You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama.
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How I long to breathe the air of heaven.
That's what I want us to do this morning. I think we've started.
I think that's what you're tasting a little bit of.
You're breathing in the air of heaven where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets.
Can you imagine?
Because you're not completely able to breathe it in right now, right?
Pain's not gone all the way.
And you feel that.
Can you even imagine that day?
What we're going to see this morning is that union with Christ is the air of heaven.
That's what you breathe.
Today's the end of our summer series on what so many have called the most glorious theological truth of all.
That by grace, through faith, we are inseparably connected to Jesus in an unbreakable union.
And my heart for us, I believe God's heart for us, has been to make this theological truth a personal experience.
That Jesus not be merely throwing us good gifts from a great distance away, but that he truly be the closest relationship that we know.
He marries himself to us, the Bible says.
That close.
Before we add one final link to the chain this morning, I want to take a look back at union with Christ the last few weeks.
I want to encourage you as we do to pick one of these images that helps you to see yourself in Christ and Christ in you.
Something that you can cling to, that he's always near for you.
We began this summer by saying that God has located his people in Christ so that whatever happens to Jesus happens to us, right?
When you're on the plane, you go where it goes.
Then we saw God's design was that this location in Christ be what primarily defines Christians.
Our identity, our value, our significance settled as we are hidden, covered in Christ.
Like entering into the sprocket costume for a new identity, right?
That's where the reality of our relationship with God, our justification is settled once and for all.
As we are blessed in Christ.
That our union with Christ is like the stocking out of which flow all sorts of gifts.
Like forgiveness and adoption and inheritance.
All because we're connected to him.
In particular, we're loved in Christ with an unstoppable love that nothing can separate us from.
Just as nothing can stop God from loving Jesus, his table reminds us.
These are once and for all realities.
But that's not all that comes in union with Christ.
Union with Christ is for life now as well, isn't it?
Even when the waves of suffering crash against the ship of our life, being in Christ is enough to hold us fast.
Remember?
Union with Christ is the source of not only our justification, being made right with God,
but also our ongoing sanctification, being made like God.
Since we abide in him moment by moment, like Rick Hoyt, abiding in his father, depending on his power, rejoicing in his victory,
so that we bear fruit in Christ, right?
That's the way to grow, to change, Jesus tells us, the only way.
Likewise, we fight sin in our lives in Christ because he is always with us so we can fight sin
because we can't imagine dragging Christ into sin.
And we can rely on his power when we fall short in the battle.
Last week, we saw that we are never alone in this battle because we are connected in Christ to one another.
If he is our brother, we get lots of other brothers and sisters in his family sharing that deep bond.
And we glimpsed the glory that Jesus is inviting us into with him and his Father and Holy Spirit,
all of us together.
And that's where we're landing this week.
We've hinted at this repeatedly through the summer.
But this relationship with Christ, it's no temporary relationship, is it?
It's no contingency plan.
It's no short-term feel-good story.
That's not it.
Our union with Christ is so inseparable that it carries us from beginning to end,
united by God's grace before our birth.
And now as we look ahead to heaven and the future, beyond our death,
union with Christ gives us eternal hope.
It makes us secure forever.
Think back to that first image of a plane with the word united there,
so helpfully placed just for us, for the purpose of this summer.
The assurance we have today is that having been seated in that plane,
in Christ, we will reach our destination.
There will almost certainly be turbulence around us.
There will surely be fears and doubts within us,
but we can rest assured that we will arrive in heaven with God.
How do we know?
How do we know that?
Perhaps the Bible's best, most reassuring answer to that question is,
because the plane made it.
Christ made it home.
To hear this glorious truth,
to breathe some more of heaven's air,
we go to Easter.
And we turn to 1 Corinthians 15.
It's a classic passage about Jesus' resurrection.
I'm going to read it beginning at verse 12
to get us up to speed a little bit in Paul's conversation.
Then I'll slow down for our purposes this morning.
This is the eternal, infallible, enduring word of God.
Now, if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead,
how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
But if there is no resurrection of the dead,
then not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised,
then our preaching's in vain,
your faith is in vain.
We're even found to be misrepresenting God
because we testified about God that he raised Christ,
whom he did not raise,
if it is true that the dead are not raised.
For if the dead are not raised,
not even Christ has been raised.
