WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:08.160 So we're at 1 Corinthians 15, 35-58. We've been going through this series for some time now. 00:00:08.259 --> 00:00:10.580 We're wrapping up the book next week. 00:00:11.200 --> 00:00:17.660 And last week we established that Christ's resurrection guarantees our future resurrection. 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:22.600 But what exactly will this resurrection look like? 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:28.140 When we die, our bodies will be buried to decay or be burned to ashes. 00:00:28.140 --> 00:00:30.800 Then how will we be resurrected? 00:00:31.760 --> 00:00:37.380 This seemingly sensible question is the one that's on the mind of the Corinthians believers as well. 00:00:38.539 --> 00:00:44.380 And so in fact the main reason why some of the Corinthians have rejected the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead. 00:00:44.519 --> 00:00:48.159 It was because they could not conceive of the resurrection of the body. 00:00:48.579 --> 00:00:54.579 Because they could not understand how it would happen, they rejected that it would happen. 00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:56.480 So they rejected the doctrine on that ground. 00:00:56.479 --> 00:00:59.000 And so Paul is answering those questions here. 00:00:59.239 --> 00:01:03.319 So in chapter 15 so far, first Paul talked about the resurrection of Christ. 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:05.859 Second, he talked about the resurrection of the dead. 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:10.280 And now today, in this passage, he talks about the resurrection of the body. 00:01:11.179 --> 00:01:14.500 And this for Paul is not just an abstract theoretical exercise. 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:19.140 He understands that this doctrine affects how we live and that's why he teaches it. 00:01:19.459 --> 00:01:25.019 And the main point really that he brings into climactic focus on the doctrine of the resurrection is this. 00:01:25.019 --> 00:01:30.379 That the hope of the resurrection enables us to abound in the work of the Lord. 00:01:30.459 --> 00:01:31.899 That's the main point of this passage. 00:01:32.319 --> 00:01:35.459 Hope of the resurrection enables us to abound in the work of the Lord. 00:01:35.879 --> 00:01:37.539 I'll cover that in three points. 00:01:37.659 --> 00:01:40.140 The first is the resurrection like the Lord's. 00:01:40.340 --> 00:01:42.359 Second is the victory through the Lord. 00:01:42.640 --> 00:01:45.000 And third is our labor in the Lord. 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:49.500 So Paul anticipates the Corinthians question first in verse 35. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:51.540 Look with me at your Bibles in verse 35. 00:01:52.200 --> 00:01:55.599 But someone will ask, how are the dead raised? 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:58.280 With what kind of body do they come? 00:01:59.120 --> 00:02:00.980 And Paul doesn't pull any punches. 00:02:01.099 --> 00:02:03.019 He says in verses 36 to 37, 00:02:03.019 --> 00:02:05.159 You foolish person! 00:02:06.239 --> 00:02:09.180 What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 00:02:09.579 --> 00:02:15.280 And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 00:02:15.919 --> 00:02:23.099 The Corinthians' argument against the resurrection of the body was that it was so contrary to nature and common sense. 00:02:23.099 --> 00:02:34.500 But Paul demonstrates with an example from nature that what they deny as unnatural and impossible is in fact quiet in keeping with the way things operate in nature. 00:02:35.039 --> 00:02:39.060 So the two questions that he anticipated in verse 35, he takes time to answer. 00:02:39.180 --> 00:02:41.419 The first question was, how are the dead raised? 00:02:41.500 --> 00:02:42.280 How will it happen? 00:02:43.299 --> 00:02:48.620 There's thousands of years of empirical data that show us that dead don't rise from the dead. 00:02:48.799 --> 00:02:50.979 So how will this in fact happen? 00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:52.459 Paul's answer is this. 00:02:52.460 --> 00:02:57.060 What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. 00:02:58.159 --> 00:03:03.819 From the ordinary experience of farming, we recognize that life comes from death. 00:03:04.480 --> 00:03:13.159 Unless a seed is buried in the ground in death, unless its integrity is broken, life does not sprout forth from the seed. 00:03:14.280 --> 00:03:18.620 In the same way, so the death necessarily precedes life in that picture. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:26.360 So Paul sees in the example of nature a pattern of death and resurrection that points to the saving death and resurrection of Christ. 00:03:27.319 --> 00:03:29.400 He's not the only one to have made that observation. 00:03:29.599 --> 00:03:35.099 Following in Paul's footsteps, C.S. Lewis, in his book, Miracles, writes and observes the same pattern. 00:03:35.099 --> 00:03:40.539 In the Christian story, God descends to re-ascend. 00:03:40.539 --> 00:03:50.799 He comes down, down from the heights of absolute being into time and space, down into humanity, down to the very roots and seabed of the nature he has created. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:55.840 But he goes down to come up again and bring the ruined world up with him. 00:03:55.840 --> 00:04:03.060 In this descent and re-ascend, everyone will recognize a familiar pattern, a thing written all over the world. 00:04:03.520 --> 00:04:05.500 It is a pattern of all vegetable life. 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:10.080 It must belittle itself into something hard, small, and death-like. 00:04:10.300 --> 00:04:11.819 It must fall into the ground. 00:04:12.199 --> 00:04:14.360 Thence the new life re-ascends. 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:19.399 The pattern is there in nature because it was first there in God. 00:04:19.399 --> 00:04:34.859 For certainly, no seed ever fell from so fair a tree into so dark and cold a soil as would furnish more than a faint analogy to this huge descent and re-ascension in which God dredged the salt and oozy bottom of creation. 00:04:36.259 --> 00:04:40.479 Then Paul answers that second question that they ask in verse 35. 00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:44.359 With what kind of body do they come? 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:49.439 With what kind of body can people possibly be resurrected after they are thoroughly decomposed? 00:04:50.139 --> 00:04:53.520 Another facet of the analogy provides the answer to that question. 00:04:54.980 --> 00:05:01.040 And what you sow, he says, is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. 00:05:01.520 --> 00:05:09.280 When we plant a seed on the ground, we don't expect the ground to bubble forth with some more of the same seed that we planted. 00:05:09.680 --> 00:05:11.580 We expect the plant to come forth. 00:05:11.579 --> 00:05:17.199 When we plant wheat grain on the ground, we don't expect more grains to come forth from the ground. 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:18.879 We expect the wheat plant. 00:05:19.359 --> 00:05:23.779 When you plant a corn kernel on the ground, we don't expect more kernels to come out of the ground. 00:05:24.019 --> 00:05:25.539 We expect the corn stalk. 00:05:25.919 --> 00:05:32.039 In the same way, Paul says what you plant and what you get from the produce that it yields are not the same. 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:36.959 In the same way, when our bodies are dead, it's sown on the ground, 00:05:37.339 --> 00:05:40.139 it does not produce the same kind of body at the resurrection. 00:05:40.139 --> 00:05:43.459 It is transformed like a full-fledged plant. 00:05:43.539 --> 00:05:46.120 Our bodies will be transformed into different bodies. 00:05:47.360 --> 00:05:55.199 And then in verses 38 to 41, Paul turns to other examples from creation to demonstrate the diversity of the kinds of bodies that God chooses to create. 00:05:55.539 --> 00:05:59.740 And that it is God who sovereignly chooses what kind of bodies he will give to different parts of creation. 00:06:00.139 --> 00:06:01.500 So read with me verse 38. 00:06:01.500 --> 00:06:08.040 But God gives it a body as he has chosen and to each kind of seed its own body. 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:15.500 For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. 00:06:15.899 --> 00:06:22.220 There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind and the glory of the earthly is of another. 00:06:22.220 --> 00:06:27.860 There is one glory of the sun and another glory of the moon and another glory of the stars. 00:06:28.380 --> 00:06:29.280 For stars differ. 00:06:29.740 --> 00:06:31.780 For star differs from star in glory. 00:06:32.500 --> 00:06:39.360 In verse 39, so he structures it in this kind of enclosing, chiastic format. 00:06:39.700 --> 00:06:43.100 So in verse 39, Paul mentions the various kinds of earthly bodies. 00:06:43.200 --> 00:06:45.500 So humans, animals, birds, and fish. 00:06:45.500 --> 00:06:51.500 And then in verse 40, Paul tells us that these earthly bodies differ in glory from the heavenly bodies. 00:06:52.100 --> 00:06:57.240 And then by heavenly, Paul is not speaking of spiritual bodies that he talks about elsewhere in this passage. 00:06:58.139 --> 00:07:00.199 It's two different words that he uses for that. 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:03.060 By heavenly here, he means the celestial bodies, right? 00:07:03.160 --> 00:07:05.959 The bodies that exist above the earth's atmosphere. 00:07:05.959 --> 00:07:07.120 That's what he's speaking of. 00:07:07.120 --> 00:07:18.899 And then in verse 41, he says that he lists what these heavenly bodies are and says that even they are diverse in the kinds of bodies that they have. 00:07:19.459 --> 00:07:27.780 So not only are the earthly bodies and heavenly bodies different in their glories, within each of those groups, they have a diversity of bodies. 00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:32.800 And all of that is according to God who gives them bodies as he has chosen. 00:07:32.800 --> 00:07:38.460 So, of course, Paul's interest here is not to prove that there's diversity of bodies in creation. 00:07:38.699 --> 00:07:41.319 I mean, that's not the point. 00:07:41.420 --> 00:07:50.379 But his point is that the diversity that we see is evidence that God is the one who gives particular bodies as he sees fit. 00:07:50.519 --> 00:07:52.080 As he did in his creation. 