We begin our worship of God this evening, and our first singing is Psalm 9.
Psalm number 9 in the Sing Psalms version, that's page 9.
The tune is Glasgow, and singing verses 7 to 12.
The Lord forever reigns on high, His throne for judgment stands.
He'll judge the world in righteousness, with justice rule the lands.
Psalm 9a, page number 9, from verse 7.
If you're able to stand, please stand, and we'll sing these verses.
Amen.
The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are in the land.
With justice rule the lands.
The Lord will be a hiding place for those who are in the land.
And he will be a strong defense for those who are in the land.
All those who know your name, O Lord, they knew their gospel place.
For you do not have found the close, who sing your gracious ways.
Sing praises to the Lord who says,
And Zion on his throne.
Among the nations of the world proclaim what he has done.
For he, the Lord, he has done.
For he, the angel of the land's blood, remembers evermore.
The cry of the Lord, the cry of the Lord, he never will be more.
Let's call upon the Lord now in prayer.
Let's join our minds together in prayer.
Our gracious and eternal God,
we give thanks for this time again that we're able to gather around your word,
that we're able to call upon your name and sing your praises,
and to give our mind to the teaching of your word.
And we thank you, Lord, for every opportunity we do have to worship you,
and to worship you to the notice of the world around us,
so that we may keep before the mind of the world
the fact that we believe in you as our God,
that we believe in your worthiness to be worshipped,
and that we ourselves would prove as we hope to be the conscience of the world.
And, Lord, we ask to that end that you would enable us in reaching out to the world,
in different ways apart from our gathering together,
that we may rely upon your own power and your own blessing.
Lord, we ask again that you would guide us into your word of truth this evening.
We thank you for these great words that we have already been singing,
of the way in which you remember your people,
and for the way in which your remembrance contains so much blessing for us.
We thank you that your people are ever in your thoughts.
There is never a moment in our passing of time when your people are out of your mind.
And we bless you, Lord, for the peace that that brings to us.
For we know how much we ourselves, Lord, are prone to forget,
how much we are prone to wander from your ways,
and need to be recovered.
And we pray that you would grant us tonight, O Lord,
that your word will speak to us,
and that we will know, Lord, that our lives have once again been affected by it.
Shape our minds and our thoughts, we pray,
through the truth of your word.
And give to us that we may be all the more burdened
to convey the teaching of your word to the world around us too.
We ask, Lord, that you remember every gathering of your people this evening.
We pray that wherever they gather,
and wherever your people gather and have gathered throughout the world,
we ask that your blessing that we seek for ourselves will be with them.
We pray that your Holy Spirit will be active amongst them.
We pray that they may know your guidance and your counsel,
and your strengthening of them to continue to live as your people.
We pray, Lord, at this time that you would be pleased to bless us as a people,
as a congregation of your people.
Bless us in all the activities we engage in.
Thank you for the privilege of being able to serve you
in the different ways in which we as individuals do so
in this congregation and in our community.
And, Lord, we ask that all our efforts may prove to be blessed by you
and pleasing to you.
For we seek, Lord, that they will be so.
That they will be used by you as means and as channels of blessing to others.
And we ask that you would grant your blessing, therefore,
to all age groups in the congregation
in all their activities through each week.
We thank you for your protective care of us.
We pray that that will continue.
And enable us, O Lord, at all our age groups to walk in your ways.
And as we teach our children your ways, we ask that you would establish them in these ways.
And that you would give to them, O Lord, to take up the work of the gospel in their own time.
We pray that they may be faithful testimony to you and to your grace.
As they would come by your blessing to be incorporated into the number of your confessing people.
And we ask, O God, that you would grant blessing to those tonight who cannot be with us.
Remember those who are confined to their homes.
Those who are watching online.
We ask, Lord, that you'd bless those in care homes.
Those, Lord, in hospital.
We pray that you'd grant your blessing to all such who belong to us.
And bless us in our families and strengthen us.
And the ties that bind us together as families.
The ties that bind us together as a people in the congregation.
We pray tonight that you'd bless those who are facing difficulties and struggles in life.
We ask again that you'd bless those we know and those who belong to us.
Who may be struggling financially.
Who may have many anxieties, O Lord.
Lord, in these days over different issues.
We pray that those who are struggling also with health.
Whether mental health or physical health.
That they too may know your blessing.
We pray for those who are preparing for surgery or for treatment in days to come.
We commend them, Lord, to your care.
And ask that your blessing will reach them too.
We pray that you would prepare us all for eventualities that lie ahead of us in your providence.
We pray that we may know the strength of your grace.
So that whatever we need to confront, Lord, we may do so.
In the confidence that the strength and grace of Christ brings to us.
Remember those who are seriously ill.
And who in likelihood are approaching the borders of death.
We pray that you would grant them your blessing and strengthening too.
And Lord, we ask that you would give them the faith that trusts in you.
So that they may know that safe way and conduct of them into heaven itself.
And we pray your blessing too, O Lord, for all who help us in our times of need in our community.