Do you hear what?
Paul's assuming union with Christ already, isn't he?
What happens to Jesus happens to us.
So if we're not raised, he's not either.
Paul says twice, right?
Verse 17.
And if Christ has not been raised,
your faith is futile and you are still in your sins,
then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in this life only we have hoped in Christ,
we are of all people most to be pitied.
Oh, so we died with Christ.
Is that it?
Is that the end of the story?
Verse 20.
But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead.
The first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death,
by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die,
so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
But each in his own order.
Christ the first fruits.
Then at his coming, those who belong to Christ.
Then comes the end,
when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father
after destroying every rule and every authority and power.
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
Father, what a glorious hope that is.
God, would you give us a deep breath of the air of heaven today.
Fill our souls with your joy and hope in Christ.
We ask in his name.
Amen.
Apparently, the Corinthians are having some discussions
surrounding life after death.
That's pretty understandable, right?
I bet some of us have questions about that.
What's it like?
What will happen?
We'll see they're wondering about what resurrected bodies would be like.
But most importantly, they want to know,
will the dead be raised?
It's a big question.
And Paul is really eager to build their faith.
And he does it in this passage by assuring them
that Christ himself has risen from the dead.
He's just told them that this is at the heart of the good news.
And that you can count on the fact that Jesus rose
in part because of all the eyewitness testimony.
Jesus appearing to individuals like Paul.
To smaller groups of 12, for example.
To large groups, 500 plus at the same time.
And that the Roman soldiers couldn't find his body to save their lives.
Many of his followers insist on having seen him alive
even when it costs their lives.
Religious leaders spend their lives trying to disprove his resurrection,
but they can't.
Paul says,
Jesus has indeed been raised from the dead.
And he's the first fruits.
Which idea means the full harvest is coming.
For as in Adam, all die.
In Adam, meaning in sin.
In death.
That's all of us stuck there when we're covered in Adam,
identified in Adam.
And he says,
So also in Christ shall all be made alive.
You see the difference, right?
In Christ.
Christ, the first fruits.
Then he comes back and all of those who belong to him,
all of those in Christ,
rise with him.
Friend, I want to say to you this morning,
if you have not stepped on the plane,
trusted in Jesus by faith in his life,
and his death,
and his resurrection in your place,
then you are still in Adam.
In the terminal, if you will,
where we all start.
And it's not a good place to be.
I want to warn you of that because I love you
and I care about you.
Being there means being in sin.
It means facing death on your own.
And I don't want that for any of us.
Because the way to safety and the life
is found by being covered by Jesus.
It is the only way.
But if you have come aboard, so to speak,
you can be gloriously certain,
completely confident,
just as confident as you are,
that Jesus is in heaven today,
that one day you will be too.
If Christ died and you died with him,
then as Christ lives,
you live with him.
Never to die again,
Paul says elsewhere.
This is a wonderful truth.
Charles Wesley was celebrating it
when he wrote this great hymn
we sing almost every Easter.
Christ the Lord is risen today.
Hallelujah.
And look down at that second verse.
Soar we now.
Where Christ has led,
following our exalted head.
Man, he's got good theology, doesn't he?
He reads his Bible,
Charles Wesley does.
Okay?
Jesus is our head.
We are members of his body.
So where the head goes,
the body goes, right?
No other tricks.
The head goes, the body goes.
We follow him.
Made like him.
Like him we rise.
Ours the cross,
the grave,
the skies.
Hallelujah.
Man, when you sing that this Easter,
I hope you remember union with Christ.
Crucified with Christ.
Buried with Christ.
Raised with Christ.
He lives, you live.
There's,
it can't be any other way,
can it?
You're that united to him.
It's the certainty Paul writes about in Romans 8
when he assures us there is,
therefore now,
no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus
because all those in Christ are adopted
into God's family,
his children,
which verse 17 says means
we are co-heirs
with Christ.
Christ.
Wow.
And we suffer
with him.
He suffered.
We experience suffering,
don't we?
Oh man,
yeah,
can't deny that.
As surely
as you experience
suffering,
you can trust.
Christ.
We will be glorified
with him.
Remember,
at the end of the day,
neither death,
nor life,
nor angels,
nor rulers,
nor things present,
nor things to come,
nor powers,
nor height,
nor depth,
nor anything else
in all creation
will be able to separate us
from the love of God
in Christ Jesus,
our Lord,
not even death.
