You can open them up to 1 Corinthians chapter 15.
After all that food that's sitting in our stomachs,
I think I'm going to have to be extra animated this morning
just to make sure none of you fall asleep.
1 Corinthians chapter 15.
This will be the last message in our series
talking about the resurrection.
Just to remind you where we've been,
we began this series at the beginning
as Paul is reminding the Corinthian church of the gospel,
of the good news about Jesus that they must hold firmly to
so that they can be saved.
Paul goes on to remind them what the gospel is.
The good news about Jesus is that he died for our sins to be forgiven.
He was buried.
He was raised back to life from the dead on the third day.
And then he appeared to a whole bunch of people.
One of those people was Paul himself who writes this.
Paul went from there to talk about
what some in the Corinthian church had been saying.
There were some in the church who had been saying
that there is no resurrection from the dead.
That resurrection, it's not a thing that God does.
There's no life after death.
They were kind of categorically denying it.
Paul says there's serious implications to that.
If the dead are not raised,
then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ hasn't been raised,
then this is serious.
You're still on the hook for all your sins.
Everything that we've been teaching and preaching about Jesus is a lie.
And you've been wasting your time believing this and living this.
But that's not the case, said Paul.
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.
And not only that, but his resurrection was the first part of a greater resurrection
that God will bring in the future when Jesus returns.
And all who belong to Jesus are also raised from the dead.
And Christ comes to rule in his eternal kingdom.
From there, we went on to look at Paul's teaching about the resurrection itself.
And how Paul said that we will receive new bodies from God as a gift
for this new kingdom life that we're going to live in.
These bodies will be physical bodies,
but they will be radically different than the bodies that we have now.
They will be imperishable, not subject to death.
And we talked a little bit about that.
And now we're going to pick it up in verse 50.
And finish off this section of what Paul is teaching.
He says this,
I declare to you, brothers and sisters,
that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God,
nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.
The kingdom of God is coming.
When Jesus returns,
he is going to bring the kingdom of God in its fullness
and establish it here on earth.
And this is going to be a beautiful and perfect forever kingdom.
But the bodies that we have right now,
this flesh and blood,
is not fit for that kingdom.
We have a problem.
Our bodies as they are right now are subject to decay,
breaking down,
wearing out,
and death.
And so we need a radical transformation of this
in order to inherit
and be part of this kingdom
that Christ is coming to bring.
Now, where did death come from?
I haven't really talked about this in this series,
but I just want to take a moment to go there this morning.
Death is not something that God created us with at the beginning.
I'm going to read what Paul said in his letter to their church at Rome.
He said,
Sin entered the world through one man,
and death through sin.
And in this way,
death came to all people.
Death came into our world.
It wasn't originally part of the way that God created us to live.
It came into our world
as the consequence,
as the punishment,
a just punishment
for Adam's sin
against God.
And unfortunately,
we have all inherited
the problem,
the consequence of death
from Adam,
we are cut from the same cloth as him.
We're descended from him.
He is in us.
We are in him.
And so we also
die.
Our bodies die
because of
the sin of Adam
and because of
our own sin.
Now,
ever since I was a kid,
that little thought in the back of my head
has been there.
That doesn't seem very fair.
Why are we
held guilty
for the sins of one man?
But as one of my mentors
used to say,
it may not seem fair
that we are held guilty
for the sins of one man,
Adam,
but there is a surprising
gift of grace
that comes
along with that.
we can all
be forgiven
and restored
to relationship
with God
through the action
of one man,
Jesus Christ.
There's a balance
to this
inheritance
that we receive
from Adam.
And that's exactly
where Paul goes
in his letter
to the Roman church.
I'm going to read
just a little bit
of it for you
in Romans 5.15.
He says this,
but the gift
is not like
the trespass.
For if the many
died
by the trespass
of the one man,
how much more
did God's grace
and the gift
that came
by the grace
of the one man,
Jesus Christ,
overflow
to the many?