And we give thanks for them.
We pray for all the medical staff.
For all who look after those in care homes and in the hospice.
And we commit this to you and ask your blessing for each and all of them.
And all the residents and all the patients.
We pray for the Corlea, for those, Lord, who are counselors of the various districts of this ward.
And we pray, gracious one, that you would grant your blessing to them and all other wards likewise.
We pray for those who are officers of the council.
We pray that you would bless them from day to day.
And give them, Lord, in difficult and testing times.
And we pray for those who are counselors of the people, both financially and otherwise.
That they may come to depend upon yourself and provide for them, we pray.
And for us as a people.
We pray, Lord, in the wider sense for the people of our nation.
And ask that you would bless us.
We confess, Lord, to our shame that we have so departed from your ways so badly.
That we have come to love the works of darkness in such a large measure.
And we pray that you would deliver us, Lord, from that.
We pray that the power and the grace of the gospel, the power and the grace of Christ may come to work among us through your Spirit.
And we pray, gracious one, in your mercy that you would turn to us and turn us to you.
That you would restore the many years the locusts have eaten, as your word describes it.
Many years of wastage.
Many years when we have looked to other means of sufficiency that cannot possibly be in your place.
And we pray, gracious one, that you would return us to yourself and to your ways and to your gospel and to your truth.
Remember your faithful people, Lord, throughout our land.
As they cry to you for blessing.
As they pray to you.
Remember them each one and all of them alike.
Remember our young people.
Be with them.
Those in preschool and those in primary and those in secondary.
And as they too face so many challenges in life.
Lord, we pray for them and ask that you would keep them and maintain them.
And help them, Lord, to walk in ways of truth and righteousness and wholesomeness.
We pray for our teachers, for all who teach our young people in school and children in primary.
Oh, Lord, we pray for them too.
And ask that you would be with them in the challenges that they face too.
And bless especially our governments at this time.
We pray for those who are in authority over us.
And we ask, gracious one, that you'd be pleased to bless them with light from on high.
With the wisdom that you alone are able to give.
And with that which would enable them to rule wisely.
To govern justly and in righteousness and in truth.
We ask that you would bless our king.
That you'd bless him towards his coronation shortly.
Lord, we ask that you would keep him also.
And grant to him that he may be faithful to the truth of the scriptures.
That he may know, Lord, of your own guidance of him through that truth.
We pray for those who help in other ways in our community.
We pray for our street pastors.
We commend them to you, Lord.
Especially those of them newly inducted to the office of street pastor in recent days.
And we pray that your blessing will be with them.
And to that end we commend them to you.
And we pray too, O Lord, that your blessing will be with those in Tolstah.
And with Donald himself.
As he prepares to be married spiritually to that congregation.
We thank you for the way that you have brought this about.
And we pray for himself.
And we pray for the congregation.
We pray for him too in his personal life.
That you will bless himself and Emma as they anticipate marriage.
O Lord, we commend them to you as a couple.
And pray that your blessing will rest upon them in these new chapters in their lives.
And we commend them to you and to your grace.
Remember too, Eoin and Don.
You have recently become engaged.
We thank you for them.
And for the happy news of their engagement.
And Lord, we ask that your blessing will be with them.
As they come to anticipate married life together.
We thank you for them and for their testimony.
To your grace and to your goodness.
And we pray that you would keep them and help them, Lord.
As they together now show their love for each other to the world.
Maintain them, we pray, in walking in your ways.
Grant these blessings to us now, we pray.
Pardoning our many sins for Jesus' sake.
Amen.
Let's continue to praise God.
This time we're singing in Psalm 63.
Psalm 63.
Again, this is the Scottish Psalms.
The Sing Psalms.
That's on page number 80.
Verses 1 to 8.
The tune this time is Rockingham.
O God, you are my God alone.
I seek your face with eagerness.
My soul and body thirst for you in this dry, weary wilderness.
Psalm 63.
To the tune Rockingham.
Verses 1 to 8.
Amen.
O God, you are my God alone.
I seek your face with eagerness.
My soul and body thirst for you in this dry, weary wilderness.
I've seen you live in your holy place.
Your power and glory held my gaze.
Our day the midst you're loved and mine, and so my lips will sing your praise.
I'll bless you, Lord, throughout my life, and praise my love to you in prayer.
My joyfulness will sing your praise.
My soul is fed with riches dear.
Upon my bed I lie awake, and in my thoughts remember you.
I meditate throughout the night, and keep your constant love in view.
Because you are my help alone, in shadow of your wings I sing.
You hold me up with your right hand.
To you, O Lord, I so will bring.
Let's turn to read God's Word.
The reading this evening is in Matthew's Gospel, chapter 28.
And reading through the whole chapter, we're going to turn again this evening to 1 Corinthians 15,
to that great chapter about the resurrection.
So in Matthew 28 we read about the resurrection of Jesus himself from the dead.
Now after the Sabbath towards the dawn of the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven,
and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightning,
and his clothing white as snow.
