WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.879 All right, we're going to read together from God's Word from the New Testament. 00:00:07.879 --> 00:00:14.480 From 1 Corinthians 15, and that's verses 35 all the way down to 58. 00:00:15.439 --> 00:00:17.780 So we have Bibles upstairs and downstairs. 00:00:17.780 --> 00:00:22.940 If you'd like to have a hard copy of God's Word today, feel free to grab one of those. 00:00:23.379 --> 00:00:25.980 It's also, the text is printed in the bulletin as well. 00:00:26.500 --> 00:00:29.420 And then you can also read along on the screens as I read for us. 00:00:29.420 --> 00:00:31.080 So let's look at God's Word together. 00:00:32.300 --> 00:00:33.100 Paul writes, 00:00:33.840 --> 00:00:36.880 But someone will ask, how are the dead raised? 00:00:37.859 --> 00:00:39.560 With what kind of body do they come? 00:00:40.380 --> 00:00:44.300 You foolish person, what you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 00:00:44.460 --> 00:00:50.680 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare seed, perhaps of wheat or some other grain. 00:00:51.320 --> 00:00:56.040 But God gives it a body as He has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. 00:00:56.039 --> 00:00:58.259 For not all flesh is the same. 00:00:58.820 --> 00:01:04.599 But there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 00:01:05.319 --> 00:01:12.200 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is another. 00:01:12.200 --> 00:01:19.480 Then there is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars. 00:01:19.900 --> 00:01:22.159 For stars differ from star in glory. 00:01:23.180 --> 00:01:24.879 So it is with the resurrection of the dead. 00:01:25.379 --> 00:01:28.700 What is sown is perishable, but what is raised is imperishable. 00:01:29.379 --> 00:01:31.560 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. 00:01:31.840 --> 00:01:33.879 It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 00:01:34.359 --> 00:01:37.859 It is sown in natural body, it is raised, a spiritual body. 00:01:37.859 --> 00:01:41.480 If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 00:01:42.219 --> 00:01:46.459 Thus it is written, the first man, Adam, became a living being. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:49.459 The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 00:01:50.420 --> 00:01:54.359 But it is not the spiritual that is the first, but the natural, and then the spiritual. 00:01:55.420 --> 00:01:57.799 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust. 00:01:57.900 --> 00:01:59.640 The second man is from heaven. 00:02:00.560 --> 00:02:04.260 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust. 00:02:04.260 --> 00:02:08.200 And as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 00:02:09.360 --> 00:02:15.000 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 00:02:15.819 --> 00:02:16.780 I tell you this, brothers. 00:02:17.780 --> 00:02:20.280 Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. 00:02:20.659 --> 00:02:23.060 Nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 00:02:23.759 --> 00:02:25.340 Behold, I tell you a mystery. 00:02:25.939 --> 00:02:29.480 We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:33.300 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. 00:02:33.300 --> 00:02:38.480 For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 00:02:39.040 --> 00:02:43.280 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable. 00:02:44.100 --> 00:02:46.920 And this mortal body must put on immortality. 00:02:47.460 --> 00:02:51.160 When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, 00:02:51.520 --> 00:02:53.980 then shall come to pass the saying that is written, 00:02:54.500 --> 00:02:56.560 Death is swallowed up in victory. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.740 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting? 00:03:00.740 --> 00:03:04.640 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 00:03:05.180 --> 00:03:10.060 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:03:10.620 --> 00:03:16.060 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and movable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, 00:03:16.439 --> 00:03:19.879 knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. 00:03:20.540 --> 00:03:21.740 This is God's holy word. 00:03:21.740 --> 00:03:26.960 For three weeks, we've been working through this chapter, 1 Corinthians 15. 00:03:27.120 --> 00:03:29.240 This is our final look at it here on Easter Sunday. 00:03:30.500 --> 00:03:37.000 And if I was to put it all together, 1 Corinthians 15 as a chapter, it's an argument. 00:03:37.000 --> 00:03:42.500 And Paul is saying to every single one of us that the resurrection of Jesus Christ 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:50.240 gives us today a hope and future glory that is so certain that it can change us in the present. 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:56.080 So he's saying to us that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a hope, a future glory, 00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:59.479 that's so certain that it has the power to change you in the present, 00:03:59.920 --> 00:04:01.759 to have an immediate effect on your life. 00:04:01.759 --> 00:04:02.759 Right here. 00:04:03.500 --> 00:04:09.120 And so Paul's been making this argument, and he said that Jesus Christ really did die 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:11.060 for the forgiveness of all sins. 00:04:12.039 --> 00:04:15.039 And he said he really was buried because he was actually dead. 00:04:15.739 --> 00:04:18.980 And he really was raised from the dead, not just as a mere symbol, 00:04:19.099 --> 00:04:22.180 but physically, bodily, he was raised from the dead on the third day. 00:04:22.839 --> 00:04:30.240 And that means in his power, the Holy Spirit brings that to matter to us 00:04:30.240 --> 00:04:32.300 right here, right now, in 2025. 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:35.540 The resurrection matters right here, right now, today. 00:04:35.879 --> 00:04:36.120 How? 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:38.600 Two things, two ways. 00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:42.420 Number one, death has been defeated. 00:04:43.360 --> 00:04:48.300 Number two, you have hope today in a holistic glory. 00:04:49.680 --> 00:04:51.280 So those two things, let's think about them. 00:04:52.240 --> 00:04:55.620 The resurrection matters right now because death has already been defeated. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:57.699 That's the first thing we learn here. 00:04:57.699 --> 00:05:00.479 Now, this is a formal argument Paul's making in this chapter, 00:05:00.479 --> 00:05:06.779 but he lands on the conclusion down in verses 54 and 55, 00:05:07.599 --> 00:05:11.740 and it's where he says this poetic form here, quoting from the Old Testament, 00:05:12.539 --> 00:05:14.699 the conclusion, death is swallowed up in victory. 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:16.579 Death, where is thy sting? 00:05:17.480 --> 00:05:19.500 So he's been making this very formal argument. 00:05:19.699 --> 00:05:20.699 It's been philosophical. 00:05:20.699 --> 00:05:26.860 It's in this Greek philosophical style that would have matched the Corinthian philosophical environment. 00:05:26.979 --> 00:05:28.159 But then he gets to the conclusion. 00:05:28.319 --> 00:05:31.719 He just says, death, you've been swallowed up, Isaiah 25. 00:05:32.259 --> 00:05:33.240 Where is thy sting? 00:05:33.500 --> 00:05:33.980 No more. 00:05:34.680 --> 00:05:38.439 And so he enters into this moment where he taunts death, 00:05:39.159 --> 00:05:41.060 and then he just starts to worship. 00:05:41.779 --> 00:05:42.599 That's his conclusion. 00:05:42.600 --> 00:05:50.700 Now, there is lots of argumentation and detail and important words and clauses all throughout this chapter. 00:05:50.820 --> 00:05:53.140 We've looked at some of them the past couple of weeks, 00:05:53.140 --> 00:06:00.460 and it would be easy to get way down into all the little details that Paul's probably addressing in the context. 00:06:00.920 --> 00:06:04.460 But I don't want to overcomplicate it, and I know that sometimes I do overcomplicate it. 00:06:04.540 --> 00:06:05.280 So let's be simple. 00:06:06.020 --> 00:06:06.140 Right? 00:06:06.139 --> 00:06:09.279 Paul is saying, we're all going to die. 00:06:10.779 --> 00:06:13.139 And he's saying, we don't want to die. 00:06:13.539 --> 00:06:14.539 We want to live. 00:06:15.599 --> 00:06:18.740 And with Dylan Thomas, we say, I rage against the dying of the light. 00:06:18.819 --> 00:06:19.019 Right? 00:06:20.219 --> 00:06:21.419 I will not go gently. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:22.659 I don't want to die. 00:06:23.779 --> 00:06:24.939 Death is our great enemy. 00:06:25.879 --> 00:06:29.079 And here in verse 38, especially in 55, he's saying, 00:06:29.479 --> 00:06:32.759 but God will raise the dead because Jesus is alive. 00:06:33.419 --> 00:06:34.519 And he starts to worship. 00:06:34.519 --> 00:06:36.560 And that's basically the whole of it. 00:06:37.519 --> 00:06:40.039 And verse 38 is really the turning point. 