He goes on
down in verse 18,
just as one trespass
resulted in condemnation
for all people,
so also
one righteous act
resulted in justification
and life
for all people.
For just as
through the disobedience
of the one man,
the many were made
sinners,
so also
through the obedience
of the one man,
Jesus,
the many
will be made
righteous.
So,
death was not
originally
part of God's design.
It's not just
a natural part
of the cycle
of life.
It's a disorder.
It's a brokenness
that came
from God
as a punishment
for our sin
against Him.
But the good news
is this.
God didn't leave
us that way.
He sent Jesus
to do something
that would fix
that problem.
in verse 18,
one righteous act
resulted in
justification
and life
for all people.
Justification
for a right
standing with
God again.
Even though we were
guilty,
Christ did
that one thing
that was necessary
to bring that
for all of
His people.
Sins
against God
forgiven.
dealt with.
But there's still
death.
There's still
this problem
of this body
that dies.
What about that?
Notice that
Paul says,
one righteous act
resulted
in justification
and life
for all people.
And life.
life is what
God promises.
Life is what
Jesus offered.
He said
to Martha,
I am the
resurrection
and the life.
If anyone
believes in
me,
he will live
even though
he dies.
If anyone
lives and
believes in
me,
he will never
die,
said Jesus.
And of course
He meant that
in the ultimate
sense.
resurrection.
Life after
death.
Eternal
life.
And so
as we come
back to our
passage in
1 Corinthians,
it's good
news that
Jesus has
dealt with
our need
for forgiveness.
But we need
something more.
We need
a change
to this
because this
is going
to die.
This is
perishable.
It's subject
to breaking
down and
wearing out.
And if we're
going to live
forever,
we need
a change
to our
bodies.
And that's
where Paul
is going
and what he's
going to
describe for
us here.
Let's pick
it up again
in verse 51.
1 Corinthians
15 verse 51.
Paul says
this,
Listen,
I tell you
a mystery.
We will
not all
sleep,
but we
will all
be changed
in a
flash,
in the
twinkling
of an eye,
at the
last trumpet.
For the
trumpet will
sound,
the dead
will be
raised
imperishable,
and we
will be
changed.
This is
one of the
most precious
verses in
the whole
Bible.
And from
it we
learn about
this certain
hope of
the resurrection
that those
of us who
belong to
Christ are
waiting for
and looking
forward to.
What do we
learn about
the resurrection
here?
One of the
first things
that I
notice is
that the
resurrection
is something
that will
take place
in a
moment.
Paul says
in a
flash,
in the
twinkling
of an
eye,
or as
some have
rendered it
in the
blink of
an eye.
It's not
something that
will happen
as part of
a process.
It's not
like metamorphosis
of a
caterpillar
into a
butterfly,
something that
happens
gradually.
It's
something that
God will
do
instantaneously.
What will
he do?
He says
we will
all be
changed.
The dead
will be
raised
imperishable
and we
will be
changed,
transformed,
our bodies
radically
made new,
ready for
the eternal
kingdom life
that God
has for us
to live.
when will
this take
place?
We've
already heard
from Paul
that this
will take
place when
Jesus returns.
Back in
verse 23.
But Paul
tells us
now that
this will
take place
at the
last
trumpet.
This is
an event
that will
happen in
the future
when Jesus
comes and
all of his
people are
raised to
life from
the dead.
This is an
event that
happens at
the end.
This is the
last trumpet.
Jesus spoke
a little bit
about this
with his
disciples when
he taught
them on the
Mount of
Olives in
the week
leading up to
his crucifixion.
he said
this to
his disciples.
Then will
appear the
sign of the
Son of
Man in
heaven.
And then
all the
peoples of
the earth
will mourn
when they
see the
Son of
Man coming
on the
clouds of
heaven with
power and
great glory.