And for fear of him the guards trembled,
and became like dead men.
But the angel said to the woman,
Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who was crucified.
He is not here, for he has risen.
As he said, come, see,
he has risen, as he said,
and come, see the place where he lay.
Then go quickly and tell his disciples
that he has risen from the dead.
And behold, he is going before you to Galilee,
there you will see him.
See, I have told you.
So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy,
and ran to tell his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them and said,
Greetings.
And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshipped him.
And Jesus said to them,
Do not be afraid.
Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.
While they were going,
behold, some of the guard went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had taken place.
And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel,
they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said,
Tell people his disciples came by night
and stole him away while we were asleep.
And if this comes to the governor's ears,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.
So they took the money and did as they were directed.
And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them.
And when they saw him,
they worshipped him,
but some doubted.
And Jesus came and said to them,
All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age.
Again, we pray that God will bless to us that reading of his word.
Once more, let's sing before we come to 1 Corinthians 15.
And this time it's in Psalm 68.
Psalm 68 on page 303 of the psalm books.
And the tune is Sheffield.
Singing verses 18 to 20.
Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious, ascended up on high,
and in triumph victorious led captive captivity.
Thou hast received gifts for men for such as did rebel,
yea, even for them that God the Lord in midst of them might dwell.
Psalm 68, the verses marked 18 to 20 to God's praise.
The Lord in the midst of the psalm books.
Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious,
ascended upon high,
and in triumph victorious led captive captive captive captive captive captive.
Thou hast received gifts for men for such as did rebel.
And yet he for them that God the Lord in midst of them might dwell.
The land's deep, the Lord who is to us,
all our salvation, all.
Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious, ascended upon high,
and in triumph of the Lord in the midst of the Lord's name.
Thou hast, O Lord, most glorious, as did rebel.
He of salvation is the God, who is our God, O song.
And that to God, the Lord from death, the issues to belong.
Well, let's turn now to 1 Corinthians 15 and reading at verse 20.
1 Corinthians chapter 15 and at 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.
Now we're going to confine our thoughts this evening to verses 20 to 22.
Because there's enough in these three verses to keep our minds occupied for some time this evening.
Now you see in verses, remember,
previously we've looked at the early part of the chapter up to verse 20 here.
And verses 1 to 19, we've seen the consequences in different ways.
Described the consequences.
If there were no such thing as resurrection,
Paul has been dealing with some of the consequences,
both with regard to Jesus himself.
He must not,
if there's no resurrection,
then he could not have been raised from the dead.
And also there is no such thing as resurrection for us to anticipate either.
So all the way through,
he's been dealing with these if-then sort of statements.
If this is the case,
then this is what follows.
And you get the impression that he was longing,
and I'm sure he was longing in many ways,
to get to verse 20 here,
where he says,
but in fact,
is this really what he wants to get to now?
And for the following verses in the chapter,
he wants to really get to this point
where he can demonstrate assuredly
that Jesus has, in fact,
been raised from the dead.
That there has been such a thing as resurrection
in the case of Jesus himself.
And therefore, that things follow on from that also.
So in a sense,
he's reversing the argument.
Previously, he said,
if there's no resurrection,
then Christ is not raised,
then we are still in our sins,
then there's no hope for us for eternity.
Now he's turning that round and saying,
but now that Christ has been raised from the dead,
then this is what follows now
by virtue of that.
But in fact,
Christ has been raised from the dead.
And the first thing we want to look at
is how he says that in such an assured way,
but also describes it in terms of Jesus being
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
And then we'll come secondly
to look at something Paul speaks of elsewhere,
as we'll see in Romans chapter 5 especially,
where he brings out the relationship
between Jesus and Adam,
the first man created by God.
And now there's a particular relationship there
in terms of those that they represent,
Adam being the head of the whole human race,
apart from Jesus and his humanity,
and Jesus being the head
of all his redeemed people.
And now that's important for the apostle
as far as resurrection is concerned,
and the resurrection in the future too,
of God's people,
how that also is taken account of
in what he's saying.
So we're going to confine ourselves
to those particular aspects of the passage.
Christ, the first fruits,
and then Christ, the last Adam,
as called elsewhere in Romans.
So here is what he's saying,
but in fact Christ has been raised from the dead.
Now this is really a burst of triumphant positivity,
you might call it,
in light of following all that he's been saying before.
He now comes to this where he's saying,
but in fact,
and the language is really stronger
than is easy to convey in any translation of it.
It's really Paul just bursting out positively
and triumphantly in what he's saying,
so that he's now saying,
no longer if this is the case,
then this is also the case,
but he's now saying,
this is in fact the case.
This is the certainty of the matter.
And all the arguments that follow on from that
are actually based upon the reality
of this being true,
of this being factually true,
of Christ having indeed been raised from the dead.
Now we mentioned earlier
in going through the earlier verses
that this is important for us
in terms of what our present life consists of
and what sort of outlook we have in the present life
and how we view things not only for our present life,
but on into eternity itself.