00:06:40.899 --> 00:06:43.979 A lot of commentators will point this out because in verse 38, he says, 00:06:44.579 --> 00:06:45.959 but God gives the body. 00:06:46.779 --> 00:06:50.299 So people in this day are saying, but Paul, how could somebody be raised from the dead? 00:06:50.319 --> 00:06:53.259 And he says in verse 38, God can do it. 00:06:53.560 --> 00:06:55.839 And then he just starts to worship at the end of this passage. 00:06:56.359 --> 00:06:58.419 And that's really the whole of it. 00:06:58.439 --> 00:07:02.799 We said last week, if there is no resurrection of the dead, God is not God. 00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:07.540 Paul says you can go worship a different God altogether if Jesus is not alive. 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:10.100 If there is no resurrection, God is not God. 00:07:10.500 --> 00:07:13.600 But the God who raised Jesus Christ from the dead can raise you. 00:07:14.480 --> 00:07:16.020 He can raise you from the dead. 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:16.819 He has that power. 00:07:16.819 --> 00:07:21.699 Now, let's get into the details a little bit. 00:07:22.779 --> 00:07:26.779 Paul is dealing with skepticism in Corinth. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:30.920 And that's why the text begins in verse 35 by him saying, 00:07:31.360 --> 00:07:33.240 but somebody is going to ask a question. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:38.500 So he's basically just saying there's going to be objections. 00:07:39.379 --> 00:07:40.819 Somebody is going to object to what I'm saying. 00:07:41.600 --> 00:07:42.360 What is the objection? 00:07:42.800 --> 00:07:45.340 Somebody is going to ask, how are the dead raised? 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:48.460 And you can see that he's dealing with something that's frustrating him. 00:07:48.500 --> 00:07:50.980 He says, oh, foolish person for asking a question like that. 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:55.319 Because basically what's happening is people are making fun of the concept of the resurrection. 00:07:56.660 --> 00:07:59.980 And in this time in Greek philosophy, people are saying things like, 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:05.040 how can it be that when somebody's body goes down into the grave and they decay, 00:08:05.040 --> 00:08:09.319 or let's say in our time they're cremated, we ask these same questions, 00:08:09.900 --> 00:08:12.700 and their particles go into dust and they become dust. 00:08:12.760 --> 00:08:15.720 He's saying, you and Corinth, some of you have been making fun of that and saying, 00:08:15.819 --> 00:08:18.939 oh, Paul, you've been talking about resurrection, but how is it that, 00:08:19.620 --> 00:08:23.420 are all the dust particles that have fed the grass going to come back together? 00:08:24.540 --> 00:08:26.259 Is that what it's going to look, in other words, they're saying, 00:08:26.540 --> 00:08:29.000 are we looking for a zombie apocalypse situation? 00:08:29.839 --> 00:08:32.259 So is it going to be that when the resurrection happens, 00:08:32.360 --> 00:08:35.519 people are going to have their particles come back together in a bandaged way? 00:08:35.600 --> 00:08:37.500 They're going to stick their arms through the dirt? 00:08:38.320 --> 00:08:43.899 In the same way we say, what exactly should we think about how the resurrection works? 00:08:43.980 --> 00:08:46.320 How could a person have a resurrection body? 00:08:47.299 --> 00:08:51.019 Anthony Thistleton, one commentator, he puts it a little more elegantly 00:08:51.019 --> 00:08:53.059 than zombie apocalypse language. 00:08:53.059 --> 00:08:57.100 He says, they're asking, can we conceive of such a thing, 00:08:57.100 --> 00:08:59.100 such an impossible thing, 00:08:59.779 --> 00:09:03.860 that somebody who has died and decayed could come back from the dead? 00:09:04.620 --> 00:09:06.540 And he says, what are the mechanics of that? 00:09:07.000 --> 00:09:07.879 How could that work? 00:09:08.000 --> 00:09:09.879 That's the objection that's coming up in Corinth. 00:09:10.639 --> 00:09:15.340 And now, we can think about that in a Greek perspective. 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:18.639 The Epicurean philosophers were saying, 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:20.519 once somebody disintegrates, they don't come back together. 00:09:21.080 --> 00:09:23.200 And in the same way, we can think about objections 00:09:23.200 --> 00:09:25.120 that come up to the resurrection in our time. 00:09:25.399 --> 00:09:26.620 It's very similar for us today. 00:09:27.100 --> 00:09:32.700 And in our time, I think the most common view, 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.659 counter to the idea of the Christian resurrection, 00:09:36.460 --> 00:09:39.399 is that people will say that death is normal. 00:09:40.399 --> 00:09:42.240 Even though they'll say, death is a friend. 00:09:43.500 --> 00:09:44.980 Death is something that you can befriend, 00:09:45.100 --> 00:09:46.480 that you can count as simply normal. 00:09:47.980 --> 00:09:51.139 Dylan Thomas has that famous line I quoted earlier, 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:54.139 where we say, I rage, I rage against the dying of the light. 00:09:54.139 --> 00:09:58.080 But we often don't read the next line right after that. 00:09:58.139 --> 00:09:58.879 And this is what he says, 00:09:59.539 --> 00:09:59.740 those, 00:10:00.139 --> 00:10:01.639 though wise men at their end, 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.080 know dark is right. 00:10:04.319 --> 00:10:05.179 So we rage, 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:06.600 we rage against the dying of the light. 00:10:06.720 --> 00:10:09.399 He wrote that for his father on his deathbed. 00:10:09.519 --> 00:10:10.600 But the very next line, 00:10:11.159 --> 00:10:12.439 though wise men, 00:10:12.440 --> 00:10:14.140 at their end, 00:10:14.540 --> 00:10:16.900 know the dark is right. 00:10:17.820 --> 00:10:18.700 What was he saying? 00:10:18.740 --> 00:10:19.240 He was saying, 00:10:19.880 --> 00:10:20.080 yes, 00:10:20.160 --> 00:10:21.160 on the one hand, 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:22.280 we modern people, 00:10:22.420 --> 00:10:23.180 we hate death. 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:25.320 And we say, 00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:26.300 I will not go gently. 00:10:26.960 --> 00:10:27.920 But at the same time, 00:10:27.960 --> 00:10:28.380 he was saying, 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:30.500 but we know as modern people as well, 00:10:31.080 --> 00:10:31.940 death is right. 00:10:32.040 --> 00:10:32.560 It's good. 00:10:32.700 --> 00:10:33.640 It has to be that way. 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:36.539 It's part of the natural process. 00:10:37.580 --> 00:10:38.059 And so many, 00:10:38.199 --> 00:10:39.980 many people in our culture today would say, 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.279 death is not an enemy. 00:10:41.439 --> 00:10:42.139 Death is a friend. 00:10:43.399 --> 00:10:44.460 Death is necessary. 00:10:44.699 --> 00:10:46.019 Death is part of the natural order. 00:10:46.199 --> 00:10:47.159 It has to be that way 00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:49.039 if we're going to continue as a species, 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:51.379 if we're going to survive in this world. 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:53.939 And so the naturalist position, 00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:54.720 that's what that's called. 00:10:54.819 --> 00:10:56.259 There's a man named Todd May 00:10:56.259 --> 00:10:58.419 who wrote a book called Death. 00:10:59.039 --> 00:11:00.659 And he's an atheist philosopher. 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:02.259 And I really appreciated it 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:03.360 because he was very honest. 00:11:04.299 --> 00:11:05.299 And he writes this, 00:11:06.500 --> 00:11:07.759 I know that death is necessary, 00:11:07.959 --> 00:11:09.480 but I hate to think about it. 00:11:10.679 --> 00:11:11.559 And he says, 00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:13.819 the silence that is death, 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.759 the idea of me 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:18.399 not being here any longer, 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:20.759 it's something else entirely. 00:11:21.459 --> 00:11:23.600 It seems to resist fault altogether. 00:11:23.879 --> 00:11:25.959 It's a wall that my mind runs up against 00:11:25.959 --> 00:11:27.759 without being able to penetrate 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:29.220 or find its way around it. 00:11:29.220 --> 00:11:30.980 It confronts me 00:11:30.980 --> 00:11:32.700 as an incomprehensibility. 