And he
will send
his angels
with a
loud trumpet
call and
they will
gather his
elect from
the four
winds from
one end of
the heavens
to the
other.
That's the
way Jesus
described it.
Paul actually
talked about
this in his
letter to the
Thessalonians
as well.
He said
this,
1 Thessalonians
chapter 4
verse 16,
for the Lord
himself will
come down
from heaven
with a
loud command
with the
voice of
the archangel
and with
the trumpet
call of
God and
the dead
in Christ
will rise
first.
After that,
we who are
still alive
and are left
will be caught
up together
with them
in the
clouds to
meet the
Lord in
the air.
A couple
different
descriptions of
this event,
but in
each case
there's the
mention of
the trumpet
call of
God.
When Jesus
returns,
it will be
something that
is visible
to all.
It says he
will come on
the clouds and
every eye will
see, but it
will also be
something that
is audible
to all.
The trumpet
call of God
will be sounded
and it will
signal,
Jesus has
returned.
the moment
is here
and when
that trumpet
blast
is heard,
all of us
who belong
to Christ
will be
raised from
the dead.
Verse 52,
back in
1 Corinthians,
for the trumpet
will sound,
the dead
will be raised
imperishable
and we
will be
changed.
Let's
continue on
with what
Paul has to
say here
in verse 53.
He says,
for the
perishable
must clothe
itself with
the imperishable
and the
mortal with
immortality.
He uses
the language
of clothing
here.
The bodies
that we
have right
now,
they're like
clothes that
wear out.
They get
holes in
them,
they fade,
don't work
right anymore.
for us
to inherit
this kingdom
that Christ
is bringing,
we need a
change of
clothes,
we need a
new body,
one that's
not going
to wear
out,
one that's
not subject
to breaking
down,
one that's
not going
to die
ever again.
and that's
exactly what
Christ will
give to
all of his
people when
he returns
by his
life-giving
power,
an
imperishable
body,
a
transformation
so that we
will be
not mortal
but immortal,
never to
die again.
Paul goes
on in
verse 54,
he says
when this
has taken
place,
when this
resurrection
moment has
happened,
then what
is written
in the
prophets
will come
true.
Death
has been
swallowed
up in
victory.
Where,
oh death,
is your
victory?
Where,
oh death,
is your
sting?
he borrows
from the
words of
the prophets
and points
back.
Long ago
in God's
word,
God
foretold
of this
time,
a time
when death,
that great
predator which
swallows up
every last
one of us,
will itself
be swallowed
up.
It will
not be
victorious
over God's
people.
God's
people will
emerge
victorious
over it.
Paul goes
on to
borrow from
the words
of Hosea
and taunt
death.
He says,
where,
oh death,
is your
victory?
He's going
back to
the words
of Hosea.
God
said this
through Hosea
long ago.
I will
deliver this
people from
the power
of the
grave.
I will
redeem them
from death.
Where,
oh death,
are your
plagues?
Where,
oh grave,
is your
destruction?
I love
those words.
Death
seems to
have the
last word
in every
last one
of our
lives.
Not so
for God's
people.
God will
not let
death
have the
last word
in the
lives of
his people.
God
himself
will have
the last
word
against
death.
And that
last word
is the
victorious
taunt
of a
champion
who has
beaten
the
unbeatable.
We will
join with
Paul
at the
resurrection
in this
taunt
and say,
where,
oh death,
is your
victory?
Where,
oh death,
is your
deadly
sting
now?
But we
must be
clear,
this is not
a victory
that we
have achieved
for ourselves.
This is not
something that
we earned
by fighting
the battle
from our
own good
behavior,
from our
own
merits.
What does
Paul say?
He says,
in verse
57,
thanks be
to God,
he gives
us the
victory
through our
Lord Jesus
Christ.
Our victory
over death
at the
resurrection
for all of
us who
belong to
Jesus is
not something
that we
managed on
our own
because none
of us could
be death
on our
own.
This is
something that
God has
done for
us and
that he
gives us.