Because to deny the reality of this resurrection of Jesus
and therefore to deny the reality of resurrection at all
is really to extract the element of hope from human life.
Now we often say this,
that hope in the biblical sense,
in the New Testament sense,
and Old Testament too,
hope in the biblical sense
is much more than the kind of hoping for the best
that we have in the ordinary sense in the course of life.
We could hope for the best tomorrow.
We could hope that something would really happen
and that this would be a great thing
if we could actually participate in something.
We can hope that that would be the case,
but we can't have any guarantee that it will.
But this hope that the Bible speaks about,
the hope that's connected inseparably with the resurrection of Christ,
it's a certain hope.
It's what Peter in his first epistle calls a living hope.
It's a hope that will never be disappointed
because it will always result in what God has promised of eternal life.
And if you take away the resurrection of Jesus,
you're leaving human life without this hope.
There is no other place where you can find hope.
And friends,
when you look at the world in which we live,
when you look at its grayness,
when you look at its darkness,
when you look at its hopelessness,
when you look at the elements of despair
and near despair in people's lives,
we have to actually realize
that that is because they don't have this hope.
However positive people might be in their lives,
it's a very different matter to have
the positivity that Paul is speaking of here,
the positivity of forward-looking
in hope for the resurrection and to eternal life.
A life that's not based on Jesus
and on the resurrection of Jesus,
on the risen Jesus,
is a very sad life.
It's a very hopeless life.
Indeed, the Bible talks about it as a very dark life.
We'll read Ephesians,
a bit from Ephesians 2 later,
but you remember how Ephesians 2 begins,
you who were dead in trespasses and sins.
Because when a human life is not connected
vitally to Christ,
there is no life spiritually in that life,
in that person.
And friends, tonight,
as we look out over the world,
this is surely the message
the world needs to hear,
the message the world needs to accept
by the blessing of God,
the message of hope,
the message of the risen Christ,
Christ risen from the dead,
death being vanquished,
death overcome,
death defeated,
death put beneath his feet.
That's why we have a Bible.
That's why we need the Bible.
That's why we need the Bible
not just preached to us,
but witnessed to us
in our lives in the world.
That's why our testimony in the gospel
is crucial to the world in which we live.
That's why evangelism is so important.
Because this is really holding out
the message of life,
the message of hope.
And it's no accident
that we find
the three sessions
that we look forward to
in the congregation,
where they,
in turn,
these three evenings
are going to be dealing
with the issue of hope.
The resurrection of the life of Jesus,
the resurrection of Jesus,
the death of Jesus,
the resurrection of Jesus,
where you find that as hope.
In one word,
it's hope that describes
all of that
and the result of that
for us as a people.
And that's what the world needs.
And that's why we would like to see
you bringing others
to these meetings as well,
to hear about this hope,
to learn about this Jesus,
to learn about his life,
his death on the cross,
and his resurrection from the dead,
the very basis of the hope
that the Bible speaks about.
But in fact, he says,
Christ has been raised.
He wants the Corinthians
who have certain disputes
or uncertainties about resurrection.
As he says in verse 12,
how can some of you say
there is no resurrection of the dead
if Christ is proclaimed
as raised from the dead?
Why are you saying,
he's saying to them,
why are you saying,
why are you thinking
there's no such thing as resurrection?
Because if and then
Christ has been raised.
But now he's saying
Christ has been raised.
He wants them to take
this tremendous truth,
this great fact,
into their consideration
more and more
and to live it out
in their lives
so that the risen Christ
will be seen through them.
And isn't that why we live?
Isn't that what his church is about?
Isn't that what
bearing testimony to Jesus is about?
Isn't that why
he's made you a Christian?
Isn't that why
he's given you this hope?
Not so that you'll keep it to yourself,
but that you'll say
to this world
that's so devoid
largely of hope,
look, I can tell you
where hope is found.
I can speak of a hope
that I've been given,
that I haven't created,
but that can be yours as well.
Say that to the world.
Bring that to the world.
That's what
the message of the gospel
and the testimony
of God's people is about.
And he goes on to speak there
about Jesus
as the first fruits
of those who have fallen asleep.
What does he mean here
by the first fruits
of those who have fallen asleep?
Well, we saw earlier
in the chapter in verse 18,
those who have fallen asleep,
those who have fallen asleep
in Christ have perished
if there's no such thing
as resurrection.
We saw that that describes
those who have passed on
from this life,
who've died,
but whose bodies
have been laid out
in sleep, as it were.
They themselves continue
to live in their souls
in eternity,
but they are asleep
as far as their bodies
are concerned.
They are awaiting
the resurrection
when Jesus comes.
And what he's saying here,
he has been raised
the first fruits
of those who have fallen asleep.
Now, you need to go back
to the Old Testament for this,
to get an insight
into the meaning
of the words first fruits
or this description
of Jesus
as the first fruits
of those who have fallen asleep.