00:07:52.080 --> 00:07:56.780 And as he does in the new creation with the resurrection of the dead, that's what he will do. 00:07:57.340 --> 00:08:01.840 So Paul circles back now to the analogy of the seed that he used in verses 42 to 44. 00:08:02.800 --> 00:08:03.220 He says, 00:08:03.220 --> 00:08:06.120 So is it with the resurrection of the dead. 00:08:07.020 --> 00:08:08.560 What is sown is perishable. 00:08:08.840 --> 00:08:10.740 What is raised is imperishable. 00:08:11.120 --> 00:08:12.840 It is sown in dishonor. 00:08:13.199 --> 00:08:14.860 It is raised in glory. 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:17.080 It is sown in weakness. 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:18.879 It is raised in power. 00:08:19.480 --> 00:08:21.240 It is sown a natural body. 00:08:21.840 --> 00:08:24.000 It is raised a spiritual body. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:28.199 The body is presently, our bodies are all perishable. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:32.379 They're subject to decay or dysfunction. 00:08:33.799 --> 00:08:37.299 But the resurrected body will be imperishable. 00:08:37.500 --> 00:08:40.279 And it will not be subject to decay or dysfunction. 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:43.639 Our present bodies are lowly. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:44.379 It's base. 00:08:44.859 --> 00:08:46.839 It's humble in its state. 00:08:47.459 --> 00:08:51.919 But our resurrected body, it will be raised in glory and honor. 00:08:52.699 --> 00:08:55.319 The present body is sown in weakness. 00:08:55.799 --> 00:08:58.740 It's characterized by the frailty of the human body. 00:08:58.979 --> 00:08:59.620 Infirmity. 00:08:59.620 --> 00:09:04.039 But the resurrected body will be characterized by power and strength. 00:09:04.539 --> 00:09:06.580 And the present body finally is a natural one. 00:09:06.740 --> 00:09:11.259 It's limited by the conventions of nature. 00:09:11.899 --> 00:09:14.539 But our future resurrection body will be spiritual. 00:09:15.000 --> 00:09:16.240 It will be a supernatural one. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:17.879 And that's the contrast that he is drawing. 00:09:18.759 --> 00:09:24.600 Now, make sure that when you hear spiritual body, that you're not thinking of an immaterial body. 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:24.899 Right? 00:09:24.940 --> 00:09:25.980 This kind of spirit. 00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:28.460 Because that's our tendency to think. 00:09:28.580 --> 00:09:35.580 And that tendency to think in that way actually shows us that, shows us how prone we are to think in exactly the same way the Corinthians thought. 00:09:35.740 --> 00:09:35.879 Right? 00:09:35.879 --> 00:09:38.960 Because that's exactly the objection that they're making to Paul. 00:09:39.080 --> 00:09:41.299 They despise the perishability of the body. 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:44.879 They despise the dishonorable and weak natural body. 00:09:45.159 --> 00:09:52.279 And that's why they were so eager to say and to believe that when they died, they would discard the bodies altogether and be these disembodied souls in heaven. 00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:53.419 That's what they believed. 00:09:53.419 --> 00:09:58.419 And so, it's shocking to them that Paul would here juxtapose these two words. 00:09:58.719 --> 00:10:00.360 Spiritual body. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:00.740 Right? 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:02.299 That would have been shocking to them. 00:10:02.379 --> 00:10:02.500 Right? 00:10:02.579 --> 00:10:04.599 Because their favorite word is spiritual. 00:10:05.039 --> 00:10:06.719 They're all about being spiritual. 00:10:06.879 --> 00:10:07.419 These gifts. 00:10:07.579 --> 00:10:08.199 Spiritual gifts. 00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:09.919 All throughout Corinthians. 00:10:10.179 --> 00:10:10.779 The first letter. 00:10:10.860 --> 00:10:13.639 We see how they were too enamored with their own spirituality. 00:10:14.059 --> 00:10:15.279 That's their favorite word. 00:10:15.579 --> 00:10:19.500 And then he puts that word to describe their least favorite word. 00:10:19.699 --> 00:10:20.339 The body. 00:10:20.699 --> 00:10:22.139 The body that they despise. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:25.059 And he says, the spiritual body. 00:10:25.580 --> 00:10:30.419 To prove to them that the body is not evil in and of itself. 00:10:30.580 --> 00:10:32.159 That it is not beyond redemption. 00:10:32.600 --> 00:10:37.259 But that our bodies will be transformed into this glorious body. 00:10:38.500 --> 00:10:42.699 And Paul demonstrates that further in verses 44 and 45. 00:10:42.939 --> 00:10:48.120 He says, if there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. 00:10:48.819 --> 00:10:51.139 The first man, Adam, became a living being. 00:10:51.139 --> 00:10:54.899 The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:59.580 He's quoting here from Genesis 2-7, which I'm putting up on the screen for you. 00:11:00.580 --> 00:11:06.259 Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. 00:11:06.519 --> 00:11:09.539 And the man became a living creature. 00:11:09.539 --> 00:11:16.639 Paul is returning once again to the typological connection he made between Adam and Christ. 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:17.799 Adam is the first Adam. 00:11:17.919 --> 00:11:19.259 Christ is the last Adam. 00:11:19.719 --> 00:11:27.860 And Paul proves his point that the existence of the natural body necessitates the experience, the existence of the spiritual body. 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:30.740 And Christ is called the last Adam. 00:11:30.740 --> 00:11:32.300 If you were with us last week, you'll know this. 00:11:32.500 --> 00:11:37.039 But it's that Christ is called the last Adam because Adam was the head of humanity. 00:11:37.180 --> 00:11:38.340 He was the source of humanity. 00:11:38.680 --> 00:11:40.379 He represented all of humanity. 00:11:40.759 --> 00:11:43.960 And in his sin, he led all of humanity into sin and death. 00:11:43.960 --> 00:11:47.460 And so he was the first Adam. 00:11:47.580 --> 00:11:50.519 But Christ, the second Adam, he's the son of man and the son of God. 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:59.379 And he comes to represent all of his people and all those who align themselves to him so that in his righteousness we find our righteousness and salvation. 00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:03.240 So on the one hand, the first man, Adam, became a living being. 00:12:03.379 --> 00:12:04.060 He was alive. 00:12:04.059 --> 00:12:09.219 But the word being here is a verbal cognate of the word natural that he used earlier. 00:12:09.339 --> 00:12:11.000 So he's making that same comparison. 00:12:11.159 --> 00:12:12.559 Adam is the head of the natural body. 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:16.919 On the other hand, the last Adam, he says, became a life-giving spirit. 00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:20.599 And the word spirit, of course, is related to the word spiritual that he's mentioned earlier. 00:12:21.139 --> 00:12:29.839 So while Adam merely received the breath of the Lord and became alive, a living being, Christ is a life-giving spirit. 00:12:30.500 --> 00:12:32.179 So where is Paul getting that idea, right? 00:12:32.179 --> 00:12:36.759 Because Genesis 2-7 doesn't mention anything about Christ or him becoming a life-giving spirit. 00:12:37.359 --> 00:12:46.019 But it does mention that the Lord God formed the man of the dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life. 00:12:46.339 --> 00:12:51.219 In the same way that the Lord God breathed life into humanity in creation, 00:12:51.939 --> 00:12:58.539 Paul now makes the connection that it is the Lord Jesus who now breathes life into the new creation. 00:12:59.539 --> 00:13:01.299 His people, the church of God. 00:13:01.299 --> 00:13:05.979 This recalls Jesus' post-resurrection appearance in John 20-22. 00:13:06.099 --> 00:13:06.219 It says, 00:13:06.479 --> 00:13:09.819 Jesus breathed on his disciples and said to them, 00:13:09.979 --> 00:13:12.659 Receive the Holy Spirit. 00:13:14.120 --> 00:13:16.399 A similar way in Romans 8, Paul writes, 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:39.860 Paul's talking about the future resurrection of the body. 00:13:39.860 --> 00:14:09.840 He said, 00:14:09.860 --> 00:14:12.360 Not the spiritual that is first, but the natural. 00:14:14.360 --> 00:14:15.659 And then the spiritual. 00:14:16.539 --> 00:14:21.759 That's why he said in verse 45 that the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 00:14:21.860 --> 00:14:25.019 Paul's not speaking here of the pre-incarnate Christ, the Word of God. 00:14:25.180 --> 00:14:28.759 He's speaking here of the resurrected Christ. 00:14:28.759 --> 00:14:34.419 And so while it is true that the Corinthians as believers do have the spirit of God, 00:14:34.759 --> 00:14:39.000 their experience in the spirit still has not been completed. 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:40.259 It's not been consummated. 00:14:40.759 --> 00:14:47.100 So for that reason, they must have the first, the natural body of Adam before they can have the raised spiritual body of Christ. 00:14:47.100 --> 00:14:52.759 And Paul continues that contrast in verses 47 to 48. 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:57.220 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust. 00:14:57.439 --> 00:15:03.080 The second man is from heaven, and as was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust. 00:15:03.319 --> 00:15:06.620 And as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 00:15:07.319 --> 00:15:10.360 This is a little bit, it could be confusing and misunderstood. 00:15:10.360 --> 00:15:17.159 This verse is sometimes taken to mean that Adam came from, right, came from the earth, 00:15:17.240 --> 00:15:19.720 and that Christ, his origin is from heaven. 00:15:20.139 --> 00:15:22.300 It's possible to understand it in that way. 00:15:22.680 --> 00:15:27.639 But the preceding text, the context makes it clear that what is in view is not the incarnation of Christ, 00:15:27.700 --> 00:15:28.759 but the resurrection of Christ. 00:15:29.100 --> 00:15:33.460 So it's not speaking of Christ's origin, but it's speaking of their composition. 00:15:34.120 --> 00:15:35.259 What are they made of? 00:15:35.320 --> 00:15:37.240 What stuff are they of? 00:15:37.240 --> 00:15:43.180 That's why verse 47 specifies that the first man was from the earth, a man of dust. 00:15:43.940 --> 00:15:46.899 It's referring to his composition as a man made up of dust. 