Our victory
over death
will be
because the
ultimate
champion
stared death
right in
the face
and won
and that
champion is
Jesus.
The victory
God gives
us is through
our Lord
Jesus Christ.
and it's
a gift.
The song
that we're
going to be
singing on
the day that
we are raised
from the dead,
yes, we'll
join with Paul
in this taunt,
but it won't
be we are
the champions,
my friends.
It'll be he
is the champion,
my friends.
Look at what
he has done
for us.
And so we
should join
with Paul,
verse 57,
and give
thanks to
God.
Paul says,
but thanks
be to
God.
Thank you,
God.
If it
weren't for
this, if it
weren't for
what you
are going
to do,
I'd be
toast.
I'd be
finished.
Death would
be the last
word for
me,
and I'd be
lost.
if it
weren't for
this glorious
promise and
hope of
resurrection,
it'd be
over for
me.
Thank you,
God, for
this new
and glorious
body that
is like
Christ's,
that you're
going to
give to
me.
We should
join with
Paul in
giving thanks
to God.
Finally,
Paul wraps
up this
whole section
in verse
58.
We've
talked a
lot about
the gospel,
about
resurrection,
Christ's
resurrection,
and our
resurrection,
and now
Paul brings
this all
to a
close with
a final
word of
encouragement
in verse
58.
He says
this,
therefore,
my dear
brothers and
sisters,
stand
firm.
Let
nothing
move you.
always
give
yourselves
fully
to the
work of
the Lord
because you
know that
your labor
in the
Lord is
not in
vain.
We come
full circle.
The first
thing that
Paul says
is stand
firm.
This
truth of
the gospel,
of the good
news of
what Jesus
has done
for you
and what
he has
secured
for you,
stand
firm
right here
where you've
planted your
flag and
let nothing
move you
away from
this.
Just like
he said at
the beginning,
it's by
this gospel
that you
are saved
if you
hold firmly
to the
word I
preach to
you.
There will
always be
people who
come and
say this
to you
or say
that to
you or
you should
believe in
this.
You should
believe in
that.
you should
spend your
life going
after this
and chasing
after this
instead of
Christ and
all that
Christianity
and Bible
stuff.
Paul says
no,
you stand
firm on
the good
news of
Jesus where
you've planted
your flag and
let nothing
move you.
It's by
this good
news that
you are
saved.
None of
that other
stuff and
nobody else
can give
you what
Christ is
going to
give you
and what
he has
done for
you.
And so
stay put,
stay with
it here.
His last
word to
them is
this,
always give
yourselves
fully to
the work
of the
Lord
because you
know that
your labor
in the
Lord is
not in
vain.
What is
the work
of the
Lord?
I do
think that
this applies
generally
to simply
doing what
Jesus has
asked us
to do in
every area
of our
lives.
Absolutely,
I think it
applies to
that.
But I
think here
Paul very
specifically
is referring
to the
work of
making
Christ
known for
the salvation
of other
people.
That's the
way he uses
it in his
letter to
Timothy.
And so I
think that's
how we
should take
it mainly
here.
Always
give
yourselves
fully to
the work
of the
Lord,
to making
Christ
known for
the salvation
of other
people.
This is
not just
something that
he says
or prefaces
with pastors
or elders,
teachers,
preachers,
evangelists.
This is
something he
gives to
the brothers
and sisters,
to all of
them in
general.
Give
yourselves
fully to
this work
of making
Christ
known.
Others
need this
gospel too
so that
they can
be saved.
It's
work,
work of
the Lord.
It's not
always easy.
It's not
always comfortable,
but we're
not here
to be
comfortable
and to
have it
easy.
the Lord
has work
for each
one of
us to
do in
making
his
good
news
known.
Always
give
yourselves
fully
to the
work
of
the
Lord.
Why?
Because
you know
that your
labor
in the
Lord
is not
in vain.