I need to go especially
to the likes of Leviticus
chapter 23
and verse 10.
And that short passage
talks about
when the harvest
was brought in
by the people of Israel
having settled in Canaan,
having come to enjoy
the fruits,
the harvest of the land.
When the harvest
was being taken in,
they would take
a sheaf of the harvest
and bring it to the priests
and that priest
would wave it
before the people.
It was the first fruits
of the harvest.
And it was important
as the first fruits
of the harvest.
Why did God
actually
command that this
be done?
What was this instruction
about?
Well, the first fruits,
this first sheaf
of the harvest
is really
the representation
of the whole harvest
and it's saying
a number of things
to the people of Israel.
It's saying,
first of all,
that whole harvest
actually belongs
to God.
But apart from this sheaf,
He's given it to you
to enjoy.
And it was also saying
to them,
not only is that the case,
but this first sheaf
of the harvest
is expressive
of its quality
because Canaan
was a place
of abundant produce,
abundant growth.
And when they were
bringing in this
first sheaf of the harvest
and showing its quality,
then the Lord
was saying to them,
this is the quality
of the harvest.
This is the first installment,
but it tells you
what the rest is like.
And the third thing
it said was that
because this is
the first fruits,
now you're seeing
with your own eyes
in this sheaf
what represents
the whole harvest,
the rest is then
guaranteed to you.
it's here
in this sheaf
the rest
is going to follow
in due time.
And what Jesus is
is the first fruits
of those who have
fallen asleep
because Christ's
own resurrection
from the dead
is itself
the first fruits
in the sense
that all of God's
redeemed people
are bound up
in His resurrection.
He is the first fruits,
really the first
pledge of the whole harvest
if you like.
He is the first one
risen from the dead.
The rest are then
going to follow.
And because He has come
to be raised
from the dead,
there's an assurance
given by Him
being the first fruits
that the rest
inevitably will follow.
There is not
a single person
for whom Christ died
that will be left out
at the resurrection
unto life.
Why?
Because they are in Christ.
Because when He rose
from the dead
as the first fruits,
God was saying,
this is the first
of my harvest
of salvation.
My own Son
risen from the dead
is a pledge
that the remainder
will in fact
be taken in
in due time.
He is the first one.
He has established
that the rest
will follow.
But there's this too.
just as it was
with the ordinary harvest,
so it is
with the resurrection
of Christ.
And this is dealt
with later on
in the chapter.
We're just anticipating
it very briefly.
The quality
of Christ's resurrection,
if we can put it
that way,
is the guarantee
of the quality
of the resurrection
of His people.
In other words,
Christ has been raised
to the other side
of death completely.
Death is behind Him.
Nothing of that
will ever enter
into His experience again.
He's at the right hand
of God.
He's in heaven.
And as the first fruits
of His own saved people,
He is guaranteeing,
look at my resurrection.
Look at what's through
about my resurrection
from the dead.
Look at what's through
of my risen body.
And that guarantees
the quality of your own.
There will be no more death.
No more crying.
No more sorrow.
No more tears.
No more temptations.
Nothing of what we associated
living bodily in this life.
He is the first fruits.
And He's the guarantee
that the whole harvest
is certainly going to follow.
This is why Paul
was so anxious
to get to this point,
this positive point
in his exposition.
In fact,
Christ has been raised
from the dead,
the first fruits
of those who have fallen asleep.
You can tell in 1 Thessalonians 4
that he deals with that as well.
There were some in Thessalonica
that were asking the question,
well, what's happened
to those believers
that were with us
and are no longer in this world?
What's going to happen to them
when Jesus returns?
Will they be left out of
that resurrection
that will take place
at His coming?
And Paul is saying
that of course they will.
No, they certainly will not
because they will participate
through resurrection
from the dead.
They will participate
as Christ returns
in the overall resurrection
of His own people
who are asleep
and who will be joined
with those who are left
living in the world
to celebrate His return,
to participate in His return,
to be glorified at His return.
Christ is indeed, He says,
in fact,
He has been raised
from the dead,
the first fruits of those
who have fallen asleep.
And then He comes to speak
about Christ and Adam.
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.
We'll confine it to that
for the remainder
of our study this evening.
As by a man came death,
well, obviously,
that's Adam.
The moment Adam sinned
against God,
he brought death
not only on himself
but on his posterity.
As our catechism reminds us,
on all his posterity
who descended from him.
There's a wonderful way
in which the catechism
describes this
in Shorter Catechism 16.
Did all mankind fall
in Adam's first transgression?
Then it says,
the covenant being made
with Adam,
not only for himself
but also for his posterity,
all mankind descending from him
by ordinary generation,
that leaves out
the humanity of Christ,
by ordinary generation,
sinned in him
and fell with him
in his first transgression.
And that's from Romans 5.
Romans 5 verse 12
says as follows.
I'm going to flick through
a number of passages
from Paul's letters
for the next few minutes.
Romans 5 verse 12.
Therefore just as sin
came into the world
through one man
and death through sin
and so death spread
to all men
because all sinned.