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:48.799 His body is made up of dust. 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:53.139 The name Adam comes from the Hebrew word Adama, which means ground. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:56.120 He's literally made up of ground, made up of the earth. 00:15:56.460 --> 00:15:58.220 That's why in verse 48 it says, 00:15:58.220 --> 00:16:01.379 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust. 00:16:01.700 --> 00:16:05.919 And as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. 00:16:05.919 --> 00:16:10.179 Christ being of heaven is contrasted with Adam being of the dust. 00:16:10.539 --> 00:16:14.159 So he's saying that not just that Christ came from heaven, which he did, 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:18.259 but he's saying that Christ is of the stuff of heaven, the resurrected Christ. 00:16:18.500 --> 00:16:19.719 He has a spiritual body. 00:16:21.500 --> 00:16:23.639 And so in verse 40 he's contrasting the two things. 00:16:23.740 --> 00:16:26.719 Adam has an earthly body, Christ has a spiritual heavenly body, 00:16:26.719 --> 00:16:29.379 and that's the body that we will get in the resurrection. 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:32.799 And for that reason, he says in verse 49, 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:36.639 Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, 00:16:36.799 --> 00:16:40.439 we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 00:16:41.600 --> 00:16:46.720 Earlier I mentioned that Paul listed various parts of creation and their diverse bodies. 00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:53.139 He was referring to the things that God created in days 3, 4, 5, and 6 of creation in reverse order. 00:16:53.759 --> 00:16:57.519 And then he was talking about how they were all created according to their kind. 00:16:57.519 --> 00:16:59.139 That's the language that Genesis uses. 00:16:59.460 --> 00:17:02.299 All these different things are created according to their kind. 00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:06.400 But when it comes to the creation of man and woman in Genesis 1, 26, 00:17:06.799 --> 00:17:11.839 instead of creating them like everything else in creation according to their kind, 00:17:12.420 --> 00:17:13.099 God says, 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:17.639 Let us make man in our image. 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:24.240 Everything else in creation is created according to its own kind. 00:17:24.240 --> 00:17:32.220 But humanity was created not according to its own kind, but in God's image. 00:17:33.559 --> 00:17:34.200 And so he says, 00:17:34.299 --> 00:17:37.480 We shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. 00:17:37.559 --> 00:17:42.039 The word image, it doesn't mean that we look like God, God's a spiritual being, right? 00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:44.559 It refers to the idea of representation. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:50.919 In the ancient Near East, in the context in which Genesis was written, 00:17:51.339 --> 00:17:53.859 the kings were seen as images of God. 00:17:55.019 --> 00:18:00.639 And when people believed that when they placed images or idols of their gods in a temple, 00:18:01.039 --> 00:18:04.579 they believed that those images and idols were actually indwelled by their gods. 00:18:05.059 --> 00:18:06.799 So that's what an image does. 00:18:06.879 --> 00:18:07.960 That's the function of an image. 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.480 It's to represent something. 00:18:09.940 --> 00:18:10.799 Represent God. 00:18:10.799 --> 00:18:15.180 And that's the idea behind the creation of men and women in God's image. 00:18:15.619 --> 00:18:18.639 But instead of just royalties being created in God's image, 00:18:18.740 --> 00:18:24.799 of course in Genesis all men and women are endowed with the capacity and the call to rule in God's stead 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:26.579 and to represent Him over the earth. 00:18:27.279 --> 00:18:30.000 But this image of God, of course, was marred by sin. 00:18:30.700 --> 00:18:34.879 And because Adam rebelled against God and sought to rule for himself 00:18:34.879 --> 00:18:37.680 and not for God as his image bearer and representative. 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:42.000 But in Christ Jesus and at the resurrection of the body, 00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:48.680 the image of God among God's people will be fully restored to its proper glory. 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:50.080 That's what he's talking about. 00:18:50.140 --> 00:18:55.519 We shall bear the image of the man of heaven. 00:18:56.660 --> 00:19:00.200 But Paul's point here is not merely about the future, 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:02.759 but actually even more about the present. 00:19:02.759 --> 00:19:08.299 If you have an ESV Bible, an IV Bible, or some similar Bible that has references, 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.759 and look carefully at the verse again, 00:19:10.299 --> 00:19:11.920 you might find a little footnote there. 00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:14.559 Now follow the footnote to the bottom of the page, 00:19:14.680 --> 00:19:16.379 and it will probably say something about, 00:19:16.759 --> 00:19:18.680 some manuscripts say, 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:20.740 let us bear. 00:19:21.420 --> 00:19:21.519 Right? 00:19:23.519 --> 00:19:26.319 The ESV translates this in the future, 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:29.419 but most of the Greek manuscripts, 00:19:29.919 --> 00:19:31.899 and the best and the oldest manuscripts, 00:19:32.039 --> 00:19:34.720 all have let us bear the image. 00:19:35.759 --> 00:19:37.720 So people translate it as we shall 00:19:37.720 --> 00:19:39.399 because they think that makes more sense. 00:19:39.759 --> 00:19:41.339 But the actual text says, 00:19:41.899 --> 00:19:44.759 let us bear the image of the man of heaven. 00:19:45.099 --> 00:19:46.720 So Paul is here pivoting 00:19:46.720 --> 00:19:51.079 from an ontological discussion about being and body 00:19:51.079 --> 00:19:54.059 to a moral, ethical exhortation. 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:55.819 So he's just as, 00:19:56.079 --> 00:19:57.339 he might use an analogy, 00:19:57.480 --> 00:19:58.720 just as a royal prince 00:19:58.720 --> 00:20:00.659 who is an heir to the throne 00:20:00.659 --> 00:20:03.059 should behave in a dignified way 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:05.779 as it befits his station and his future. 00:20:06.559 --> 00:20:06.679 Right? 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:09.460 Just as someone who is a job applicant 00:20:09.460 --> 00:20:10.819 who is going into an interview 00:20:10.819 --> 00:20:12.359 should dress the part 00:20:12.359 --> 00:20:13.559 and act the part 00:20:13.559 --> 00:20:15.700 as someone who is qualified for the job 00:20:15.700 --> 00:20:17.460 that that person intends to fill. 00:20:18.099 --> 00:20:18.259 Right? 00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:19.639 In the same way as Christians 00:20:19.639 --> 00:20:20.679 who are destined 00:20:20.679 --> 00:20:23.480 for the glorious resurrection of the body 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:25.759 where the image of Christ is fully restored, 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:28.339 let us bear that image now. 00:20:28.860 --> 00:20:30.019 That's what Paul is saying. 00:20:31.779 --> 00:20:35.079 And so, like in 2 Corinthians 3.18, 00:20:35.460 --> 00:20:38.099 we all with unveiled faces 00:20:38.099 --> 00:20:40.420 beholding the glory of the Lord 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:42.019 are being transformed 00:20:42.019 --> 00:20:44.299 into the same image 00:20:44.299 --> 00:20:47.660 from one degree of glory to another. 00:20:48.759 --> 00:20:49.559 Isn't that glorious? 00:20:49.680 --> 00:20:50.960 At the resurrection of the body, 00:20:50.960 --> 00:20:53.480 we shall bear the image of Christ perfectly 00:20:53.480 --> 00:20:54.740 and even now, 00:20:54.799 --> 00:20:56.680 as we wait eagerly for that day, 00:20:56.920 --> 00:20:58.000 let's strive 00:20:58.000 --> 00:20:59.220 and be transformed 00:20:59.220 --> 00:21:01.279 daily into that image more and more. 00:21:01.700 --> 00:21:02.920 That's Paul's exhortation. 00:21:03.019 --> 00:21:04.700 Let us bear the image 00:21:04.700 --> 00:21:05.620 of the man of heaven. 00:21:06.340 --> 00:21:07.779 So that's Paul's first point 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:09.819 and that's the longest point, 00:21:09.960 --> 00:21:11.000 so stick with me. 00:21:11.079 --> 00:21:12.500 The resurrection like the Lord's. 00:21:12.920 --> 00:21:14.160 That leads us to the second point, 00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:15.960 the victory through the Lord. 00:21:15.960 --> 00:21:18.140 In verses 50 to 57, 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:20.079 Paul teaches that the resurrection 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:22.079 like the Lord's is guaranteed for us 00:21:22.079 --> 00:21:24.380 because of our victory through the Lord. 00:21:24.680 --> 00:21:25.819 He says in verse 50, 00:21:26.539 --> 00:21:27.660 I tell you this, brothers, 00:21:28.120 --> 00:21:29.720 flesh and blood cannot inherit 00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:30.539 the kingdom of God, 00:21:30.720 --> 00:21:32.819 nor does the perishable 00:21:32.819 --> 00:21:33.920 inherit the imperishable. 00:21:34.420 --> 00:21:35.880 So those are parallel statements. 00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:37.900 Flesh and blood correspond to the perishable 00:21:37.900 --> 00:21:39.539 and the kingdom of God 00:21:39.539 --> 00:21:40.960 corresponds to the imperishable. 00:21:40.960 --> 00:21:43.259 So we cannot inherit 00:21:43.259 --> 00:21:45.819 the imperishable kingdom of God 00:21:45.819 --> 00:21:47.319 in our perishable bodies. 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:48.700 So our bodies too 00:21:48.700 --> 00:21:50.160 must be made imperishable 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.279 is what Paul is talking about. 