00:11:33.279 --> 00:11:34.019 Sometimes I wonder, 00:11:34.720 --> 00:11:35.740 what is the point 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:37.840 if death is to undermine 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:38.820 all the meaning 00:11:38.820 --> 00:11:40.120 that I've created in my life? 00:11:41.800 --> 00:11:43.080 Now, we ignore death 00:11:43.080 --> 00:11:44.040 as much as we can 00:11:44.040 --> 00:11:44.940 as modern people 00:11:44.940 --> 00:11:45.800 because we don't see it 00:11:45.800 --> 00:11:47.000 as much as people used to see it. 00:11:47.600 --> 00:11:48.720 It's behind closed doors. 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.100 It's under sedation. 00:11:51.240 --> 00:11:51.399 Right? 00:11:51.759 --> 00:11:52.160 Or, 00:11:52.560 --> 00:11:53.680 we call it normal. 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:56.160 And we might even call it a friend. 00:11:56.159 --> 00:12:00.779 And remember what Mufasa said about it. 00:12:02.839 --> 00:12:03.240 Remember? 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:04.319 He said, 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:07.100 Simba and Mufasa, 00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:07.519 what do they do? 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:08.559 They eat the antelopes 00:12:08.559 --> 00:12:11.059 and then they die 00:12:11.059 --> 00:12:12.079 and they become grass 00:12:12.079 --> 00:12:13.279 and the antelopes eat the grass 00:12:13.279 --> 00:12:14.980 and it's the circle of life 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:15.600 and it's beautiful. 00:12:16.659 --> 00:12:17.000 Right? 00:12:17.959 --> 00:12:18.299 But, 00:12:18.699 --> 00:12:20.059 I don't know if you've ever seen 00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:21.600 a lion eat an antelope. 00:12:21.659 --> 00:12:22.819 It's not that beautiful. 00:12:22.820 --> 00:12:25.020 But far beyond that, 00:12:25.120 --> 00:12:25.879 have you ever seen 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:26.820 a human being die? 00:12:28.680 --> 00:12:28.840 See, 00:12:28.980 --> 00:12:29.060 death, 00:12:30.340 --> 00:12:31.200 Paul's saying something 00:12:31.200 --> 00:12:31.620 very different. 00:12:31.720 --> 00:12:32.520 Death is not a friend. 00:12:33.800 --> 00:12:34.660 Death is ugly. 00:12:36.540 --> 00:12:38.720 And in our modern advances 00:12:38.720 --> 00:12:39.100 in medicine, 00:12:39.220 --> 00:12:40.140 we're able to sedate 00:12:40.140 --> 00:12:41.320 and we're able to 00:12:41.320 --> 00:12:42.920 push back the ugliness 00:12:42.920 --> 00:12:43.460 in a way, 00:12:44.340 --> 00:12:45.520 but it always comes out. 00:12:46.640 --> 00:12:47.340 Death is ugly. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:48.080 It's not beautiful. 00:12:49.060 --> 00:12:49.940 Death is an intruder. 00:12:50.360 --> 00:12:51.080 Death is an enemy. 00:12:51.520 --> 00:12:52.320 Death is punishment. 00:12:52.820 --> 00:12:53.820 Death is a sin. 00:12:54.360 --> 00:12:55.320 And the Greeks, 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:57.060 knowing that 00:12:57.060 --> 00:12:58.400 there wasn't going to be 00:12:58.400 --> 00:12:59.680 a physical afterlife, 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:00.580 that's what they thought, 00:13:00.700 --> 00:13:01.800 they would say things like, 00:13:02.280 --> 00:13:03.600 will anybody remember me 00:13:03.600 --> 00:13:04.340 after I die? 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:05.220 You remember Achilles, 00:13:05.420 --> 00:13:05.580 you know, 00:13:05.600 --> 00:13:05.920 he said, 00:13:06.180 --> 00:13:07.000 I will go into battle 00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.580 and I die 00:13:07.580 --> 00:13:08.600 as long as they raise 00:13:08.600 --> 00:13:09.360 a statue for me. 00:13:10.200 --> 00:13:11.180 And that was the greatest hope 00:13:11.180 --> 00:13:12.520 is that you might be remembered. 00:13:12.640 --> 00:13:13.860 But is anybody remembered? 00:13:14.780 --> 00:13:15.379 Think about it. 00:13:15.460 --> 00:13:16.140 Can any of you 00:13:16.140 --> 00:13:17.860 say anything 00:13:17.860 --> 00:13:18.720 about your great, 00:13:18.740 --> 00:13:19.500 great grandparents? 00:13:20.700 --> 00:13:21.060 Maybe, 00:13:21.059 --> 00:13:22.239 maybe some of us, 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:23.039 the oldest in the room, 00:13:23.159 --> 00:13:24.219 maybe could say their names. 00:13:24.399 --> 00:13:24.659 Maybe. 00:13:25.339 --> 00:13:26.079 But most of us, 00:13:26.139 --> 00:13:27.119 not a single word. 00:13:27.259 --> 00:13:28.419 We can't say anything about them. 00:13:29.119 --> 00:13:29.719 There's a famous 00:13:29.719 --> 00:13:32.439 tale by Percy Shelley 00:13:32.439 --> 00:13:34.459 called Ozymandias. 00:13:35.599 --> 00:13:36.279 He was the husband 00:13:36.279 --> 00:13:36.979 of Mary Shelley 00:13:36.979 --> 00:13:37.659 who wrote the book 00:13:37.659 --> 00:13:38.319 Frankenstein. 00:13:38.819 --> 00:13:39.699 Shout out to Edinburgh 00:13:39.699 --> 00:13:40.539 for inspiring 00:13:40.539 --> 00:13:41.159 Frankenstein, 00:13:41.239 --> 00:13:41.519 the book. 00:13:41.519 --> 00:13:44.019 And Percy wrote 00:13:44.019 --> 00:13:44.659 a little tale, 00:13:44.799 --> 00:13:45.480 a short little tale 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:46.179 about a man 00:13:46.179 --> 00:13:48.039 who was out in the desert 00:13:48.039 --> 00:13:49.259 and he writes this, 00:13:49.319 --> 00:13:50.639 I met a traveler 00:13:50.639 --> 00:13:52.120 from an antique land 00:13:52.120 --> 00:13:53.179 who told me 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:54.439 about a desert monument 00:13:54.439 --> 00:13:56.019 and on the pedestal 00:13:56.019 --> 00:13:56.980 these words appear, 00:13:57.579 --> 00:13:59.480 my name is Ozymandias, 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.600 king of kings. 00:14:01.419 --> 00:14:02.600 Look upon my works, 00:14:02.679 --> 00:14:03.120 ye mighty, 00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.259 in despair. 00:14:04.259 --> 00:14:07.840 But nothing beside 00:14:07.840 --> 00:14:09.139 remains. 00:14:10.100 --> 00:14:10.879 Round the decay 00:14:10.879 --> 00:14:12.000 of that colossal wreck, 00:14:12.220 --> 00:14:13.100 boundless and bare, 00:14:13.559 --> 00:14:14.899 the lone and level sands 00:14:14.899 --> 00:14:16.279 stretch far away. 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:18.559 Even the greatest people 00:14:18.559 --> 00:14:19.500 in all of world history 00:14:19.500 --> 00:14:20.240 that have done the most, 00:14:20.360 --> 00:14:21.460 nobody really remembers them. 00:14:22.220 --> 00:14:22.919 And nobody will. 00:14:23.779 --> 00:14:24.360 Happy Easter. 00:14:26.259 --> 00:14:26.980 Right? 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:29.259 You walk through 00:14:29.259 --> 00:14:30.440 a graveyard, 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.820 have you had this experience 00:14:31.820 --> 00:14:32.080 where 00:14:32.080 --> 00:14:35.100 you walk through 00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:35.580 a graveyard 00:14:35.580 --> 00:14:36.279 and 00:14:36.279 --> 00:14:38.779 you enjoy it, 00:14:38.820 --> 00:14:39.620 you see the beauty 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.240 of a graveyard 00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:40.980 right in a way 00:14:40.980 --> 00:14:41.700 and you look at 00:14:41.700 --> 00:14:42.340 the headstones 00:14:42.340 --> 00:14:43.539 and you read about 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:44.180 all these people 00:14:44.180 --> 00:14:45.320 and you think, 00:14:45.440 --> 00:14:45.620 wow, 00:14:45.820 --> 00:14:46.620 I wonder what their story 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:47.120 was like. 00:14:47.600 --> 00:14:47.940 And you see, 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:48.720 when did they die, 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:49.580 when were they born, 00:14:49.639 --> 00:14:50.120 when did they die, 00:14:50.200 --> 00:14:51.480 how long did they live, 00:14:51.740 --> 00:14:52.700 what caused their death, 00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:53.720 you look for things like that 00:14:53.720 --> 00:14:54.360 all in the graveyard. 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:55.620 But at the end of the day, 00:14:55.700 --> 00:14:56.620 at the end of the day, 00:14:56.620 --> 00:14:57.720 what you realize is what? 00:14:58.360 --> 00:14:59.200 You don't know anybody 00:14:59.200 --> 00:15:00.100 in the graveyard. 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:00.960 Not really. 00:15:02.179 --> 00:15:02.779 And you realize 00:15:02.779 --> 00:15:03.960 your name 00:15:03.960 --> 00:15:04.720 is going to be there. 00:15:06.480 --> 00:15:07.240 And one day, 00:15:07.299 --> 00:15:07.740 what's left 00:15:07.740 --> 00:15:08.360 is going to say, 00:15:08.539 --> 00:15:09.480 here lies 00:15:09.480 --> 00:15:10.460 Corey. 00:15:12.039 --> 00:15:12.820 And somebody's 00:15:12.820 --> 00:15:13.460 going to walk by 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.179 and they're going to say, 00:15:14.500 --> 00:15:14.700 oh, 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:15.320 when was he born? 00:15:15.399 --> 00:15:15.980 When did he die? 00:15:16.440 --> 00:15:17.620 Is there a single line 00:15:17.620 --> 00:15:18.419 about who he was? 