That same promise
is said differently
to the Colossians.
Your life
is so hidden
with Christ
in God
that when Christ
appears,
you also
will appear
with him
in glory
over and over.
God wants you
to know
that you are
secure
forever.
Your eternity
is gloriously
certain
in Christ.
But there's even
one further step
God is wanting
to make sure
we don't miss.
You hear all the talk
of glory
in these passages?
You'll appear
with him
in glory,
glorified
with him.
So,
there is a quality
to this eternal
hope
that you and I
can hardly imagine.
We really
can't comprehend
and that's that
because of our
union with Christ,
we will be
gloriously
alive.
I can't even
put it into words
for you.
We can hardly
fathom this glory.
Okay,
so we're
made alive.
We've read that.
In Christ,
we're made alive.
That's wonderful
enough,
isn't it?
Just to be alive.
But then,
Jesus starts
ruling
and reigning
over all of
his and
our enemies.
He's the
conquering king
and finally,
he destroys
death.
None of us
has experienced
this,
but that is
the power
of being united
to Jesus,
his life,
without any
specter of
death
hanging over
any of it.
Can you even
imagine?
And Paul goes
on to explain
in the rest of
this chapter,
our physical,
bodily resurrection
is as certain
as Christ's,
the one who himself
was touched
by so many.
They felt the
scars in his hands
and his sides
and he has this
glorious new
body.
even if it was
only from a
physical perspective,
can you imagine?
We long
for this.
I know you do.
Friends,
dementia
is no match
for this
restoration
of the body.
Chronic pain
that some of you
have known
every day of your
life,
it's not as
lasting as
this relationship
that we have
in Christ.
Even
death
is not
as powerful
as this
life,
Jesus
destroys
death
forever.
Gone.
That's what we
noticed way back
at the start
of the summer
when we looked
at Ephesians 2
that one of the
primary reasons
that God raised
us with Christ
and seated us
with him
was because
he had
more,
if you can
imagine,
more glorious
grace to pour
on us.
Verse 7,
so that
in the coming
ages
he might
show the
immeasurable
riches
of his
grace
poured out
in kindness
towards us
in Christ
Jesus.
That's the
nature
of God
in his
grace,
that there's
always something
more to come.
There's always
something better
ahead for us.
In fact,
1 John 3
says that part
of that gracious,
glorious restoration
is that we
will be not
only with
Jesus,
but also
so connected
to him
that we
will actually
be made
like him.
The perfect
image of
God
restored in
us all the
way through.
See,
Christ is
actually that
near to us,
not some
distant hope
who is so
amazing,
but we could
never be
like that.
Pastor,
you're crazy.
Sin clings
too tightly.
My passion
burns too
lightly for
that.
Satan accuses
me too
rightly.
I know
it.
No.
You will
be
like
him.
How?
That's
crazy.
Listen,
connect the
dots.
Who's the
highlight of
heaven?
It's not
you.
Jesus
is the
highlight of
heaven,
and you
will be
always
with
the Lord,
which means
that all of
the joys of
union with
Christ,
all of the
blessings,
all of the
fruit of
union with
Christ that
we've discussed
this summer and
so much more
that we haven't,
it all
continues
forever
with nothing
to hinder
their growth,
nothing to
hinder your
joy,
nothing to
hinder your
reflecting Jesus
in ways that
you never have
before.
You are
defined forever
in Christ,
blessed forever,
loved forever,
bearing fruit
forever,
connected to
one another
forever,
therefore secure
forever in
Christ.
In Christ
shall all
be made
alive,
not just
life like
you know
it,
first Christ
himself to
this new
life,
never more
to die,
and then all
who belong
to Christ
made alive,
never more
to die,
eternally to
enjoy,
not some
disembodied
existence playing
a harp floating
on a cloud,
no,
personal,
physical,
loving,
sin-free,
fruitful,
adventurous,
communal,
joyous,
purposeful,
pain-free,
glorious life
with no sin,
no tears,
no heartache,
and all of
Jesus,
all of joy,
all of
Jesus all
the time,
inseparably,
unbreakably,
eternally
united
to him
who makes
heaven
heaven,
right?