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:53.720 Now this is not directly 00:21:53.720 --> 00:21:54.400 related to this passage, 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.059 but you guys, 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:56.279 some of you asked this question, 00:21:56.360 --> 00:21:57.400 so I'm going to address it. 00:21:57.900 --> 00:21:59.460 Some of you are probably wondering 00:21:59.460 --> 00:22:00.259 at this point, 00:22:00.579 --> 00:22:02.600 well, then what happens when we die? 00:22:04.240 --> 00:22:05.700 Don't we go to heaven? 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.140 Don't our souls enter 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.079 into the presence of God? 00:22:08.840 --> 00:22:09.759 So that is true. 00:22:09.759 --> 00:22:10.779 That's what's called 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:12.099 the intermediate state. 00:22:12.500 --> 00:22:13.839 When our souls leave 00:22:13.839 --> 00:22:14.680 our deceased bodies 00:22:14.680 --> 00:22:15.519 to be with the Lord 00:22:15.519 --> 00:22:17.740 until the resurrection of the body. 00:22:17.900 --> 00:22:18.779 It's the intermediate state. 00:22:18.879 --> 00:22:20.279 And Paul makes that abundantly clear 00:22:20.279 --> 00:22:22.720 in places like 2 Corinthians 5, 6 to 8. 00:22:23.319 --> 00:22:24.460 We know that while we are 00:22:24.460 --> 00:22:25.839 at home in the body, 00:22:26.039 --> 00:22:27.519 we are away from the Lord. 00:22:27.720 --> 00:22:28.779 For we walk by faith, 00:22:28.839 --> 00:22:29.460 not by sight. 00:22:29.799 --> 00:22:30.879 Yes, we are of good courage 00:22:30.879 --> 00:22:32.019 and we would rather be 00:22:32.019 --> 00:22:33.579 away from the body 00:22:33.579 --> 00:22:35.460 and at home with the Lord. 00:22:35.599 --> 00:22:36.660 That's pretty clear, right? 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:37.720 He's talking about 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:38.539 the intermediate state. 00:22:38.539 --> 00:22:41.039 In Revelation 6, 9 to 10, 00:22:41.240 --> 00:22:44.159 he sees a vision of heaven. 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:44.599 He says, 00:22:44.879 --> 00:22:45.879 I saw under the altar 00:22:45.879 --> 00:22:47.759 the souls of those 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.779 who had been slain 00:22:48.779 --> 00:22:49.680 for the word of God 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:50.619 and for the witness 00:22:50.619 --> 00:22:51.200 they had borne. 00:22:51.259 --> 00:22:51.879 They cried out 00:22:51.879 --> 00:22:52.619 with a loud voice, 00:22:52.680 --> 00:22:53.599 O sovereign Lord, 00:22:53.839 --> 00:22:54.539 holy and true, 00:22:54.619 --> 00:22:56.559 how long before you will judge 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:57.440 and avenge our blood 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.579 on those who dwell on the earth? 00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.599 So clearly, 00:22:59.680 --> 00:23:01.019 these souls are with God 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:03.299 and they are not on earth 00:23:03.299 --> 00:23:05.099 and they have consciousness 00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:07.480 and they are not in a sleep-like, 00:23:07.579 --> 00:23:08.460 comatose state 00:23:08.460 --> 00:23:10.059 and their bodies have not yet 00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.680 been resurrected. 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:12.019 So this is a description 00:23:12.019 --> 00:23:13.079 of the intermediate state. 00:23:13.440 --> 00:23:14.700 But it's important to note 00:23:14.700 --> 00:23:17.039 that this is just an intermediate state. 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.859 It's not the final state. 00:23:19.519 --> 00:23:21.440 Heaven up there is just a layover 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.359 for us believers. 00:23:22.599 --> 00:23:23.639 The ultimate destination 00:23:23.639 --> 00:23:25.079 is a new heaven 00:23:25.079 --> 00:23:26.139 and a new earth 00:23:26.139 --> 00:23:26.759 here 00:23:26.759 --> 00:23:30.119 when God dwells with us 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:31.839 and that's when we will be united 00:23:31.839 --> 00:23:33.339 and dwell with God 00:23:33.339 --> 00:23:34.440 in our resurrected bodies. 00:23:34.940 --> 00:23:36.819 But if our souls can enjoy 00:23:36.819 --> 00:23:38.140 our union with God 00:23:38.140 --> 00:23:38.740 after death 00:23:38.740 --> 00:23:39.859 when it departs from our body, 00:23:39.940 --> 00:23:41.039 then why is it important 00:23:41.039 --> 00:23:42.640 for our bodies to be resurrected? 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:43.720 Isn't it enough 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.460 that we're with God 00:23:44.460 --> 00:23:45.400 in our souls? 00:23:46.400 --> 00:23:47.460 Well, the reason is this. 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:49.799 Our triumph is not total 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.299 and our restoration 00:23:51.299 --> 00:23:53.480 is not complete 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:54.920 until death. 00:23:54.920 --> 00:23:56.840 Our last enemy 00:23:56.840 --> 00:23:57.840 is vanquished. 00:23:58.840 --> 00:23:59.460 And the havoc 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.360 that it has wreaked 00:24:00.360 --> 00:24:01.400 in all of God's people 00:24:01.400 --> 00:24:02.200 is finally 00:24:02.200 --> 00:24:04.300 and irrevocably reversed. 00:24:05.220 --> 00:24:06.680 God created the whole world 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:08.060 and saw that it was very good 00:24:08.060 --> 00:24:09.720 until the toll of death 00:24:09.720 --> 00:24:10.660 that's taken 00:24:10.660 --> 00:24:11.620 in all of creation 00:24:11.620 --> 00:24:14.960 until the material universe 00:24:14.960 --> 00:24:15.880 that God created 00:24:15.880 --> 00:24:17.600 too is redeemed. 00:24:17.900 --> 00:24:18.600 God's redemption 00:24:18.600 --> 00:24:20.980 is not fully consummated. 00:24:22.240 --> 00:24:23.740 And He has not yet 00:24:23.740 --> 00:24:25.500 made all things new 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:27.500 as Revelation 21.5 says 00:24:27.500 --> 00:24:27.940 He will do. 00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:30.120 So our resurrected King, 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:32.120 He will not stop 00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:34.519 His victorious march 00:24:34.519 --> 00:24:37.900 until the very last vestige 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.039 of the enemy 00:24:39.039 --> 00:24:39.880 is wiped out. 00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:42.320 all our suffering 00:24:42.320 --> 00:24:43.820 due to the frailties 00:24:43.820 --> 00:24:44.640 of the flesh, 00:24:44.920 --> 00:24:45.680 the disabilities 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:47.460 and pains 00:24:47.460 --> 00:24:48.320 of our bodies 00:24:48.320 --> 00:24:49.620 under which we groaned 00:24:49.620 --> 00:24:50.360 in our life 00:24:50.360 --> 00:24:52.040 will be healed 00:24:52.040 --> 00:24:53.160 and we will have 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:53.860 glorious 00:24:53.860 --> 00:24:55.200 immortal bodies. 00:24:58.200 --> 00:24:59.280 The Son of God 00:24:59.280 --> 00:25:00.120 is the head 00:25:00.120 --> 00:25:01.040 of the body of Christ 00:25:01.040 --> 00:25:02.000 which is the church 00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:03.520 and since the Son of God 00:25:03.520 --> 00:25:04.900 was incarnated, 00:25:04.980 --> 00:25:06.000 He took on flesh, 00:25:06.320 --> 00:25:06.940 human flesh, 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.640 died and rose again 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:09.380 and therefore 00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:11.140 He has a glorious body 00:25:11.140 --> 00:25:12.920 for all eternity. 00:25:13.460 --> 00:25:14.280 His body, 00:25:14.380 --> 00:25:15.280 the church too 00:25:15.280 --> 00:25:16.780 must have a body. 00:25:17.759 --> 00:25:18.400 We must have, 00:25:18.600 --> 00:25:19.480 we must be resurrected 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:20.460 in our bodies. 00:25:21.060 --> 00:25:21.759 That's when 00:25:21.759 --> 00:25:22.560 the church's union 00:25:22.560 --> 00:25:23.160 with Christ 00:25:23.160 --> 00:25:23.620 in a sense 00:25:23.620 --> 00:25:25.100 will be fully consummated. 00:25:26.820 --> 00:25:27.420 That's why 00:25:27.420 --> 00:25:27.880 the resurrection 00:25:27.880 --> 00:25:28.340 of the body 00:25:28.340 --> 00:25:29.020 is necessary. 00:25:30.020 --> 00:25:30.600 Flesh and blood 00:25:30.600 --> 00:25:31.340 cannot inherit 00:25:31.340 --> 00:25:32.280 the kingdom of God 00:25:32.280 --> 00:25:34.020 nor does the perishable 00:25:34.020 --> 00:25:35.240 inherit the imperishable. 00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:35.820 Our bodies 00:25:35.820 --> 00:25:36.560 must be made 00:25:36.560 --> 00:25:37.400 imperishable. 00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:39.759 Then in verses 51 to 52 00:25:39.759 --> 00:25:40.640 Paul explains 00:25:40.640 --> 00:25:41.759 how this will happen. 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:43.040 Behold, 00:25:43.180 --> 00:25:44.340 I tell you a mystery. 00:25:45.380 --> 00:25:46.320 Paul uses the word 00:25:46.320 --> 00:25:47.180 mystery frequently 00:25:47.180 --> 00:25:47.700 in his letter, 00:25:47.820 --> 00:25:49.040 six times in this letter 00:25:49.040 --> 00:25:50.200 and in all of those 00:25:50.200 --> 00:25:50.600 occurrences 00:25:50.600 --> 00:25:51.580 it doesn't refer to 00:25:51.580 --> 00:25:52.600 something that remains 00:25:52.600 --> 00:25:53.600 secret or hidden. 00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:54.940 It refers to something 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:56.019 that was formerly hidden 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:57.100 that has been revealed 00:25:57.100 --> 00:25:57.600 by God 00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:58.580 through Jesus Christ. 00:25:59.060 --> 00:25:59.440 And that's why 00:25:59.440 --> 00:26:00.140 he describes 00:26:00.140 --> 00:26:00.980 the apostles 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.280 or the ministers of Christ 00:26:02.280 --> 00:26:03.480 in chapter 4 verse 1 00:26:03.480 --> 00:26:04.060 as stewards 00:26:04.060 --> 00:26:05.680 of the mysteries of God. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.900 And the mystery 00:26:06.900 --> 00:26:07.680 that has been revealed 00:26:07.680 --> 00:26:08.220 through Christ 00:26:08.220 --> 00:26:08.740 is this. 00:26:08.920 --> 00:26:09.440 Read with me. 00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.580 We shall not all sleep 00:26:11.580 --> 00:26:13.519 but we shall all be changed 00:26:13.519 --> 00:26:14.460 in a moment 00:26:14.460 --> 00:26:15.980 in the twinkling of an eye 00:26:15.980 --> 00:26:17.180 at the last trumpet 00:26:17.180 --> 00:26:18.120 for the trumpet 00:26:18.120 --> 00:26:18.880 will sound 00:26:18.880 --> 00:26:19.420 and the dead 00:26:19.420 --> 00:26:20.080 will be raised 00:26:20.080 --> 00:26:20.880 imperishable 00:26:20.880 --> 00:26:23.340 and we shall be changed. 00:26:24.620 --> 00:26:24.820 Well, 00:26:24.860 --> 00:26:26.039 the fact that the flesh 00:26:26.039 --> 00:26:26.380 and blood 00:26:26.380 --> 00:26:27.019 cannot inherit 00:26:27.019 --> 00:26:27.700 the kingdom of God 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:29.080 raises the obvious question. 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:29.600 Well, 00:26:29.660 --> 00:26:30.820 what about those believers 00:26:30.820 --> 00:26:32.640 who will still be alive 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:33.560 when Christ returns? 00:26:33.559 --> 00:26:34.899 They haven't exactly died 00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:36.159 so they can't really 00:26:36.159 --> 00:26:37.240 be raised from the dead 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.059 so what's going to happen 00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.480 to them? 00:26:38.759 --> 00:26:40.059 That's a very logical question. 00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:42.079 So Paul anticipates 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:42.619 that question 00:26:42.619 --> 00:26:43.639 and he says, 00:26:43.779 --> 00:26:43.919 no, 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.740 they too will be changed. 00:26:46.200 --> 00:26:47.859 We shall not all sleep 00:26:47.859 --> 00:26:50.359 but we shall all be changed. 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:51.559 Now, 00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:53.779 this doesn't necessarily mean 00:26:53.779 --> 00:26:54.859 that Paul expected 00:26:54.859 --> 00:26:55.480 some people 00:26:55.480 --> 00:26:56.379 in his lifetime 00:26:56.379 --> 00:26:57.019 to be alive 00:26:57.019 --> 00:26:58.259 when Christ returns, 00:26:58.819 --> 00:27:00.079 at Christ's second coming. 00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.039 It's possible 00:27:01.039 --> 00:27:02.039 that Paul believed that 00:27:02.039 --> 00:27:03.759 but that's not 00:27:03.759 --> 00:27:04.759 the necessary implication 00:27:04.759 --> 00:27:05.480 of this verse 00:27:05.480 --> 00:27:08.220 because he uses 00:27:08.220 --> 00:27:10.079 the plural pronoun, 00:27:10.399 --> 00:27:11.099 personal first person 00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.619 plural pronoun 00:27:11.619 --> 00:27:12.480 we all throughout 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:13.039 this passage 00:27:13.039 --> 00:27:14.319 even when he's referring 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:15.319 to all the saints 00:27:15.319 --> 00:27:16.279 across all generations 00:27:16.279 --> 00:27:17.539 not just to the immediate 00:27:17.539 --> 00:27:18.519 people that are there, 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:19.859 Paul and the Corinthian believers. 00:27:20.539 --> 00:27:21.879 So when he writes here 00:27:21.879 --> 00:27:23.000 that we shall not all sleep 00:27:23.000 --> 00:27:24.319 he means not all believers 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:25.159 will be dead 00:27:25.159 --> 00:27:26.980 at the time Christ returns 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.720 but nevertheless 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:29.379 they will all be changed. 00:27:30.159 --> 00:27:31.319 And so those who are still 00:27:31.319 --> 00:27:32.039 living at the time 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.819 of Christ's return 00:27:32.819 --> 00:27:33.960 will have changed bodies 00:27:33.960 --> 00:27:34.859 and that will happen 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.960 at the blink of an eye 00:27:35.960 --> 00:27:36.379 he says. 00:27:37.139 --> 00:27:39.399 And when the last trumpet 00:27:39.399 --> 00:27:40.639 sounds to announce 00:27:40.639 --> 00:27:41.819 the return of the king 00:27:41.819 --> 00:27:43.179 and summon God's people 00:27:43.179 --> 00:27:43.740 to himself 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:45.319 the dead will be raised 00:27:45.319 --> 00:27:46.039 imperishable 00:27:46.039 --> 00:27:46.700 on the one hand 00:27:46.700 --> 00:27:47.480 and the believers 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.299 who are still living 00:27:48.299 --> 00:27:49.299 will all be changed. 00:27:49.379 --> 00:27:50.000 So that's what he's saying. 00:27:50.059 --> 00:27:50.980 All will be changed. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:53.119 All will have glorious bodies. 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:57.200 For this perishable body 00:27:57.200 --> 00:27:57.759 he continues 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.559 in verse 53 00:27:58.559 --> 00:28:01.059 must put on the imperishable 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:03.019 and this mortal body 00:28:03.019 --> 00:28:04.779 must put on immortality. 00:28:05.319 --> 00:28:06.099 When the perishable 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:07.440 puts on the imperishable 00:28:07.440 --> 00:28:08.000 and the mortal 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:09.159 puts on immortality 00:28:09.159 --> 00:28:11.079 then shall come to pass 00:28:11.079 --> 00:28:12.200 the saying that is written 00:28:12.200 --> 00:28:15.039 death is swallowed up 00:28:15.039 --> 00:28:15.619 in victory. 00:28:16.399 --> 00:28:17.200 Oh death 00:28:17.200 --> 00:28:18.559 where is your victory? 00:28:19.379 --> 00:28:20.059 Oh death 00:28:20.059 --> 00:28:22.460 where is your sting? 00:28:23.940 --> 00:28:25.799 That's so defiant. 00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:29.680 when the effects 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.519 of Christ's resurrection 00:28:31.519 --> 00:28:34.059 are fully realized 00:28:34.059 --> 00:28:35.099 and when we 00:28:35.099 --> 00:28:35.720 his people 00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:36.440 are raised 00:28:36.440 --> 00:28:37.339 with imperishable 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.180 immortal bodies 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:39.839 the unbroken 00:28:39.839 --> 00:28:41.440 chain of death 00:28:41.440 --> 00:28:42.500 inaugurated by 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:43.500 the first Adam 00:28:43.500 --> 00:28:44.579 will be broken 00:28:44.579 --> 00:28:45.619 once 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:46.720 and for all 00:28:46.720 --> 00:28:47.940 by the last Adam. 00:28:48.940 --> 00:28:49.619 It is then 00:28:49.619 --> 00:28:50.619 that the prophecies 00:28:50.619 --> 00:28:51.279 that he's quoting 00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:52.639 from Isaiah 25a 00:28:52.639 --> 00:28:54.019 and Hosea 13 14 00:28:54.019 --> 00:28:55.359 will be fulfilled. 00:28:55.799 --> 00:28:56.839 Death is swallowed up 00:28:56.839 --> 00:28:57.400 in victory. 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.279 Oh death 00:28:58.279 --> 00:28:59.559 where is your victory? 00:28:59.700 --> 00:29:00.160 Oh death 00:29:00.160 --> 00:29:01.059 where is your sting? 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:02.339 He's just saying 00:29:02.339 --> 00:29:03.359 if I have to put that 00:29:03.359 --> 00:29:03.980 more colloquially 00:29:03.980 --> 00:29:04.359 he's saying 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:05.440 take that death 00:29:05.440 --> 00:29:06.000 right 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:07.759 your tyranny 00:29:07.759 --> 00:29:08.440 is over 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:10.259 it is time 00:29:10.259 --> 00:29:10.839 for death 00:29:10.839 --> 00:29:11.359 to die 00:29:11.359 --> 00:29:13.240 and there is 00:29:13.240 --> 00:29:14.259 nothing death 00:29:14.259 --> 00:29:14.799 can do 00:29:14.799 --> 00:29:15.779 to survive 00:29:15.779 --> 00:29:16.639 the mortal blow 00:29:16.639 --> 00:29:17.619 inflicted upon it 00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:18.519 by Jesus Christ 00:29:18.519 --> 00:29:19.960 this is why 00:29:19.960 --> 00:29:20.619 we are 00:29:20.619 --> 00:29:21.859 assured 00:29:21.859 --> 00:29:22.579 of victory 00:29:22.579 --> 00:29:23.240 through the Lord. 00:29:23.240 --> 00:29:24.220 He says in verses 00:29:24.220 --> 00:29:25.620 56 to 57 00:29:25.620 --> 00:29:27.140 the sting of death 00:29:27.140 --> 00:29:27.620 is sin 00:29:27.620 --> 00:29:28.599 and the power 00:29:28.599 --> 00:29:29.039 of sin 00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.599 is the law 00:29:29.599 --> 00:29:30.620 but thanks 00:29:30.620 --> 00:29:31.440 be to God 00:29:31.440 --> 00:29:32.259 who gives us 00:29:32.259 --> 00:29:32.880 the victory 00:29:32.880 --> 00:29:33.940 through our Lord 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:34.680 Jesus Christ. 