See what that's saying?
It's not all have come
to sin since Adam
but all actually sinned
in Adam.
Because you see,
Adam was set by God
as the representative head
of the human race
so that whatever he did
as he represented
the whole human race
would pass on
to the human race.
Either he would stand
the test
in the Garden of Eden
and the whole human race
would then come
to be saved.
Although,
that of course
isn't what happened
and there are mysteries
of course associated
with this.
But we know what happened
was he disobeyed God
and therefore
when he fell
and when he brought
death on himself
all those he represented
he brought death
upon as well.
All sinned
in Adam.
You and I are taken
as having sinned
in him.
And I know
that's difficult
for us
both to understand
and to accept
but that's
how the Bible
teaches us
our relation
to Adam.
That by a man
came death.
by a man
also has come
the resurrection
of the dead
he's saying.
So in other words
when you find
Adam
driven out
of the Garden of Eden
and he was
driven out
it wasn't a kind
invitation
or a gentle invitation
that God said to him
now look
you've done something
really drastic
so I invite you
now to leave
and I'm going to
close the gate
behind you.
He drove him out.
The seriousness
of what he had done
we cannot appreciate
we cannot estimate
because we're now
sinners
and our mind
is blinded
to an extent
to the seriousness
of sin
to the seriousness
of rebellion
against God
to the seriousness
of unrighteousness
and of living
contrary to the
will of God.
And so God
drove him out
of the Garden
along with Eve
and he put a barrier
there
so that he could not
return
to the Garden
of Eden.
Well there you see
is the human race
there is adamantous
posterity in him
and they're outside
of the Garden
of Eden now
they're no longer
within the confines
of life
they are now
in death
they're embroiled
in death
they're encased
in death
you know that
famous passage
in John 11
when Jesus came
to the tomb
of Lazarus
he groaned
within himself
because he knew
that that body
of Lazarus
in the tomb
was itself
emblematic
of what mankind
had done
to themselves
in Adam
all sinned
in Adam
and the result
of that
the wages of sin
is death
and when Jesus
came groaning
to the sepulcher
of Lazarus
he wasn't just
showing a sympathy
with Mary and Martha
because their brother
had died
there was certainly
that
but he was thinking
at the time
was death
and Lazarus
encased in death
he was
as it were
if we can
put it in such words
he was saying
within himself
I created
human beings
to live forever
and this is what
they've come to
this is where
they are
they're encased
in death
by one man
death came
into the world
all sinned
in Adam
but then he goes on
positively to say
that because
there's no way back
in Adam
or for ourselves
so also
by a man
has come
also
the resurrection
of the dead
now there's
quite a bit
of serious theology
involved in all
of this
when you think
of us being
in Adam
and the whole
human race
apart from Jesus
we said
the whole human
race coming
to be constituted
sinners
and in death
because of what Adam
did as a representative
head
now he's saying
all who are
in Christ
will also
participate
in his
resurrection
as all
humankind
participated
in Adam's
fall
Adam's sin
Adam's
condemnation
so all
who are
in Christ
not all
the human
race
but all
who are
in Christ
will participate
in Christ's
resurrection
in resurrection
where Christ
is foundational
to it
in his
own
resurrection
in other words
we're talking
about union
what the Bible
calls union
with Christ
just as we have
a union
with Adam
which led
to death
so we have
a union
all God's
people have
a union
with Jesus
with Christ
which leads
to life
through his
resurrection
as by man
came death
by a man
has come
also the
resurrection
of the dead
for as in Adam
all die
so also
all in Christ
shall be made
alive
I think is how
we have to
understand it
not all who
died in Adam
will come
to live
not all who
died in Adam
will come
to be in heaven
Bible makes
that clear
but all who
are in Christ
and this is a
great wide
subject
our union
with Christ
because way
back to our
being chosen
in Christ
in eternity
as Ephesians
1 puts it
being joined
to him
as he comes
into the world
being in him
spiritually that is
as he dies
the death
of the cross
being in him
as he rose
from the dead
and there are
passages in Romans
and in Ephesians
that teach this
great fact
for us
Ephesians 2
for example
I know the time
is passing
but just let me
read this one
for you
Ephesians 2
verses 4 to 6
having begun
by you being
dead in trespasses
and sins
but then he goes
on to say
but God
being rich
in mercy
because of
the great
love with
which he
loved us
even when
we were
dead in
our trespasses
he made
us alive
together
in union
with Christ
and raised
us up
with him
and seated
us with him
in the heavenly
places
in Christ
Jesus
now what is he
saying there
he's talking
and writing
to Ephesian
Christians
who are still
in this world
why is he saying
they've been
raised up
together with
Christ
in his
resurrection
why is he
saying they
have been
seated with
him in the
heavenly places