You see
his face
and it's not
way out there
somewhere,
but you say,
Jesus,
you're mine,
you're right
here with me
and I'm with
you forever.
forever.
Just listen to
great British
preacher Charles
Spurgeon.
Breathe in the air
of heaven for a
minute.
We do not know
yet, beloved,
of what happiness
we are capable.
Oh,
may I be there
if I may but
see the king
in his beauty,
in the fullness
of his joy,
when he shall
take by the
right hand
her for whom
he shed
his precious
blood
and shall
know the
joy which
was set
before him
for which
he endured
the cross
despising
the shame.
I shall
be blessed
indeed.
Oh,
what a day
that will be
when every
member of
Christ
shall be
crowned
in him
and with
him
and every
member
of the
mystical
body
shall be
glorified
in the
glory
of the
bridegroom.
A day
will come,
the day
of days,
times crown
and glory
when the
saints arrayed
in the
righteousness
of Christ
shall be
eternally
one with
him in
living,
loving,
lasting
union,
partaking
together
of the
same
glory,
the glory
of the
Most High.
What must
it be
to be
there?
What an
eternal
hope.
Breathe
deeply
of that
glory.
Feel
him right
now.
Take
you
by the
hand
and know
for certain
that he
will never
let go
forever.
Briefly,
three thoughts
about today
in light of
that eternity.
It's that
good and
we're not
there yet,
but it's
already
breaking
in and
it must
to where
we are.
Pastor,
does this
matter to
me before
I die
or Jesus
returns?
Can I
just put
this on
a shelf
and when
Jesus comes
back I'll
enjoy it?
No,
no,
I hope
it matters
for all
of us
today.
First,
we must
have this
hope in
the
everyday.
Here's
what I
mean.
I often
think that
glory will
be the
Clemson
football team
winning the
national
championship
this year
again.
That will
be glory
and that's
what you
think too,
isn't it?
Thank you.
And then
let me get
serious and
imagine that
you're there
in heaven
and you've
been there
a million
years
with Jesus.
Do you
think I'll
even remember?
If I can
remember
because my
memory is
perfect somehow,
do you
think the
joy will
even
register
compared to
the
surpassing
worth
of being
in
Christ?
For you,
maybe glory
feels like
fitting into
a smaller
dress size
or your
golf score
dropping a
stroke.
Oh,
yeah,
that would
make your
day.
An extra
hundred dollars
in the bank
or that guy
likes me or
pays attention
to me.
really,
we feel
that's glory,
don't we?
In many of
our days,
even our
years,
that would
make it.
For just
a moment,
can we
all admit
how laughable
you mocked
me,
how meager,
how small
our conception,
our thoughts
of glory
are,
how easily
distracted
we are
every day
from the
true
glory.
It's why
God tells us
to fix our
eyes not
on what is
seen,
but on what
is unseen.
What is seen
is temporary,
it's fleeting,
it's gone
fast.
What is unseen
is eternal,
it's lasting.
It's why
He tells us
to set our
minds on
things above,
see that's
your reality,
don't be
confused,
you've been
raised with
Christ,
God wants
to lift
your head
child of
God because
He loves
you to
see the
glory you
have in
Christ so
that what
you'll long
for today is
just an extra
minute with
Him now,
just another
chance to
share His
love today,
a lasting
glory beyond
all comparison,
place your
hope there
every day,
not anywhere
else.
we also
really need
this eternal
hope in
the face
of tragedy.
Just get
in your
mind for a
moment the
last personal
tragedy you
experienced or
the tragedy you
saw in the
news and you
couldn't breathe.
You had to
avoid thinking
about it so
that you
wouldn't find
the thought
just unbearable
or despair
of life.
When tragedy
strikes,
when someone
I love
dies too
soon,
isn't it
always?
When I
grieve the
loss of
someone even
before he
dies,
I need a
hope beyond
this life.
that's the
only kind
of hope
that will
do.
Otherwise,
to be honest,
none of it
makes sense.
It's unjust.
It's
heartbreaking.
It is too
final.
Unless it's
not
final.
Unless
there's this
kind of
glorious
life that
we've just
been describing
and it's
really a
thing and
it really
goes on
forever
and the
sufferings of
this life
somehow in
a way we
don't understand
achieve an
eternal glory
that far
outweighs
anything in
this life,
then I can
breathe.
