christian, if Christ is yours, 00:55:31.539 --> 00:55:34.400 this risen Christ, this reigning Christ, 00:55:34.940 --> 00:55:37.440 this wonderful saving Christ, 00:55:38.340 --> 00:55:39.580 if he is yours tonight, 00:55:40.120 --> 00:55:42.000 then your hope is based in him 00:55:42.000 --> 00:55:43.860 and in his resurrection. 00:55:43.860 --> 00:55:49.280 And you can go forward through whatever this world will throw at you and say, 00:55:49.840 --> 00:55:52.599 I know that not even death 00:55:52.599 --> 00:55:56.640 can actually have victory over me at last 00:55:56.640 --> 00:55:59.880 because my hope is in Jesus 00:55:59.880 --> 00:56:04.960 who brought life and immortality to light 00:56:04.960 --> 00:56:07.120 through the gospel, 00:56:08.120 --> 00:56:10.079 through his resurrection. 00:56:10.700 --> 00:56:11.340 Let's pray. 00:56:11.340 --> 00:56:11.420 Amen. 00:56:11.420 --> 00:56:17.039 Our gracious God, our Father in heaven, 00:56:17.740 --> 00:56:20.240 we thank you tonight for the reality 00:56:20.240 --> 00:56:23.720 of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 00:56:24.619 --> 00:56:27.519 Lord, we gather in your presence this evening with purpose 00:56:27.519 --> 00:56:31.139 and we confess that we would not have that purpose 00:56:31.139 --> 00:56:34.460 if it were true that Christ is not raised. 00:56:35.720 --> 00:56:37.079 Oh, Lord, we thank you tonight 00:56:37.420 --> 00:56:39.940 for the victory that you have achieved already 00:56:39.940 --> 00:56:41.280 for your people. 00:56:42.000 --> 00:56:44.480 We thank you for the death you died, 00:56:44.900 --> 00:56:47.119 for the resurrection from the dead 00:56:47.119 --> 00:56:48.760 that was effected 00:56:48.760 --> 00:56:52.380 when the Father raised his son from the dead. 00:56:53.139 --> 00:56:55.159 And we thank you for the way in which that 00:56:55.159 --> 00:56:56.980 is so clear in the gospel 00:56:56.980 --> 00:57:00.679 and so foundational to the life and hope of your people. 00:57:01.720 --> 00:57:03.179 Bless us, we pray tonight, 00:57:03.179 --> 00:57:07.299 as we have come face to face with the reality of resurrection. 00:57:08.239 --> 00:57:12.919 Help us to face the prospect of the death which we must all die, 00:57:14.139 --> 00:57:16.899 holding on to this hope of the gospel. 00:57:18.000 --> 00:57:21.319 Give us, we pray, that hope if we don't have it already. 00:57:22.419 --> 00:57:24.819 Unite us to yourself savingly, we pray. 00:57:24.820 --> 00:57:27.280 Give us grace to receive you, 00:57:28.120 --> 00:57:29.840 grace to believe and trust in you, 00:57:30.780 --> 00:57:32.220 grace to wait for you, 00:57:33.140 --> 00:57:35.360 grace to be truly confident 00:57:35.360 --> 00:57:38.240 that when you come back to this world, 00:57:38.780 --> 00:57:41.080 you will raise your people from the dead, 00:57:41.880 --> 00:57:45.039 you will bring them to reign with you forevermore. 00:57:45.920 --> 00:57:47.460 Bless us then now and bless us 00:57:47.460 --> 00:57:49.120 in the fellowship that follows. 00:57:49.260 --> 00:57:50.840 Bless the food prepared for us. 00:57:50.840 --> 00:57:53.220 We thank you for those who have prepared it. 00:57:53.860 --> 00:57:55.579 And again, we commend Catherine to you 00:57:55.579 --> 00:57:57.380 as you will speak to us. 00:57:57.920 --> 00:58:00.220 Receive us, we pray now, for Jesus' sake. 00:58:00.720 --> 00:58:01.019 Amen. 00:58:03.519 --> 00:58:05.220 Well, we're going to conclude our service now 00:58:05.220 --> 00:58:07.160 singing to God's praise in Psalm 30. 00:58:08.240 --> 00:58:10.260 Psalm number 30 from Sing Psalms. 00:58:11.079 --> 00:58:14.860 You'll find that on page 34 of the Psalm books. 00:58:17.140 --> 00:58:19.120 Psalm 30, verses 1 to 5. 00:58:19.119 --> 00:58:22.099 O Lord, I will exalt your name, 00:58:22.420 --> 00:58:23.719 for you have rescued me. 00:58:24.319 --> 00:58:26.219 You did not let my foes rejoice 00:58:26.219 --> 00:58:27.599 and gloat triumphantly. 00:58:28.359 --> 00:58:30.059 Lord God, in need I cried to you 00:58:30.059 --> 00:58:31.519 and you restored my health. 00:58:32.239 --> 00:58:34.440 O Lord, you brought me from the grave 00:58:34.440 --> 00:58:37.779 and saved my soul from death. 00:58:37.839 --> 00:58:40.179 Verses 1 to 5, to God's praise. 00:58:40.179 --> 00:58:40.339 Amen. 00:58:40.340 --> 00:58:53.680 O Lord, I will exalt your name, 00:58:53.680 --> 00:59:00.660 for you have rescued me. 00:59:00.659 --> 00:59:09.519 You did not let my foes rejoice 00:59:09.519 --> 00:59:15.659 and look triumphantly. 00:59:15.659 --> 00:59:26.599 Lord God, in need I cried to you 00:59:26.599 --> 00:59:33.980 and you restored my health. 00:59:33.980 --> 00:59:43.119 O Lord, I will exalt your name, 00:59:43.119 --> 00:59:51.119 and save my soul from death. 00:59:51.119 --> 01:00:00.559 You holy ones sing to the Lord. 01:00:00.559 --> 01:00:08.179 Sing out with joyful voice, 01:00:08.179 --> 01:00:17.319 When you will recall his holy name, 01:00:17.319 --> 01:00:25.039 Then praise him and rejoice. 01:00:25.039 --> 01:00:34.619 His anger, but amohem last, 01:00:34.619 --> 01:00:42.039 Like long his favor stays. 01:00:42.039 --> 01:00:51.259 Though tears may last throughout the night, 01:00:51.260 --> 01:00:59.240 Joy comes with morning grace. 01:00:59.800 --> 01:01:01.800 I'll go to the side door to my left this evening. 01:01:02.900 --> 01:01:05.140 Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, 01:01:05.220 --> 01:01:06.500 the love of God the Father, 01:01:06.980 --> 01:01:08.660 and the communion of the Holy Spirit 01:01:08.660 --> 01:01:11.120 be with you now and evermore. 01:01:11.520 --> 01:01:11.880 Amen.