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:19.639 And they'll know nothing. 00:15:19.960 --> 00:15:20.080 Right? 00:15:20.960 --> 00:15:22.019 And that's all of us. 00:15:22.500 --> 00:15:23.740 We all are facing that. 00:15:23.799 --> 00:15:24.740 We're all facing death. 00:15:24.740 --> 00:15:25.740 And the naturalist 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.379 naturalist, 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:28.139 the naturalist, 00:15:28.200 --> 00:15:28.960 the modern naturalist 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:29.639 comes and says, 00:15:29.940 --> 00:15:30.259 you see, 00:15:30.460 --> 00:15:31.200 that's a good thing 00:15:31.200 --> 00:15:31.879 because death 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.200 brings meaning to life. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.519 And if that wasn't 00:15:35.519 --> 00:15:36.340 going to be the case, 00:15:36.379 --> 00:15:37.560 I would never appreciate 00:15:37.560 --> 00:15:38.899 life as it is today. 00:15:40.080 --> 00:15:41.340 I wouldn't have any meaning 00:15:41.340 --> 00:15:42.360 in my life right now. 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:44.759 Paul comes with 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.720 a very different idea. 00:15:46.539 --> 00:15:47.360 And he says, 00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.659 death does not bring 00:15:48.659 --> 00:15:50.060 meaning to life. 00:15:50.560 --> 00:15:51.779 The resurrection does. 00:15:51.779 --> 00:15:54.240 Only the resurrection 00:15:54.240 --> 00:15:55.360 brings meaning to life. 00:15:56.600 --> 00:15:58.159 Death is an intruder, 00:15:58.360 --> 00:15:59.139 an ancient foe. 00:16:00.199 --> 00:16:01.319 And only the resurrection 00:16:01.319 --> 00:16:02.179 gives real meaning, 00:16:02.899 --> 00:16:03.659 real hope. 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:05.000 Death makes us, 00:16:05.000 --> 00:16:05.159 look, 00:16:05.240 --> 00:16:06.480 death makes us nameless. 00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:09.939 Christ remembers our name. 00:16:11.639 --> 00:16:12.740 How does he argue this? 00:16:12.779 --> 00:16:13.419 Verse 37, 00:16:13.879 --> 00:16:16.500 it feels like a complicated argument, 00:16:16.679 --> 00:16:17.620 but it's quite simple. 00:16:18.819 --> 00:16:19.059 He says, 00:16:19.059 --> 00:16:20.500 people in Corinth were saying, 00:16:20.799 --> 00:16:21.219 look, Paul, 00:16:21.899 --> 00:16:22.500 explain it. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:23.219 How does it happen? 00:16:23.319 --> 00:16:24.939 You're saying people's 00:16:24.939 --> 00:16:26.319 decayed body parts 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:27.739 will come back together somehow? 00:16:28.979 --> 00:16:29.619 And he says, 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:30.099 you foolish, 00:16:30.279 --> 00:16:31.279 that's a foolish question. 00:16:31.839 --> 00:16:32.339 And then he says, 00:16:32.419 --> 00:16:33.599 let me say this. 00:16:33.979 --> 00:16:35.000 He doesn't give us much, 00:16:35.079 --> 00:16:35.319 but he says, 00:16:35.359 --> 00:16:35.919 let me say this. 00:16:36.899 --> 00:16:38.299 You go down into the ground, 00:16:38.399 --> 00:16:39.939 you're sown like a seed. 00:16:41.819 --> 00:16:42.639 And in a way, 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.219 metaphorically, 00:16:43.339 --> 00:16:44.679 that seed dies. 00:16:45.119 --> 00:16:46.779 That seed goes down perishable, 00:16:46.779 --> 00:16:49.100 but you come up imperishable. 00:16:49.299 --> 00:16:51.240 You go down perishable, 00:16:52.319 --> 00:16:53.120 able to die. 00:16:53.519 --> 00:16:55.639 You come up imperishable, 00:16:56.199 --> 00:16:57.159 not able to die. 00:16:58.199 --> 00:16:58.459 He says, 00:16:58.519 --> 00:16:59.539 you go down in weakness, 00:16:59.819 --> 00:17:00.959 but you come up 00:17:00.959 --> 00:17:02.740 like a beautiful flower. 00:17:03.500 --> 00:17:04.279 That's the seed metaphor. 00:17:04.379 --> 00:17:05.559 You come up like a great oak tree. 00:17:06.220 --> 00:17:06.720 You come up, 00:17:07.720 --> 00:17:08.599 you go down in weakness, 00:17:08.680 --> 00:17:09.440 you come up in glory. 00:17:09.579 --> 00:17:10.359 That's his word for it. 00:17:10.399 --> 00:17:11.200 Doxa, glory. 00:17:11.339 --> 00:17:12.740 You come up gloriously, 00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:13.680 somehow, 00:17:13.680 --> 00:17:15.640 you go down mortal, 00:17:15.880 --> 00:17:17.240 but you come up immortal. 00:17:18.360 --> 00:17:18.860 He says, 00:17:18.940 --> 00:17:20.600 you go down bearing the marks of shame, 00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.220 dishonor is the word he uses, 00:17:22.380 --> 00:17:25.160 but you're raised in shamelessness, 00:17:25.240 --> 00:17:25.480 glory. 00:17:26.100 --> 00:17:26.900 That's his comparison. 00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:27.519 All light, 00:17:27.600 --> 00:17:27.960 all good. 00:17:29.060 --> 00:17:29.400 How, 00:17:29.640 --> 00:17:29.900 Paul, 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:31.120 the people were asking, 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:31.560 and he says, 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:32.160 verse 38, 00:17:32.560 --> 00:17:33.400 God does it. 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:35.900 God, 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:36.940 it's all God, 00:17:37.279 --> 00:17:37.860 top to bottom. 00:17:38.519 --> 00:17:39.900 God shall be all in all in that day. 00:17:39.980 --> 00:17:41.460 He shall be everything to everyone, 00:17:41.460 --> 00:17:42.940 he said in the last section. 00:17:42.940 --> 00:17:44.420 God does every bit of it. 00:17:45.140 --> 00:17:46.180 And he's telling us here, 00:17:46.460 --> 00:17:47.620 the resurrection body 00:17:47.620 --> 00:17:50.100 is of a different kind of glory 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:51.720 altogether to one we can imagine. 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.400 So he says, 00:17:53.539 --> 00:17:53.720 you know, 00:17:53.759 --> 00:17:55.480 the stars have a certain type of glory 00:17:55.480 --> 00:17:57.820 and animals have a certain type of glory 00:17:57.820 --> 00:17:59.019 and the stars are glorious 00:17:59.019 --> 00:17:59.279 and, 00:17:59.640 --> 00:17:59.759 you know, 00:17:59.799 --> 00:18:00.840 they've never sinned. 00:18:00.900 --> 00:18:01.840 They've never done anything wrong. 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.539 They're glorious. 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:03.740 And he says, 00:18:03.779 --> 00:18:04.720 but the resurrection body 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.620 is of a glory altogether different 00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:07.600 that we have yet to see, 00:18:07.660 --> 00:18:08.279 yet to imagine. 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:09.519 And he's saying, 00:18:09.580 --> 00:18:09.700 look, 00:18:09.700 --> 00:18:10.019 don't, 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:11.720 don't try to answer the question, 00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:13.319 what exactly happens? 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.440 What exactly is it like? 00:18:14.460 --> 00:18:14.779 He says, 00:18:14.880 --> 00:18:15.799 God will do it. 00:18:16.600 --> 00:18:18.079 If God raised Jesus Christ 00:18:18.079 --> 00:18:18.480 from the dead 00:18:18.480 --> 00:18:19.299 in the middle of history, 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:21.319 God can raise you from the dead 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:23.079 and it will be to a glory 00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:24.039 that you can't imagine 00:18:24.039 --> 00:18:25.240 that we have yet to see 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:26.200 in world history. 00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:27.660 He's, 00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:28.799 he's telling us that 00:18:28.799 --> 00:18:30.100 you shall be raised 00:18:30.100 --> 00:18:31.000 in Christ 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:31.740 to a glory 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.140 so great 00:18:33.140 --> 00:18:34.140 that today 00:18:34.140 --> 00:18:36.880 if you were allowed, 00:18:36.880 --> 00:18:37.620 if you were able 00:18:37.620 --> 00:18:38.740 to get to see a picture 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:41.100 of your future self, 00:18:41.620 --> 00:18:43.140 you would be strongly tempted 00:18:43.140 --> 00:18:43.580 to worship. 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.520 A glory beyond imagination. 00:18:46.840 --> 00:18:47.460 That's his answer. 