I have to
breathe the
air of
heaven and
there's eternal
hope,
isn't there?
You've tasted
it.
God's
hope of
union with
Christ
speaks into
our
uncertainty.
We all
wonder what's
ahead,
don't we?
Perhaps even
more we wonder
why we can't
control so
much of it.
Death is
especially
fearful for
humanity.
If you know
that feeling,
that fearing
and uncertainty
around death,
God says you
have that
feeling because
you weren't
made for
death or
for experiencing
the death of
others.
You were
made not
for separation
but for an
inseparable
relationship.
But because
all we know
here is
relationships with
an expiration
date,
we wonder
what if I
fail
big time?
what if I
struggle
with doubts
about God?
What if I
stop following
Jesus as
passionately as
I once did?
What will
become of me
when I die?
I wonder.
I want to
say to you
so that you
hear on the
authority of
God's word,
child of God,
man or
woman who
has put
your faith
in Jesus,
boy or
girl who
trusts Jesus
even though
you have
so many
questions,
more questions
than you feel
like you have
answers.
I want you
to know that
what God is
telling you is
he will not
let you go
because you
loosen your
grip on him.
He won't.
He will not
stop blessing
you because
you squandered
the first
blessing he
sent into
your life.
He will not
quit loving
you because
you became
unlovely.
You are
inseparably
united to
his perfect
beloved
son,
the one
who once
took all
of your
sins
and so
many,
many other
sins
all the way
to the
grave
with him
and then
he rose
victoriously
from the
grave
to glorious
never ending
life.
He will
bring you
home out of
whatever you're
in right now
and that
home will
be glorious.
in Christ
the best
is always
yet to
come.
That's the
kind of
eternal hope
Jesus wants
you living
with today
and every
single day
with him.
Looking
forward,
he wants
your eyes
fixed on
that day,
that day
when all
bow before
him,
when death
will be no
more,
when we see
Jesus face
to face.
that's the
day he
wants you
to have
in your
mind
today.
I know
that
because
Jesus
himself
looks forward
to that
day
when he
gives us
this supper
to remind
us of
him.
Matthew
who was
there
that night
records
what Jesus
said.
As they
were eating
Jesus
took bread.
After
blessing
it,
he broke
it and
gave it
to them
as I
ministering
in his
name.
Give
this bread
to you.
He said,
take,
eat,
this is
my body.
And in
the same
way after
supper,
he took
the cup
and said,
drink of
it,
all of
you.
This
is my
blood of
the covenant
poured
out for
many for
the forgiveness
of sins.
then he
said this,
I tell
you I
will not
drink
again of
this fruit
of the
vine until
that day
when I
drink it
new with
you in
my
father's
kingdom.
Until
that day
Jesus
said.
Jesus as
he goes
to the
cross is
thinking of
that day
when we
will drink
this cup
with him
at the
wedding
supper
of the
lamb
where we
are
the
bride
united
to him
forever.
Now don't
be confused
about this.
Jesus by
his spirit
is present
eating this
supper
with us
today.
but the
physical
personal
bodily
resurrected
son of
God
will drink
this
with you
your
physical
bodily
resurrected
personal
child
of God
self
on
that
day.
He'll
drink it
with us.
If that's
your hope
right now
he says
eat
and drink
look back
and remember
what he's
done for
you.
Look
forward
to life
with him
forever
and live
now
in light
of that
eternal
hope.
If you're
here today
and that's
not your
hope
my heart
for you
is that
you would
not leave
hopeless
today.
Don't come
eat bread
and wine
that will
mean nothing
of hope
to you
but would
you consider
the offer
of Jesus
he's offering
you an
eternal
hope
that no
matter what
happens
nothing
could ever
take away
from you
that you
would be
so connected
to him
that whatever
happens to him
and that's
a lot
of good
stuff
happens
to you
what a joy
it would be
for us to get
to talk with you
more about our
relationship with him
let's pray
and we'll come
to this table
together
what blessed
assurance
that Jesus
is mine
what a foretaste
of glory
divine
father
that you
give us
in this
bread
and wine
would you
take common
elements
would you
use them
to help
us
taste
heaven
to build
our
confidence
our
anticipation
our wonder
at our
great
savior
do that
by your
spirit
meeting
with us
we ask
for Jesus
sake
amen
for more
information
visit us
online
at
southwood.org