in Christ
because what
he's saying
is because
they are in
Christ to
begin with
spiritually in
Christ
spiritually in
Christ as
their
representative
therefore
whenever Christ
died
not only did
he die for
them
but there's a
sense in which
they are accounted
as having
died
the death
which he
died
the atoning
death for
sin
which he
died
and his
resurrection
from the
dead
because they
are in
him
they are
accounted
as if
they
had risen
from the
dead by
their own
strength
you see
that's
what the
Bible
teaches
with regard
to
substitution
you can't
keep
substitution
out of
the
picture
let me
just finish
the point
by saying
this
when you
think of
Jesus
on the
cross
and then
Jesus
being
raised
from the
dead
following
that
and think
of his
people
in him
well this
is how
it works
the
sin
of his
people
the sins
of his
people
having been
taken
by
Jesus
they are
accounted
as if
they were
his
from the
beginning
as if
he had
done
these
sins
himself
that is
why God
visited
him
with
his
wrath
he took
our
sins
he took
the sins
of his
people
God
viewed
him
as the
substitute
of his
people
as if
all of
these
sins
had been
committed
by
himself
but on
the other
side
of it
when he
rose
from the
dead
so that
resurrection
God
because his
people are
in him
they are
raised with
him
spiritually
they are
looked upon
by God
as if
they had
risen from
the dead
themselves
and there's
a wonderful
transaction
there
the sins
of his
people
are laid
upon
Jesus
they become
his own
he never
sinned
he never
could
but these
sins are
looked upon
as his
federally
representatively
substitutionary
and on the
other hand
the righteousness
that he has
accomplished
the righteousness
in fact
that he
is
by his
death and
resurrection
that is
accounted
the righteousness
of his
people
as if they
had created
it themselves
that's at the
heart of the
gospel
that's what
makes Jesus
such an
immense
figure
and why
union with
Jesus is so
important
why faith
in Christ
is so
crucial
so let's
ask
what use
is this
to us
now
surely this
is just
something
looking ahead
to the
resurrection
well it
is
it is the
resurrection
of the
body
that Paul
has in
mind
here in
1 Corinthians
15
especially
this resurrection
of the dead
anchored in the
resurrection of
Christ
a certainty
of that
bodily
resurrection
of Christ
is making
certain
the resurrection
of all God's
people
ultimately
but let me
just take you
back to Romans
briefly
Romans 6
and verses
11 to 14
because here
is what Paul
is saying
with regard
to
again
to
with regard
to Christ
and his
people
Romans 6
and verses
11 to 14
well let's
go from
verse 10
for the
death he
died
Jesus died
he died
to sin
once for
all
but the
life he
lives
he lives
to God
so you
also
must
consider
yourselves
dead to
sin
and alive
to God
in Christ
Jesus
he's talking
about them
presently
as they are
there and
then
not just
as they were
simply
in Christ
when he rose
from the dead
but as they
are now
as believers
in Christ
having accepted
this Christ
having received
this Christ
so what's
the outcome
of that
what are
the implications
of that
what are
the requirements
that follow
on from that
being in Christ
having Christ
as our Savior
now
being joined
to him
him in his
resurrection
well he says
let not sin
therefore
reign in your
mortal bodies
to make you
obey their
passions
do not
present
your members
to sin
as instruments
for unrighteousness
but present
yourselves to
God
as those
who have been
brought from
death to life
and your members
to God
as instruments
for righteousness
for sin
will have
no dominion
over you
for you
are not
under the
law
but under
grace
not going to
look it up
but you can
follow
Colossians chapter
3
as pretty much
the same
emphasis
if you read
that through
for yourselves
later
but what is it
saying
it's saying
that the
dynamic
of the
Christian
life
the dynamic
the energy
that enables
us through
the Holy
Spirit
to live
a God
pleasing
life
to live
a life
that in
this world
as itself
the life
that God
requires of
us
to live
that life
is by virtue
of the power
of Christ's
resurrection
that is what's
operating
through the
Holy Spirit
in every
Christian
in every
saved person
you see
that's why
you need to
know your
theology
there's a lot
of this
that I
know
is deep
a lot
of this
that really
passes my
own
understanding
and yet
I need to
preach from
these passages
as you know
but the
dynamic of
this Christian
life is
from your
union with
Christ
in his
death and
resurrection
and that
dynamic
that energy
that's in
your life
is exactly
the energy
that raised
Christ
from the
dead
and you
see that
in Paul's
own experience
when he
gave his
testimony
in
Philippians
chapter 3
why did
he count
all things
but loss
why was he
pleased to
count everything
but loss
for the sake
of Christ
well he
says so
that I
might know
him
and the
power of
his resurrection
and fellowship
with his
sufferings
that if by
any means
I might
attain
unto the
resurrection
of the
dead
see isn't
it wonderful
Paul is
saying I
can count
all things
now but
loss
everything I
once saw
as gain
in my
life
I'm more
than happy
to just
let them
drop and
fall away
they're no
use to me
anymore for