Others
may say
there's no
resurrection.
You're
wasting your
time with
this.
no,
you're
not.
In fact,
this is
what matters
most.
This is
what will
outlast
this
period of
life that
we have
now and
last into
eternity.
Others
need to
know.
Others
need to
hear.
This is
why Paul
endangered
himself
and faced
opposition
and persecution
to make
Christ
known.
he says
always
give
yourselves
fully
to this
work
of the
Lord.
Always.
Not
sometimes,
but
always.
Always
give
yourselves
fully.
Not
give
yourselves
a lot,
but
half-heartedly,
but
fully.
As we
bring this
series to a
close,
I want
to make
it clear
again
that this
glorious
and certain
hope of
resurrection,
of being
raised from
the dead
when Christ
returns,
is not
for everyone.
It's only
for those
who are in
Christ.
It's only
for those
who belong
to Jesus,
who believe
in him,
who acknowledge
him as
their Lord,
their king.
It's not
for people
who believe
in Jesus
just as
fire insurance,
but then
just live
however they
want to,
regardless of
what the
Lord has
said,
and take
his grace
as a
license,
his forgiveness
as a license
to do all
the wrong
that they
want to
do.
This is
for those
who truly
belong to
Jesus.
As in
Adam,
all die,
so in
Christ,
all will
be made
alive.
Are you
in Christ?
Do you
belong to
Jesus?
If you
have any
doubts or
uncertainty
about that,
if you feel
the Holy
Spirit's
conviction in
your life,
and you
want to
talk to
someone about
that,
I would
encourage you
to have a
conversation
with someone
that you
know,
knows,
and loves
Jesus.
And I,
of course,
would be
happy to
talk to
you about
that any
time as
well.
Let's
pray.
Father in
heaven,
thank you
for this
amazing gift
that you
will give
to all of
us who
are your
children.
We can't
wait for
the day
when we
will be
made new
and transformed
and live
forever
with you.
We can't
wait to
see how
you will
bring this
world back
to justice
and righteousness
and order,
goodness and
beauty and
purge all
evil.
We can't
wait.
We long to
be a part of
that, and
we thank you
that all of
this is ours
as a gift
through Christ.
Christ.
It's in
his name
we pray.
Amen.
Whew.
Thank you.
Thank you for
the work that
you put in,
and that
sermon series
was really
good.
I got a lot
out of it.
I hope that
you guys got
a lot out of
it too.
I'm going to
sing one more
song if you
guys want to
join us,
join me.
Why don't you
stand?
Why don't you
stand?
Everyone needs
compassion,
a love that's
never failing.
let mercy fall
on me.
Everyone needs
forgiveness,
the kindness
of a Savior,
hope of a
nation.
Oh, Savior,
He can move
the mountains.
My God,
He's mighty
to save.
He is mighty
to save.
Forever,
author of
salvation,
He rose
and He conquered
the grave.
Jesus conquered
the grave.
take me as you
find me,
all my fears
and failures,
fill my life
again.
I give my life
to follow
everything I
believe in.
Now I
surrender.
Savior,
He can move
the mountains.
Oh, Savior,
He can move
the mountains.
My God,
He's mighty
to save.
He is mighty
to save.
Forever,
author of
salvation,
He rose,
He conquered
the grave.
Jesus conquered
the grave.
Shine your light
and let the
whole world
see us
singing for
the glory
of the risen
King.
Jesus,
shine your light
and let the
whole world
see us
singing for
the glory
of the risen
King.
Savior,
He can move
the mountain.
My God,
He's mighty
to save.
He is mighty
to save.
Forever,
author of
salvation,
He rose,
He conquered
the grave.
Jesus conquered
the grave.
forever,
Jesus碘,
God,
save him
to save.
Jesus broke
God,
Jesus Christ,
he viver
in heaven
and let the
also know
anybody
and let the
sea
the
heaven
God,
they're
so
I
love
the
God,
and let the