00:29:35.559 --> 00:29:36.380 The sting of death 00:29:36.380 --> 00:29:36.980 is sin 00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:37.500 right 00:29:37.500 --> 00:29:38.180 that means 00:29:38.180 --> 00:29:39.319 because the wages 00:29:39.319 --> 00:29:40.299 of sin is death 00:29:40.299 --> 00:29:41.259 the just penalty 00:29:41.259 --> 00:29:42.000 for sin 00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:42.839 is death 00:29:42.839 --> 00:29:43.579 so the sting 00:29:43.579 --> 00:29:44.579 of death 00:29:44.579 --> 00:29:45.019 is sin 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:47.420 and the power 00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:47.799 of sin 00:29:47.799 --> 00:29:48.319 is the law 00:29:48.319 --> 00:29:49.240 because 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.099 as Paul says 00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:50.960 in Romans 5 13 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:51.779 sin is not 00:29:51.779 --> 00:29:52.299 counted 00:29:52.299 --> 00:29:52.779 where 00:29:52.779 --> 00:29:53.380 there is 00:29:53.380 --> 00:29:53.880 no law 00:29:53.880 --> 00:29:54.279 right 00:29:54.279 --> 00:29:55.500 no wrong 00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.220 can be counted 00:29:56.220 --> 00:29:56.759 where there is 00:29:56.759 --> 00:29:57.360 no standard 00:29:57.360 --> 00:29:57.880 of right 00:29:57.880 --> 00:29:59.059 there can be 00:29:59.059 --> 00:29:59.940 no crooked line 00:29:59.940 --> 00:30:00.440 unless there is 00:30:00.440 --> 00:30:00.900 a standard 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:02.079 of a straight line 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:03.019 so even though 00:30:03.019 --> 00:30:03.519 the law 00:30:03.519 --> 00:30:04.240 is good 00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.900 sin derives 00:30:05.900 --> 00:30:06.440 its power 00:30:06.440 --> 00:30:07.140 from the law 00:30:07.140 --> 00:30:07.460 that's what 00:30:07.460 --> 00:30:08.000 Paul is talking 00:30:08.000 --> 00:30:08.259 about 00:30:08.259 --> 00:30:09.640 but through 00:30:09.640 --> 00:30:10.200 the death 00:30:10.200 --> 00:30:10.579 and resurrection 00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.180 of Christ 00:30:11.180 --> 00:30:12.079 the law 00:30:12.079 --> 00:30:12.600 of God 00:30:12.600 --> 00:30:13.279 is fulfilled 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:14.340 so that sin 00:30:14.340 --> 00:30:14.940 would be 00:30:14.940 --> 00:30:15.720 impotent 00:30:15.720 --> 00:30:16.700 and sin 00:30:16.700 --> 00:30:17.500 is atoned 00:30:17.500 --> 00:30:17.799 for 00:30:17.799 --> 00:30:18.680 so that death 00:30:18.680 --> 00:30:19.480 would be 00:30:19.480 --> 00:30:20.460 without its sting 00:30:20.460 --> 00:30:25.059 I don't know 00:30:25.059 --> 00:30:25.420 if you've ever 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:25.960 been stung 00:30:25.960 --> 00:30:26.460 by a bee 00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:28.480 but a honey bee 00:30:28.480 --> 00:30:28.980 right 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:30.220 when it 00:30:30.220 --> 00:30:31.240 stings a person 00:30:31.240 --> 00:30:33.220 because the sting 00:30:33.220 --> 00:30:33.799 is barbed 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:35.059 he's unable 00:30:35.059 --> 00:30:35.819 to pull 00:30:35.819 --> 00:30:36.559 the sting 00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.059 back out 00:30:37.059 --> 00:30:37.720 of the flesh 00:30:37.720 --> 00:30:38.220 right 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:39.940 so after 00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.759 it's stung 00:30:40.759 --> 00:30:41.360 a human being 00:30:41.360 --> 00:30:42.400 and it tries 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:43.039 to leave 00:30:43.039 --> 00:30:44.319 when he's 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:45.720 pulling himself 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:46.039 out 00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.660 it actually 00:30:46.660 --> 00:30:47.480 causes this 00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:48.920 huge 00:30:48.920 --> 00:30:50.019 abdominal rupture 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:51.200 in his body 00:30:51.200 --> 00:30:51.740 so he actually 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.420 he dies 00:30:52.420 --> 00:30:53.560 honey bees 00:30:53.560 --> 00:30:54.300 don't survive 00:30:54.300 --> 00:30:54.820 after 00:30:54.820 --> 00:30:55.820 they sting 00:30:55.820 --> 00:30:57.960 a host 00:30:57.960 --> 00:31:00.440 in the same way 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:01.380 when death 00:31:01.380 --> 00:31:03.060 stung Jesus Christ 00:31:03.060 --> 00:31:04.100 on the cross 00:31:04.100 --> 00:31:06.160 Jesus 00:31:06.160 --> 00:31:07.000 inflicted 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.800 a mortal blow 00:31:07.800 --> 00:31:09.060 to death 00:31:09.060 --> 00:31:09.600 itself 00:31:09.600 --> 00:31:10.640 so it lost 00:31:10.640 --> 00:31:11.380 its sting 00:31:11.380 --> 00:31:12.080 and is unable 00:31:12.080 --> 00:31:12.580 to recover 00:31:12.580 --> 00:31:13.120 from it 00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:14.120 and its 00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:14.740 death 00:31:14.740 --> 00:31:15.800 is inevitable 00:31:15.799 --> 00:31:17.299 and that's 00:31:17.299 --> 00:31:17.919 the progression 00:31:17.919 --> 00:31:18.559 we are on 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.099 when the 00:31:19.099 --> 00:31:19.440 resurrection 00:31:19.440 --> 00:31:20.200 of the body 00:31:20.200 --> 00:31:21.299 is complete 00:31:21.299 --> 00:31:23.000 the devil 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:24.879 and his minions 00:31:24.879 --> 00:31:25.980 rage against us 00:31:25.980 --> 00:31:26.819 if you're not a believer 00:31:26.819 --> 00:31:27.839 yet 00:31:27.839 --> 00:31:28.500 if you're not yet 00:31:28.500 --> 00:31:28.839 a follower 00:31:28.839 --> 00:31:29.599 of Jesus Christ 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:30.539 and I urge you to 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.599 put your faith in him 00:31:31.599 --> 00:31:32.500 because all of us 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.619 we have all sinned 00:31:33.619 --> 00:31:34.839 and we have all 00:31:34.839 --> 00:31:35.639 been waging 00:31:35.639 --> 00:31:36.259 this battle 00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.740 against the devil 00:31:37.740 --> 00:31:38.159 the devil 00:31:38.159 --> 00:31:38.639 and his minions 00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:39.519 rage against us 00:31:39.519 --> 00:31:40.099 they tempt us 00:31:40.099 --> 00:31:40.579 to sin 00:31:40.579 --> 00:31:41.559 they drive us 00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:42.240 into despair 00:31:42.240 --> 00:31:43.279 and we are 00:31:43.279 --> 00:31:44.000 all of us 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:44.339 together 00:31:44.339 --> 00:31:45.059 powerless 00:31:45.059 --> 00:31:46.400 to resist his advances 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.859 in this battle 00:31:47.859 --> 00:31:48.900 for our eternal fate 00:31:48.900 --> 00:31:50.880 and when we 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.579 were facing 00:31:51.579 --> 00:31:52.539 utter despair 00:31:52.539 --> 00:31:54.799 eternal destruction 00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:57.120 it is Christ 00:31:57.120 --> 00:31:58.079 who rose 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:59.339 from our very own 00:31:59.339 --> 00:31:59.759 ranks 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:00.640 as the son of man 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:02.940 to be our champion 00:32:02.940 --> 00:32:06.500 and as our representative 00:32:06.500 --> 00:32:07.319 he fought 00:32:07.319 --> 00:32:08.620 the epic battle 00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:10.079 against 00:32:10.079 --> 00:32:10.839 sin 00:32:10.839 --> 00:32:11.579 death 00:32:11.579 --> 00:32:12.599 and Satan 00:32:12.599 --> 00:32:14.019 and he triumphed 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:14.439 over them 00:32:14.439 --> 00:32:15.000 by dying 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.599 on the cross 00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.559 and rising 00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:17.099 again 00:32:17.099 --> 00:32:19.740 that's 00:32:19.740 --> 00:32:20.419 the good news 00:32:20.419 --> 00:32:20.879 the gospel 00:32:20.879 --> 00:32:21.699 of Jesus Christ 00:32:21.699 --> 00:32:23.500 in order for you 00:32:23.500 --> 00:32:24.500 to be saved 00:32:24.500 --> 00:32:25.659 you must 00:32:25.659 --> 00:32:26.980 align yourself 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.899 with Christ 00:32:27.899 --> 00:32:28.899 and entrust 00:32:28.899 --> 00:32:29.279 yourself 00:32:29.279 --> 00:32:29.699 completely 00:32:29.699 --> 00:32:30.419 to him 00:32:30.419 --> 00:32:31.759 as your champion 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:32.899 and commander 00:32:32.899 --> 00:32:36.119 later in the service 00:32:36.119 --> 00:32:37.000 we all have 00:32:37.000 --> 00:32:37.759 we will have 00:32:37.759 --> 00:32:38.220 the privilege 00:32:38.220 --> 00:32:38.779 of witnessing 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.319 a baptism 00:32:39.319 --> 00:32:39.960 where a person 00:32:39.960 --> 00:32:40.759 makes a public 00:32:40.759 --> 00:32:41.180 profession 00:32:41.180 --> 00:32:41.619 of faith 00:32:41.619 --> 00:32:43.339 and makes 00:32:43.339 --> 00:32:43.680 a commitment 00:32:43.680 --> 00:32:44.220 to Christ 00:32:44.220 --> 00:32:44.900 baptism 00:32:44.900 --> 00:32:45.759 in water 00:32:45.759 --> 00:32:46.720 signifies 00:32:46.720 --> 00:32:47.220 our union 00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:47.700 with Christ 00:32:47.700 --> 00:32:48.379 in his death 00:32:48.379 --> 00:32:49.779 and death 00:32:49.779 --> 00:32:50.440 to sin 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.879 and serves 00:32:51.879 --> 00:32:52.500 as a visible 00:32:52.500 --> 00:32:52.920 pledge 00:32:52.920 --> 00:32:53.339 that we will 00:32:53.339 --> 00:32:53.920 be united 00:32:53.920 --> 00:32:55.000 with Christ 00:32:55.000 --> 00:32:55.980 in a resurrection 00:32:55.980 --> 00:32:56.819 like his 00:32:56.819 --> 00:32:58.140 in the future 00:32:58.140 --> 00:32:59.960 and baptism 00:32:59.960 --> 00:33:00.799 is not this 00:33:00.799 --> 00:33:01.920 extraneous activity 00:33:01.920 --> 00:33:02.440 that sometimes 00:33:02.440 --> 00:33:03.240 Christians make it 00:33:03.240 --> 00:33:03.740 out to be 00:33:03.740 --> 00:33:05.079 in Mark 16 00:33:05.079 --> 00:33:05.480 16 00:33:05.480 --> 00:33:06.000 it says 00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:06.960 Jesus says 00:33:06.960 --> 00:33:08.160 whoever believes 00:33:08.160 --> 00:33:09.859 and is baptized 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:11.539 will be saved 00:33:11.539 --> 00:33:12.680 but whoever does 00:33:12.680 --> 00:33:13.220 not believe 00:33:13.220 --> 00:33:14.099 will be condemned 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:15.759 he associates 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:16.400 baptism with 00:33:16.400 --> 00:33:17.039 belief 00:33:17.039 --> 00:33:18.140 similarly in Acts 00:33:18.140 --> 00:33:18.779 2 38 00:33:18.779 --> 00:33:19.559 Peter preaches 00:33:19.559 --> 00:33:20.839 repent and be 00:33:20.839 --> 00:33:21.380 baptized 00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:22.500 every one of you 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.279 in the name 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.099 of Jesus Christ 00:33:24.099 --> 00:33:24.779 for the forgiveness 00:33:24.779 --> 00:33:25.579 of your sins 00:33:25.579 --> 00:33:26.579 and you will receive 00:33:26.579 --> 00:33:27.200 the gift 00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:28.359 of the Holy Spirit 00:33:28.359 --> 00:33:31.479 Christians sometimes 00:33:31.479 --> 00:33:33.000 talk individualistically 00:33:33.000 --> 00:33:33.939 about salvation 00:33:33.939 --> 00:33:35.319 as if personal 00:33:35.319 --> 00:33:36.419 private repentance 00:33:36.419 --> 00:33:37.000 and faith 00:33:37.000 --> 00:33:37.819 were sufficient 00:33:37.819 --> 00:33:39.159 but our Bible 00:33:39.159 --> 00:33:39.879 associates 00:33:39.879 --> 00:33:41.199 private repentance 00:33:41.199 --> 00:33:41.779 and faith 00:33:41.779 --> 00:33:42.659 with the public 00:33:42.659 --> 00:33:43.639 profession of faith 00:33:43.639 --> 00:33:44.219 in baptism 00:33:44.219 --> 00:33:45.799 it associates 00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:46.479 our personal 00:33:46.479 --> 00:33:47.500 repentance and faith 00:33:47.500 --> 00:33:48.939 with a corporate 00:33:48.939 --> 00:33:49.879 baptism into the 00:33:49.879 --> 00:33:50.459 family of God 00:33:50.459 --> 00:33:51.179 the body of Christ 00:33:51.179 --> 00:33:51.659 the church 00:33:51.659 --> 00:33:53.019 that's because 00:33:53.019 --> 00:33:53.859 the reason for that 00:33:53.859 --> 00:33:54.399 is because 00:33:54.399 --> 00:33:55.479 the Christian faith 00:33:55.479 --> 00:33:56.839 is not a matter 00:33:56.839 --> 00:33:58.039 of personal opinion 00:33:58.039 --> 00:33:59.259 but a matter 00:33:59.259 --> 00:34:00.000 of truth 00:34:00.000 --> 00:34:01.700 that's because 00:34:01.700 --> 00:34:02.740 Christ calls us 00:34:02.740 --> 00:34:03.740 not into a private 00:34:03.740 --> 00:34:04.339 faith that you 00:34:04.339 --> 00:34:05.019 keep to yourself 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:06.099 but to a public 00:34:06.099 --> 00:34:06.599 faith 00:34:06.599 --> 00:34:09.279 for that reason 00:34:09.279 --> 00:34:10.400 it's in the context 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:11.639 of this personal 00:34:11.639 --> 00:34:13.099 and corporate 00:34:13.099 --> 00:34:13.940 profession of faith 00:34:13.940 --> 00:34:14.880 that the promise 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.679 of the Holy Spirit 00:34:15.679 --> 00:34:16.279 is given 00:34:16.279 --> 00:34:18.639 don't hear what 00:34:18.639 --> 00:34:19.380 I'm not saying 00:34:19.380 --> 00:34:20.759 I'm not saying 00:34:20.759 --> 00:34:21.559 that it is baptism 00:34:21.559 --> 00:34:22.519 in and of itself 00:34:22.519 --> 00:34:23.480 that saves people 00:34:23.480 --> 00:34:25.039 it is God 00:34:25.039 --> 00:34:26.059 who saves us 00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:27.279 by sanctifying us 00:34:27.280 --> 00:34:28.120 and indwelling us 00:34:28.120 --> 00:34:28.900 with his spirit 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:30.000 but baptism 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.340 is God's chosen 00:34:31.340 --> 00:34:31.760 means 00:34:31.760 --> 00:34:32.340 his appointed 00:34:32.340 --> 00:34:32.940 means 00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.880 his command 00:34:33.880 --> 00:34:34.480 for us 00:34:34.480 --> 00:34:35.780 to enter 00:34:35.780 --> 00:34:36.380 into this 00:34:36.380 --> 00:34:36.740 relationship 00:34:36.740 --> 00:34:37.200 with him 00:34:37.200 --> 00:34:39.200 so if you are 00:34:39.200 --> 00:34:39.780 not yet a follower 00:34:39.780 --> 00:34:40.420 of Jesus Christ 00:34:40.420 --> 00:34:41.300 I urge you to 00:34:41.300 --> 00:34:41.560 look 00:34:41.560 --> 00:34:43.140 watch carefully 00:34:43.140 --> 00:34:43.860 and consider 00:34:43.860 --> 00:34:44.580 what it would be 00:34:44.580 --> 00:34:45.060 like for you 00:34:45.060 --> 00:34:45.580 to commit your 00:34:45.580 --> 00:34:46.320 life to the Lord 00:34:46.320 --> 00:34:48.820 if you're already 00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.340 a Christian 00:34:49.340 --> 00:34:50.220 Paul concludes 00:34:50.220 --> 00:34:50.760 this passage 00:34:50.760 --> 00:34:51.380 with the final 00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:51.960 exhortation 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.720 in verse 58 00:34:52.719 --> 00:34:54.759 therefore 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.500 my beloved 00:34:55.500 --> 00:34:56.299 brothers 00:34:56.299 --> 00:34:57.980 be steadfast 00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:59.759 immovable 00:34:59.759 --> 00:35:01.239 always abounding 00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:01.739 in the work 00:35:01.739 --> 00:35:02.219 of the Lord 00:35:02.219 --> 00:35:03.259 knowing that 00:35:03.259 --> 00:35:03.980 in the Lord 00:35:03.980 --> 00:35:04.579 your labor 00:35:04.579 --> 00:35:06.019 is not in vain 00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:07.679 this is my 00:35:07.679 --> 00:35:08.739 third and final 00:35:08.739 --> 00:35:09.139 point 00:35:09.139 --> 00:35:09.980 our labor 00:35:09.980 --> 00:35:10.459 in the Lord 00:35:10.459 --> 00:35:13.239 the brothers 00:35:13.239 --> 00:35:14.339 I just want to say 00:35:14.339 --> 00:35:15.039 he refers to 00:35:15.039 --> 00:35:16.119 brothers and sisters 00:35:16.119 --> 00:35:16.859 Greek in the plural 00:35:16.859 --> 00:35:17.739 form refers to 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:18.379 all siblings 00:35:18.379 --> 00:35:18.739 brothers 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:19.799 he's speaking to all 00:35:19.800 --> 00:35:21.440 and he 00:35:21.440 --> 00:35:21.960 even though 00:35:21.960 --> 00:35:22.480 the Corinthians 00:35:22.480 --> 00:35:23.460 are his 00:35:23.460 --> 00:35:24.539 biggest problem 00:35:24.539 --> 00:35:25.039 church 00:35:25.039 --> 00:35:26.100 causing him 00:35:26.100 --> 00:35:26.640 all kinds of 00:35:26.640 --> 00:35:26.900 grief 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:27.420 and questioning 00:35:27.420 --> 00:35:28.600 his apostleship 00:35:28.600 --> 00:35:28.880 even 00:35:28.880 --> 00:35:30.560 he still calls 00:35:30.560 --> 00:35:31.340 them beloved 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:31.960 brothers 00:35:31.960 --> 00:35:34.840 and everything 00:35:34.840 --> 00:35:35.420 he has set up 00:35:35.420 --> 00:35:35.940 to this point 00:35:35.940 --> 00:35:36.720 leads to this 00:35:36.720 --> 00:35:38.240 climactic exhortation 00:35:38.240 --> 00:35:38.720 because the 00:35:38.720 --> 00:35:39.440 resurrection of the 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.500 body is not 00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:41.100 merely an 00:35:41.100 --> 00:35:42.400 intellectual exercise 00:35:42.400 --> 00:35:43.039 to tickle our 00:35:43.039 --> 00:35:43.440 brains 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:44.380 or to prove 00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:45.100 Paul's own 00:35:45.100 --> 00:35:45.660 theological 00:35:45.660 --> 00:35:46.460 correctness 00:35:46.460 --> 00:35:47.320 rather Paul 00:35:47.320 --> 00:35:48.220 has a pastoral 00:35:48.220 --> 00:35:48.800 concern 00:35:48.800 --> 00:35:51.680 because he 00:35:51.680 --> 00:35:52.600 understands that 00:35:52.600 --> 00:35:53.300 by denying 00:35:53.300 --> 00:35:53.940 the resurrection 00:35:53.940 --> 00:35:54.560 of the body 00:35:54.560 --> 00:35:55.420 the Corinthian 00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:56.060 believers were 00:35:56.060 --> 00:35:56.900 jeopardizing 00:35:56.900 --> 00:35:58.080 their faith 00:35:58.080 --> 00:35:59.100 and perseverance 00:35:59.100 --> 00:36:00.920 they were 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:01.700 indulging in 00:36:01.700 --> 00:36:02.340 all kinds of 00:36:02.340 --> 00:36:03.220 sexual immorality 00:36:03.220 --> 00:36:03.960 idolatry 00:36:03.960 --> 00:36:04.900 and selfishness 00:36:04.900 --> 00:36:06.060 because they 00:36:06.060 --> 00:36:06.880 denied the 00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.300 resurrection 00:36:07.300 --> 00:36:08.240 of the body 00:36:08.240 --> 00:36:08.920 and believed 00:36:08.920 --> 00:36:09.600 their sins 00:36:09.600 --> 00:36:10.039 to be 00:36:10.039 --> 00:36:11.080 inconsequential 00:36:11.080 --> 00:36:11.460 for their 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:12.200 future well-being 00:36:12.200 --> 00:36:15.100 so Paul 00:36:15.100 --> 00:36:15.880 now exhorts 00:36:15.880 --> 00:36:16.260 that my 00:36:16.260 --> 00:36:16.900 beloved 00:36:16.900 --> 00:36:17.560 brothers 00:36:17.559 --> 00:36:19.299 be steadfast 00:36:19.299 --> 00:36:20.539 immovable 00:36:20.539 --> 00:36:22.139 always abounding 00:36:22.139 --> 00:36:22.900 in the work 00:36:22.900 --> 00:36:23.480 of the Lord 00:36:23.480 --> 00:36:24.199 knowing that 00:36:24.199 --> 00:36:25.039 in the Lord 00:36:25.039 --> 00:36:25.659 your labor 00:36:25.659 --> 00:36:26.420 is not 00:36:26.420 --> 00:36:27.920 in vain 00:36:27.920 --> 00:36:30.299 be steadfast 00:36:30.299 --> 00:36:31.940 be immovable 00:36:31.940 --> 00:36:32.940 in your faith 00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:35.159 cling to Christ 00:36:35.159 --> 00:36:35.960 and his gospel 00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:38.159 don't be swayed 00:36:38.159 --> 00:36:39.179 by worldly wisdom 00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:40.639 or led astray 00:36:40.639 --> 00:36:41.960 by worldly pleasures 00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:44.059 always abound 00:36:44.059 --> 00:36:44.599 in the work 00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:45.119 of the Lord 00:36:45.119 --> 00:36:46.059 not only when 00:36:46.059 --> 00:36:46.860 you feel like 00:36:46.860 --> 00:36:47.219 it 00:36:47.219 --> 00:36:50.400 not only 00:36:50.400 --> 00:36:50.719 when you're 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:51.299 on a spiritual 00:36:51.299 --> 00:36:51.759 high 00:36:51.759 --> 00:36:53.460 always 00:36:53.460 --> 00:36:54.299 abound 00:36:54.299 --> 00:36:54.699 in the work 00:36:54.699 --> 00:36:55.199 of the Lord 00:36:55.199 --> 00:36:56.279 and don't 00:36:56.279 --> 00:36:57.460 think for a 00:36:57.460 --> 00:36:57.739 moment 00:36:57.739 --> 00:36:58.119 that your 00:36:58.119 --> 00:36:58.500 