00:18:48.480 --> 00:18:49.620 And to the question, 00:18:49.720 --> 00:18:50.640 how does it all work? 00:18:50.880 --> 00:18:51.060 You know, 00:18:51.140 --> 00:18:51.320 Paul, 00:18:51.400 --> 00:18:52.060 how does it all work? 00:18:52.420 --> 00:18:52.940 He just says, 00:18:53.040 --> 00:18:53.860 let God be God. 00:18:54.080 --> 00:18:54.840 God will do it. 00:18:55.560 --> 00:18:57.920 And the connection there he makes, 00:18:58.080 --> 00:18:58.460 he says, 00:18:58.540 --> 00:18:59.640 I will tell you this, 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.180 verse 49, 00:19:00.300 --> 00:19:00.600 he says, 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.880 here's how it works. 00:19:02.320 --> 00:19:03.680 Just as you were united 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.300 to Adam 00:19:04.300 --> 00:19:05.260 from the very beginning, 00:19:05.259 --> 00:19:06.879 everything that Adam deserved, 00:19:07.059 --> 00:19:07.480 you get 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.539 because you deserve it too. 00:19:09.420 --> 00:19:10.879 Adam merited death, 00:19:11.220 --> 00:19:12.240 so you merited death. 00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:14.460 Adam was guilty, 00:19:14.539 --> 00:19:15.119 so you're guilty. 00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:16.140 He says, 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.500 but in the second Adam, 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:19.019 everything that he deserved, 00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.099 now you get. 00:19:21.500 --> 00:19:22.000 Adam went, 00:19:22.119 --> 00:19:23.420 Adam went down in death, 00:19:23.420 --> 00:19:24.500 but the life, 00:19:25.339 --> 00:19:26.759 the one who was raised to life, 00:19:26.839 --> 00:19:27.319 he comes up 00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:28.519 and you get what he deserves. 00:19:29.240 --> 00:19:30.180 You get what he got. 00:19:30.819 --> 00:19:31.140 He says, 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.960 that's how it works. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.980 There's a question here 00:19:33.980 --> 00:19:35.119 that a lot of people will ask 00:19:35.119 --> 00:19:36.139 verse 44 and 45 00:19:36.139 --> 00:19:37.519 because Paul says, 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:40.959 you're sown in a natural body 00:19:40.959 --> 00:19:42.419 but raised in a spiritual body. 00:19:42.519 --> 00:19:43.159 Is he saying, 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.559 you go down physical 00:19:44.559 --> 00:19:45.699 but you come up spiritual? 00:19:45.959 --> 00:19:46.979 You come up ethereal? 00:19:47.899 --> 00:19:48.639 And here, 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:49.799 the important thing to see 00:19:49.799 --> 00:19:51.339 is that natural 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.619 equals sinful. 00:19:53.839 --> 00:19:55.339 Spiritual doesn't equal ethereal. 00:19:55.519 --> 00:19:56.519 Spiritual equals 00:19:56.519 --> 00:19:57.739 by the Holy Spirit, 00:19:57.899 --> 00:19:58.339 cleansed, 00:19:58.459 --> 00:19:58.699 pure. 00:19:59.619 --> 00:20:00.919 You go down natural, 00:20:01.079 --> 00:20:01.339 sinful, 00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:02.199 you come up, 00:20:02.619 --> 00:20:03.379 cleansed by the Spirit, 00:20:03.500 --> 00:20:03.779 pure, 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.299 glorious, 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:04.960 spotless. 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.779 Jesus Christ becomes for you 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:08.879 the life-giving Spirit. 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:10.259 He's so connected 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:11.079 to the Holy Spirit 00:20:11.079 --> 00:20:12.420 that when he's raised 00:20:12.420 --> 00:20:12.859 from the dead, 00:20:12.920 --> 00:20:13.899 he sends the Spirit 00:20:13.899 --> 00:20:14.960 to give you everything 00:20:14.960 --> 00:20:16.259 that he deserves. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:17.759 That's the resurrection. 00:20:18.039 --> 00:20:19.379 It's a glory beyond imagination. 00:20:20.660 --> 00:20:22.000 Jesus Christ gives you 00:20:22.000 --> 00:20:22.639 everything 00:20:22.639 --> 00:20:23.899 that he has purchased. 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:24.559 Now, 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:25.740 let me be practical. 00:20:25.940 --> 00:20:26.259 Secondly, 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.079 finally, 00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:30.500 that means that we have today 00:20:30.500 --> 00:20:31.220 a hope 00:20:31.220 --> 00:20:33.099 of a holistic glory. 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:37.579 Death has been defeated. 00:20:38.299 --> 00:20:38.939 We have the hope 00:20:38.939 --> 00:20:39.819 of a holistic glory. 00:20:40.460 --> 00:20:41.319 Very practical. 00:20:43.819 --> 00:20:44.699 Think today 00:20:44.699 --> 00:20:46.299 about your problems. 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:49.259 does anybody 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:49.639 today 00:20:49.639 --> 00:20:50.539 have fear 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:51.319 in their life 00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:51.680 right now? 00:20:53.019 --> 00:20:53.779 Does anybody 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.440 in the room today 00:20:54.440 --> 00:20:56.700 have unmet longings 00:20:56.700 --> 00:20:57.839 in your life? 00:20:58.680 --> 00:20:59.680 Hopes and dreams 00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:00.779 that have never been fulfilled? 00:21:01.879 --> 00:21:02.519 Does anybody 00:21:02.519 --> 00:21:02.940 today 00:21:02.940 --> 00:21:04.220 have guilt 00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:04.879 and shame? 00:21:05.899 --> 00:21:06.619 Does anybody 00:21:06.619 --> 00:21:07.440 in the room today 00:21:07.440 --> 00:21:08.500 have struggle 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:09.579 with things 00:21:09.579 --> 00:21:10.319 that you know 00:21:10.319 --> 00:21:10.940 are wrong 00:21:10.940 --> 00:21:12.240 but you can't put away? 00:21:13.139 --> 00:21:13.819 Does anybody 00:21:13.819 --> 00:21:14.440 today come 00:21:14.440 --> 00:21:15.279 with burdens 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:17.339 decisions 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:18.720 that are plaguing you? 00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:19.700 Does anybody 00:21:19.700 --> 00:21:20.319 in the room today 00:21:20.319 --> 00:21:20.740 come 00:21:20.740 --> 00:21:22.440 with an addiction? 00:21:23.680 --> 00:21:24.420 An addiction 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:25.059 of any kind? 00:21:25.859 --> 00:21:26.599 Does anybody 00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:27.019 in the room 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.599 come today 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.680 with a relationship 00:21:28.680 --> 00:21:29.279 in your life 00:21:29.279 --> 00:21:30.079 breaking down 00:21:30.079 --> 00:21:30.519 right now? 00:21:32.119 --> 00:21:33.319 Or a relationship 00:21:33.319 --> 00:21:34.039 that broke down 00:21:34.039 --> 00:21:34.980 a long time ago 00:21:34.980 --> 00:21:36.039 and it's never been repaired 00:21:36.039 --> 00:21:36.599 and you don't feel 00:21:36.599 --> 00:21:37.119 like it could be? 00:21:37.740 --> 00:21:38.240 Does anybody 00:21:38.240 --> 00:21:38.839 come today 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:39.720 with heartache? 00:21:39.819 --> 00:21:40.519 Do you have heartache 00:21:40.519 --> 00:21:40.779 today? 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:43.519 Are you coming 00:21:43.519 --> 00:21:45.059 thinking about 00:21:45.059 --> 00:21:45.619 and fearing 00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:46.079 your own 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:46.740 physical death? 00:21:47.399 --> 00:21:47.639 Do you have 00:21:47.639 --> 00:21:48.279 that kind of 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:48.639 heartache 00:21:48.639 --> 00:21:49.319 in your life 00:21:49.319 --> 00:21:49.639 right now? 00:21:50.200 --> 00:21:50.899 The gospel 00:21:50.899 --> 00:21:51.879 Paul's argument 00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:52.339 is this 00:21:52.339 --> 00:21:53.440 Jesus Christ 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:55.519 made your problems 00:21:55.519 --> 00:21:56.419 his problems 00:21:56.419 --> 00:21:58.259 when he went 00:21:58.259 --> 00:21:58.899 to the cross 00:21:58.899 --> 00:22:00.940 all of your problems 00:22:00.940 --> 00:22:02.279 became his problems 00:22:02.279 --> 00:22:04.659 and he died 00:22:04.659 --> 00:22:05.599 bearing their weight 00:22:05.599 --> 00:22:06.740 under the weight 00:22:06.740 --> 00:22:07.579 of their guilt 00:22:07.579 --> 00:22:09.519 every bit 00:22:09.519 --> 00:22:10.099 of problem 00:22:10.099 --> 00:22:10.539 that you have 00:22:10.539 --> 00:22:11.139 became his 00:22:11.139 --> 00:22:11.919 at the cross 00:22:11.919 --> 00:22:12.220 in the middle 00:22:12.220 --> 00:22:12.620 of history 00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:14.400 and 00:22:14.400 --> 00:22:16.299 we could say 00:22:16.299 --> 00:22:17.259 that's good news 00:22:17.259 --> 00:22:18.740 let us pray 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.640 no 00:22:19.640 --> 00:22:20.779 don't stop there 00:22:20.779 --> 00:22:22.880 second question 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.420 does anybody 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:23.860 here today 00:22:23.860 --> 00:22:24.480 have physical 00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:25.059 problems? 