righteousness
I have
Christ
that's all
I need
to be
right with
God
so that
I might
have
his
righteousness
that comes
by faith
in him
but so
that I
might
ultimately
attain
to the
resurrection
of the
dead
he's got
the power
of his
resurrection
working in
him now
he is being
brought by
that towards
the resurrection
from the
dead
that awaits
him when
that resurrection
takes place
and it's
all to do
with Jesus
if you are
joined to
Christ tonight
by faith
you are
joined to
his
resurrection
what a
blessing it
is to be
united to
Christ
what a
blessing it
is to
know the
power of
Christ's
resurrection
making you
first of
all into
what you
are as
alive in
Christ
having
brought you
from
spiritual
death
raised you
spiritually to
be joined
to Christ
what a
blessing you
have
now that's
what's true
of your
life
what
incalculable
loss
God
if it
should be
otherwise
with you
because
unless you're
joined
vitally to
Jesus
it doesn't
matter how
much you
know in
your head
of theology
it doesn't
matter what
standards of
attainment you
may have
academically or
otherwise
in this
life
you are
dead in
your
trespasses
and sins
that's the
reality
that God
tells us
about
but focus
on Christ
himself
as by a
man came
death
we all know
about that
that's where we
all are
coming into
the world
so also
by a
man has
come
the
resurrection
of the
dead
as in
Adam all
die
so also
in
Christ
shall all
who are
in Christ
be made
alive
now
which is
it
which is
it for
yourself
have you
come to
trust in
him
to the
extent
that you
now know
his power
in your
life
have you
given your
life over
to him
so that
it's now
governed by
the power
of his
resurrection
are you
trying to
deal with
sin in
your life
through
anything
other than
the power
of Christ's
resurrection
is your
hope towards
eternity
based on
anything
other than
this
Jesus
in his
resurrection
friends I
hope not
I hope it
for myself
I hope it
for yourselves
I hope that
this Jesus
is your
Jesus
that this
risen Jesus
is your
risen Jesus
I hope that
this hope
of eternal
life
is your
hope as
well
it's the
only hope
the Bible
knows of
as a
true
living
hope
let's
pray
Lord our
God our
Father in
heaven
we thank
you for
your word
we thank
you for all
that it
contains
for that
which we
can
understand
in a
measure
and for
that which
carries us
beyond our
understanding
and Lord as
we consider
these great
aspects of
the resurrection
of our Lord
from the dead
and the
resurrection
that awaits
his people
bodily
we bless you
for that
spiritual
resurrection
that has
taken place
in the
experience of
all who are
saved
and we bless
you tonight
Lord that
through the
gospel
this is still
proclaimed to
us as the
avenue to
life
bless us
we pray
as your
word again
touches our
lives
bless us
so that we
may respond
believingly
wholeheartedly
and honestly
and seriously
bless the
young people
here tonight
Lord
if you
spare them
they have
their whole
life ahead
of them
to serve
the Lord
we pray
that they
may know
you in
their young
days
make the
power of
your resurrection
live in
their lives
give them
Lord to
love you
as the
one who
has now
risen from
the dead
who is
alive forever
more
and who
invites us
to come
and place
our life
in his
hands
receive us
we pray
in Jesus
name
Amen
We're going
to conclude
singing
Psalm 93
in the
Scottish
Psalter
on page
123
We'll sing
to the tune
Argyle
we'll sing
the whole
psalm
the five
stanzas
a psalm
that celebrates
the power
and the
strength
of God
over all
the forces
in creation
and of course
that we know
includes the
power of death
itself
in the ways
in which the
psalm
while it doesn't
speak of death
as such
it's nevertheless
indicative
that that's
included in
all the powers
that God
has overcome
the Lord
the Lord is king
his throne
endures
endures majestic
in its height
the Lord is robed
in majesty
and armed
with strength
and might
Psalm 93
on page
123
to the tune
Argyle
the Lord
is king
the Lord
is king
his throne
endures
majesty
gave his
height
the Lord
is
bold
in majesty
and armed
with strength
and might
the world
is
his throne
is
firm
and sure
we could
it
have
not
be
your
glorious
song
and
you
are
gone
from
only
eternity
the
seas
o
lord
have
lifted
up
they
lifted
up
their
voice
that
seas
have
lifted
up
their
voice
that
lifted
up
their
ways
and
make
a
mighty
noise
Lord
and
own
the
highest
strong
for
powerful
is
he
and
thunder
of
the
ocean's
waves
are
makers
of
the
sea
and
thunder
of
the
ocean's
waves
are
makers
of
the
sea
the
sea
the
sea
you
your
royal
statues
are
sand
firm
and
changing
is
your
word
and
holiness
your
word
and
holiness
that
adores
your
hearts
all
endless
days
o
Lord
can I say how uplifting and encouraging it is to see so many out this evening and so many young people as well.
nothing gives me or callum or greater joy than to know that you are set your mind you're setting your mind on the gospel on the message of the gospel on the worship of God publicly as we have opportunity in this life.
So let me just say how gratifying and comforting that is to me.
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you now and always. Amen.
Let me up celebrating a happy cat
Thank you.