labor 00:36:58.500 --> 00:36:59.519 is in vain 00:36:59.519 --> 00:37:03.179 J.R.R. 00:37:03.259 --> 00:37:03.539 Tolkien 00:37:03.539 --> 00:37:04.759 understood 00:37:04.759 --> 00:37:06.579 what it's like 00:37:06.579 --> 00:37:07.199 to work hard 00:37:07.199 --> 00:37:07.739 on something 00:37:07.739 --> 00:37:08.860 that might 00:37:08.860 --> 00:37:09.340 never be 00:37:09.340 --> 00:37:09.779 appreciated 00:37:09.779 --> 00:37:10.380 by anyone 00:37:10.380 --> 00:37:11.779 to work 00:37:11.779 --> 00:37:12.279 in vain 00:37:12.280 --> 00:37:14.180 looking for 00:37:14.180 --> 00:37:14.500 a way 00:37:14.500 --> 00:37:15.080 to vent 00:37:15.080 --> 00:37:15.800 his frustration 00:37:15.800 --> 00:37:16.280 while he was 00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:16.740 working on 00:37:16.740 --> 00:37:17.019 something 00:37:17.019 --> 00:37:17.340 that he 00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:17.500 thought 00:37:17.500 --> 00:37:18.180 was fruitless 00:37:18.180 --> 00:37:19.580 and in vain 00:37:19.580 --> 00:37:20.620 he predictably 00:37:20.620 --> 00:37:21.760 wrote a story 00:37:21.760 --> 00:37:22.400 to vent 00:37:22.400 --> 00:37:23.940 his frustrations 00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:25.340 he wrote a story 00:37:25.340 --> 00:37:25.680 entitled 00:37:25.680 --> 00:37:26.620 Leaf by 00:37:26.620 --> 00:37:26.960 Niggle 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:27.900 it's a great 00:37:27.900 --> 00:37:28.160 story 00:37:28.160 --> 00:37:28.500 I commend 00:37:28.500 --> 00:37:28.900 it to you 00:37:28.900 --> 00:37:29.860 the protagonist 00:37:29.860 --> 00:37:30.480 of the story 00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:31.000 is an artist 00:37:31.000 --> 00:37:31.640 named Niggle 00:37:31.640 --> 00:37:33.220 who has been 00:37:33.220 --> 00:37:33.660 commissioned 00:37:33.660 --> 00:37:34.160 to paint 00:37:34.160 --> 00:37:34.580 a mural 00:37:34.580 --> 00:37:35.300 on the wall 00:37:35.300 --> 00:37:36.240 of a city 00:37:36.240 --> 00:37:36.540 hall 00:37:36.539 --> 00:37:37.940 he devotes 00:37:37.940 --> 00:37:38.860 his entire 00:37:38.860 --> 00:37:39.739 life 00:37:39.739 --> 00:37:40.639 attempting 00:37:40.639 --> 00:37:41.699 to recreate 00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:43.420 this mural 00:37:43.420 --> 00:37:44.699 about which 00:37:44.699 --> 00:37:45.300 he dreamed 00:37:45.300 --> 00:37:45.840 in his dream 00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:46.219 he saw 00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:47.179 this large 00:37:47.179 --> 00:37:48.000 strong 00:37:48.000 --> 00:37:48.759 and vibrant 00:37:48.759 --> 00:37:49.860 and fruitful 00:37:49.860 --> 00:37:50.460 tree 00:37:50.460 --> 00:37:51.239 that he knew 00:37:51.239 --> 00:37:52.320 would inspire 00:37:52.320 --> 00:37:52.940 everyone 00:37:52.940 --> 00:37:53.539 who looked 00:37:53.539 --> 00:37:53.960 at it 00:37:53.960 --> 00:37:54.559 and he 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:54.940 devoted 00:37:54.940 --> 00:37:55.639 his entire 00:37:55.639 --> 00:37:56.079 life 00:37:56.079 --> 00:37:57.300 to drawing 00:37:57.300 --> 00:37:57.699 this 00:37:57.699 --> 00:37:58.440 on that 00:37:58.440 --> 00:37:58.759 mural 00:37:58.759 --> 00:37:59.579 on the wall 00:37:59.579 --> 00:38:00.639 but in the end 00:38:00.639 --> 00:38:01.539 he dies 00:38:01.539 --> 00:38:02.980 having completed 00:38:02.980 --> 00:38:03.960 just a single 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:04.980 lonely leaf 00:38:04.980 --> 00:38:06.400 on the mural 00:38:06.400 --> 00:38:09.380 on his train 00:38:09.380 --> 00:38:10.059 right to heaven 00:38:10.059 --> 00:38:11.740 Niggle notices 00:38:11.740 --> 00:38:12.800 in the distance 00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:13.559 a vague 00:38:13.559 --> 00:38:14.400 but very 00:38:14.400 --> 00:38:14.960 familiar 00:38:14.960 --> 00:38:15.880 picture 00:38:15.880 --> 00:38:17.519 and he tells 00:38:17.519 --> 00:38:18.000 the conductor 00:38:18.000 --> 00:38:18.720 please stop 00:38:18.720 --> 00:38:19.260 the train 00:38:19.260 --> 00:38:20.880 and he 00:38:20.880 --> 00:38:21.780 gets off 00:38:21.780 --> 00:38:22.380 the train 00:38:22.380 --> 00:38:22.880 approaches 00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:23.760 the object 00:38:23.760 --> 00:38:24.460 and lo 00:38:24.460 --> 00:38:25.119 and behold 00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:26.240 it's a real 00:38:26.240 --> 00:38:26.680 tree 00:38:26.680 --> 00:38:28.320 it's 00:38:28.320 --> 00:38:29.519 the tree 00:38:29.519 --> 00:38:31.099 it's 00:38:31.099 --> 00:38:31.980 his tree 00:38:31.980 --> 00:38:33.599 the one 00:38:33.599 --> 00:38:34.200 he dreamed 00:38:34.200 --> 00:38:34.619 about 00:38:34.619 --> 00:38:36.799 devoted 00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.599 his entire 00:38:37.599 --> 00:38:38.719 life to 00:38:38.719 --> 00:38:42.420 and there 00:38:42.420 --> 00:38:42.880 in the middle 00:38:42.880 --> 00:38:43.460 of the tree 00:38:43.460 --> 00:38:45.059 is the single 00:38:45.059 --> 00:38:45.739 leaf that he 00:38:45.739 --> 00:38:46.019 drew 00:38:46.019 --> 00:38:47.659 the leaf 00:38:47.659 --> 00:38:48.739 by Niggle 00:38:48.739 --> 00:38:50.880 for the whole 00:38:50.880 --> 00:38:51.719 world to see 00:38:51.719 --> 00:38:53.019 and it is at 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.799 that point 00:38:53.799 --> 00:38:54.400 in time 00:38:54.400 --> 00:38:54.960 Niggle 00:38:54.960 --> 00:38:55.859 comes to realize 00:38:55.859 --> 00:38:56.559 that his 00:38:56.559 --> 00:38:57.039 leaf 00:38:57.039 --> 00:38:57.639 that he is 00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:57.880 commissioned 00:38:57.880 --> 00:38:58.259 to draw 00:38:58.259 --> 00:38:59.279 was a small 00:38:59.279 --> 00:38:59.920 part of 00:38:59.920 --> 00:39:00.299 something 00:39:00.299 --> 00:39:00.900 far 00:39:00.900 --> 00:39:01.920 grander 00:39:01.920 --> 00:39:02.359 a part 00:39:02.360 --> 00:39:03.420 of a greater 00:39:03.420 --> 00:39:04.280 creative 00:39:04.280 --> 00:39:04.820 activity 00:39:04.820 --> 00:39:05.340 and work 00:39:05.340 --> 00:39:06.440 by a greater 00:39:06.440 --> 00:39:07.480 artist 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:08.559 who for the 00:39:08.559 --> 00:39:09.579 joy and delight 00:39:09.579 --> 00:39:10.200 of the world 00:39:10.200 --> 00:39:11.180 was creating 00:39:11.180 --> 00:39:12.000 this great 00:39:12.000 --> 00:39:12.860 eternal 00:39:12.860 --> 00:39:13.559 heavenly 00:39:13.559 --> 00:39:14.420 city 00:39:14.420 --> 00:39:17.740 and the story 00:39:17.740 --> 00:39:18.480 goes that 00:39:18.480 --> 00:39:19.460 Tolkien wrote 00:39:19.460 --> 00:39:20.140 leaf by Niggle 00:39:20.140 --> 00:39:20.720 as he was 00:39:20.720 --> 00:39:21.539 toiling away 00:39:21.539 --> 00:39:23.160 writing something 00:39:23.160 --> 00:39:23.620 that he felt 00:39:23.620 --> 00:39:24.200 would never be 00:39:24.200 --> 00:39:24.860 appreciated by 00:39:24.860 --> 00:39:25.280 anyone 00:39:25.280 --> 00:39:26.099 and the name 00:39:26.099 --> 00:39:26.420 of that 00:39:26.420 --> 00:39:26.780 seemingly 00:39:26.780 --> 00:39:27.539 insignificant 00:39:27.539 --> 00:39:27.960 work 00:39:27.960 --> 00:39:28.160 was 00:39:28.160 --> 00:39:28.539 the Lord 00:39:28.539 --> 00:39:29.079 of the Rings 00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:33.579 every 00:39:33.579 --> 00:39:35.000 sacrifice 00:39:35.000 --> 00:39:36.340 you make 00:39:36.340 --> 00:39:36.699 for the 00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:37.179 Lord's 00:39:37.179 --> 00:39:37.539 sake 00:39:37.539 --> 00:39:39.019 every 00:39:39.019 --> 00:39:39.920 meal 00:39:39.920 --> 00:39:40.860 shared 00:39:40.860 --> 00:39:41.579 for the 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:41.980 Lord's 00:39:41.980 --> 00:39:42.299 glory 00:39:42.299 --> 00:39:42.840 every 00:39:42.840 --> 00:39:43.539 hour 00:39:43.539 --> 00:39:44.259 of sleep 00:39:44.259 --> 00:39:45.079 lost 00:39:45.079 --> 00:39:45.539 for the 00:39:45.539 --> 00:39:45.880 service 00:39:45.880 --> 00:39:46.480 of Christ 00:39:46.480 --> 00:39:47.139 every 00:39:47.139 --> 00:39:47.639 earthly 00:39:47.639 --> 00:39:48.299 pleasure 00:39:48.299 --> 00:39:49.739 luxury 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:50.599 forsaken 00:39:50.599 --> 00:39:50.980 for the 00:39:50.980 --> 00:39:51.159 sake 00:39:51.159 --> 00:39:51.759 of Christ 00:39:51.759 --> 00:39:52.519 every 00:39:52.519 --> 00:39:53.079 dollar 00:39:53.079 --> 00:39:54.119 you give 00:39:54.119 --> 00:39:54.619 to the 00:39:54.619 --> 00:39:54.940 cause 00:39:54.940 --> 00:39:55.400 of Christ 00:39:55.400 --> 00:39:55.960 every 00:39:55.960 --> 00:39:56.579 instance 00:39:56.579 --> 00:39:56.779 of 00:39:56.779 --> 00:39:57.519 humiliation 00:39:57.519 --> 00:39:58.699 and death 00:39:58.699 --> 00:39:59.259 to self 00:39:59.259 --> 00:39:59.579 that you 00:39:59.579 --> 00:40:00.039 undergo 00:40:00.039 --> 00:40:00.860 for the 00:40:00.860 --> 00:40:01.139 sake 00:40:01.139 --> 00:40:01.340 of 00:40:01.340 --> 00:40:01.900 Christ 00:40:01.900 --> 00:40:02.519 so that 00:40:02.519 --> 00:40:02.980 he might 00:40:02.980 --> 00:40:03.199 be 00:40:03.199 --> 00:40:03.559 honored 00:40:03.559 --> 00:40:05.639 so that 00:40:05.639 --> 00:40:06.119 he might 00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:06.739 look precious 00:40:06.739 --> 00:40:07.099 to the 00:40:07.099 --> 00:40:07.539 world 00:40:07.539 --> 00:40:09.539 so that 00:40:09.539 --> 00:40:10.000 Christ 00:40:10.000 --> 00:40:10.639 and his 00:40:10.639 --> 00:40:11.079 saving 00:40:11.079 --> 00:40:11.539 message 00:40:11.539 --> 00:40:12.320 might go 00:40:12.320 --> 00:40:12.719 forward 00:40:12.719 --> 00:40:13.079 to the 00:40:13.079 --> 00:40:13.380 rest of 00:40:13.380 --> 00:40:13.840 the world 00:40:13.840 --> 00:40:14.800 it is 00:40:14.800 --> 00:40:15.320 not 00:40:15.320 --> 00:40:16.000 in 00:40:16.000 --> 00:40:16.780 vain 00:40:16.780 --> 00:40:21.800 so 00:40:21.800 --> 00:40:22.219 cling 00:40:22.219 --> 00:40:22.440 to 00:40:22.440 --> 00:40:22.920 Christ 00:40:22.920 --> 00:40:24.800 hope 00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:25.099 in the 00:40:25.099 --> 00:40:25.599 resurrection 00:40:25.599 --> 00:40:28.139 and 00:40:28.139 --> 00:40:28.339 let's 00:40:28.339 --> 00:40:28.839 abound 00:40:28.839 --> 00:40:29.360 in the 00:40:29.360 --> 00:40:29.539 work 00:40:29.539 --> 00:40:29.639 of 00:40:29.639 --> 00:40:29.759 the 00:40:29.759 --> 00:40:29.900 Lord 00:40:29.900 --> 00:40:30.279 together