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:28.819 Do you got 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.740 joint issues? 00:22:30.519 --> 00:22:31.539 Is your 00:22:31.539 --> 00:22:33.259 gut digestion 00:22:33.259 --> 00:22:34.019 system 00:22:34.019 --> 00:22:34.660 not working 00:22:34.660 --> 00:22:35.160 quite like it 00:22:35.160 --> 00:22:35.539 used to? 00:22:36.900 --> 00:22:37.180 Right? 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:39.220 Anybody facing 00:22:39.220 --> 00:22:39.759 a diagnosis 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:40.420 in the room 00:22:40.420 --> 00:22:41.400 anybody struggling 00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:42.119 with their body 00:22:42.119 --> 00:22:42.819 in some way 00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:43.720 beauty 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.579 is fading 00:22:44.579 --> 00:22:47.019 and death 00:22:47.019 --> 00:22:47.480 is coming 00:22:47.480 --> 00:22:49.400 and Jesus 00:22:49.400 --> 00:22:49.779 Christ 00:22:49.779 --> 00:22:50.559 when he went 00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:50.960 to the cross 00:22:50.960 --> 00:22:51.440 he made 00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.519 your problems 00:22:52.519 --> 00:22:53.240 his problems 00:22:53.240 --> 00:22:53.740 but he didn't 00:22:53.740 --> 00:22:54.160 stop there 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:54.599 when he was 00:22:54.599 --> 00:22:55.440 raised to glory 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:57.420 when he was 00:22:57.420 --> 00:22:57.980 raised 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.980 your sins 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.640 were cleansed 00:22:59.640 --> 00:23:00.339 and forgiven 00:23:00.339 --> 00:23:00.740 forever 00:23:00.740 --> 00:23:01.559 but at the same 00:23:01.559 --> 00:23:02.480 time he promised 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:03.160 in that moment 00:23:03.160 --> 00:23:04.220 that he will deal 00:23:04.220 --> 00:23:05.059 with all your 00:23:05.059 --> 00:23:05.740 physical problems 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.119 as well 00:23:06.119 --> 00:23:08.440 do you think 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:09.420 do you think 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:09.799 today that 00:23:09.799 --> 00:23:10.380 Jesus Christ 00:23:10.380 --> 00:23:11.000 came to deal 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:11.740 with your guilt 00:23:11.740 --> 00:23:12.500 and your anxiety 00:23:12.500 --> 00:23:13.740 and your heartache 00:23:13.740 --> 00:23:15.160 but he didn't 00:23:15.160 --> 00:23:15.759 but he didn't 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.080 come to deal 00:23:16.080 --> 00:23:16.759 with your bad gut 00:23:16.759 --> 00:23:19.700 Jesus Christ 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.160 came to deal 00:23:20.160 --> 00:23:20.740 with every bit 00:23:20.740 --> 00:23:21.059 of it 00:23:21.059 --> 00:23:23.019 he came to deal 00:23:23.019 --> 00:23:23.920 with the heartache 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:24.320 and the sin 00:23:24.320 --> 00:23:24.640 and the guilt 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:25.000 and the shame 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:25.539 the addiction 00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.100 in your life 00:23:26.100 --> 00:23:26.720 and he came 00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:27.019 to deal 00:23:27.019 --> 00:23:27.640 with your joints 00:23:27.640 --> 00:23:31.420 the gospel 00:23:31.420 --> 00:23:32.059 is holistic 00:23:32.059 --> 00:23:33.180 the hope today 00:23:33.180 --> 00:23:34.240 the change 00:23:34.240 --> 00:23:35.240 that he brings 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:36.120 is holistic 00:23:36.120 --> 00:23:36.860 in the gospel 00:23:36.859 --> 00:23:38.559 and if you 00:23:38.559 --> 00:23:39.500 don't know that 00:23:39.500 --> 00:23:39.759 today 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.139 if you don't 00:23:40.139 --> 00:23:40.719 think like that 00:23:40.719 --> 00:23:41.139 you're thinking 00:23:41.139 --> 00:23:41.639 like a Greek 00:23:41.639 --> 00:23:42.079 philosopher 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:42.899 not like a Christian 00:23:42.899 --> 00:23:45.119 the gospel 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:45.559 that comes 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:46.019 is holistic 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:48.259 in his death 00:23:48.259 --> 00:23:49.059 and in his resurrection 00:23:49.059 --> 00:23:50.419 he took every bit 00:23:50.419 --> 00:23:51.240 of the curse 00:23:51.240 --> 00:23:51.839 upon himself 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:53.059 and he was raised 00:23:53.059 --> 00:23:53.579 to defeat 00:23:53.579 --> 00:23:54.240 every bit 00:23:54.240 --> 00:23:54.819 of death 00:23:54.819 --> 00:23:55.779 even the curse 00:23:55.779 --> 00:23:56.199 of the body 00:23:56.199 --> 00:23:57.279 let me say it 00:23:57.279 --> 00:23:57.679 practically 00:23:57.679 --> 00:23:59.339 illustratively 00:23:59.339 --> 00:24:01.579 I don't know 00:24:01.579 --> 00:24:02.459 if you've seen 00:24:02.459 --> 00:24:02.859 the film 00:24:02.859 --> 00:24:03.979 The Betts Feast 00:24:03.979 --> 00:24:05.439 it's one of the 00:24:05.439 --> 00:24:06.519 great movies 00:24:06.519 --> 00:24:07.940 of the 20th century 00:24:07.940 --> 00:24:09.039 one of the great 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.379 Christian films 00:24:10.379 --> 00:24:11.079 we might say 00:24:11.079 --> 00:24:11.980 won an Oscar 00:24:11.980 --> 00:24:14.339 but in The Betts Feast 00:24:14.339 --> 00:24:15.720 there's this village 00:24:15.720 --> 00:24:16.819 this Danish village 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:18.720 and in this Danish village 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:19.379 there's these 00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:20.240 Christian 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:21.519 pietists 00:24:21.519 --> 00:24:22.680 a sect of Christians 00:24:22.680 --> 00:24:23.319 that have moved 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:24.099 away from the city 00:24:24.099 --> 00:24:25.559 they live by themselves 00:24:25.559 --> 00:24:26.519 out far away 00:24:26.519 --> 00:24:27.680 from everybody else 00:24:27.680 --> 00:24:29.639 and they're very committed 00:24:29.639 --> 00:24:30.799 to not enjoying 00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:32.660 any physical pleasures 00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:33.940 any sensual pleasures 00:24:33.940 --> 00:24:34.559 at all 00:24:34.559 --> 00:24:36.119 so it's a very 00:24:36.119 --> 00:24:36.819 bland lifestyle 00:24:36.819 --> 00:24:37.220 they say 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.119 one must not 00:24:38.119 --> 00:24:38.859 enjoy food 00:24:38.859 --> 00:24:40.119 one must not 00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:40.799 enjoy color 00:24:40.799 --> 00:24:42.819 and so they wear 00:24:42.819 --> 00:24:43.839 very bland clothing 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:45.220 they eat the same meal 00:24:45.220 --> 00:24:45.579 every day 00:24:45.579 --> 00:24:46.399 very bland meals 00:24:46.399 --> 00:24:49.539 and one day 00:24:49.539 --> 00:24:50.899 while they're in the 00:24:50.899 --> 00:24:51.679 midst of that cycle 00:24:51.679 --> 00:24:52.279 of working 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.839 and praying 00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:54.099 never enjoying life 00:24:54.099 --> 00:24:54.579 in any way 00:24:54.579 --> 00:24:56.200 this French woman 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.220 named Babette 00:24:57.220 --> 00:24:57.799 shows up 00:24:57.799 --> 00:24:59.139 and she's from Paris 00:24:59.139 --> 00:25:00.440 and she's run 00:25:00.440 --> 00:25:01.539 because of the revolution 00:25:01.539 --> 00:25:02.220 that's happening 00:25:02.220 --> 00:25:02.620 in Paris 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.279 and she's come 00:25:03.279 --> 00:25:04.400 to this 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:05.680 pietist community 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.339 and she asks them 00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:08.259 for room and board 00:25:08.259 --> 00:25:10.240 and they say 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:10.400 you know 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:11.200 we can't pay you 00:25:11.200 --> 00:25:12.240 we can't afford this 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:13.319 but you can work for us 00:25:13.319 --> 00:25:13.720 so she says 00:25:13.720 --> 00:25:14.360 walk and cook 00:25:14.360 --> 00:25:15.079 so she cooks 00:25:15.079 --> 00:25:16.120 she makes their meals 00:25:16.120 --> 00:25:18.700 and after all 00:25:18.700 --> 00:25:19.319 they do for her 00:25:19.319 --> 00:25:19.960 they give her 00:25:19.960 --> 00:25:20.660 a place to live 00:25:20.660 --> 00:25:21.860 they love her 00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:23.100 so she says 00:25:23.100 --> 00:25:23.900 I want to pay you back 00:25:23.900 --> 00:25:25.200 I want to show my appreciation 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:26.640 I want to make 00:25:26.640 --> 00:25:27.880 one great meal for you 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:30.600 and so she starts 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.460 to bring in 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.260 all this food 00:25:32.260 --> 00:25:32.980 from Paris 00:25:32.980 --> 00:25:33.660 because she has 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.100 connections 00:25:34.100 --> 00:25:36.200 and the people 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:37.260 of the community 00:25:37.260 --> 00:25:37.960 the congregation 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.200 they start to see it 00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:39.600 and they say 00:25:39.600 --> 00:25:39.880 boy 00:25:39.880 --> 00:25:41.560 we're not going to be 00:25:41.560 --> 00:25:42.780 allowed to eat this 00:25:42.780 --> 00:25:44.660 this would cause us 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.080 sin 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:46.560 the sensual pleasure 00:25:46.560 --> 00:25:47.140 that would come out 00:25:47.140 --> 00:25:47.580 of this food 00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:48.400 would cause us 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:48.820 to sin 00:25:48.820 --> 00:25:49.500 against God 00:25:49.500 --> 00:25:51.200 and so they gather 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.540 together 00:25:51.540 --> 00:25:51.940 they have a 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.840 congregational meeting 00:25:52.840 --> 00:25:53.720 and they decide 00:25:53.720 --> 00:25:53.980 alright 00:25:53.980 --> 00:25:54.640 we don't want to 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.380 shame Babette 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.460 so what we're going to do 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.440 is we're going to eat 00:25:57.440 --> 00:25:57.860 the meal 00:25:57.860 --> 00:25:58.680 but we're going to 00:25:58.680 --> 00:25:59.319 be sure that we 00:25:59.319 --> 00:26:00.340 never express 00:26:00.340 --> 00:26:01.140 any enjoyment 00:26:01.140 --> 00:26:03.519 and so they do that 00:26:03.519 --> 00:26:04.240 they come to the meal 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:06.120 they come to the meal 00:26:06.120 --> 00:26:06.460 and 00:26:06.460 --> 00:26:09.039 it's a wonderful meal 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:10.539 and you know 00:26:10.539 --> 00:26:10.799 they say 00:26:10.799 --> 00:26:11.259 we're committed 00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:11.759 we're not going to 00:26:11.759 --> 00:26:13.539 say that we even 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:14.360 liked it for a second 00:26:14.360 --> 00:26:15.539 we're not going to 00:26:15.539 --> 00:26:16.200 ever show that 00:26:16.200 --> 00:26:16.640 because that would 00:26:16.640 --> 00:26:17.120 be a sin 00:26:17.120 --> 00:26:18.220 and you know 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.740 what happens 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:20.360 they take the first bite 00:26:20.360 --> 00:26:21.360 right 00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:22.640 and 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.559 I won't tell you 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.319 all the movie 00:26:24.319 --> 00:26:25.220 but I will tell you this 00:26:25.220 --> 00:26:26.140 because it came out 00:26:26.140 --> 00:26:26.920 a long time ago 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:27.540 alright 00:26:27.540 --> 00:26:28.560 so sorry 00:26:28.560 --> 00:26:30.520 but Babette 00:26:30.520 --> 00:26:31.620 just happens to be 00:26:31.620 --> 00:26:33.080 a master chef 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.060 from the city of Paris 00:26:34.060 --> 00:26:35.680 and 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.700 they take the first bite 00:26:36.700 --> 00:26:37.620 and you start to see 00:26:37.620 --> 00:26:37.960 you know 00:26:37.960 --> 00:26:38.480 they're struggling 00:26:38.480 --> 00:26:38.980 they're fighting 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:40.280 against the light 00:26:40.280 --> 00:26:41.120 right 00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:42.560 and 00:26:42.560 --> 00:26:43.560 now you've got to 00:26:43.560 --> 00:26:44.140 go watch it 00:26:44.140 --> 00:26:44.540 okay 00:26:44.540 --> 00:26:48.259 don't let your 00:26:48.259 --> 00:26:49.500 Christianity be tied up 00:26:49.500 --> 00:26:50.180 in Greek philosophy 00:26:50.180 --> 00:26:50.740 like that 00:26:50.740 --> 00:26:53.460 know that 00:26:53.460 --> 00:26:54.600 God 00:26:54.600 --> 00:26:55.759 loves the physical 00:26:55.759 --> 00:26:57.619 he made it 00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.400 and in the resurrection 00:26:58.400 --> 00:26:59.019 he says 00:26:59.019 --> 00:26:59.960 I came to deal 00:26:59.960 --> 00:27:00.680 with every bit 00:27:00.680 --> 00:27:01.180 of the problems 00:27:01.180 --> 00:27:01.759 of your heart 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:03.519 and I came to deal 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:04.039 with every bit 00:27:04.039 --> 00:27:04.359 of the problems 00:27:04.359 --> 00:27:04.920 of your body 00:27:04.920 --> 00:27:07.259 and I'm going to do it 00:27:07.259 --> 00:27:08.920 and Jesus Christ 00:27:08.920 --> 00:27:09.740 is the first fruits 00:27:09.740 --> 00:27:10.400 of the great harvest 00:27:10.400 --> 00:27:10.980 that is to come 00:27:10.980 --> 00:27:12.759 and so let me finish 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.079 with this 00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:14.099 the resurrection hope 00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:15.599 is for today 00:27:15.599 --> 00:27:16.319 it's for right now 00:27:16.319 --> 00:27:17.039 we don't have to wait 00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:17.940 the resurrection matters 00:27:17.940 --> 00:27:18.660 for this very moment 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.200 let me tell you 00:27:19.200 --> 00:27:20.400 three ways it does 00:27:20.400 --> 00:27:21.240 and I'll just list them 00:27:21.240 --> 00:27:21.720 and be done 00:27:21.720 --> 00:27:22.019 okay 00:27:22.019 --> 00:27:22.920 number one 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:24.060 in verse 58 00:27:24.060 --> 00:27:24.900 at the very end 00:27:24.900 --> 00:27:25.539 he says 00:27:25.539 --> 00:27:26.539 at the very end 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.140 of the passage 00:27:27.140 --> 00:27:29.160 therefore my beloved 00:27:29.160 --> 00:27:29.980 brothers and sisters 00:27:29.980 --> 00:27:30.860 be steadfast 00:27:30.860 --> 00:27:31.700 be immovable 00:27:31.700 --> 00:27:33.820 abounding always 00:27:33.820 --> 00:27:34.660 in the work of the Lord 00:27:34.660 --> 00:27:35.779 knowing that your labor 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.720 is not in vain 00:27:36.720 --> 00:27:38.820 now he says here 00:27:38.820 --> 00:27:41.460 that because of the resurrection 00:27:41.460 --> 00:27:43.460 because there is a life 00:27:43.460 --> 00:27:44.320 that is to come 00:27:44.320 --> 00:27:46.480 you can die 00:27:46.480 --> 00:27:47.460 in this life 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.960 but the most important way 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:49.340 to die 00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:49.820 is to die 00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.480 to yourself 00:27:50.480 --> 00:27:53.700 so everything you do 00:27:53.700 --> 00:27:54.339 when you die 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:54.679 to yourself 00:27:54.679 --> 00:27:55.220 and you live 00:27:55.220 --> 00:27:55.720 for Christ 00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:56.279 in this life 00:27:56.279 --> 00:27:56.659 Christian 00:27:56.659 --> 00:27:57.819 your labor 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.700 is not in vain 00:27:58.700 --> 00:27:59.539 it will matter 00:27:59.539 --> 00:28:00.019 forever 00:28:00.019 --> 00:28:01.599 so he says 00:28:01.599 --> 00:28:02.279 be steadfast 00:28:02.279 --> 00:28:03.039 be immovable 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.460 die to yourself 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.139 let the resurrection 00:28:05.139 --> 00:28:05.799 matter for you 00:28:05.799 --> 00:28:06.339 right now 00:28:06.339 --> 00:28:07.379 by giving up 00:28:07.379 --> 00:28:07.720 your hopes 00:28:07.720 --> 00:28:08.319 and your dreams 00:28:08.319 --> 00:28:09.519 that are selfish ambitions 00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:11.039 and live unto Christ 00:28:11.039 --> 00:28:12.859 holistically 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.579 live for him 00:28:13.579 --> 00:28:14.399 every single day 00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:15.919 he's saying 00:28:15.919 --> 00:28:16.519 to us 00:28:16.519 --> 00:28:17.240 that living 00:28:17.240 --> 00:28:18.079 for self 00:28:18.079 --> 00:28:19.960 is very very boring 00:28:19.960 --> 00:28:22.559 but dying to self 00:28:22.559 --> 00:28:23.579 and living for something 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.899 like resurrection life 00:28:24.899 --> 00:28:25.939 is thrilling 00:28:25.939 --> 00:28:27.319 it's a purpose 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:28.439 that's far far better 00:28:28.439 --> 00:28:29.519 number two 00:28:29.519 --> 00:28:31.919 as you face death 00:28:31.919 --> 00:28:32.500 in this life 00:28:32.500 --> 00:28:33.299 and all of us are 00:28:33.299 --> 00:28:34.960 maybe you've 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:35.679 you've had an experience 00:28:35.679 --> 00:28:36.099 recently 00:28:36.099 --> 00:28:36.740 that's brought 00:28:36.740 --> 00:28:37.720 the reality of death 00:28:37.720 --> 00:28:38.379 a little closer 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.199 to home to your heart 00:28:39.199 --> 00:28:40.659 that the tombstone 00:28:40.659 --> 00:28:41.220 is coming 00:28:41.220 --> 00:28:42.099 here lies 00:28:42.099 --> 00:28:42.839 it's on the way 00:28:42.839 --> 00:28:43.079 right 00:28:43.079 --> 00:28:44.779 and so we've 00:28:44.779 --> 00:28:45.319 got to prepare 00:28:45.319 --> 00:28:45.859 for that 00:28:45.859 --> 00:28:47.359 and so as you face 00:28:47.359 --> 00:28:48.019 death today 00:28:48.019 --> 00:28:48.679 the resurrection 00:28:48.679 --> 00:28:49.819 matters right now 00:28:49.819 --> 00:28:50.339 for you 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:52.859 verse 56 00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:54.439 he says 00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.599 the sting of death 00:28:55.599 --> 00:28:56.339 is sin 00:28:56.339 --> 00:28:57.740 a little bit 00:28:57.740 --> 00:28:58.479 hard to understand 00:28:58.479 --> 00:28:59.019 that verse 00:28:59.019 --> 00:29:00.519 but the sting 00:29:00.519 --> 00:29:01.259 the word for sting 00:29:01.259 --> 00:29:02.219 here typically 00:29:02.219 --> 00:29:02.699 references 00:29:02.699 --> 00:29:04.500 a scorpion stinger 00:29:04.500 --> 00:29:06.979 and so he's 00:29:06.979 --> 00:29:07.379 saying here 00:29:07.379 --> 00:29:07.740 the sting 00:29:07.740 --> 00:29:08.519 the sting 00:29:08.519 --> 00:29:09.179 of a scorpion 00:29:09.179 --> 00:29:09.500 you think 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.379 the scorpion 00:29:10.379 --> 00:29:10.939 gets on you 00:29:10.939 --> 00:29:12.579 hopefully that'll 00:29:12.579 --> 00:29:13.319 never happen to you 00:29:13.319 --> 00:29:14.679 but the scorpion 00:29:14.679 --> 00:29:15.119 gets on you 00:29:15.119 --> 00:29:16.479 and it gets you 00:29:16.479 --> 00:29:17.119 with the stinger 00:29:17.119 --> 00:29:17.399 right 00:29:17.399 --> 00:29:19.079 and he's saying 00:29:19.079 --> 00:29:19.939 death is like 00:29:19.939 --> 00:29:20.699 the end of that 00:29:20.699 --> 00:29:21.179 stinger 00:29:21.179 --> 00:29:22.119 that goes in 00:29:22.119 --> 00:29:24.500 but the real sting 00:29:24.500 --> 00:29:24.919 of death 00:29:24.919 --> 00:29:25.459 is sin 00:29:25.459 --> 00:29:26.159 what is he saying 00:29:26.159 --> 00:29:26.559 he's saying 00:29:26.559 --> 00:29:27.979 the real problem 00:29:27.979 --> 00:29:30.379 is the poison 00:29:30.379 --> 00:29:31.319 what's the poison 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:31.839 it's sin 00:29:31.839 --> 00:29:32.339 he's saying 00:29:32.339 --> 00:29:33.219 sin 00:29:33.219 --> 00:29:34.779 drives the power 00:29:34.779 --> 00:29:35.299 of the stinger 00:29:36.159 --> 00:29:36.959 sin drives 00:29:36.959 --> 00:29:37.639 the power of death 00:29:37.639 --> 00:29:38.879 just like the poison 00:29:38.879 --> 00:29:39.639 drives the power 00:29:39.639 --> 00:29:40.159 of the stinger 00:29:40.159 --> 00:29:42.239 and that means 00:29:42.239 --> 00:29:42.959 what is he saying 00:29:42.959 --> 00:29:43.379 he's saying 00:29:43.379 --> 00:29:44.939 if it were to be 00:29:44.940 --> 00:29:53.059 the case that sin has died, then it could also be the case that death will die. If the real power 00:29:53.059 --> 00:29:58.840 of the scorpion is in the poison, not the sting itself, then if the poison were to go away, 00:29:59.700 --> 00:30:05.400 then the sting would be far less. Right? So he says the sting of sin is death, but if sin has 00:30:05.400 --> 00:30:10.400 died, then death is going to die. You see what he's saying? He's saying that means you Christian 00:30:10.400 --> 00:30:16.660 today can right now say, death, where is thy sting? All that's left is just that little prick. 00:30:17.120 --> 00:30:22.000 I have to pass through that. It hurts. Yes. But I can say there's no poison left there. 00:30:23.560 --> 00:30:27.980 I will pass through this and I will come into resurrection life. I will come into hope. 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:36.140 Right? You can say, death, do thy worst. The lower you lay me, the higher he will raise me. The far, 00:30:36.140 --> 00:30:43.360 the farther you take me down, the better I will get. Third, finally, I'll close with this. However, 00:30:44.100 --> 00:30:52.180 finally, this is not automatic. Okay. So you can read chapter 15 and you can come and see all these 00:30:52.180 --> 00:30:59.320 amazing Easter promises. And you could say, you know what? I'm a Christian, but that list of problems, 00:30:59.460 --> 00:31:04.660 addictions, heartaches, anxiety, fear of facing death is still very alive for me. 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:11.140 And that's true. And it's because Paul, Paul is not telling you that when you become a Christian by 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:16.240 faith in Christ, it's like putting, uh, putting your money into a vending machine, you know, where you 00:31:16.240 --> 00:31:21.800 press the number of thing you want and you press the button and then out comes the, the, the bar, 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:25.900 the drink, the water that you were looking for. It's not just that you become a Christian 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:31.640 and all of a sudden out comes the fearlessness. You become a Christian and you press the right 00:31:31.640 --> 00:31:36.500 buttons. And all of a sudden out comes the ability to face death and say, death, where's thy sting? 00:31:37.380 --> 00:31:44.980 Right? It's not automatic. And this whole chapter, you see, this whole chapter is an argument. 00:31:46.000 --> 00:31:50.680 It's highly philosophical. And I, and I think one of the things he's trying to tell us in that is he's 00:31:50.680 --> 00:31:55.160 saying, if you want the power of the resurrection to really get down into your soul, 00:31:55.160 --> 00:32:03.500 you've got to think, you've got to do theology. You've got to rehearse the gospel and the truths 00:32:03.500 --> 00:32:07.560 of the gospel over and over and over again, every single day. You've got to come back every single 00:32:07.560 --> 00:32:11.640 day and look at it again and again and again. You've got to bring the gospel and think from your head 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:18.300 down into your heart all the time. If you really want to stand and be able to say in verse 56, 00:32:18.299 --> 00:32:26.720 thanks at the end of your days, the sting of death is sin. The power of sin is the law, but thanks be to 00:32:26.720 --> 00:32:34.980 God for I have victory in the Lord Jesus. Let us pray. Father, we thank you for victory in Jesus. And we 00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:43.980 now come and ask that you would bring the words of the gospel from our head down into our hearts, 00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:53.420 that we would be helped to think, think, think that we would have the Holy Spirit come now and drive 00:32:53.420 --> 00:33:00.460 these truths so deep into our soul that we could say today, death, where is thy sting? Thanks be to 00:33:00.460 --> 00:33:07.799 God. I have victory in Jesus. So Lord, as we, as human beings face death in this life, we long 00:33:07.799 --> 00:33:13.500 that the Holy Spirit would grant us the beauty of resurrection hope. We pray that in Jesus name. 00:33:13.980 --> 00:33:14.339 Amen.